Doom Blu-ray Review

Universal's Blu-ray release of "Doom" features a 1080p transfer that sits within its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, encapsulating the film's dark and grim aesthetic through a dominantly gray, black, and dark blue palette. Although the transfer aims to preserve the movie's intended vibe, the overall video quality faces challenges with clarity and detail. The image appears muted, suffering from a softness that dampens the potential for visual depth, particularly in longer shots which tend toward the hazy and indistinct. Fine details, crucial for immersing into the film’s grim world, often come across as blurred or textureless, especially in facial close-ups. Despite these setbacks, the black levels remain fairly consistent, though they occasionally drift into grayer tones rather than achieving a solid, inky depth. A light grain is present, adding to the visual texture without distracting from the viewing experience.

In contrast to its murky visual tone, "Doom" does sprinkle its color scheme with bursts of vibrant reds, acidic yellows, and deep blues and purples, offering a temporary respite from its otherwise dark presentation. These colors, though admittedly serving to punctuate the film's atmosphere, are somewhat stifled by an overarching shadowiness that seems designed more for mood than clarity. This darkness, while thematic, occasionally hinders discernibility in busier or faster-paced scenes. Fortunately, this Blu-ray edition marks an improvement over its HD DVD predecessor in terms of stability and cleanliness; it presents a pristine, grain-free picture with excellent contrast and sharpness. Notable issues such as flickering and jaggies that marred earlier releases appear rectified here, with only minimal moire patterns detectable in certain sequences. Despite these improvements, the encode's commitment to visual fidelity sometimes clashes with the creative choice for pervasive darkness, leading to a presentation that excels in technical specs but struggles with balance in its visual storytelling.

"Doom" charges onto Blu-ray equipped with a dynamic DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack that relentlessly engulfs the audience in a fierce auditory experience apt for the film's non-stop action and gory visuals. The sonic landscape presented here is thick with depth, managing to blend booming bass signatures—a trait familiar to aficionados of Universal titles—with a rich surround soundscape that not only elevates the film's many loud, visceral sequences but also excels in delivering the subtleties of quieter moments with equal finesse. The audio track revels in its ability to render the visceral sounds of the film’s violence, from the ominous squelch during gruesome autopsies to the crisp clarity of gunfire and explosions, engaging the listener’s senses in a fully immersive auditory feast. Atmosphere and ambient effects travel smoothly across the soundfield, ensuring music and specific sound cues envelop the audience, enhancing the on-screen action and horror without overwhelming the crucially clear dialogue reproduction.

Enhanced by the superior capabilities of DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround (48kHz/24-bit), this Blu-ray release elevates the "Doom" audio experience beyond its initial Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 Surround offering on HD DVD, presenting an auditory experience that is as relentless and engaging as the film itself. The surround setup does an exemplary job at keeping the listener at the heart of the action; explosions and rapid-fire sound effects are not just heard but felt, creating a palpable tension that mirrors the film’s own. This highly immersive soundscape cleverly utilizes directional audio to hint at off-screen dangers or accentuate shock moments with well-timed sonic bursts, making full use of the dynamic range from the lowest bass to the highest trebles, testing the limits of your sound system. Even amidst this cacophony, dialogue remains surprisingly distinct and intelligible, ensuring no narrative element is lost to the aural onslaught.

This "Doom" Blu-ray audio presentation distinctly showcases an evolution in its sonic delivery, marrying raw power with nuanced details across an active 360-degree soundfield. Every aspect from explosive action sequences to subtler atmospheric sounds breathes life into this aural landscape, making for an impressively immersive experience that is both technically outstanding and fittingly intense for the cinematic world it accompanies. Whether it’s leveraging deep, resonant bass or crystal-clear high frequencies, this soundtrack firmly holds its ground, demonstrating a well-balanced mix that heightens every moment of the film without sacrificing dialogue clarity for spectacle.

