Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Core Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 29, 2022

2003’s “The Core” aims to participate in the supercharged disaster movie movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s, where productions such as “Armageddon” and “The Perfect Storm” offered audiences the sheer power of visual effects, making an enormous amount of money in the process. With the dangers of space, sea, and land already explored on multiple occasions, screenwriters Cooper Layne and John Rogers aim to come up with something different, conjuring a doomsday scenario involving the center of the Earth. “The Core” hopes to be sincere with its science and characterization, which is laudable, but it’s much more entertaining when it ventures into ridiculousness, trying to sell a nutty concept for planetary rescue while offering up the usual in disparate personalities and sequences of destruction. It’s not a picture that welcomes a deeper inspection of scientific and technological particulars, but director Jon Amiel (“Entrapment,” “Sommersby”) gets the whole thing up and running with impressive speed, trying to build momentum capable of plowing through the layers of weirdness this endeavor provides.

The Earth’s molten core has stopped rotating, which is causing tremendous violence around the world, with populations facing complete annihilation in three months. On the case is the American Government, who’ve teamed scientist Josh (Aaron Eckhart), astronaut Beck (Hilary Swank), laser specialist Braz (Delroy Lindo), Dr. Zimsky (Stanley Tucci), weapons specialist Serge (Tcheky Karyo), and commander Bob (Bruce Greenwood) to pilot the Virgil, a specialized vehicle capable of drilling to the center of the Earth, deploying nuclear weapons to jumpstart the core. The mission seems impossible, but the professionals are committed to the cause, entering a new world of danger as they try to make their way deep down, battling numerous challenges to their safety along the way.

“The Core” has the benefit of a cracking opening hour, exploring the destruction caused by the rotation issue and the different players attached to the Virgil project. Amiel keeps information flowing in early scenes and provides distinct personalities to follow, even with some cartoonish additions (Zimsky is a chain-smoking intellectual, and Tucci hams it up in the part). Spectacle isn't saved for the finale, placed right up front with a few sequences of disasters occurring around the globe. There’s also a neat brush with danger involving Beck and Bob as they try to land a space shuttle in the L.A. river. “The Core” does very well with speed, keeping minds off the details of the plot, which tries to convey a science-based tone, but basically involves a lot of silliness concerning the mission to magically laser-drill to the center of the Earth, with the whole idea slapped together in a matter of months.

Doomsday is drawing near, and “The Core” juggles many characters, including Army stiff Purcell (Richard Jenkins), flight commander Stickor (Alfre Woodard), and super-hacker Rat (D.J. Qualls), who’s offered here as the “kid” of the mission, capable of doing anything with computers as long as the Hot Pockets keep coming. Dialogue isn’t impressive, with the actors often forced to simply comment on visual ideas, and such visions aren’t always strong, with CGI quite dreadful at times, even by 2003 standards. Entertainment comes from commitment, with the production maintaining forward momentum through the tale, registering more as a sci-fi B-movie from the 1960s, which is perhaps the best way to accept everything that happens in “The Core.”

The Core Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"The Core" comes to Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation. It's listed as a "New 4K scan from the original camera negative," and it certainly looks refreshed for this release, offer exceptional detail throughout the viewing experience, especially when focusing on skin particulars. Textures are distinct on ship interiors (lots of control panels and wiring) and costuming, and exterior adventures retain superb dimension. Clarity also has the effect of exposing many subpar visual effects. Colors are crisp, with compelling greenery with outdoor disasters, while the journey below brings out a wide range of hues, from the orange-ish heat of hot lava to the cooler blues of the crystal realm. Clothing provides clear primaries, and skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Banding is periodically detected.

The Core Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides an immersive listening event. Dialogue exchanges are crisp throughout, balancing softer emotional moments with argumentative behavior. Scoring supports with distinct instrumentation and emphasis, offering circular orchestral power when necessary. Surrounds are active with atmospherics, providing separation and panning effects. Crowd panic and Virgil specifics are also engaging. Low-end offers real heft during inner-Earth sequences and disaster scenes, pounding along with screen destruction.

The Core Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Jon Amiel.

• "To the Core and Back" (10:53, SD) is the making-of for the movie, featuring interviews with director Jon Amiel, producer David Foster, visual effects supervisor Greg McMurry, editor Terry Rawlings, cinematographer John Lindley, Frantic Films creative director Chris Bond, Hammerhead visual effects supervisor Jamie Dixon, production designer Philip Harrison, screenwriters Cooper Layne and John Rogers, and actors D.J. Qualls, Delroy Lindo, Aaron Eckhart, and Hilary Swank. Early inspiration is recalled, with the team trying to dream up a different take on exploration, avoiding deep space. Amiel's concentration on character is celebrated, giving the thrill ride atmosphere of the "The Core" as much depth as possible. Casting is highlighted, with the ensemble hired to provide a human side to visual effects displays, giving viewers more than just flashiness. Preparation is explored through pre-production imagery, and some brief glimpes of BTS footage are included.

• Deleted Scenes (14:13, SD) offer more character beats, including Josh's emotional response to the news of Earth's destruction, his secret claustrophobia, and his friendship with Rat, which introduces the Project DESTINI idea much earlier in the film. More group training and planning sequences are presented, including a flame test on the unobtanium suits. Additional comedy involving Zimsky's smoking is offered, and a quiet moment between Josh and Beck, where the astronaut shares her dream of distinction, is provided. Deleted Scenes can be viewed with or without commentary from director Jon Amiel.

• "Deconstruction of the Visual Effects" (SD) features interviews with visual effects supervisor Greg McMurry, Frantic Films creative director Chris Bond, director Jon Amiel, CIS Hollywood visual effects supervisor Bryan Hirota, editor Terry Rawlings, 3DSite president Daniele Colajacomo, Hammerhead visual effects supervisor Jamie Dixon, and Computer Café visual effects supervisor Scott Gordon. Topics are broken down into "Storyboards" (4:32), "Birds" (3:17), "The Colosseum" (3:33), "Crystals" (3:03), and "The Golden Gate" (4:27). A Play All option is available.

• Image Gallery (5:24) collects film stills, BTS snaps, poster art, lobby cards, and press kit pages.

• T.V. Spot (:32, SD) offers a single commercial for "The Core."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:18, HD) is included.

The Core Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Casting has its limitations, but even problematic actors such as Eckhart give themselves completely to the material, trying to make the film feel alive with emotional stakes and charged interactions, selling the stuffing out of a few unplayable moments created by Amiel. Admittedly, the helmer can't sustain the early sugar rush of "The Core," which slows in its second act, following mission hazards instead of itchy teamwork. There's a clear loss of storytelling velocity, but, mercifully, the feature doesn't come to a stop. "The Core" has some difficulty coming up with a satisfying closer, but the ride to the center of the Earth has its goofy appeal, as Amiel keeps things bright and earnest while drilling through countless cliches and questionable creative ideas.