Doom Blu-ray offers decent video and superb audio in this fan-pleasing Blu-ray release
Olduvai Research Station is a remote scientific facility on Mars where something has gone
terribly wrong. All experiments have ceased, and communication has failed. The few
messages that do get through are less than comforting. It's Level 5 Quarantine, and the only
souls allowed in or out are the Rapid Response Tactical Squad (RRTS)--hardened Marines
armed to the teeth with enough firepower to neutralize any enemy--or so they think. The
researchers at this Red Planet station have unwittingly opened a door, and all hell has
broken loose. A legion of nightmarish creatures of unknown origin lurks in every corner and
stalks the countless rooms and tunnels of the facility, killing what few people remain. A
hellish zoo of demons, Imps, Barons and Hell Knights has taken over Olduvai. And they're
not giving it back without a fight. Sealing off the portal to Earth, Sarge, Reaper and their
mercenary team must use every weapon at their disposal--and some they find along the
way--to carry out their orders: nothing gets out alive. Unfortunately, these things never go
as planned.
For more about Doom and the Doom Blu-ray release, see the Doom Blu-ray Review
Doom is nothing more than just another in a long string of failed Hollywood ventures
that
attempt to tap into the video game market. At its peak, Doom was one of the most
successful games of all time, and perhaps the most influential ever to grace PC screens around
the world. The First-Person Shooter genre is a staple of the video game market, both on the
computer and the various console systems, still as popular as ever, and delivering action-packed
entertainment that oftentimes presents players with both an engaging story and plenty of
violence. The games often act as an outlet for players to unleash their frustrations by
unloading a magazine, a missile, or laser at a digital opponent. It comes as no surprise, then,
that Hollywood swooped in and assembled a live action version for the big screen. Doom,
like most other video game adaptations, is far from a memorable cinematic experience. Give it
credit, however, for attempting to push the
envelope and deliver to audiences something of a hardcore, grisly, and bloody affair that any
movie
adaptation of the game demands to be successful. Doom isn't a bad effort, all said. No
one
area of the film suffers, but no one area shines, either. It's disturbingly average, even in light of
the
film's valiant effort to up the ante and deliver the dark, grisly, and brutal adaptation fans of the
game craved.
The Rock smacks down otherworldly mutants in 'Doom.'
In the year 2026, archeologists in the Nevada desert unearthed a portal to Mars, dubbed the Ark.
Years later, scientists on the Red Planet are quickly killed off by a deadly force, and an elite squad
of soldiers, known as Rapid Response Tactical Squad (RRTS) are sent in on a rescue mission.
They are led by "Sarge" (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Gridiron Gang), and
are made up of a band of tough misfits with unique personalities, among them John Grimm (Karl
Urban, Pathfinder). Grimm's
sister Samantha (Rosamund Pike) works on Mars and serves as a liaison between the squad and
the remaining personnel and facility. As Sarge and his men attempt to piece together the
mystery, they begin to encounter the remnants of the missing scientists, bloodied, often severely
wounded, and demonstrating highly irregular behavioral patterns. The situation becomes more
perilous when it is discovered that the scientists are falling victim to genetic mutations that seek
out the most aggressive and dangerous of individuals as host bodies. The team must remain
sharp, frosty, and in command, containing the deadly outbreak and ensuring it never reaches the
Ark -- and thereby Earth.
Doom makes for fine escapist entertainment for moviegoers in search of mindless
wall-to-wall Sci-Fi, Horror, and Action thrills, and should prove to be, at minimum, a curiosity for
genre
fans
and gamers alike. The film smartly casts Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in a leading role, adding
even
greater appeal to the project. Unfortunately, outside of the blood-and-guts, high tech weaponry,
and decent special and creature effects, there is little to make Doom more than a mildly
entertaining and ultimately forgettable picture. The RRTS squad is made up of terribly clichéd
characters: "Sarge;" the steady, clear-minded, soldier (who also has a relative
caught in the middle of the crisis); the rookie; the pious trooper; the foul-mouthed, off-kilter
jokester and drug user; the towering presence of a man who wields a gun seemingly bigger than
he; and one or two "average Joes." Each character is portrayed by an actor that turns in a
steady yet unremarkable performance. Karl Urban is the best of the bunch, with Johnson a close
second. The remainder of the cast, despite bringing a bit of stereotypical development
and personality to their characters, offer little more than fodder for the script. Likewise, Andrzej
Bartkowiak's (Romeo Must Die) direction and Tony Pierce-Roberts' (Underworld, another
terribly dark film) cinematography fare well enough, but are ultimately unremarkable. Still,
considering the dark, cramped, foreboding atmosphere the film enjoys, there seems to be limited
opportunity for creativity, and Doom seems to enjoy a slight boost thanks to this pair's
contributions to the project. Finally, Doom begins to drag in its final act, ironic because
it's the most action-packed segment of the film. It features a video game-like first-person
shooter experience, which works surprisingly well, but it is the film's final confrontation that
seems
to drag. Approaching two hours, Doom is too long for a mindless video game-turned
action movie.
