Vampire Academy Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

Vampire Academy Blu-ray Movie Review

Lower learning.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 19, 2014

It seemed that for decades -- from Lugosi to Oldman -- Vampirism in cinema was in good hands, the subject of great films and built on robust themes blended with strong characterization, frightening mood, and gripping drama. Certainly, there were penny of off-the-beaten-path Vampire films, a lot of low-budget pictures with elements of eroticism or grotesqueness with little purpose beyond the superficial, but they mainly remained cloaked, hidden away and really known and understood by the few who dared wander beyond the mainstream and discover the world of darker, even forbidden, cinema. And then, Twilight happened. Suddenly, vampires were not only mainstream, they were sexy, young, hip, happening, out in the open, and sparkly, not hidden away in coffins and keeping odd hours in cobweb-infested castles. For better or for worse -- the latter, most would argue -- the franchise redefined the Vampire landscape and set into motion an entire industry formed on the back of writing and filmmaking assembly lines that spewed out clone after clone after clone. Vampire Academy may be the worst offender yet. It's haphazardly constructed, a blend of established mythology with its own rules, a dull setting, bland characters, trite drama, and structural lethargy that all contribute to a terribly forgettable film with practically zero watchability and negligible purpose beyond further flooding an already over saturated market.

Back at 'ya.

The peaceful Moroi vampire Lissa Dragomir (Lucy Fry) and her half-human, half-vampire Dhampir guardian Rose Hathaway (Zoey Deutch), who shares a psychic connection with Lissa, are on the lam, having survived for two years since their escape from St. Vladimir's Academy, a school for vampires tucked away deep in the nowheres of Montana. As the film opens, they're promptly caught and returned to the school where, after their punishments have been duly doled, they realize that the danger they once fled remains. Their primary area of concern comes from the evil vampires, known as "Strigoi." As they attempt to unravel the mysteries around them and survive the dangers that place them in peril, Rose forms an intimate bond with a man from the school named Dimitri Belikov (Danila Kozlovsky).

Vampire Academy has so little going for it (the film version, anyway; chances are the book fleshes out the story and characters a bit more and provides some further insight into the world they inhabit and the motives that drive them) that it will make even diehard Twilight naysayers appreciate the story depth, character construction, and dramatic dynamics within Author Stephenie Meyer genre-defining works and their companion films. Vampire Academy represents the worst of the "gravy train" sort of film that only rehashes a popular angle with little care for the end product, so long as it may be marketed and sold to the correct audience. The film is predictably populated by pretty people, with nary a blemish to be found or a hair out of place. The characters aren't quite so inorganically smooth and plastic as they appear in Twilight, but the premise holds firm. In Vampire Academy, characters seem fully interchangeable with those from other films, often looking and behaving no differently than their companions from other, better stories. It's boring, basic stuff that's both shallow and superficial, mixing an overly convoluted plot with dumbed-down characters that results in a slog of a film that barely treads water from the transparent opening minutes to its unimaginative finale.

The results are predictably flat performances and more than a few cringe-worthy moments, like when a gaggle of vampirettes hiss at the heroes as they walk by at some formal function. The movie borders on parody even though it clearly doesn't mean to. It never quite sorts out the story enough to garner any sort of interest, and that it pushes along with nothing that excites the senses or catches the eye -- even a love scene feels emotionlessly manufactured -- makes it a doubly dull experience. The performances are predictably lifeless, with not a spark amongst the cast. That's to be expected when the script is so unbelievably devoid of purpose or drive. Action scenes are stale and look lifted from other pictures, complete with unconvincing digital werewolves appearing at one point. It would almost be funny if it weren't so dreadfully dull; an uptick in humor and a nudge towards straight parody might have made the movie a bit more tolerable than what exists in its current state.

Vampire Academy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Vampire Academy features a solid high definition transfer. At this stage in the Blu-ray format's lifespan, it represents nothing exceptional or memorable. It's very good in every regard, a solid representation of both the filmmakers' vision and the picture's original HD video source yet nothing that will be remembered as a high point in format picture quality. Details are strong, aided by good, even clarity throughout. Basic clothing textures impress, though faces appear smooth by design. The transfer does excel in displaying fine, intricate textures away from the forefront; paper towel surface or Academy brick and stone and concrete all take on good, natural textures. Colors are fine, showing basic shades with commendable accuracy even through the film's slightly pale, slightly darkened tone. Black levels are nicely deep and inky, and flesh tones only appear slightly pasty and just a touch red. No immediately evident banding, blocking, or noise is present. All in all, a solid transfer of a visually drab and genre-typical image.

Vampire Academy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Vampire Academy enrolls on Blu-ray with a solidly unremarkable DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. There's strong presence and instrumental clarity and focus across the brief opening pop song, one full of energy that translates into a rather potent sensation around the stage, fully immersive and supported by a strong low end. Music throughout enjoys the same attention to detail, space, vigor, and strength at the bottom. Action scenes are dynamic and satisfying, sending information flowing from every speaker in a harmony of aggression and movement. Ambient effects are satisfyingly filling, whether light classroom elements or the din of a crowded shopping mall heard in chapter 11. Dialogue plays evenly from the center and enjoys a natural sense of space during a scene within a spacious sanctuary at one point in the film. Like the video, this lossless soundtrack is nothing special in 2014 but is nevertheless a good, balanced, enjoyable effort all around.

Vampire Academy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Vampire Academy contains three brief supplements, all appearing in standard definition. A UV digital copy code is included in the case.

• Alternate Opening (SD, 1:20).
• Deleted Scenes (SD, 4:18): Out of My Pay Grade, Dress Shopping, Party Flashback, Why Did We Leave the Academy,? and Microwave Mini Taquitos.
• A Conversation with Richelle Mead (SD, 2:51): The author discusses the story basics, the transition from page to screen, story themes, and more.

Vampire Academy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Vampire Academy is a predictably bland and boring modern Vampire film that's more about teenage sex appeal than it is dark and hopeless worlds, frightening creatures, myth, magic, and all of the other things that once defined the genre. It's the prototypical example of the wannabe clone, something that almost certainly wouldn't exist if it weren't for Twilight. The movie is a mess; it's largely aimless, poorly scripted, lazily acted, and simply uninteresting with every new scene. The book probably reads better than the movie plays, and interested audiences are encouraged to check it out instead. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Vampire Academy offers good video and audio. Supplements are few and short. Skip it.