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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.. |
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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 |
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Distribution |
101 Films (Black Label) |
| Runtime |
1:37:09.031 |
| Video |
Disc Size: 31,121,016,338 bytes Feature Size: 20,790,300,672 bytes Average Bitrate: 19.98 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video |
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Bitrate:
101 Films (Black Label) Blu-ray
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| Audio |
LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48
kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
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 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: Chapters: 16 |
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| 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
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
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Gary Tooze
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Thank You!