Universal teleports Doom to Blu-ray with a murky 1080p transfer that retains its original
2.35:1 aspect ratio. This is a dark movie with a palette made primarily of grays, blacks, and dark
blues. The picture doesn't enjoy much brilliance or opportunity to "pop." It's grim and only
moderately detailed, but it seems to capture the essence of the intended look of the film nicely.
Black levels hold up mostly well, though sometimes looking too gray rather than a true, dark and
deep black. The image also appears a bit soft, and long- and medium-distance shots appear
somewhat hazy and undefined. Fine detail is also lacking in many shots; faces appear slightly
blurred and lacking in texture in several instances. A bit of grain is seen over the image throughout
the length of the film. The disc features minimal, almost unnoticeable, banding in one or two
scenes. Doom features a lackluster transfer at best, but also one that proves difficult to
judge thanks to its incredibly dark color scheme.
Doom blasts onto Blu-ray with a deafening sonic assault courtesy of another DTS-HD MA
5.1 lossless soundtrack. This mix offers booming bass (as has become the norm with Universal
titles), a fully-charged surround presence, loud volume, and most importantly, clarity. It will shake
the foundation numerous times, and is an exciting thrill ride, something that compliments the
nonstop action and grisly violence of the film perfectly. The more mundane sequences work well,
too. All of the grisly sound effects, such as those heard during an autopsy of a badly burned and
bloodied creature, features plenty of slimy and squishy effects that come through beautifully. The
track features wonderful atmosphere; reverberations travel effortlessly throughout the soundstage,
music pours from every speaker, and quick, heart-racing notes and sound effects move about the
listening area effortlessly. Dialogue reproduction is also excellent. No doubt about it, Doom
offers listeners another robust sonic experience.
This Blu-ray edition of Doom fails to offer a fully locked-and-loaded selection of bonus
materials, but does present viewers with a lengthy selection of short featurettes. Basic
Training (480p, 10:33) takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the military training the actors
underwent to ensure the most realistic action possible. Rock Formation (480p, 5:37)
looks at the special make-up effects applied to The Rock for one of the film's most crucial sequences.
Master Monster Makers (480p, 10:55) takes a detailed look at the creatures seen in the
film. First-Person Shooter Sequence (480p, 5:56) examines the construction of the film's
video game-inspired scene. 'Doom' Nation (480p, 14:39) features cast, crew, and
celebrities reminiscing about the game and the First-Person Shooter genre. Game On!
(480p, 6:47) provides beginning Doom 3 players some helpful hints. Finally, this disc is
BD-Live (Blu-ray profile 2.0) enabled.
Doom may be the ultimate in grisly, mindless fun. It's another so-so video game
adaptation, but it has its moments, and enjoys decent performances from its leads, a creepy
atmosphere, above-average special effects, and steady but unremarkable photography. The film
may have worked better with less science and more creatures and mayhem, but the film
features a decent story and average pacing that doesn't drag until the final act. The effort may not
satisfy hardcore fans of the Doom video game franchise, but the average moviegoer looking
for dark, gory fun with larger-than-life characters wielding super-sized weaponry might find it
passable entertainment. Universal's Blu-ray disc is befitting of the film. The transfer is dull and
soft, but the
audio quality more than makes up for it. The disc is a bit light on substantive bonus materials. All
in all, Doom makes for a fine rental, or a purchase at the right price.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring 'The Rock Collection' to Blu-ray on February 10th. This three-disc set will feature the Blu-ray releases of 'The Rundown', 'Doom', and 'The Scorpion King', which all feature 1080p video accompanied ...
Universal Studios Home Entertainment has revealed that they will bring the Dwayne Johnson films 'Doom: Unrated' and 'The Rundown' to Blu-ray on February 10th. Both of these titles were previously available on the HD DVD format, though it does not appear they will ...
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