The Blu-ray edition of "Doom" delivers an array of extras that, while not exhaustive, offers a clear view into the movie's production and its videogame origins. Despite the content primarily being a direct carry-over from earlier DVD and HD DVD versions, and presented in somewhat disappointing 480p resolution, there's enough here to engage fans. The extras are categorized into behind-the-scenes featurettes and game-related content, covering everything from the actors' military training for realistic action sequences to in-depth looks at the challenges of recreating the videogame's iconic first-person shooter perspective on film. Notably, "Rock Formation" delves into the special makeup effects for The Rock, and "Master Monster Makers" showcases the creature design process. However, the material sometimes feels fragmented and leans towards typical electronic press kit fluff. The inclusion of "Doom Nation" offers a nostalgic look at the game's impact, complemented by tips for "Doom 3" players and a demo for Xbox 360 players, enriching the overall package for enthusiasts despite its limitations.

Extras included in this disc:

• Basic Training: Behind-the-scenes look at the actors' military training.
• Rock Formation: Focuses on the makeup effects applied to The Rock.
• Master Monster Makers: Detailed examination of the film's creatures.
• First-Person Shooter Sequence: Exploration of the video game-inspired scene.
• Doom Nation: Reminiscing about the game and FPS genre with cast, crew, and celebrities.
• Game On!: Tips for beginners of Doom 3.
• Doom 3 Xbox 360 Demo: A playable demo for Xbox 360 users.
• BD-Live Features: Additional online content for Blu-ray profile 2.0 users.

"Doom," the film adaptation of the iconic video game, strives to capture the essence of its source material but lands squarely in the realm of mediocrity. The narrative, set in 2026, follows an elite team of soldiers, the Rapid Response Tactical Squad (RRTS), as they confront a deadly outbreak on Mars sparked by genetic mutations. The squad, led by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's character Sarge and featuring Karl Urban as John Grimm, navigates a series of dark, cramped environments reminiscent of the game's atmosphere. However, despite competent direction from Andrzej Bartkowiak and cinematography by Tony Pierce-Roberts that successfully emulate the game's iconic first-person perspective in segments, the film barely elevates beyond the feel of a conventional action horror flick. It attempts to blend Sci-Fi, Horror, and Action elements but often gets bogged down in clichés and predictable plot points.

The performances are as expected for a genre film of this caliber, with Urban and Johnson providing adequate portrayals of their respective characters. However, the supporting cast, while embodying the archetypical roles familiar to fans of action ensembles, offers little in terms of memorable or standout moments. The film's creature effects and action sequences deliver on the gore and intensity one might expect from a "Doom" adaptation but fail to compensate for the lack of a compelling story or character development. Furthermore, the inclusion of additional gratuitous violence in the Unrated Director's Cut does little to enhance the narrative or thematic depth of the film.

Ultimately, "Doom" falls into the trap many video game adaptations face: it recycles familiar tropes and setups without forging a new path or offering a fresh take on its source material. While it achieves moments of visual and stylistic fidelity to the game, including an inventive use of first-person shooter perspectives, it doesn't provide the engaging plot or character investment necessary to make it stand apart from other entries in the sci-fi and horror genres. Fans seeking mindless entertainment may find some value in its action-packed sequences and special effects, yet the movie remains a largely forgettable experience amidst a crowded field of similar adaptations.

"Doom," in its Blu-ray presentation, stands as an interesting yet flawed adaptation of the iconic video game series. The film, while criticized for its deviation into a more science-oriented plot rather than prioritizing the game's hallmark creature chaos, manages to entertain through a combination of decent performances, notably creepy atmospherics, and commendably executed special effects. Photography is described as steady, albeit lacking in remarkable flare, contributing to an overall experience that seems to balance precariously between engaging moments and instances that verge on the monotonous, particularly towards the film’s conclusion.

The technical aspects of the Blu-ray itself draw mixed reactions. The video transfer is mentioned as being somewhat lackluster, described as "dull and soft," which might disappoint purists or those expecting a visually stunning remaster. However, the audio quality is consistently praised across reviews, suggesting an aural experience that substantially compensates for the visual shortcomings. Bonus materials on the disc, however, leave much to be desired, being characterized as insubstantial and failing to add significant value or insight into the movie or its creation process.

In conclusion, the Blu-ray release of "Doom" offers a middling experience that lands better for casual viewers seeking simple, dark entertainment than for die-hard fans of the game series. The exceptional audio presentation stands as a highlight, saving the film from being a complete letdown from a technical standpoint. Nevertheless, given the film's failure to fully capture the essence of its source material and a physical presentation that could have been improved upon, this release might best be considered a rental rather than a must-own, except perhaps for collectors or fans with adjusted expectations.