Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.5 |
| Video |  | 4.0 |
| Audio | | 4.5 |
| Extras |  | 3.0 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
Pitch Black Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 28, 2020
This is a Universal Studios SteelBook release for Director David Twohy's 2000 Sci-Fi film 'Pitch Black.' The disc
and digital content is identical to that found in the 2009 wide release. There is a second SteelBook variant on the market as well which, to this reviewer's eyes,
is a signigfanct improvement over this one. See the 'Special Features and Extras' section of the review below for more on the SteelBook's look and
feel.
For a full film review, please click
here.
Pitch Black Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
For a full Blu-ray video review, please click here.
Pitch Black Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
For a full Blu-ray audio review, please click here.
Pitch Black Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
The SteelBook is made of a tactile material that is neither glossy nor shiny; it won't slip around in the hand and it won't show fingerprints. The front and
rear panels are designed in a comic book aesthetic. The front depicts Rddick center with the planet background behind him. His name is left of head
and "Unrated Also Includes Theatrical Version" text appears to his right, both in a familiar comic book type. Several other squared-off panels appear top
and
bottom with various characters and imagery appearing inside, albeit a bit toned down and de-emphasized to accentuate the main image. The entire
thing is made of shades of green and gray with a little lighter color tossed in around Riddick. The film's title appears above him, center, canted. A bold
red
rectangle with white "Limited Edition" lettering is in accompaniment. The rear panel actually includes a full-service smorgasbord of information,
including all of the usual stuff: film images, summary blurb, extras listing, billing block, tech specs, legalese, and the like. The top two-thirds retain the
comic
aesthetic while the billing block and tech spec boxes are more traditionally presented. The spine is a dark metallic gray/black color with the film's title in
lighter gray and black lettering center. "Unrated" in comic styling appears next to it. Blu-ray and DVD logos have been placed at the top while a
Universal logo and a model number appear at the bottom.
Inside, the digital copy code is tucked underneath the left-hand side tabs. The two discs, one UHD and one Blu-ray, are situated on the right in
staggered-stacked formation. The inner print is a two-panel spread that features a blank silver paneling. There is no artwork or imagery of any kind.
For full coverage of the on-disc supplemental content, please click here.
Pitch Black Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
The newer 2019 SteelBook is an improvement in every way. The more subdued (and to this reviewer's eyes aesthetically pleasing) artwork fits the film's
tone much better than does this comic book style variant which, admittedly, was part of a collection on Universal's part that included several other films,
including The Chronicles or Riddick. The disc is the same-old from years past.
Arrow is set to release the film on the 4K format with no SteelBook in sight, so fans might be
interested in picking this up and making it that 4K disc's home.
