Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Morbius Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 14, 2022

Someone has to occupy the bottom spot. With Superhero films the de facto state of the cinema landscape going on now for a couple of decades, it is only natural to expect that with the flood will come some stinkers. Morbius is one of those stinkers. Here is a completely uninspired mess of a movie that puts a capably built film on the screen but offers nothing beyond a string of generic, predictable, and hopelessly haggard story points and character dynamics. Absent the energy of the best Superhero films, the characterization and world building that define the finest, and focused instead on rote formula and fatigued repetition, the film, from Director Daniel Espinosa (Safe House, Life) results in a piddling Marvel movie ranking at the bottom (along with the likes of The Eternals) of the otherwise rather grand world of Superhero cinema.

Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) has lived with a debilitating blood disease his entire life. As a child (Charlie Shotwell), Michael befriended another boy with the same disorder, Milo (Joseph Esson). When Michael ingeniously saves Milo's life by hacking a critical piece of hospital machinery with an ink pen, he is transferred away from the hospital to a special school for gifted students in New York where he receives the best care and the best education. It turns out, however, that Michael is own best advocate. He earns his doctorate by the age of 19 and has become a world-renowned specialist in the blood disorder field. Now, he is prepared to push his understanding of science to the limit by blending vampire bat blood with his own. He does so to remarkable, but also deadly, effect. He transforms into a superhuman vampire, gifted with remarkable speed, super senses, and great physical power, all of which he uses to kill several mercenaries. When he reverts to his human form, he discovers he no longer inhabits a frail body but rather one in peak physical condition. He becomes a wanted man for his role in the murders, pursued by a pair of cops -- Simon Stroud (Tyrese Gibson) and Al Rodriguez (Al Madrigal) -- while also discovering that Milo (Al Madrigal) may be thirsty for the same "healing" powers that have been both a blessing and a curse for Michael.

To call the film capable would be respect it at its highest point for forgiving criticism. It's certainly no joke of a film insofar as the basics are concerned: it's competently put together, the acting in general is OK, the visual effects are passable, score and editing are fine...but efficiency and competencies are not particularly valid points for praise in a cinema landscape in which polish and shine are commonplace amongst the big studio entries. However, the key word here is "basics." The film does not, and seemingly cannot, move beyond a very simplistic structure and style, seemingly made by rote with textbook definitions for characterization, special effects, dramatic arcs, and so on and so forth. There is not an original second of storytelling to be found in this picture. From the top down it is an assembly line kind of movie of the worst kind that simply pushes forward with crude fundamentals that offer no distinctive personality. Moviegoers are going to be left watching a film that is flat and devoid of any purpose other than to bank some bucks on the back of the Superhero freight train.

As the movie slogs about its business, it does earn a decent little boost from Leto and Smith who play the main characters with a sufficient level of depth and believability. There's a certain sincerity to their relationship and even as it takes a familiar and predictable turn, they each infuse a unique personality that allows the characters to play off of one another, in various ways, to good core basic dramatic satisfaction. However, this is material audiences have seen countless times before. There's literally nothing new here, and no matter how solid the performances there is no escaping the trite, rehashed, and recycled content around the actors. Morbius simply loses steam with its onslaught of familiar components, a fatal and irrecoverable flaw which is revealed early and never patched to satisfaction.

Morbius Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sony brings Morbius to Blu-ray with a perfectly proficient 1080p transfer. The image is sharp and clear, revealing environments and every bit of skin and clothing details with the requisite level of overall clarity that achieves near Blu-ray perfection. Even if the companion UHD has more on offer, Blu-ray fans will not feel shortchanged with a soft or otherwise lacking image. Core complexities and clarity are very good indeed. Colors are likewise satisfying, whether essentials like clothes or some of the visual effects during the fight scenes where colors "run" for lack of a better term (as well as during the echolocation shots). The palette is alive and kicking, though certainly the film does have its dark moments in turn. Black level depth, then, is critical and it is fairly good, sometimes favoring a very mild push to purple, but viewers should be generally satisfied with the depth and lack of crush. Skin tones are healthy and white balance is good. There is some source noise at times but there are no other grievous source or encode artifacts to worry about. This is a good one.

Morbius Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray features a Sony-standard DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. As usual, the Atmos track is reserved for the companion UHD release. Fear not, however; this is a perfectly engineered soundtrack that may not reach "epic" levels of excellence, but it does do its duty without snag or shortcoming. Surrounds are engaged frequently. The track is very comprehensive and fluid in design and output here on the Blu-ray, with seamless depth, movement, and stability. Listeners will never be wanting for more intensive surround content, whether discrete effects or motion elements. Clarity is terrific and extends beyond action to score, which is likewise clear and fluid and perfectly balanced around the stage. The subwoofer compliments both action and music to balanced effect and impact. Environmental cues are nicely defined and positively filling. Dialogue is clear and center positioned for the duration.

Morbius Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Morbius contains several bonus features. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

• Outtakes & Bloopers (1080p, 2:35): Humorous moments from the shoot.
• Lights, Camera, Action (1080p, 5:26): This generically titled supplement explores Director Daniel Espinosa's direction.
• Defining the Anti-Hero (1080p, 4:43): Exploring the Morbius character in detail.
• Doing the Stunt Work (1080p, 4:39): As the title suggests, this piece explores (quickly) the rigors and making of several of the key stunts in the film, as well as how they play into the film.
• The Good, Bad & Ugly -- Supporting Cast (1080p, 3:30): A lightning-quick guide to the characters in the film not named Morbius and the actors who portrayed them (even though it looks at Morbius and Leto for the first minute).
• Nocturnal Easter Eggs (1080p, 2:23): Even though Daniel Espinosa believes these should be discovered by fans for themselves, this piece proceeds to break some of them open, anyway.
• From Human to Vampire: Visual Effects (1080p, 5:13): Cast, characters, and the purpose behind and making of some of the special effects.
• Theatrical Marketing (1080p, 5:17 total runtime): Some fun, nontraditional, and informational pitches for the film. Included are Press Tour, Lore, Universe, and Stain.
• Previews (1080p): Additional Sony titles.

Morbius Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Morbius is not a "bad" film in that it's poorly made, but it is a "bad" film in that there's not a single shred of originality within it. From character details to plot mechanics to special effects, nothing stands out as unique or worth the time investment. Sony's Blu-ray is at least solid. Video and audio are fine and the disc comes with a handful of extras. Skip it.