6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 3.4 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.4 |
Chris and Annie Nielsen's children are both killed, and then a few years later Chris himself dies in an accident. Chris goes to heaven, a place built of his imagination, and the paintings he loved in life. He discovers from an angel that Annie has committed suicide, as she is bereft without her family. Chris determines to search for her, but as he has gone to heaven and she to hell, he must endure great hardships to find her.
Starring: Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra, Max von Sydow, Rosalind ChaoRomance | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1
Portuguese: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Portuguese
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Mobile features
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
No matter how many times I sip from the waters of What Dreams May Come, I walk away parched and unsatisfied. Richard Matheson's 1978 novel of the same name is a far more fulfilling journey into the afterlife, and not just because the classic horror maestro's book avoids the sort of syrupy sentimentality that gums up the gears of screenwriter Ronald Bass and director Vincent Ward's 1998 adaptation. Matheson's heaven isn't a sterile, storybook dreamscape, nor is his hell anything less than an unspeakable, nightmarish assault on the senses; his prevailing philosophy, enigmatic as it is, doesn't fall victim to Hollywood's ever-comfortable, quasi-religious dogma; and he doesn't clutter his narrative with character after character, or pen such a slippery, convoluted narrative. When asked what he thought of the feature film, Matheson replied: "I will not comment, except to say that a major producer in Hollywood said to me, they should have shot your book. Amen. I must add though that producer Stephen Simon tried to get my script filmed for many years, so I can't fault him for finally having to go the route he did in order to get the film made."
Drastic departures from the book aside, Ward's film still isn't an easy pill to swallow. Long stretches of evocative, at-times haunting
imagery resonate on a profound level, Joel Hynek's visual effects are inventive and suitably surreal, and the cast's performances are excellent all around. Unfortunately, each one is undermined by the brief but jarring bursts of humor, tightly wound heartstrings, patchwork plotting and nagging gaps in logic that lie in wait. Don't misunderstand: there's a lot to love about What Dreams May Come. But Hollywood should have stuck with Matheson.
Universal has been slowly but surely releasing its entire HD DVD catalog on Blu-ray, and What Dreams May Come marks one of the last high definition stragglers to wash up on Blu shores. Unfortunately, the studio hasn't elected to remaster the film, meaning the 1080p/VC-1 transfer that graces this release is identical to the one that first appeared on the 2007 HD DVD. Edge enhancement poses a problem, mild to moderate ringing haunts several shots, minor contrast inconsistencies are prevalent, and some fleeting print nicks and scratches briefly flutter into view. But hold onto hope. Colors are both lush and lively, and primaries are absolutely lovely; so much so that the film's rich, painterly backgrounds all but swirl to life on the screen. Contrast stands firm far more often than it relents, delineation is decisively decent, and black levels are inky on the whole (barring a few problematic sequences in which crush or muted shadows rear their hellish heads). Detail wavers a bit on occasion, but any resulting softness is tied to Eduardo Serra's photography and Ward's visual effects sequences; nothing more sinister. Fine textures flourish, object definition is pleasing, and the film's faint veneer of grain is intact. Moreover, significant artifacting, banding and aliasing are held at bay, and the transfer renders the standard DVD irrelevant. What Dreams May Come isn't as gorgeous as it could be, but it comes close enough to warrant an upgrade.
Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is quite a step up from the 2007 HD DVD's Dolby Digital-Plus mix. For one, rear speaker activity is more lively and engaging, and takes fuller advantage of the entire soundfield. Directionality is fairly effective, pans are eerily transparent, Michael Kamen's score eagerly envelops the listener, and the soundfield is warm and inviting when Christy is in heaven, and chaotic and distressing when he descends into hell. LFE output is more powerful and precise as well, and the roar of burning freighters, the rush of Stygian waters, and the thunder of a bottomless vortex make their presence known. Dialogue isn't as reliable -- some lines are duller than others -- but voices are generally warm, intelligible and well-prioritized. And while there are other minor oddities, all of them are attributable to the film's original sound design. All in all, What Dreams May Come isn't going to sweep anyone away, but it will please those willing to embrace Ward's most harmonious and dissonant visions of the afterlife.
The Blu-ray edition of What Dreams May Come doesn't offer any new bonus features, nor does it pull back the proverbial curtain as
much as it could. Worse, Ward's commentary is fairly flat, a trio of featurettes are too short to satisfy, and the entire supplemental package is
presented in standard definition.
What Dreams May Come will continue to divide audiences. Religious viewers may take issue with its accessible-to-all ideology, cinephiles will take issue with its more melodramatic beats, and visually oriented filmfans will continue to sing its Academy Award-winning special effects' praises. Not many people will fall in love with everything Ward's journey into the afterlife has to offer and the film will remain a flawed favorite of only the most diligent aficionados. Universal's Blu-ray release is also a mixed bag. Its video transfer, though strong, is outdated; its DTS-HD Master Audio track is the highlight of the disc; and its supplemental package, while blessed with a director's commentary, falls short. Search your heart and choose wisely.
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