5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The mysterious crash of the space shuttle leads to the terrifying discovery that there is something alien within the wreckage. Those who come in contact with it are changing in ominous and inexplicable ways. Soon, Washington, D.C., psychiatrist Carol Bennell and her friend, Dr. Ben Driscoll, learn the shocking truth about the growing extraterrestrial epidemic.
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam, Jackson Bond, Jeffrey WrightThriller | 100% |
Horror | 50% |
Sci-Fi | 13% |
Psychological thriller | 12% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
One thing's for sure, it ain’t from around here.
If there is one thing that's really hurting Hollywood today, it's the lack of original thought. For
every Danny Boyle, perhaps one of the most original filmmakers working today, there are a
hundred wannabe's who dig up the classics, slap some nifty special effects on top of a story that's
already been made into a movie that's good enough to begin with, and call it a day. Every now
and then the strategy works, as we saw
in the phenomenal 3:10 to
Yuma, but more often than not, the end result is
a
lackluster effort at best like Planet of the Apes or the 1998 atrocity
Psycho. The Invasion is unique in that it's a remake of a film that's been
remade before. Following the norm, updated special effects, a color image, popular actors, snazzy
visuals,
and fast paced direction and editing just can't help it to surpass the original Invasion of the
Body Snatchers. Hollywood really needs to figure out a new strategy, because remakes and
sequels just aren't going to cut it forever, and as box office returns continue to dwindle, now
would be a really good time to bring out some fresh ideas.
Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig laugh off the negative reviews of their newest film.
Presented on Blu-ray in 1080p high definition and in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, The Invasion looks very good and is one of the best efforts from Warner Brothers to date. The transfer is mostly excellent, featuring a pristine print devoid of any troublesome blemishes. The image is sharp, clear, and highly detailed and offers excellent color reproduction. Colors are bright, vibrant, and pop off the screen, resulting in a very nice three dimensionality and creating a lifelike image that we've come to expect from the best Blu-ray releases. Blues are especially vibrant and stand out as the predominant color in the film. Black levels are very good, but fall just short of perfection, appearing a few times to be just a bit on the bright side. A scene taking place at street level in Washington in chapter 3, around the 9:45 mark, shows off what an incredible looking transfer this is. There are a few odd scenes that demonstrate a less than stellar look, showcasing what looks to be an artificial softness and overly processed color reproduction, but I think that it's artistic intent rather than a flaw in the transfer. Overall, however, The Invasion is a standout transfer from Warner Brothers.
Warner Brothers delivers a Dolby TrueHD lossless soundtrack on this disc, and the result is a pleasant yet slightly underwhelming listening experience. The opening sequence of the film is most impressive with an active sound field and some notable uses of the rear channels to create a chilling atmosphere in what is perhaps the best sequence of the film. From here on out though (read: basically the entire movie), we experience a rather standard sounding track with a few nice surprises (such as the shuttle fly over) until the final chase sequence. As the end of the movie approaches, the sound picks up in intensity as cars smash into one another, a helicopter flies over, and music blares from the speakers, all coming together to create an outstanding sonic experience. The minutiae of the track is excellent as well. Dialogue is reproduced faithfully and with no audible faults, except, perhaps, that it at times sounds recorded at a slightly below average volume, an easily correctible problem that doesn't effect the remainder of the track. Bass is solid when called upon, producing an appropriate rumble and reverberation that is never overly boisterous or distorted. The track flows very well but it's not a completely immersive experience. This is a solid effort nonetheless, and it suits the film well.
The Invasion offers little in the way of supplements with nary a meaningful extra to be found. First is The Invasion: A New Story (1080i, 2:57), a short feature where cast and crew discuss the meaning behind the movie and its place amongst its "Invasion" movie brethren. The Invasion: On the Set (1080i, 3:23) looks at the where the movie was filmed and why locations were chosen for both technical and symbolical reasons. The primary cast also discusses their pleasure in working with director Oliver Hirschbiegel. The Invasion: Snatched (1080i, 3:15) examines the method by which the virus was spread and also takes a peek at making one of the special effects in the movie. Finally, We've Been Snatched Before: Invasion in Media History (1080i, 18:54) examines the history of real life fears in science fiction. Also featured is how "Body Snatchers" films examine the fears of the day as remake after remake is made, and there is a prolonged look at the history of deadly illness in the world and the likelihood that alien viruses could affect the planet.
As a Science Fiction fan, I was eager to screen The Invasion. The concept is excellent and if done right, is ripe for a scary, sharp, shocking, and gruesome film. Unfortunately, this remake of the original classic, like so many other remakes, fails to capture the spirit and horror of the first, putting snazziness and a certain "family-friendly" sheen on top of what should be dark and scary material. As much as I generally dislike remakes, I wouldn't mind seeing someone take another shot at this one ten or twenty years from now, scrapping the polish and creating a desensitized, scary version akin to something like 28 Days Later. For fans of this edition, Warner Brothers has provided a spiffy transfer and a fine lossless soundtrack. Unfortunately, the supplements are as dull and lifeless as the movie, offering nothing of any real value. Even as a hardcore fan of Sci-Fi and some horror, I just couldn't appreciate into this film. While it had its moments, the movie as a whole failed to impress. Along with substandard special features, this is a movie that, unfortunately, I cannot recommend as more than a rental.
Collector's Edition
1995
2010
2011
2011
2013
2013
2015
2007
2008
2000
2017
2008
2014
2007
2002
Director's Cut
2000
2007
2009
2006
2017