5.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
A dystopian thriller set in the year 2030 that sees the world in a permanent state of economic recession and facing serious environmental problems as a result of global warming.
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sarah Lind, Jakob Davies, Hugh Dillon, Vicellous ShannonAction | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 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: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 2.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
The Humanity Bureau offers a vision for a dystopian future that's a byproduct of today's social and political cultures and environmental conditions. It's not preachy, but it does take a few swipes at contemporary America -- her culture, her political climate -- that don't remain fixtures but that do subtly influence the story's construction and unfolding. Ultimately, beyond any subtle-not-subtle social and/or political jabs, the film evolves into a lower budget but modestly entertaining journey through a fairly large and empty world that neither betrays nor reinforces the concepts introduced. The picture's limited resources mean it cannot paint a fuller picture of the world it has created, but by focusing its attention on characters and ideas rather than sights and sounds, it necessarily must dig in and double down on narrative rather than try and mask shortcomings behind poorly rendered visual effects, which are fortunately kept to a relative minimum in the movie.
The Humanity Bureau, like The Recall, was shot for presentation with Barko Escape technology, which cannot be replicated in the home at this time. Instead, Echo Bridge has released the film with a basic widescreen aspect ratio 1080p transfer. Blu-ray presentation never excites nor disappoints. This is a fairly baseline digitally sourced image. The image delivers essential details well enough, finding good, basic complexities in skin textures, clothes, natural environments, and odds and ends like tables and curtains in the Weller household. The film lacks vibrant colors, generally, favoring a more streamlined, dull, occasionally flat, and sometimes pasty palette that renders skin tones pale and ghastly, at times, though the image finds more color balance, and increased detail, in certain scenes. Check out a scene around the 40 minute mark. It's very firm and crisp, suffering from some of the issues that plague the whole movie, such as light noise and macroblocking, but the baseline textural qualities and colors are much more balanced here than in most places elsewhere. The picture is certainly constrained by the film's budget roots, but Echo Bridge's Blu-ray presentation delivers it in a manner that is probably fairly close to best-case-scenario for this particular movie.
The Humanity Bureau's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is a bit shallow and flat, particularly at the beginning. It seems to even out by chapter three, still lacking the volume and crispness of better tracks but at least finding a higher gear. While gunshots are weak in the opening sequence, there's a marked increase in vitality thereafter. A fight in chapter five offers a more substantial heft, gunfire enjoys a slight bit more weight (though still delivers with a rather puny sensation), and stage spacing is increased, with even a few good discrete effects thrown in throughout the film. Then a car tumbles out of control at the 68 minute mark. The sound is unkempt, sloppy, lacking any kind of distinction or clarity, and the shallowness and tinniness pull the listener out of the entire scene. The track does produce a little bit of decent atmospheric echoing during a recital of the Pledge of Allegiance in chapter four, though it's contained to the front sides and without an extreme push to the farthest edges. A similar sensation, perhaps a bit wider, can be found in a scene in chapter eight, though dialogue is a little shallow in the scene, and the reverberation competes with vocal audibility. Dialogue is otherwise clear, focused, and well prioritized elsewhere.
The Humanity Bureau contains one supplement. Behind the Scenes (1080i, 14:14) offers a basic plot recap, thematic deconstruction, a look at the film's core humanity, shooting in British Columbia, characters, cast and performances, shooting on the Barco Escape and in virtual reality, and more. A DVD copy of the film is included with purchase.
The Humanity Bureau is an effective...whatever it is...dystopian human interest story, perhaps? Cautionary tale? It's certainly not a straight Action film or anything with deeply rooted drama, but however one wishes to describe it, it works well enough to rise a little bit above the low-budget morass. Low-end visual effects are kept to a minimum, connects are grounded but interesting, pacing is surprisingly good for a movie without much in the way of visual support or narrative depth, and the acting exceeds expectations for a movie of this sort. It's hardly a great film, but as a 90-miniute diversion with mild notes of dystopian elements and some critical thinking required, it's not at all awful. Echo Bridge's Blu-ray features passable video and uneven audio. One extra is included. Worth a rental or a deeply discounted bargain buy.
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