5.2 | / 10 |
Users | 3.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.3 |
When aliens attack and swiftly conquer the world by frying our electronic grid and systematically hunting down the disorganized, pathetically under-defended survivors, a small band of tourists in Moscow combine to find a way to annihilate the aliens' powerful defenses.
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Max Minghella, Rachael Taylor, Yuriy KutsenkoAction | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 65% |
Thriller | 39% |
Horror | 17% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
You don't know who you are until something happens.
Nobody likes those movies where all the good parts find their way into the trailer, those movies that are better enjoyed in a two- or three-minute
compact version rather than the larger ninety-minute full-on experience. The Darkest Hour is one of those movies. It's not an awful
experience stretched out to ninety minutes by any stretch of the imagination, but the full film doesn't really do much more than repeat the sort of
stuff that appears in the trailer. If anything, it's too slow. Once the initial "cool" factor of the usual alien invasion and post-apocalyptic hubbub fades
away at the end of the first act, viewers are left with pretty much a series of repeating scenes that feature characters wandering around and hiding out
from the aliens, slowly piecing together what they're here for, how to kill them, and how to avoid their own demise. It's all very straightforward, and
pretty much
all that changes is the background and character rotation as some are killed off and others appear to take their place. The movie works well enough as
mindless entertainment with a little scientific muscle behind it, but a game-changer or genre-definer The Darkest Hour most certainly is not.
We've got to install microwave rifles!
The Darkest Hour's 1080p transfer impresses with nearly every square inch of the frame. The digital photography practically passes for film quality. Never does it look flat or lifeless, instead capturing an authentic, sometimes nearly film-like texture. The image appears razor-sharp, even at a distance. Viewers will enjoy the crisp lines and accurate definition of buildings and various objects even at some length away from the camera. Close-up shots are equally revealing. Skin and clothing textures are first-rate, and the transfer captures every last little detail on both intact and war-torn structures and objects. Colors are wonderful, balanced and accurate whether in the bright sunlight or within the darkest hiding spots. The entire palette enjoys natural brilliance, with tremendous distinction even between the most subtle shades. Black levels are excellent, and flesh tones are even. Viewers will see very light banding or a trace of aliasing in a handful of shots, but this is otherwise a rock-solid, highly enjoyable, pretty much reference-quality transfer from Summit.
The Darkest Hour shines on Blu-ray. Summit's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack delivers expectational audio from beginning to end. A strong collection of haunting, airy notes deeply penetrate the soundstage during the opening titles. Drifting surround support and a fine sense of wide-open space creates a fairly chilling sonic effect. The track plays popular music in the following minutes, once overlaying the film and shortly thereafter in a dance club. Both deliver clean, crisp notes, excellent spacing, natural immersion, and superb and fine-tuned bass. Action effects deliver the goods. The sound of humans being ripped apart by the creatures plays with a clear sense of tearing and spilling all over the stage. Gunfire is delivered accurately and with a strong, crisp edge. It plays with good power and authenticity, and even the sound of brass hitting pavement plays with a true-to-life flair. The heaviest, most prominent effects -- including building collapses -- play with tremendous strength, but not at the expense of nearly pinpoint clarity and natural immersion into the chaos. The track also handles more subtle sound effects, such as water lightly rolling up against a ship's hull, with a pure, realistic sensation. Dialogue is firm, clear, and balanced in the center channel, never lost under the heaviest effects. This is another first-rate soundtrack from Summit.
The Darkest Hour contains an average assortment of extras: a short film, a featurette, deleted scenes, and an audio commentary.
The Darkest Hour serves its purpose as acceptable mindless entertainment. It's slick, well made, kind of snazzy sometimes, but that's about it. Dull characters and a repetitive cadence keep the movie from ascending beyond mediocrity. This is the perfect example of the go-nowhere modern movie. It's nowhere near as awful those bottom scrapers in terms of raw production value, but it's also a fine example of how a movie suffers when nobody cares about the characters. The bottom line is that most will be entertained in a brain dead sort of way, but audiences shouldn't expect the next great Sci-Fi masterpiece. Summit Entertainment's Blu-ray release of The Darkest Hour features stellar video and audio. A few supplements are included. This would make a good rainy day rental.
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