Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

Transcendence Blu-ray Movie Review

Stand by your man...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown July 17, 2014

Transcendence marks the directorial debut of Wally Pfister, best known for his work as cinematographer to Christopher Nolan. Unfortunately, that may be the only notable thing about Pfister and screenwriter Jack Paglen's uninspired misfire. Dull and dutiful to the point of being tiresome and even mopey, Transcendence is predictable, heavy-handed, infuriatingly mechanical and much too infatuated with itself, promising a great deal but delivering very little. Oh, it's built on a terrific premise, full of grand ideas and thought-provoking commentary. It's been stripped of anything that might allow it to linger in the imagination or satisfy the intellect, though. Even Pfister's cinematography (courtesy of DP Jess Hall) is surprisingly unremarkable, meaning the film isn't much to look at either. What's left? The cast is fantastic... on paper. In practice, the performances fail to impress, whether by way of Paglen's wooden dialogue or, in the case of Depp, what appears to be sheer boredom.

Death becomes him...

Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is the foremost researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence, working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions. His highly controversial experiments have made him famous, but they've also made him the prime target of anti-technology extremists -- led by cold revolutionary Bree (Kate Mara) -- who will do whatever it takes to stop him. However, in their attempt to destroy Will, they inadvertently become the catalyst for him to succeed; to be a participant in his own transcendence. For his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and best friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany), both fellow researchers, the question is not if they can transfer Will's consciousness into a machine... but if they should. Soon, though, their worst fears are realized as Will's thirst for knowledge evolves into a seemingly omnipresent quest for power. To what end is unknown. The only thing that becomes terrifyingly clear is that there may not be a way to stop him.

Lawnmower Man isn't the only film that comes to mind while trudging through Transcendence, or even the best. And television? My brain was spooling up fan-favorite episodes from too many science fiction series to count. Pfister never quite escapes that creeping, crawling sense of genre familiarity, nor will you; that nagging knowledge that you've seen this all a hundred times before, and executed with more style, confidence and originality. Worse, elements that might elevate Transcendence above the genre crowd -- Evelyn's devotion, Max's doubts, A.I. Will's expanding consciousness and eventual expression of force -- are robbed of complexity and reduced to paper-thin plot points stretched to the point of tearing. The central mystery -- is the advancing intelligence really Will or something wholly inhuman? -- isn't even much of a mystery. Pfister and Paglen simply choose an answer near the end of the film. And having positioned Will as an out-of-control demi-god in the making, the answer is as problematic and unfulfilling as the nanobot swarm vs. human resistance action scenes that precede it. (No spoiler alert necessary. Not only do the film's trailers give away the ending, along with just about everything else, Pfister's opening scene involves a horribly misguided and ultimately detrimental flash-forward that reveals way too much way too early.)

As to the cast, Hall holds her own as the movie's emotional core, but her co-stars, each one a talent in his or her own right, are either miscast or wasted on generic bit parts. Depp is flat and colorless, offering a performance as dry as it is pedestrian. Kate Mara frequently bears her teeth but doesn't prove menacing in the least, Cillian Murphy and Morgan Freeman are practically hired hands; special agents of exposition and story advancement, and little more. Bettany's character has a more intriguing past than present, leaving him next to nothing to work with. And Clifton Collins, Jr. and Cole Hauser are squandered on thankless roles that are as stiffly penned as they come. It doesn't help that the actors are forced to "casually" point out key elements crucial to third-act developments, each of which seem to also be paired with extended close-ups that amount to flashing neon signs: This Will Be Important! Pay Attention! (The Faraday cage Will constructs for Evelyn is introduced with such ham-fisted transparency that I spent the next hour waiting for its inevitable reappearance.)

