X-Men: Apocalypse Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "X-Men: Apocalypse" by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment boasts an impressive AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. This visual extravaganza delivers generally superb detail levels, capturing intricate makeup effects and finely stitched superhero suits with precision. Closeups reveal individual hairs on the actors' faces and intricate details of weapons and suits, while wider shots consistently maintain sharpness, offering excellent background and set piece detail. Despite some softness during heavy CGI sequences, the overall viewing experience remains unhindered.

The color grading is a study in contrasts, with cooler tones like blues, purples, and teals dominating many sequences, while warm, vibrant hues emerge in specific scenes set in Egypt and at Xavier's School for the Gifted. Explosions and high-energy moments bring forth bold, striking colors where orange and red elements pop vividly. Additionally, the film maintains robust black levels and consistent contrast, ensuring scenes of varied lighting—from the dark, shadowed to the brightly lit—are visually compelling. There's an absence of compression artifacts or image instability, affirming the transfer’s technical excellence.

Consistency is key here, as the film navigates through various settings without faltering. Even during darker sequences with limited shadow definition, details remain perceptible. Noteworthy is the careful balance achieved in skin tones, which appear natural unless altered by character-specific mutations. Overall, this Blu-ray presentation scores high marks for its clear, crisp imagery and flawless technical execution, providing an engaging visual treat for fans of the "X-Men" franchise.

The audio presentation of the "X-Men: Apocalypse" Blu-ray is a standout feature, delivering a robust DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix that immerses the viewer in its high-stakes narrative. From the opening sequence, where cool panning noises accompany a magical transfusion of consciousness, to the climactic battles, the sound design is consistently engaging. The low-frequency effects (LFE) are particularly impressive, with deep, resonant bass punctuating scenes of destruction and magnetic powers. The X-Men's jet sequences showcase dynamic swooping pans and forceful low-end effects, providing a palpable sense of motion. Dialogue is rendered with impeccable clarity, maintaining prioritization even amidst intense action scenes with myriad sound effects.

This lossless DTS-HD 7.1 MA mix ensures that both low and high ends are equally spectacular. Explosions, laser beams, punches, and kicks each pack a powerful punch, with great directionality and balance that captures both distant gunshots and close-up impacts distinctively. The ambient noises—from natural environments to bustling city sounds—are distinct and contribute to the immersive soundscape. The score is particularly noteworthy, enhancing the emotional and dramatic weight of scenes; for instance, 'Sweet Dreams Are Made of These' is used to brilliant effect. Throughout the film, dialogue remains crystal clear and well-balanced with other sound elements. The mix is free from any pops, cracks, or hiss, providing an unblemished audio experience.

Overall, this audio track excels in creating a vivid and immersive auditory environment. It balances bombastic sound effects with clear dialogue and rich ambient noises, making it a technical triumph that enhances the overall viewing experience.

The extras on the "X-Men: Apocalypse" Blu-ray are robust, offering insightful and comprehensive content for fans and film enthusiasts alike. The Audio Commentary by Bryan Singer and Simon Kinberg stands out, providing detailed discussion on the film's creation, themes, tone, and casting. The extensive featurette, X-Men Apocalypse: Unearthed, runs for over an hour and dives deeply into character development and plot, featuring insightful interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Deleted and Extended Scenes with optional introductions by Bryan Singer add value by offering additional character development. The Gag Reel injects humor with its flubbed lines and playful moments, while the Wrap Party Video provides a brief but engaging look behind the scenes set to music. Additionally, the visual content, including Concept Art and Unit Photography, along with Theatrical Trailers, enriches the viewer's experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted/Extended Scenes: Optional intros by Bryan Singer.
• Gag Reel: Humorous missed cues, flubbed lines, and laughter.
• Wrap Party Video: Behind-the-scenes footage set to music.
• X-Men Apocalypse: Unearthed: In-depth multi-part featurettes.
• Audio Commentary: Detailed insights by Bryan Singer and Simon Kinberg.
• Gallery: Concept art and unit photography.
• Theatrical Trailers: Promotional trailers for the film.

Review of "X-Men: Apocalypse" (Blu Ray)

"X-Men: Apocalypse" is an ambitious installment in the X-Men franchise, weaving together multiple plot lines and an extensive cast of characters in a story that spans millennia. The film starts with ancient Egyptology elements, where the primary antagonist, En Sabah Nur (Oscar Isaac), is introduced as an ancient Egyptian mutant buried under a collapsed pyramid, only to be resurrected in the 1980s. This resurrection triggers a series of world-ending events, making for a visually compelling yet convoluted narrative. Director Bryan Singer injects considerable passion into the film, although the numerous competing storylines might leave some viewers struggling to keep up. The plot shifts between various timelines and character arcs, reminiscent of cinematic ADHD, but still provides thrilling sequences that die-hard fans will appreciate.

The film delves into multiple subplots involving both established and new mutants. Michael Fassbender’s portrayal of Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto is captivating; his character adopts a human identity in Poland, forming an emotional subplot that contrasts with other chaotic storylines. Jennifer Lawrence as Raven/Mystique also stands out, recruiting mutants such as Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee) while avoiding her own hero worship. Other notable arcs include the teenage saga of Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) and Scott Summers/Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) who are grappling with their burgeoning powers. The complex web of stories crafted by screenwriter Simon Kinberg results in a vignette-laden film that, while rich in character development, often feels fragmented.

One of the film’s most memorable moments is the Quicksilver (Evan Peters) sequence, where he rescues several characters to the tune of "Sweet Dreams," blending humor with breathtaking speed effects. Despite its shortcomings in narrative cohesion and some redundant plot elements seen in previous X-Men films, "X-Men: Apocalypse" delivers intense action and notable performances, particularly from Oscar Isaac and Michael Fassbender. This entry may not wholly resonate emotionally as past installments have, but it remains a visually entertaining spectacle for franchise enthusiasts.

"X-Men: Apocalypse" on Blu-ray offers a visually striking and aurally immersive experience that is certain to satisfy both die-hard X-Men aficionados and general action film enthusiasts. The video transfer showcases superb detail, dynamic range, and vibrant color reproduction, serving up a high-definition feast that captures every nuance of the extensive CGI and practical effects. Accompanied by an equally impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track, the soundscapes are rich and enveloping, with precise dialogue clarity, robust bass, and well-balanced surround effects that enhance every action-packed scene.

The film's narrative ambitiously juggles a multitude of storylines and characters. The ensemble cast delivers noteworthy performances, further elevating the film’s many intense action sequences, which are choreographed with meticulous attention to detail. While the sheer volume of story arcs can make the plot feel somewhat fragmented, the energy and pace seldom lag, ensuring a consistently engaging experience. The supplementary features on the Blu-ray are extensive, offering a comprehensive look into the film’s production process through various behind-the-scenes documentaries, deleted scenes, and commentary tracks.

In any other franchise, "X-Men: Apocalypse" might have been better appreciated for juggling so many storylines and characters, but the irony is that Singer set such an incredibly high bar for himself with "Days of Future Past" that this film was perhaps fated to appear less fulfilling. Still, even with its haphazard careening from character to character and plot point to plot point, there's a lot of exciting action going on, even if there's a similar lack of emotional tether to much of anything. Technical merits are first-rate and the supplements, while not overwhelmingly bounteous, are enjoyable as well. Recommended.