5.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 1.5 | |
Overall | 1.5 |
Deep in the California desert are the charred remains of ancient Egypt--from an old Hollywood film set, that is. In 1923, director Cecile DeMille ordered the replica ablaze after filming. No ever knew why...until now. ;Sands of Oblivion' follows an archaeologist couple, and an Iraq War veteran as they make a horrifying discovery about an evil force lurking in the shifting desert sands.
Starring: Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Victor Webster, George Kennedy, Azie TesfaiAction | 100% |
Adventure | 14% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 2.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 1.5 |
This isn't a movie set...it's a prison cell.
If there is one phrase that can almost be universally tied to "bad movie," it's "made for
television." Almost is the key word, as there is an exception to most every cinematic
truism, but when "Sci-Fi Channel" also finds its way into the mix, well, chances are the end
result will indeed be a "bad movie." Sands of Oblivion is no exception; a 2007 network
original that actually starts out promisingly enough but, yes, fades into oblivion once the film gets
going features all the hallmarks of a dreadful budget-minded release. Poor special effects, a
tedious script, mediocre acting, and dull action are all present and accounted for. Fortunately,
Sands of Oblivion stops at "bad;" it's superior to many of the bottom-scraping, abysmally
terrible pictures out there, including some major studio releases, but that doesn't
make it worth checking out. No, Sands of Oblivion is just bad, but fortunately for
reviewers that have to sit through it, it's not completely unbearable.
Look! It's the amulet.
Sands of Oblivion is unearthed on Blu-ray and features a passable but visually uninteresting 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer. From the opening seconds onward, this one takes on the look of a budget made-for-television picture. Sand and sky as seen in the opening ancient Egypt segment are flat and textureless, but a few scattered details can look suitably good, for instance facial hair in close-up shots where viewers could literally count each itchy strand. Colors are fairly bold and never particularly unnatural. However, this is a terribly flat, one-dimmensional image; every frame makes it look like characters and backgrounds were cut out and glued onto a sheet of paper. Adding insult to injury are poorly defined blacks and dimensionless white clouds abuzz with noise. Haloing is a problem here and there, as is infrequent blocking. All said, Sands of Oblivion looks fine at a glance, and even sports some solid detail and coloring, but it's too flat and lifeless to truly inspire much confidence.
Sands of Oblivion blows onto Blu-ray with a tepid Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack; no lossless or uncompressed options are available. A most basic track, there's little definition, no sense of space, and hardly any noticeable surround extension. A few minor atmospheric effects heard primarily across the front half of the soundstage have virtually no impact on the overall presentation. Whether chirping insects, a gently blowing wind, or buzzing saws and other power tools used to take down the set in one scene, the track does nothing with them but convey the basic elements of each sound; there's no sense of realism, clarity, or space to any effect. The ancient creature's growls are a bit bass-y, but certainly nothing like what's to be heard in something like The Incredible Hulk. Fortunately, dialogue reproduction is sound, and it's the only thing of sonic consequence in the film.
No extras are included, and the disc lacks any sort of menu.
Sands of Oblivion is a well-conceived but poorly-executed made-for-television blunder, another dime store-quality picture from the Sci-Fi (or Syfy) Channel. Though it features passable acting and direction, there's not much else that stands out as justifying a watch. It's a "seen one seen 'em all" sort of movie that delivers nothing new or noteworthy. This Starz budget Blu-ray features a technical quality befitting the film. With a serviceable 1080p transfer, a dull lossy soundtrack, and no extras, Sands of Oblivion is best left buried for eternity.
2005
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