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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Underworld: Evolution

    Featured In Issue 112, September 2006

    Picture4
    Sound4
    WSR Score3
    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):
    15381
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    For pervasive strong violence and gore, some sexuality/nudity, and language
    (Retail Price):
    $
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    106
    (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):
    06/20/06
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Len Wiseman
    (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):
    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):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    An Evolution in the Underworld has created human hybrids of lycans (werewolves) and vampires who are at each other's throats. The vampire Selene (Beckinsale) is desperately trying to keep lycan Michael (Speedman) hidden and safe as the war between the Death Dealers and Lycans escalates. And when Markus (Curran), the blood leader of the vampires emerges from his bat cave in search of his lycan brother William, he will not let a pair of star-crossed lovers get in the way of his bloodletting. Based on the characters created by Kevin Grevioux, Len Wiseman, and Danny McBride. (Suzanne Hodges)

    Special features include filmmakers' commentary; six featurettes: Bloodlines: From Script To Screen (13 minutes), The Hybrid Theory (13 minutes), Making Monsters Roar (12 minutes), The War Rages On (10 minutes), Building A Saga (13 minutes), and Music And Mayhem (12 minutes); the Atreyu "Her Portrait In Black" music video; and high-definition previews.

    While the color palette chosen for this 2.40:1 Blu-ray Disc picture is not the most stunning, the picture is quite good, with well-rendered hues of blue and purple. Because the film is so dark, its very good shadow delineation is a must for creating a highly detailed, dimensional presentation. It is imperative that you watch this MPEG-2-encoded disc in a completely darkened room, as much of the finer details can easily be washed out by even the smallest amount of ambient light. The detail isn't quite at the level that the format should be capable of, though. Still, this is one of the best-looking Blu-ray Disc releases yet. (Danny Richelieu)

    The uncompressed 5.1-channel LPCM soundtrack really utilizes each of the available channels well, with sound effects directionalized nicely around the room. The front stage is amply wide and deep, and the surround envelopment is engaging. Deep bass is prevalent throughout, using both the LFE channel and the full-range channels. Dialogue generally sounds good, although it can sound slightly thin and forward at times. While the increased fidelity of the uncompressed digital track makes for a smoother, more pure sound, it does not have the level of clarity that other uncompressed soundtracks have provided. (Danny Richelieu)

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    Sam West
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