Resident Evil: Degeneration Blu-ray Review

"Resident Evil: Degeneration" is presented on Blu-ray with a stunning 1080p High Definition video quality that lavishly brings the CGI movie to life in its original aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The digital transfer shines brightly, especially in the next-gen format, offering up a visual feast that showcases exceptional detail and clarity. The movie maintains a consistent sharpness and texture across various sequences, be it the eerily detailed dark, night-time landscapes or the vividly clear daylight scenes, without succumbing to softness or grain. However, it's worth noting that while the animation's fluidity during high-paced action sequences may introduce some blurring, it comes across as an intentional effort to heighten the drama rather than a flaw. On the color spectrum, 'Degeneration' impresses with a palette that, although leaning towards darker shades, makes primary colors pop with an eye-catching intensity. Deep blacks and refined contrast levels ensure that even in dimly lit scenes, details are pronounced and visuals remain distinguished, creating an almost three-dimensional depth.

Despite its visual prowess, the Blu-ray presentation is not without its issues. Viewers might observe minor occurrences of aliasing and moiré in certain scenes, likely stemming from the movie's direct-to-digital animation process. These instances, while not pervasive, can distract especially when projected on larger screens. Another point of contention is the occasional presence of color banding and shimmering artifacts; these issues hint at limitations in the original animation work, possibly due to an upscaling from a lower resolution to the 1080p format. Nonetheless, these technical imperfections do little to detract from what is overall a strikingly sharp and colorful presentation of the film. 'Degeneration' benefits from a deft application of AVC CODEC, managing a robust bitrate around 25 MBPS that marries well with Sony Pictures’ digital transfer expertise, delivering a video quality that's both impressive in its digital clarity and faithful to the creators' visual intent.

The audio presentation of "Resident Evil: Degeneration" on Blu-ray is graced with a Dolby TrueHD track that excels in delivering a highly detailed and immersive sound experience, akin to the interactive depth one would expect from the franchise's video game counterparts. The dialogue is crisp and maintains clarity throughout, predominantly funneling through the front speakers, whereas the film's score toggles between perfectly stylized sequences and moments that seem anachronistic, though it never detracts from the overall audio prowess. Most commendable is the sound effects' execution—gunshots, the menacing approach of zombies, and the immersive screams craft a sonic landscape that not only elevates this release but also showcases exemplary use of directional audio and substantial bass during action sequences, providing an almost tangible experience.

In terms of technical details, the TrueHD lossless soundtrack offers a meticulous attention to sound design, capturing with defining clarity the nuanced sounds of the environment and foreground activities, such as the creaking of leather and the distinctive noise of firearms in use. The dynamic range is robust, complemented by a solid low-frequency response that adds a layer of tactile engagement during the more intense scenes. It utilizes the entire surround sound setup to immerse the viewer fully, skillfully balancing both discrete and spatial effects to fill the room with an encompassing auditory experience.

Despite these strengths, some issues stem from the original production that affect the audio's impact, particularly in action scenes that can occasionally seem cluttered or lacking in distinctness. The most glaring shortfall being the dialogue sync, which can detract from the immersion. Nevertheless, these aspects do not significantly diminish the technical achievements of the Blu-ray's audio presentation. The mix makes full use of its surround sound capabilities, engaging viewers with an actively dynamic soundfield that is sure to impress both audiophiles and fans alike, ensuring that every scream, gunshot, and explosion is felt with as much intensity as it is heard.

The Blu-ray extras for "Resident Evil: Degeneration" offer a mixed bag of content, ranging from in-depth looks into the making of this CG animation marvel to lighter, less engaging material. The standout feature is undoubtedly the "The Generation of Degeneration" documentary, offering insightful interviews albeit with a language barrier for non-Japanese speakers. Interactive Picture-in-Picture (PiP) and Pop-Up Trivia Tracks promise an enriched viewing experience but falter due to small display sizes and infrequent nuggets of genuinely intriguing information, rendering them slightly underwhelming. The character profiles provide a brief but satisfying glimpse into the movie's cast, while the Voice Bloopers and Faux Leon Interview attempt to inject humor, albeit with varied success. Special footage looking forward to "Resident Evil 5" teases the game's potential, standing out for gamers eager for a preview. Despite some exclusive Blu-ray content, the overall package feels like a missed opportunity to dive deeper into the film's production nuances and story lore, catering more to die-hard fans than casual viewers.

