6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
John is an extraordinary teen, masking his true identity and passing as a typical high school student to elude a deadly enemy seeking to destroy him. Three like him have already been killed ... he is Number Four.
Starring: Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer, Dianna Agron, Callan McAuliffeAction | 100% |
Fantasy | 66% |
Sci-Fi | 50% |
Teen | 29% |
Romance | 18% |
Supernatural | 9% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (1 BD, 2 DVDs)
Digital copy (on disc)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Raise your hand if Disturbia, director D.J. Caruso's twist on Hitchcock's Rear Window, caught you by surprise. I had little interest going in, I'll admit. I had read the reviews and, aside from a few glowing writeups, I knew exactly what to expect. Or so I thought. Disturbia was a confidently constructed thriller more in line with Caruso's Salton Sea than his Taking Lives, and I soon found myself sitting on the proverbial edge of my seat, even when the story was at its most formulaic. A year later, I had the same reaction to Eagle Eye, a predictable but smartly shot actioner with a juicy little sci-fi center. I Am Number Four, on the other hand, is more of a mixed bag. Working with a lesser cast, a more derivative script, and a rather clunky mythos (itself derived from far more engrossing tales), Caruso struggles to build a viable film franchise on top of a crumbling foundation.
"No. Do or do not. There is no try."
I Am Number Four materializes on Blu-ray with a solid 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer worth its weight in CG razzle-dazzle. Primaries explode beautifully, fireballs light up the heaviest shadows, black levels are deep (almost impenetrable) and skintones, warm and lovely as they are, emanate that balmy golden glow that seems to bathe every production remotely associated with Michael Bay. Detail is exceptional as well, at least when the sun is up. Ironically, nighttime scenes shed light on the presentation's biggest problems: middling delineation and intermittent crush. Though largely a product of cinematographer Guillermo Navarro's at-times nebulous lighting, both are ongoing distractions, especially when all-too-brief energy blasts are all that illuminate the darkness. Otherwise, fine textures are wonderfully refined, edge definition is crisp and clean, and most of the film's visual effects stand up nicely to high definition scrutiny. Moreover, significant artifacting, aliasing, ringing and smearing are MIA, and the minor instances of banding that pop up from time to time aren't intrusive or prevalent at all. As it stands, Disney's transfer isn't going to blow away the most ardent videophiles, but it will satisfy most everyone else.
Disney's bombastic DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is even better, putting the full force of its lossless powers behind every energy blast, 'splosion and blood-curdling roar. LFE output lends considerable might and muscle to the entire experience, even when the film's sound design drifts into artificial waters on occasion. Rear speaker activity is fierce and vicious when it counts, ambience is enveloping and convincing, the subsequent soundfield is airtight on the whole, and a string of impressive directional effects are sure to put kinks in a few necks. Dialogue is polished, intelligible and nicely prioritized in the mix, and voices are rarely overwhelmed by the bedlam that ensues during the film's super-powered action scenes. It isn't exactly a subtle track, but then neither is Four's sound design. Fans of the film will be most pleased with the ensuing sonic fireworks.
The Blu-ray release of I Am Number Four doesn't offer many special features, making its filmmaker-presented deleted scenes the only extra of significance. The 3-disc Combo Pack also includes a standard DVD and Digital copy of the film.
I Am Number Four isn't as compelling as its premise; it telegraphs too many punches, fumbles too many seemingly surefire ideas, and doesn't have the cast or script required to make the most out of its source. But it is mildly entertaining and, like the book upon which it's based, it will earns its share of young fans. Disney's Blu-ray release is more rewarding -- thanks to a terrific AV presentation -- but stumbles with an anemic supplemental package. All things considered, I Am Number Four is worth renting. For those of you with young teen filmfans in the house, it may even be worth an eventual purchase.
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