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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Transcendence

    Featured In Issue 189, September 2014

    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):
    Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number):
    3000059426
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG-13
    (Rating Reason):
    Sci-fi action and violence, some bloody images, brief strong language and sexuality
    (Retail Price):
    $35.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    119
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    Not Indicated
    (Theatrical Year):
    2014
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    07/22/14
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Wally Pfister
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
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    (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):
    Dolby Digital 5.1, 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):
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    In Transcendence, Dr. Will Caster (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 have also made him the prime target of anti-technology extremists 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 (Hall) and best friend Max Waters (Bettany), both fellow researchers, the question is not if they can...but if they should. 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 is becoming terrifyingly clear is there may be no way to stop him. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include seven featurettes: What Is Transcendence? (HD 05:20), Wally Pfister: A Single Vision (HD 02:52), Guarding The Threat (HD 02:18), The Promise Of A.L. (HD 02:34), It's Me (HD 01:02), Singularity (HD 01:09), and R.I.F.T. (HD 0:58); two trailers; upfront previews; and an UltraViolet digital copy.

    The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture is terrifically filmic with a warm, rich color palette that is strongly saturated. Strong primaries exhibit a bold, vibrant palette with healthy, natural fleshtones. Contrast is well balanced throughout, with sun-bright highlights and deep, solid blacks with revealing shadow delineation. Resolution is precisely detailed, with fine nuances revealed in facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture. This is a reference, visually powerful film that perfectly characterizes an evolutionary future generated by artificial intelligence. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is a dynamically energized, holosonic® experience with nuanced atmospherics and sound effects supported by deep, powerful sub-25 Hz .1 LFE bass. Surround envelopment is aggressively directionalized and powerful, using effectively panned atmospherics and sound effects and an electronic synthesized music score. Dialogue is executed with good spatial delineation and intelligibility. The music score is spread across the soundstage and extends to the surrounds. This is a reference-quality and dynamically powerful soundtrack that builds as the storytelling advances. (Gary Reber)

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