Twelve Monkeys Blu-ray

Twelve Monkeys

 (1995)

Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller



The year is 2035 and humankind subsists in a desolate netherworld following the eradication of 99% of the Earth's population, a holocaust that makes the planet's surface uninhabitable, and mankind's destiny uncertain. A desperate group of scientists secure a reluctant volunteer, Cole, to embark on a dangerous mission back to the year 1996, where they hope he can help unravel this apocalyptic nightmare before it completely erases humanity from the planet. When Cole arrives in 1996, he meets Jeffrey Goines, the unstable son of a renowned scientist, and Dr. Kathryn Railly, a psychiatrist and author whose initial alarm over his prophetic warnings of the world's fate soon turns to conviction, and she comes to believe that mankind may indeed be doomed. While also questioning his own sanity, Cole struggles with Railly to unravel the mystery with his only two clues: a haunting childhood memory and a series of puzzling symbols from a group known only as The Army of the Twelve Monkeys.

For more details about Twelve Monkeys on Blu-ray, see the Twelve Monkeys Blu-ray Review

Twelve Monkeys Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Let me get this out of the way right up front: 12 Monkeys will never be as sharp, as dazzling, or as striking as other notable catalog releases... regardless of how extensive a restoration it receives. Not only did Gilliam shoot the majority of his scenes with diffusion filters (to submerge the image in an unsettling, dreamlike haze), he relied on clashing light and shadow, jarring shifts in perspective and focus, and intermittent bursts of clarity and softness to keep his audience continually questioning Cole's sanity and motivations. As a result, some viewers will write off Universal's faithful 1080p/VC-1 transfer as an underwhelming fluke; a mismanaged presentation that doesn't boast the high definition swagger required to stand alongside the best catalog releases on the market. However, judging the Blu-ray edition's transfer too quickly would be a mistake. Roger Pratt's palette, drab and dreary as it often is, can be quite striking, particularly during Cole's high-contrast flashbacks. Likewise, black levels, while a bit dusty for their own good, are satisfying, leaving little doubt that Gilliam is more comfortable in the dark confines of his underground city than in the light. More importantly, detail -- as inconsistent and unpredictable as every object, edge, and texture is -- contributes to Gilliam's desired effect, and effectively enhances his increasingly surreal atmosphere.

That being said, there's still plenty of room for improvement in Universal's technical presentation. Contrast is a bit dull throughout the film, depth is wholly unconvincing, and print damage is a persistent (albeit minor) issue. Moreover, edge enhancement is a constant distraction, faint artifacting invades the proceedings on occasion, and some errant source noise manages to find its way into the intermittently grainy picture. In fact, rather than giving the film its just due, it appears as if the studio simply ported its problematic HD DVD transfer to a BD-50 disc, warts and all. Ultimately, while 12 Monkeys will never boast the snazziest catalog transfer on the block, a suitably fresh (yet faithful) overhaul would properly induct Gilliam's disquieting masterpiece into the 21st century.

Twelve Monkeys Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track improves matters, but not as much as I expected. LFE output has undergone the most dramatic makeover, finally matching Gilliam's bizarre imagery with legitimate weight and presence. From the first ear-splitting bah-duhm of the film's off-kilter score to the resonant roar of dreamscape gunfire, 12 Monkeys offers a series of powerful, oft-times thundering bass tones. Rear speaker activity is aggressive as well, shooting bursts of steam through underground tunnels, overwhelming a war-torn battlefield with sudden screams and shocking explosions, and packing the streets of Baltimore with the sort of pulpy, chaotic ambience Marylanders will appreciate. Moreover, directionality is precise and pans are fittingly abrupt, creating an immersive soundfield that draws the listener into Cole's ravaged world and tattered mind. Unfortunately, dialogue hasn't made an easy transition. While the majority of lines are clean and well-prioritized, a few key pieces of information are lost in the mix, overshadowed by other more bombastic elements in the soundscape. It certainly doesn't spoil the experience, but it is a frequent frustration that could have been eliminated with some further polish. Ah well, it's tough to complain. 12 Monkeys has, quite simply, never sounded better.

Twelve Monkeys Blu-ray, News and Updates

• 12 Monkeys Jumping onto Blu-ray in July - May 16, 2009

Twelve Monkeys Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

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