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The Rock Collection Blu-ray
The Rundown / Doom / The Scorpion King Universal Studios | 2002-2005 | 309 mins | Not rated | Feb 10, 2009
The Rock Collection Blu-ray ReviewUniversal's three-disc set Rocks.Reviewed by Martin Liebman, February 9, 2009 Former Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle and professional wrestling superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has done what many former athletes have attempted but most have failed to do: solidify himself as a major Hollywood star. Before Johnson, heroes of the squared circle like Hulk Hogan (No Holds Barred) managed to carve out a small niche in Tinseltown; after him, professional wrestlers Steve "Stone Cold" Austin (The Condemned) and John Cena (The Marine) have graced the big screen with mixed results. Johnson's imposing stature and infectious smile have earned him several starring roles in both hardcore Action films and family-friendly Comedies, and the actor has proven himself capable of professionally handling any script thrown his way. He's become the 21st century version of Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator), a larger-than-life action hero with a broad range and widespread appeal. This trio of Blu-ray films from Universal represent some of the wrestler-turned actor's earlier works from the Action genre, including 2002's The Scorpion King, 2003's The Rundown, and 2005's Doom.
The Rundown Rating: 3.5/5 Beck (Johnson), an imposing bounty hunter, is ready to leave the rough-and-tumble business and open his own cozy 10-15 table restaurant. To get out of the game, he needs a few more dollars and one more job. He's asked to hunt down and return his boss's son, Travis (Seann William Scott, Mr. Woodcock), and earn a cool quarter-million dollars. Beck descends into the Amazon in search of Travis, who himself is in search of a rare artifact known as "Gato del Diablo," or "The Devil's Cat." Beck soon encounters Hatcher (Christopher Walken, Domino), himself after the Gato and working the townsfolk of El Dorado to death in the name of profit. He, too, then, holds an interest in Travis's work and whereabouts. Beck finds Travis easily enough, and the pair soon find themselves on the run from Hatcher and his goons. With the help of local bartender-by-day and rebel-leader-by-night Mariana (Rosario Dawson, Seven Pounds), the search for the Gato and a fight for survival is on -- assuming Beck and Travis don't kill one another in the process. Dwayne Johnson is very good at what he does, and makes for the perfect Action star; he always sports an imposing, larger-than-life stature, but he's able to mix wit and charm into his routine, often alongside the action and drama. He's also a gifted performer, certainly not the next great actor, but perfect for the sorts of roles he plays, whether in a mostly serious Action flick such as The Rundown or in a more family-oriented Comedy setting as seen in The Game Plan. Much like Arnold before him, Johnson has branched out and demonstrated a range and skill set that goes beyond the muscles, but his bread-and-butter remains the Action film, and aside from the occasional comedy, fans want that hardcore, few-to-no-frills, explosive action, and Johnson is capable of putting on quite the show. Perhaps the best demonstration of that ability yet comes in The Rundown, an Action movie that is fine as it is, but lacking that hardcore edge that the best 1980s Action extravaganzas enjoyed. The film's biggest hurdle is its PG-13 rating, a rating that seems to be the bane of many a film's existences; the rating tries to straddle the fine line of attracting a wider audience while still pushing the violence, but at the end of the day, the integrity, cohesion, and feeling of completeness of many films seems to take a hit in favor of lowering the rating. Fortunately, The Rundown doesn't suffer quite as extensively as other films have before and after it. The material is borderline PG-13 to begin with; the primary character is a "violence as a last resort" type, and the action scenes featured in the film don't necessarily need to be super violent to be effective, and indeed, they are superbly choreographed, robust, and thrilling, just toned down and absent copious amounts of blood and guts. Still, there are a few things keeping The Rundown from being "awesome" and remaining as simply an "enjoyable" Action picture. The film features a plot that isn't memorable in the least, existing almost as an afterthought to set up the various action segments and some of the more lighthearted comedic routines that sneak into the picture every now and then. That puts The Rundown right in the middle of the pack as far as structure and plot go; it's there, coherent, and easy to follow, but meaning little in the context of the bigger picture. The film