Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "eXistenZ")

 

directed by David Cronenberg
Canada 1999

 

Visionary director David Cronenberg (Videodrome) challenges the boundaries of reality in sci-fi thriller eXistenZ, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Machinist), Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley), and a stellar supporting cast including Ian Holm (Alien), Willem Dafoe (Animal Factory), Christopher Eccleston (28 Days Later) and Sarah Polley (The Sweet Hereafter).

During a closed-door demonstration of her new virtual reality video game, brilliant game designer Allegra Geller (Leigh) survives an attempt on her life by a crazed assassin. On the run with Ted Pikul (Law), a young marketing trainee who falls into the role of bodyguard, Allegra convinces Ted to join her in her game, eXistenZ. As the line between fantasy and reality begins to blur, the real-life dangers they sought to escape start to merge with their virtual world.

***

Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg, who has long been fascinated by the ways new technology shapes and manipulates the human beings who believe they are its masters, is in familiar territory with eXistenZ, a futuristic thriller which combines elements of science fiction, horror and action-adventure. What is eXistenZ? According to the glossary Cronenberg put together for this film, it is a new organic game system that, when downloaded into humans, accesses their central nervous system, transporting them on a wild ride in and out of reality. What's more, it changes every time it is played, by adapting to the individual user -- you have to play the game to find out why you are playing the game. More than one person can plug into the same game and set out on a series of bizarre and surrealistic adventures together. The narrative takes place sometime in the near future, when game designers are worshipped as superstars and players can organically enter inside the games..

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 16th, 1999 (Berlin International Film Festival)

Reviews                                                                        More Reviews                                                            DVD Reviews

 

Review: 101 Films (Black Label) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

 

Distribution

101 Films (Black Label)
Region
'B' Blu-ray

Runtime

1:37:09.031 

Video

Disc Size: 31,121,016,338 bytes

Feature Size: 20,790,300,672 bytes

Average Bitrate: 19.98 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

Bitrate:

 

101 Films (Black Label) Blu-ray

 

Audio

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
LPCM Audio English 4608 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4608 kbps / 16-bit
Commentaries:

Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps

Subtitles English (HoH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio: 101 Films (Black Label)

 

Disc Size: 31,121,016,338 bytes

Feature Size: 20,790,300,672 bytes

Average Bitrate: 19.98 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• 
The Leader: An interview with Christopher Eccleston (16:02)
Commentary with Kim Newman & Ryan Lambie
Commentary with Mondo Digital’s Nathaniel Thompson
Limited Edition Booklet: Includes 'Enemy of Reality: David Cronenberg's eXistenZ' by Alex Morris, and 'Of Fabrics and Flesh: An interview with Denise Cronenberg' by Phillip Escott.
Additional Extras
Audio commentary by David Cronenberg
Making-of documentary (54:38)
Promo Featurette (10:37)
Backstage interviews with Jude Law (14:39), Jennifer Jason Leigh (1:17), Willem Dafoe (6:56), Jim Isaac (visual effects) (27:40) and David Cronenburg (4:00)
Trailer (2:01)

Blu-ray  Release Date: May 21st, 2018
Transparent Blu-ray case inside cardboard slipcase

Chapters: 16

 

 

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

 

ADDITION: 101 Films (Black Label) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (May 2018): This is the second title, #002, in 101 Films 'Black Label' range (the first being The Grifters), and this 'Limited Edition' version is limited to 3000 copies and includes a slipcase and a booklet with newly-written content.

 

Firstly, eXistenZ received a problematic 1080i (interlaced) transfer to Blu-ray from Miramax 6 years ago (HERE) that had issues. I saw it at a friend's and it looked so poor in-motion, that I never purchased it.  101 Films (Black Label), out of the UK, have given the film a 1080P transfer. It also in the 1.78;1 aspect ratio and has a higher bitrate than the initial rendering although is still fairly modest. I watched it to completion twice making notes on the image quality. For most of the latter 9/10ths of the presentation it looks quite good - depth becomes more prevalent nearer the last 1/2 and contrast also appears more layered as the film progresses. There were two early scenes that look marginally digitized - I have given a sample of edge-enhancement below. But you can see I had to zoom in extensively and I wouldn't phrase this as flawed but look more like it is inherent in the source. Detail has impressive moments - in the film's many close-ups. The overall look reminded me of production appearance of Naked Lunch... so Cronenberg-like. I thought it looked decent enough in-motion - certainly in advance of the 2012 Miramax. Perhaps we can compare it one day to other releases.

 

NOTE: There is a German "Turbine Steel Collection' Blu-ray coming out in June, 2018 HERE. There was a previously released Mediabook Blu-ray, out of Germany, HERE but we, also, don't own it to compare.  

 

101 Films (Black Label) use the option of linear PCM tracks in either an extremely robust 5.1 surround or a 2.0 channel stereo (both 16-bit.) There are effects separations that come across powerfully and rich but I preferred the stereo which held it's own with depth and tightness. Dialogue was always clear and clean. The film's score is by Howard Shore (Cronenberg's Maps to the Stars, Scanners and The Brood, Tim Burton's Ed Wood, Fincher's The Game and Se7en plus Demme's The Silence of the Lambs, etc.) and it certainly benefits from the uncompressed transfer augmenting the mysterious atmosphere. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles (see sample) on the Region 'B' Blu-ray disc.   

Extras are stacked.101 Films add The Leader - a new 16-minute interview with Christopher Eccleston ('Seminar Leader' in eXistenZ) reflecting on Cronenberg and his work in eXistenZ. Fans will love the commentaries - first with the pairing of Kim Newman & Ryan Lambie covering many aspects of the film's meaning and themes and a second with Mondo Digital’s Nathaniel Thompson who gives a similarly excellent take on his take on Cronenberg's film. The package has a new limited edition booklet which includes 'Enemy of Reality: David Cronenberg's eXistenZ' by Alex Morris, and 'Of Fabrics and Flesh: An interview with Denise Cronenberg' by Phillip Escott. 101 Films include previous supplements starting with the Cronenberg commentary (making 3 for this set!), the, almost hour-long, extensive, making-of documentary, the 10-minute promo featurette and backstage interviews with Jude Law (14:39), Jennifer Jason Leigh (1:17), Willem Dafoe (6:56), Jim Isaac (visual effects) (27:40) and David Cronenberg (4:00). Plus there is a trailer. 

Once again a fan favorite chosen by 101 Films to bring to their new Blu-ray label - and a film that has had a past problematic transfers. Perhaps one of Cronenberg's more overlooked twisted science-fiction / horror / thriller films steeped in his unique style.  The film may always look imperfect in digital but the attraction here is to the extensive extras - starting with three commentaries, a limited edition book, interviews etc. Recommended!

  Gary Tooze

101 Films (Black Label) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 


 


 


 

 
Edge Enhancement Halos
 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Box Cover

 

 




Search DVDBeaver
S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!