Of course, not every filmfan will experience the pangs of bitter disappointment I felt during Transcendence. Some will shrug it off as decent or passable and stop there; others will differ to the classic defense of the apathetic: oh come on, it's not that bad. (Translation: "it's bad, but not as bad as you suggest.") But with Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas on EP duties, Oscar-winning Inception cinematographer Wally Pfister in the director's chair, and a cast most filmmakers would kill to see walk on set, the unmistakably average, arguably mediocre results are suddenly much more disheartening than they might otherwise be. A rainy Friday night rental at best, Transcendence is a letdown in every way. I'd advise lowering your expectations if you have any hope of enjoying this one.

Transcendence Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Transcendence arrives with a tough to swallow 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation that parts ways with its theatrical counterpart, exhibiting signs of over-manipulation and several other questionable decisions on the part of the studio. Artificial sharpening takes a small toll, with minor ringing and edge halos popping up here and there. The telltale evidence of noise reduction is present throughout, and the integrity of the grain field appears to have been affected. Contrast is overheated and oppressive, with prevailing crush that ranges from mild to severe, and delineation disappoints. Skintones are sometimes poorly saturated and unnatural. Moreover, the image often has a distinctly digital appearance despite the fact that Pfister (like Nolan, a fierce pro-film stock advocate) and DP Jess Hall shot Transcendence in 35mm. Thankfully, color richness is noteworthy and detail is decent on the whole, if not a tad uneven. Edges are as sharply defined as well-lit textures are crisp, and a number of choice scenes are quite striking.

Will most people notice its flaws? Or for that matter, care? Maybe, maybe not. I'd like to think we're getting closer to recognizing these things faster and with less debate. It's serviceable enough, I suppose, and in some ways the sort of non-filmic presentation a subset of viewers prefer. The Blu-ray release of The Dark Knight has similar problems and yet many continue to sing its praises, even though insiders and videophiles have outlined what I'd call the dramatic differences between the Batman sequel's BD and theatrical presentations. I suspect reviews of Transcendence's presentation may end up being largely positive too, even though a quick perusal of the screenshots I've included clearly reveals many instances of each issue. Rest assured that my review of Warner's video encode has not been influenced by my less-than-enthusiastic response to the film. With that, I leave the discussion to the forum.

Transcendence Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Warner's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is undoubtedly the highlight of the disc and far more impressive than the film's video presentation. Dialogue is clear, intelligible and carefully prioritized, and dynamics are excellent. Rear speaker activity is bristling with tiny ambient flourishes too, as well as convincing directional effects and smooth pans, all of which combine to bolster an already immersive soundfield. LFE output, meanwhile, though initially restrained for the better part of an hour, soon begins to flaunt its power as Will's forces make a stand against humanity's aggression. It might be worth mentioning that Mychael Danna's score is occasionally overwhelmed by the third act's action sequences, but never to distracting ends. Transcendence sounds as good as I expected, which came as something of a relief considering the other half of the studio's AV presentation.

Transcendence Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• What is Transcendence? (HD, 5 minutes): This talking heads EPK features the cast and crew explaining the premise and plot of the film, albeit without the insight into the production most fans will be itching for.
• A Singular Vision (HD, 3 minutes): Another much too short featurette, this time with key members of the cast and production team discussing the experience of working with Pfister on his directorial debut.
• Guarding the Threat (HD, 2 minutes): Shorter and shorter still. More film clip montage than production overview, this featurette finds the cast outlining the story... yet again.
• The Promise of A.I. (HD, 3 minutes): A quick-hit conversation about advancing technology.
• It's Me (HD, 1 minute): A teaser trailer/promo.
• Singularity (HD, 1 minutes): Another teaser, narrated by Morgan Freeman.
• R.I.F.T. (HD, 1 minute): One more, with Kate Mara's revolutionary issuing a warning.
• Trailers

Transcendence Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I was warned Transcendence would disappoint. I refused to believe it... then suffered the consequences. I wasn't warned about Warner's Blu-ray release, though. While the film's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track delivers the goods, its video presentation is plagued by multiple issues (some of which fly in the face of Pfister's intentions) and its supplemental package amounts to twenty minutes of promotional fluff. I was hoping for more, from the film, yes. But the Blu-ray as well. Judge for yourself, just adjust your expectations accordingly.