also features a few questionable effects shots; several stick out like a sore thumb, but like the plot, they come and go, segueing from one scene to the next and meaning little at the end of the film. Finally, the film features limited characterization, with only Johnson's character receiving much in the way of depth and breadth. His character is portrayed as tough and secretive; he is given a sense of honor and purpose, and it's a hit-or-miss endeavor. On one hand, it adds some depth to the movie. On the other, a movie like this is all about the action, and all of the finer character nuances, like the finer points of the plot, won't be remembered in the long run. No matter the take, The Rundown does a good job of not allowing Beck's back story to bog the film down. It's mentioned now and then, eventually explained, and the film moves on with little to no sense of it having really mattered, save for the added drama of his eventual skilled use of firearms. All the other characters, including the three additional primaries -- Travis, Mariana, and Hatcher -- receive minimal development. They have a few surprises up their sleeves, but again, nothing that really mattered by the time the credits begin to roll.  Doom Rating: 2.5/5 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.  The Scorpion King Rating: 3/5 In the time before the pyramids, an evil foe from the East conquered the ancient world. By "law of the horde," the leader of this conquering army was its strongest warrior, and that warrior was the mighty Memnon (Steven Brand), whose strength was complimented by the fortune-telling powers of the beautiful Cassandra (Kelly Hu, The Air I Breathe). To end his reign of tyranny, a powerful Acadian warrior named Mathayus (Johnson) is dispatched to murder Cassandra, but he is captured and his brothers are killed. In a twist of fate, Cassandra convinces the evil and bloodthirsty fiend Memnon to spare Mathayus' life for one day, providing him the opportunity to escape with a petty criminal, Arpid (Grant Heslov, Leatherheads). Now seeking vengeance for the death of his brothers, Mathayus travels to the ancient and storied city of Gomorrah where he will find an ally he didn't expect in his quest to destroy his brothers' killer, and encounter more allies along the way, including the venerable warrior Balthazar (Michael Clarke Duncan, Daredevil). Will Mathayus and his new allies win the day, or will Memnon vanquish yet another foe on his road to world domination? The Scorpion King might be distantly related to The Mummy universe, but it is set apart by more than centuries, directors, locations, friends, and foes. In the world of The Scorpion King, the tongue-in-cheek humor of The Mummy and The Mummy Returns is deleted in favor of one-liners, cranked up action, and glamorous hero shots where good guys leap and draw their weapons in slow-motion. Also in this world, much of the action is accompanied by hard rock or heavy metal beats. Semi-crude weapons constructed of bone and wood that appear to be spring loaded (who knew they had that technology back then?) and magical swords forged from a grade of steel that can catch fire and remain ablaze for extended battle sequences are both present in this universe. Despite some laughable moments and poor choices in dialogue, fake looking special effects (catch a load of the fire ants that swarm a victim in chapter six), and some horribly unoriginal sequences, The Scorpion King is an entertaining escapist film with just enough intrigue to demand the obligatory and, unfortunately, terrible sequel. The Scorpion King, taken in the context of the canon of The Mummy universe as seen in The Mummy Returns, leaves far too many questions unanswered, but taken as a separate film, the action and story are good enough to be a passable ninety minute time killer. Video  The Rundown Rating: 4.5/5 The Rundown boasts a high quality 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. The picture looks a bit messy, though seemingly intentionally so, over the opening moments of the film. It's very dark and obscure, with colors that tint towards the red and orange side of the spectrum. The film retains a rather harsh and gritty look throughout, even if it brightens up considerably in the Amazon. The transfer retains a heavy grain structure that is evident in every scene. None of this obscures fine detail, however. Viewers will note sweat glistening off the faces of the characters, all the lines and pits in faces, and even, seemingly at times, the individual granules of dirt and blades of grass that make up the Amazonian terrain. Many interior shots reveal enormous amounts of detail, too. The locations in El Dorado are cheap, run down, old, and the transfer reveals every speck of dirt, hole in the wall, and chip of paint nicely. The transfer always appears sharp where it should. Blacks