BLU-RAY REVIEW

Underworld: Awakening 3D

Featured In Issue 167, May/June 2012

3D Picture5
Picture5
Sound5+
WSR Score4.5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
39801
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Strong violence and gore, and for some language
(Retail Price):
$45.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
89
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A, B & C
(Theatrical Year):
2010
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
05/08/12
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Marlind & Stein
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 7.1, DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

Kate Beckinsale returns as the ultimate vampire warrioress Selene in Underworld: Awakening. Having escaped years of imprisonment, she finds herself in a changed world, where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species. Now Selene must battle the humans and a frightening, new breed of super Lycans to ensure the death dealers' survival. (Gary Reber)

Special features include a filmmakers' commentary; five featurettes: Selene Rises (HD 12:14), Casting The Future Of Underworld (HD 12:33), Resuming The Action (HD 08:52), Building A Better Lycan (HD 10:20), and Awakening A Franchise, Building A Brutal New World (HD 18:53); six 3D previsualization sequences (HD 21:03); a blooper reel (HD 03:21); the "Heavy Prey" music video by Lacey Sturm Featuring Geno Lenardo (HD 03:25); up-front previews; and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 2.40:1 1080p MVC 3D picture is terrifically outstanding! Shot mostly in native 3D with conversion executed by ODI-Oysterr Digital India Private Limited, Red Epic Cameras were used to shoot 3D for the first time in 120 frames per second. The 3-D dimensionality is absolutely stunning—certainly one of the best 3-D experiences thus far released, especially because this is a very dark film and detail virtually never gets buried in the darkness. The picture quality remains true to the 2-D version, which is likewise superb. Both exhibit strong black levels that consistently reveal fine detail. The saturated color palette pops with striking blues and grays against black, yet the bolder colors of red and orange remain naturally hued and warm. Fleshtones are rendered with varied tonality, to depict natural and unnatural characteristics. Contrast is nicely balanced with deep, solid blacks and revealing shadow delineation in dimly lit scenes, enhanced with exceptional and impressive depth and perspective. The natural sense of spatial depth is extraordinary! This is evident in virtually every scene and shot, whether in the foreground or background. Negative parallax images, such as shattered glass, and other debris and various weapons, really extend out of the screen, but not so as to be distracting, and positive parallax depth enhances the realism of each and every scene. The sense of depth is consistently present and exhibits excellent spacing and perspective between characters and their environment. The illusion of three-dimensional space is impressive and engaging. There are no distractions or noticeable crosstalk or ghosting artifacts. This is a magnificent 3-D visual experience whose spatial dimensionality is impressive throughout. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 7.1-channel soundtrack is dramatically exciting and consistently impresses every second. The sense of dimensional spatiality never retreats to a collapsing frontal soundstage, but consistently frames the sonic borders of the on-screen settings to enhance realism. The sound expands and contracts in dynamic contrasts but never at the sacrifice of the spatial, directionalized imaging that is so immersive. Surround is aggressively heavy and constant and fully utilizes the two extra channels to define the size and depth of the soundscapes. The two extra channels are patterned off the 7.1-channel theatrical Dolby® format at the back rather than to 90-degree sides (preferred for home theatre). Atmospherics and sound effects are incredibly dimensional. Foley is perfectly integrated. The .1 LFE channel is constantly active yet never overbearing or unnatural sounding, yet at times extending to well below sub-25 Hz. The music score is not only dynamic sounding but sweeping in terms of soundstage and soundfield spatial dimension. Fidelity is excellent. Dialogue manages to stay intelligible and generally integrated spatially. This is one those special soundtracks that define modern cinema sound and demonstrate the potential for sound to truly excite and enhance the dimensional storytelling. Exceptionally well done! (Gary Reber)