Extras included in this disc:

• Interactive Bonusview PiP feature: Engage with various behind-the-scenes content via selectable PiP options.
• Pop-up trivia track: Offers additional movie insights and trivia.
• The Generation of Degeneration: A making-of documentary providing a look into the film's creation.
• Character profiles: Detailed bios and select footage for key characters.
• Voice bloopers: Humorous alternate dialogue for scenes.
• Faux Leon interview: A mock interview with Leon's character.
• Resident Evil: Degeneration trailers: Promotional trailers for the movie.
• Resident Evil 5: Special footage: Previews of the upcoming video game.
• BD Previews: Trailers for other Sony films.
• BD-Live - Access: Online content including Comic-Con clips.

"Resident Evil: Degeneration," an animated extension of the famed video game franchise, ambition meets uneven execution in this direct-to-video release. Set between the events of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5, the movie aims to bridge the storyline for series enthusiasts while attempting to be accessible enough for newcomers. Despite these intentions, the film suffers from a presentation that often feels like an elongated series of video game cutscenes, complete with stiff, motion-capture animation that falls short of bringing its characters to life convincingly. While certain aspects, such as background details, achieve a commendable level of quality, facial animations and lip-sync issues detract significantly from the immersive experience one might expect from a modern CGI endeavor.

The narrative thrust reunites iconic characters Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield in a battle against a familiar menace at Harvardville Airport, echoing the overarching theme of corporate irresponsibility and viral outbreaks that fans will recognize. However, plot predictability and a series of action set pieces that feel more obligatory than inspired render the storyline somewhat lackluster. The voice acting, provided by seasoned anime veterans, delivers adequately but cannot fully compensate for the aforementioned animation flaws and sometimes wood dialogue synchronization.

Technically, the Blu-ray release shines with exceptional audio and visual quality that underscores the potential of what could have been a landmark in videogame-to-film adaptations. Sadly, "Resident Evil: Degeneration" stumbles in its core execution, relegating it to a position of primarily serving the completist fan or perhaps piquing the curiosity of newcomers with its high-quality production values rather than its storytelling or cinematic craftsmanship. Despite attempts to mesh the game and live-action film narratives, it ends up feeling like an extended homage to the franchise's legacy rather than a significant expansion of it.

In our analysis of "Resident Evil: Degeneration" on Blu-ray, it becomes evident that the disc presents a visually and audibly engaging experience, suited for enthusiasts of the franchise. Employed on a high-caliber home theater setup, including equipment like the JVC DLA-RS20 1080p High Definition Front Projector and Denon AVR 5308CI THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor, among others, the Blu-ray's video and audio qualities are remarkable. The action sequences are notably well-executed, complemented by a clear and immersive soundstage provided by an array of high-end audio systems such as Canton Ergo Series speakers and Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers. However, it's important to highlight a recurrent criticism regarding lip-sync inaccuracies throughout the film, which detracts from the overall enjoyment for some viewers.

The film itself garners mixed reactions, principally stemming from its narrative and entertainment value. Described as a lengthy promotional piece for the "Resident Evil 5" video game rather than a standalone cinematic feat, it falls short in delivering a compelling story or well-rounded characters that captivate the audience. Critics argue that it leans more towards showcasing game-like action sequences, which may appeal to gamers but leaves movie-goers seeking depth and development somewhat dissatisfied. This sentiment is compounded by lackluster special features offered on the Blu-ray, which do not add significant value or insight into the film’s creation or the broader "Resident Evil" universe.

In conclusion, "Resident Evil: Degeneration" on Blu-ray is a mixed bag that excels in technical presentation but falters in narrative substance. The high-definition video and audio quality are exemplary, making it a worthwhile consideration for fans eager to experience the visual and auditory prowess of their home theater systems. Nonetheless, those in search of an engaging story and character development might find it lacking. It is ideally suited as a rental for die-hard franchise fans curious to relive the action in high fidelity, albeit with measured expectations regarding its cinematic prowess.