are marvelous, slipping to a dark shade of gray only once or twice. There is some very heavy and seemingly random blocking during a few interior shots inside a cave in chapter 17, but otherwise, there is little to complain about with this one. The Rundown is another visual winner from Universal. Doom Rating: 3/5 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. The Scorpion King Rating: 4.5/5 The Scorpion King tackles Blu-ray in an impressive 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 framed transfer. The undisputed strength of this disc lies in its impressive level of fine detail. Even in the film's opening minutes, where the scene is lit by candles and other crude forms of light, fine detail in faces, clothing, and surroundings is first-rate. Facial detail is excellent, evidenced by Balthazar's scars. They offer both texture and depth, and even in the dimmest of light, without the disc resorting to artificial brightening, viewers can see the pores, lines, and scars on his face. The varied leather and cloth clothing and armor worn by the men in the film is striking with all the fine details prominently on display and easily visible, such as frayed edges and cracks in leather bands. Colors, too, are impressive. Bold colors stand out against dull backgrounds, as seen in a brief scene of red against gray and black during the film's initial narration sequence. In fact, other than the earthy tan and brown colors that are so prevalent throughout, red is one color that is seen in many scenes, and it stands out as true and real, never overblown or sticking out like a sore, hot thumb. Chapter 13 brings a visual change-of-pace as some green foliage and multicolored flowers abound in a few shots, and the transfer never misses a beat in rendering these new elements thrown its way. Textures on various buildings are superb, so visible and clear are they that viewers may believe they can touch the screen and feel the rough surfaces. There is the occasional speckle/blemish on the print that spikes at times, notably in chapter 11, but its presence is never completely distracting. A light layer of grain covers a transfer that features standout black levels that are inky and true-to-life, and that generally never show a hint of gray. The Scorpion King on Blu-ray is a top-quality cinematic viewing experience that is a pleasure to screen if only for the fantastic visuals viewers can lose themselves in for ninety minutes. Audio  The Rundown Rating: 5/5 Another Tuesday, another killer soundtrack from Universal. The Rundown features a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless mix that packs quite the wallop. Bass is the highlight of the track and features both direct (explosions, thuds) and indirect (the pounding beats heard street-side from a closed-door club) excitement. The subwoofer will be sweating and panting at the end of this one. It easily enjoys a Dwayne Johnson-caliber workout. Dialogue is also strong and bass-heavy. Several times throughout the film, gunshots ring out, ricochet, and fly all over the soundstage with pinpoint accuracy and power. Directional effects are superb in every action sequence, and ambience is excellent, particularly in the jungle environs, where it is both subtle and effective. The soundstage comes alive to place the audience in the midst of the Amazon, encircling listeners with all of the natural (and sometimes unnatural) sounds that bring each scene to vivid life. The "Monkey" sequence in chapter 13 is one of the best in the film; "dynamic" and "loud" defines the experience, with a subsequent gunshot filling the soundstage with superb authority and power. The film's music plays precisely. It is primarily front-heavy but offers excellent fidelity. The sonic highlight of the film comes in chapter 17 as a cave collapses around the characters. it's loud, scary, and rattles from every single corner of the soundstage, making for a thrilling listen. The film's climax, too, comes complete with some of the heaviest and most consistent uses of bass yet. The Rundown makes a strong case as one of the most exhilarating and action-packed listens yet on Blu-ray. Doom Rating: 4.5/5 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. The Scorpion King Rating: 5/5 The Scorpion King vanquishes most other Blu-ray soundtracks with its top-notch DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless surround sound extravaganza. Like the other films in The Mummy series, this track offers a fine, active, and all-encompassing surround sound experience. It effortlessly creates a 360-degree sound field where listeners are placed squarely in the midst of the action. Fine ambience is always to be heard in the surround channels (and even in spots in between where there is no speaker), including the most minute or miniscule chirps of crickets and birds, the baying of