4.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
After 5000 long years of captivity, Kazaam is set free to grant three wishes to a new master.
Starring: Shaquille O'Neal, Francis Capra, Ally Walker, Marshall Manesh, James Acheson (II)Comedy | 100% |
Family | Insignificant |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Musical | Insignificant |
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
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
None
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
It’s easy to understand why Hollywood tried for a short amount of time to make basketball player Shaquille O’Neal a movie star. He’s an unusual screen presence, with massive size and spirit, and he brings a built-in audience with him, tempting NBA fans into the multiplex to see what the star is up to when he’s not on the court. There’s a long list of athletes who’ve made the transition to acting, but for O’Neal, dramatic legitimacy was probably never in the cards. Making an impression in 1994’s “Blue Chips,” the hulking man made a critical error in judgement for his follow-up, trusting the Disney touch with “Kazaam,” a family film that turns O’Neal into a rapping genie with a magic boombox trying to help out a streetwise kid with his daddy issues. The intent is clear, giving the star over to his young admirers for a PG-rated adventure that’s heavy on slapstick. However, in the hands of director Paul Michael Glaser, “Kazaam” turns into one big chore to sit through, clinging to the comfort of formula while acting is uniformly awful, failing to hide O’Neal’s lack of thespian training.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation emerges from the Disney vaults, bringing "Kazaam" to Blu-ray without a new scan. Age is apparent, finding the viewing experience on the dull side, missing natural vibrancy. Dealing with fashion from the 1990s and shiny visual effects, color tends to survive to a mild degree, displaying bright golds and blues, while club interiors bring up heavier reds from lighting sources. Skintones approach a natural consistency, but some scenes slip into ruddiness. Detail battles softness but remains adequate for this type of entertainment, capturing O'Neal's sweaty presence and mild facial surfaces. Wilder clothing highlights costuming craftsmanship. Delineation enters some solidification, struggling with nightlife visits. Source is in fine shape, without pronounced points of damage. Some mild banding is detected.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix preserves a lively mix for "Kazaam," which is driven by a blend of scoring cues and hip-hop soundtrack cuts, along with few musical performances along the way. Instrumentation is encouraging, delivering sharp beats and tonal turns. Dialogue exchanges are also strong, maintaining clarity with diverse performances emerging from mumbling and heavily accented characters. Surrounds are active, exploring furious genie tornados and atmospherics, entering nightclubs and speeding around NYC streets. Low-end emerges with more explosive content.
O'Neal's acting ability isn't a major problem here. He has youthful vitality and appears to be enjoying his time as a genie, goofing around with rhyming dialogue and broad reactions. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast isn't there to cover for his limitations, as Capra is an underwhelming screen presence, and the adults aren't challenging the writing's simplicity. Glazer isn't much of a director either, unable to pull much charm out of the feature, which grows borderline unwatchable the longer it stays away from Kazaam's foolishness. I certainly understand the nostalgia factor for some viewers raised on VHS and cable viewings of the film, but "Kazaam" isn't successful, even with limited narrative goals. What should be a candy-colored fun house of genie antics and boyhood wonder is reduced to a ridiculous crime and broken family story, frequently interrupted by crude CGI and rap battles.
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