BLU-RAY REVIEW

Children Of Men

Featured In Issue 121, June 2007

Picture4.5
SoundNR
WSR Score4
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):
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
61030033
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
For strong violence, language, some drug use, and brief nudity
(Retail Price):
$39.99
(Disc Type):
Dual Side/Dual Layer (HD DVD30/DVD9)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
109
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
1
(Theatrical Year):
2006
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
03/27/07
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Alfonso Cuarón
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
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(Re-Recording Mixers):
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(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Digital+ 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):
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(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

In the year 2027, the world has gone to hell in a handbasket: women are no longer able to give birth, and anarchy has spread across the entire planet. In their failing attempt to save some civility, the British government has locked down the country, imprisoning and deporting all immigrants. So, when Theo Faron (Owen) is approached by his freedom-fighting ex-wife (Moore) to arrange for transit papers for a young foreign woman (Ashitey), it is unexpected that he finds himself on a mission to save the Children Of Men. Based on the book by P.D. James. (Danny Richelieu)

Special features are the same as those found on the DVD, which was reviewed in Issue 120 (and include: two minutes of deleted scenes, the 27-minute The Possibility Of Hope documentary, Children Of Men comments by Slavoj Zizek in six minutes, the eight-minute Under Attack featurette, the nine-minute Theo & Julian Futuristic Design featurette, and the three-minute Visual Effects: Creating The Baby featurette) with the addition of the U-Control option (Picture-in-Picture, Info, and Commercials) and My Scenes.

Even with the VC-1-encoded 1.85:1 HD DVD's desaturated color scheme, contrast is well balanced and bright. Vibrant colors, when present, are rendered well. Fine details are delivered very well, with the various textures presented pristinely, and image depth can be impressive. (Danny Richelieu)

The Dolby® Digital Plus 5.1-channel soundtrack is very similar to the DVD, with blips of brilliance in an otherwise basic mix. Fidelity is pure, although there are times when dialogue can have a digital edginess to it that can become a distraction. (Danny Richelieu)