goats, and other assorted animal noises heard in and around a bazaar. The twirling of various weapons, from swords to flails, flows around the listening area with frightening accuracy and excellent imaging. Arrows pierce the nighttime sky in chapter four and come from every direction, and the effect is uncanny, perhaps leaving listeners checking for entry wounds on their bodies. The blowing wind of a sandstorm in chapter eleven is one of the most exciting moments of the film, providing an impressive feeling of becoming swept up in the moment. Needless to say, there are some spectacular moments in almost every chapter and sequence. The Scorpion King is a nonstop barrage of perfect sound. Bass packs quite the punch as well; the end of the movie is the finest example of chair-rattling effects in the film. Dialogue is handled smartly throughout and is the finishing touch on a soundtrack that must be heard to be believed. Supplements  The Rundown Rating: 3/5 The Rundown features a hefty supplemental package. Two commentary tracks lead the charge, the first featuring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Director Peter Berg. The track is completely off-the-wall, mixing real information with jokes galore. It's hard to switch off, and flows nicely. It's different to be sure, very relaxed, and often completely hilarious. Track two features Producers Kevin Misher and Marc Abraham. This track is drier and more technical in nature, and seems to drag considerably after the light, easygoing nature of the Actor and Director track. It's still informative and worth a listen for fans, but easily more of a standard, "ho-hum" commentary. Next are a series of deleted scenes (480p, 13:50). Rumble in the Jungle (480p, 10:32) takes a detailed look at the fight choreography seen in the film. The Amazon, Hawaii Style (480p, 5:27) looks at the exotic filming locations as seen in the film. Appetite for Destruction (480p, 8:20) looks at the making of some of the film's most explosive stunts. 'The Rundown' Uncensored (480p, 6:08) is a comical piece that looks at the animal stunts as seen in the film. Running Down the Town (480p, 4:09) is a short piece that looks at the construction of one of the film's primary sets. Walken's World (480p, 5:33) examines star Christopher Walken's character and the professionalism, comedy, and charm he brought to his role. Finally, this disc is BD-Live (Blu-ray profile 2.0) enabled. Doom Rating: 2/5 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. The Scorpion King Rating: 2/5 The Scorpion King fails to smash up Blu-ray in the supplemental department, offering only two extras. The first is a feature commentary track with director Chuck Russell. Much of this track sounds as if Russell is reading from a script, but ultimately comes off as well-spoken and informed, providing effortless insight into the film. Russell discusses the use of "Rock & Roll" music in the movie, utilizing The Rock's skills in the film (and taking him to the next level), and the challenge of shooting in difficult terrain. Russell provides a wealth of information and proves to be highly passionate about the movie. Universal offers their "U-Control" feature on this disc. With the feature turned on, a picture-in-picture window will appear at various times throughout the movie that showcases behind-the-scenes footage of the film and interviews with cast and crew. Final words  This three-disc collection of films that share in common leading man Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson all make for above-average Blu-ray experiences. None of the films are particularly memorable, but The Rundown is easily the best of the bunch. The film is a modern-day action romp, replete with a larger-than-life hero, a quirky sidekick, and a sinister but unimposing villain. Doom represents mindless, gory fun. Another film based on a popular video game, it's a hit-or-miss cinematic experience that is one of the best examples of a "see it and forget it" style of movie. Finally, The Scorpion King represents Johnson's first major role as a leading man. A spinoff of the Mummy franchise, the film seems a bit superfluous but makes for a fine one- or two-time viewing experience. Universal's Blu-ray editions of each film range for "average" to "superb." Doom easily features the least impressive transfer of the three, though the visuals in both The Rundown and The Scorpion King rate extremely high. All three films offer amazing lossless soundtracks. However, the supplements are primarily for fans only, but The Rundown does provide a rather extensive and sometimes even interesting selection. For an attractive price, this bundle allows Blu-ray collectors or fans of The Rock to enjoy three of the actor's films in the best presentation currently available. Recommended. 
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