More Apocalypse-related films on Blu-ray and DVD reviewed (click review buttons to also see comparisons where applicable) from our article Films From The End of the World:

 

Review by Gary Tooze

 

Production:

Theatrical: MGM

Video: Warner Home Video

 

Disc:

Region: FREE! (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:58:31.604

Disc Size: 22,744,720,062 bytes

Feature Size: 21,944,942,592 bytes

Video Bitrate: 18.73 Mbps

Chapters: 32

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: November 10th, 2009

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 2.39:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: VC-1 Video

 

Audio:

Dolby TrueHD Audio English 1698 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1698 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps)
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio French 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio German 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

 

Subtitles:

English (SDH), English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, none

 

Extras:

• Commentary with director Michael Anderson, star Michael York and costume designer Bill Thomas

• 'Vintage Featurette: Living in the 23rd Century (9:18 in SD)

 

Bitrate:

 

 

Description: In the Year of the City 2274, humans live in a vast, bubbled metropolis, where computerized servo-mechanisms provide all needs so everyone can pursue endless hedonism. Endless, that is, until Lastday, when anyone who’s 30 must submit to Carrousel, a soaring, spinning trip to eternity and supposed rebirth.

 

 

The Film:

"Logan's Run" is a vast, silly extravaganza that delivers a certain amount of fun, once it stops taking itself seriously. That happens about an hour into the film, but even the first half isn't bad if you're a fan (as I am) of special effects and cities of the future and ray guns and monorails whizzing overhead. The movie was made on a very large budget - the figure $9 million has been whispered about Hollywood - and it looks it. "2001" it's not, but it has class. The plot is fairly routine stuff, by science-fiction standards; It seems to be a cross between Arthur C. Clarke's "The City and the Stars" and elements of "Planet of the Apes." It's about another one of those monolithic, self-perpetuating domed cities we're all scheduled to start living in 300 or 400 years hence.

People wear the regulation futurist leotards and miniskirts, and glide around enormous interior spaces that look like modern buildings in Texas (these scenes were shot on location in modern buildings in Texas). They don't seem to eat anything, although they drink stuff that's apparently nutritious, and when they feel like sex they just plug themselves into a cross between a teleporter and a computer dating service and materialize in each other's bedrooms.
The only catch in this idyllic existence is that nobody's allowed to live more than 30 years. On the appointed last day, they ascend heavenward in a "carousel" that incinerates them while their friends applaud. In theory, if you get to the top of the carousel without being zapped, you can continue to live. But there are no old people in the city...

Excerpt from Roger Ebert's review at the Chicago Sun-Times located HERE

 

 

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

Logan's Run seems an odd choice for Warner to bother transferring to Blu-ray. I say this because, although I haven't seen any other digital home editions, this definitely doesn't look like a film that is going to greatly benefit from the move to hi-def. Not only are the effects bordering on laughable - but this opinion is exemplified in 1080P where wires on the 'carrousel' riders are plainly visible and the future looks like a cross between fragile plastic models and hokey 70's disco fashions. Just as the film has lost some of its amusing sci-fi luster the image quality has some definite issues of weakness. I can't say DNR is the culprit but there is a softness, lack of grain and persistence of digital noise that doesn't 'produce' well with this single-layered HD transfer. Colors aren't too bad but seem dulled at certain times. There is a real flatness to the look that a tightening of detail and contrast may have improved. While my memories of Logan's Run's appearance are well over 20-years old, frankly, I was expecting more from the transfer to Blu-ray. It is quite possible that others will feel the same.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio :

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track at 1698 kbps fares a little better than the video although the effect sounds also show their age with the ridiculous light-show and electronic short-out click of the 'sandman's' guns. Jerry Goldsmith was always the go-to guy for these scores and once again he produced an imaginative melodic love theme and included a deeply bass'ed pounding three notes to represent the computer-controlled city. It's a decent track but it holds back any distinct range or depth. There are some foreign language subs and DUBs and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

 

 

Extras :

Nothing new - we get the same older commentary from director Michael Anderson, star Michael York and costume designer Bill Thomas as found on the 2004 DVD edition. It covers some interesting production notes and there is also a vintage featurette entitled Living in the 23rd Century, in very poor condition, that runs for less than 10-minutes in SD.

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Like some of the Planet of the Apes sequels - time has not been favorable to Logan's Run. It had a keen nostalgia going for it and some likeable performances from York, Agutter and Ustinov - but still seems to fall short. It, of course, reminds me of Michael Bay's The Island which many rank as a failure (while I, strangely, liked it) but I keep thinking of the underrated Gattaca - although I can find no real link aside from that they are both science fiction films with an attempt to portray a possible 'antiseptic' future lifestyle. The flash of a scene with Farrah Fawcett briefly wrestling on the floor with Jenny Agutter doesn't extend fond enough memories to still like Logan's Run. Personally, I found it too dated - and the hokiness no longer amusing, but goofy. But that is just me. The Blu-ray transfer didn't encourage any appreciation from this reviewer. I expect fans of the film will differ and the reasonable price may be enough of an enticement to indulge despite the lack of new extras.  

Gary Tooze

October 28th, 2009

 

More Apocalypse-related films on Blu-ray and DVD reviewed (click review buttons to also see comparisons where applicable) from our article Films From The End of the World: