6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.8 |
End of Days is the blood-soaked story of a 20-year-old girl who has nightmares about a mysterious man. Security guard Jericho finds himself caught up in the situation when he discovers that Satan is roaming the streets of New York City, trying to mate with the girl in the millennium's final hour. If he manages to impregnate her during these 60 minutes, she will give birth to the anti-Christ, who will put an end to the world forever.
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gabriel Byrne, Robin Tunney, Kevin Pollak, CCH PounderThriller | 100% |
Action | 75% |
Horror | 25% |
Supernatural | 15% |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: DTS 5.1
French: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
So the prince of darkness wants to conquer the Earth, but he has to wait until an hour before
midnight on New Year's Eve. Is this Eastern time?
Speaking of the "end of days," there is a minor concern among some in the scientific community
that the activation of the Large Hadron Collider on the Franco-Swiss border mere hours from now
could bring about a situation in which "the whole planet will be eaten
in a magnificent scenario." While most scientists, including the legendary Physicist Stephen
Hawking, believe there is nothing to worry about, my advice is to click on our Amazon link above,
order End of Days and a few other Blu-ray discs you've had your eye on, and plan on
watching them this weekend. Either that or enjoy the ride through the Black Hole (speaking of, I'd like to
request Disney release this wonderful title onto Blu-ray sooner rather than later). Now back your
regularly scheduled review.
Come on, get real. Would Arnold really pull the trigger on a face like this?
End of Days comes to Blu-ray with a rather pedestrian 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. The movie rarely sees a scene featuring good lighting and vibrant colors, and its gloomy and hazy look is captured well enough on this disc, remaining true to the various versions I've seen over the years, both theatrically and on DVD. Black levels are strong throughout, though there appeared to be a loss of shadow detail here and there. Grain is visible over the entirety of the image, looking somewhat heavier in a few shots, but never so heavy as to become a distraction for those who dislike grain. Pops and speckles are visible over the print, too. There even appeared to be what looked like a cue mark ("cigarette burn") signaling the changing of a reel. Detail is only moderate, but considering the low lighting conditions of every scene, it's remarkable we see as much as we do. Flesh tones appear nicely rendered throughout, though a hint of red is sometimes visible on faces. There is a good amount of depth to the image, but this is not one destined to jump off your screen. With an image as inherently boring as that found on End of Days, there just isn't much to discuss, and the material doesn't make for an eye-catching visual experience, either. Still, End of Days looks alright on Blu-ray, a marked improvement in overall quality compared to the DVD, but it does not offer a drastic, life-changing improvement, either.
Wow. Universal has shot straight to the top of the charts with the audio quality on their Blu-ray discs. End of Days is another fabulous offering featuring the DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless audio codec, and the awesome quality is evident over the opening credits. It's loud but very strong and precise with an excellent low frequency presence and information coming from all directions. Imaging is also excellent throughout the entire movie. A good example comes at the beginning when a priest hurriedly opens two doors that fling open to the sides, and we hear them hit the wall in the front left and right speakers. Bass shakes, rattles, and rolls all through the movie to devastating effect on your senses. The scene in chapter three as a series of fires explode from New York's manholes is a prime example of the intensity of the soundtrack. The track also does a wonderful job of creating a realistic atmosphere. Listen to the scene in chapter six when Jericho and Chicago are looking around the run-down place where Thomas Aquinas lived. We can hear flies buzzing all around the soundstage, water dripping in every corner of our listening areas, and the film's score playing nicely through all the speakers. We also hear echoing of voices in expansive, nearly empty locales, the rumbling of a subway car speeding down the tracks all around us, and plenty of wonderful ambience. Dialogue clarity and volume is also brought to us with no hiccups. This soundtrack leaves nothing to the imagination and is another awe-inspiring listen on a Universal Blu-ray disc.
End of Days comes to Blu-ray with a commentary track from director Peter Hyams as the sole extra. Hyams waits some 90 seconds to begin speaking, and starts the track with a discussion of John Debney's (Sin City) score. Hyams delves into standard territory throughout the track, offering listeners more of a technical rundown of the look and feel of the movie, focusing on sets, filming techniques, filming locations, and even admitting to a "cheap trick" in one scene. Hyams describes Arnold as "vulnerable" in this picture, a fitting description. Later in the track, he discusses how to play off of Arnold Schwarzenegger during a key moment in the film and the sadistic nature of the Gabriel Byrnes character. Hyams' track is a decent one, but it is also a track not too many will give a listen to, and even the hardcore Arnold or End of Days fans will find it rather dull.
End of Days is one of the weaker entries into the Schwarzenegger library of films, but it still offers two hours of solid entertainment in a myriad of ways: good action, witty dialogue, a decent enough story, and above-average acting for a film such as this one. The religious thriller is always a nice genre to visit now and again, and whether we are talking about more horror-oriented films (The Exorcist, The Omen), dramatic films with a horror element (The Exorcism of Emily Rose), or action-centric films (End of Days), the genre has something to offer for many a movie fan. End of Days is a fine time waster of an action movie and a must-see and must-own for Arnold die-hards. Universal's Blu-ray treatment of this film is a mixed bag. It features a startling audio experience, a video transfer that is par for the course, and only a single supplement in the form of a commentary track. As such, the decision to purchase this one is not easy, and End of Days is recommended for Arnold fans and serious Blu-ray collectors.
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