6 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Hoping to alter the events of the past, a 19th century inventor instead travels 800,000 years into the future, where he finds humankind divided into two warring races.
Starring: Guy Pearce, Samantha Mumba, Mark Addy, Sienna Guillory, Phyllida LawSci-Fi | 100% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, French
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Updating literary classics with more modern sensibilities is usually a recipe for disaster in Hollywood, but not so with The Time Machine, Director Simon Wells' (Mars Needs Moms) adaptation of his great-grandfather H. G. Wells' timeless 1895 novella of the same name. While the film version does not hold to the book's plot specifics but rather more broadly its basic plot points, this is nevertheless a commendable, agreeable, and flat out enjoyable quick take on the classic tale that explores the human condition from within and from without in a far-future world that is at once alien and at the same time very familiar.
Paramount brings The Time Machine to Blu-ray with a rock-solid 1080p transfer. While it may not be quite so finessed and fully faithful as some of the studio's best releases of catalogue vintage (Vanilla Sky and The Haunting, for example, both from the prestigious "Paramount Presents" line), this is a perfectly good and very agreeable 1080p transfer, particularly for a far more affordably priced release without so many exterior bells and whistles. The picture is by and large sharp and filmic. The picture plays with a healthy film-like look about it. Grain is managed well, retained with a light and complimentary structure that accentuates the pleasantly complex details through a broad range of environments and locations, from the dense turn of the century lecture halls and studies to sleek and shiny future environments, from natural surface future landscapes to dark underground locales. The picture holds tight to quality detailing, never leaving the viewer wanting for better skin or clothing details or spotting all of the intricacies on the time machine itself. Colors favor a warm push with shades of brown and beige and red amongst the defining tones but to be sure future slick grays and natural greens hold serve quite nicely for contrast and accuracy. Black levels could stand do add some depth but skin tones appear accurate. There are a few spots and speckles but the print is very clean overall. There are no serious encode problems to report. This may not have the fanfare of a Paramount Presents remaster but all signs point to a genuinely good and satisfying Blu-ray, anyway.
The Time Machine travels onto Blu-ray with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is very good overall, featuring excellent spatial awareness, surround activity, and overall clarity. The track finds some satisfying surround engagement and full stage extension when Hartdegen fires up the time machine for the first time. The swirls and moving gears, blended with the triumphant score, reveal a wonderful full-on sonic presentation that fills the entire stage and never skimps on detail and proper placement, either. All of the film's more intense time travel sequences hold serve for this variety of engagement and detail, while some additional elements further take full advantage of the generous spacing, such as a swarm of bats at the 68-minute mark which flutter through with precision placement and movement. A solid low end extension is in evidence as well for music and sound effects alike. Light ambient details are nicely integrated. Dialogue is clear and well prioritized as it flows from a natural front-center location.
This Blu-ray release of The Time Machine contains a myriad of legacy features, headlined by a pair of audio commentary tracks. No DVD or
digital copies are included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover.
The Time Machine is surprisingly rich and it resonates quite a bit for its blend of inward depth and external excitement. It may not be a cut and paste retelling of Wells' classic tale, but as far as updates go this one is very good. Paramount's Blu-ray is terrific as well. Solid video and audio are complimented by a wealth of extra content. Highly recommended.
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