5.3 | / 10 |
Users | 2.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
In 2022 a pandemic ravages the world and its cities. Centering on a handful of people as they navigate the obstacles currently hindering society: disease, martial law, quarantine, and vigilantes.
Starring: K.J. Apa, Sofia Carson, Craig Robinson, Bradley Whitford, Peter StormareRomance | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Songbird aspires to...something. Who knows what. It's not particularly successful as a commentary on the COVID-19 pandemic, it falls flat as a cautionary tale, and it can't reach the same dramatic interest and emotional resonance and reality as a pandemic Thriller in the same light as Contagion or Outbreak. Here's a movie that's too sprawling and unfocused, reaching with too many tentacles with too few worthwhile plotlines at its fingertips. Its main focus and essential premise isn't half bad, but it's a labor even at under 90 minutes and incapable of accomplishing anything with the material other than merely existing for the sake of existing.
Songbird's 1080p video presentation is stable and satisfying. The digitally sourced material does show source noise in low light, which can be quite dense within darkened interiors in particular, but these commonplace issues are not of particular distraction to the image. Generally, it is sharp and well defined. Clarity is impressive in the aggregate, revealing complex skin and hair elements with satisfying ease, not to mention well defined environments whether in tight focus or concerning some of the broad views of deteriorating cityscapes, streetways, or the overhead views of the "Q Zones." Color output is steady and pleasing. Contrast is fine, favoring lifelike neutrality. Plenty of good tonal saturation and balance abounds, whether looking at city exteriors, natural greens, clothing, and the like. Black levels enjoy satisfying depth and skin tones look natural. There are no source issues beyond the noise and no obvious encode issues when viewing at normal distance.
Songbird arrives on Blu-ray with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The track opens with impressive stage engagement as newscaster voices, in several languages, filter through and around the stage with airy precision. That sense of spatial excellence remains throughout, particularly when helicopters fly overhead with fine stage traversal and a solid low end output on top. Music presents with fine front-end dominant spacing and pleasing surround and subwoofer integration. Several action effects play with robust depth and detail. Environmental fill satisfies. Dialogue clarity, positioning, and prioritization are never wanting.
Songbird contains several extras. An Apple TV digital copy code is included with purchase. This release ships with a non embossed slipcover.
Another interesting side film set in this world would be an exploration of the violent rebellion that would surely follow in a world where constitutional, never mind human, rights are so wantonly trampled. There's a hint of that in the movie but it's underexplored in favor of some other side stories that don't amount to much themselves. Songbird can't find a rhythm or a purpose. Maybe there are some good ideas at play, some logical leaps forward in the COVID-world, but it was clearly made in haste and without much feel for narrative content or context. Universal's Blu-ray is technically sound, delivering quality video and audio presentations in addition to a few supplements. Rent it.
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