Future World Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Future World," distributed by Lionsgate Films, offers a visually pleasing experience despite its low-budget origins. Presented in AVC encoded 1080p with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, the film is digitally photographed using the RED Dragon camera, which contributes to fine details and sharp imagery in numerous scenes. Close-up shots, particularly of facial features, exhibit a good level of detail, making these moments stand out. However, background shots can appear softer in contrast. The film's color palette leans heavily toward earth tones with notable orange grading, enhancing its post-apocalyptic aesthetic.

While the cinematography by Peter Zeitlinger aims for a nuanced palette, the film features several stylistic choices that impact the viewing experience. Hallucinatory and hazy scenes are common, accompanied by frequent use of digital lens flares, which might be distracting at times. Additionally, the film's evolving color grading causes abrupt changes in luminosity and temperature, affecting consistency across scenes. Black levels are generally deep but suffer from occasional crush in darker sequences, and darker shots also face issues with noisier backgrounds and potential banding in the AVC encode.

Despite these flaws, "Future World" does manage to maintain decent clarity and definition, particularly in its hotter exterior landscapes and action sequences. The Blu-ray disc encodes the 88-minute feature on a BD-25 with serviceable AVC compression, though it's evident that Lionsgate's encoding technology has not kept pace with industry advancements. Consequently, some compression artifacts are noticeable in challenging scenes. In summary, the Blu-ray offers average video quality for a 2018 release but is commendable given the film's budget constraints and stylistic ambitions.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for "Future World" offers an enjoyable auditory experience that aligns well with the film’s action-packed narrative. While the mix leans somewhat heavily on the front channels, dialogue remains impressively clear and articulate throughout the film. Front-of-room action is robust, creating an engaging sound environment. Surround channels contribute significantly to the overall ambiance, expertly capturing the low-frequency rumbles of motorcycles and the bustling environment of Love Town. The LFE is precise and impactful, injecting a punch into scenes with quad bikes and battle sequences without feeling overbearing. Although not exceptionally immersive or aggressive, the audio track is well-balanced and effectively enhances the film's dynamic elements.

Moreover, "Future World" delivers a solid array of directional cues that move seamlessly across a broad soundstage, contributing to a more immersive viewing experience. Explosions and engine roars are particularly noteworthy, resonating with realistic intensity that heightens dramatic moments. The surround activity is notably better during certain set pieces, such as the quasi-gladiatorial duel, bringing extra clarity and dimension to these sequences. The mix's fidelity and separation are handled expertly, ensuring that low-frequency effects and atmospheric sounds blend without compromising the dialogue's integrity. Additionally, the soundtrack includes three optional subtitles—English, English SDH, and Spanish—displayed in a white font within the 2.39:1 aspect ratio, supporting accessibility and enhancing viewer comprehension. Overall, the audio presentation complements "Future World" effectively, making it a satisfying sonic experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "Future World" offer a limited yet engaging look into the film's production. The highlight is an exclusive behind-the-scenes featurette where actor, co-writer, and co-director James Franco delves into the creative process and discusses key cast members. This segment, though informative, is padded with numerous film clips that could have been trimmed. Additionally, there are trailers for other Lionsgate movies, which are standard but skippable. The inclusion of an UltraViolet digital copy provides added value. Overall, while sparse, the extras offer some insight for fans of the film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Behind the Scenes Featuring Interview with James Franco: Interviews and behind-the-scenes footage with James Franco discussing the film.
• Future World Trailer: Preview of the film.
• Lionsgate Trailers: A collection of trailers for various Lionsgate films.

Future World attempts to capture the essence of a post-apocalyptic action thriller with a star-studded ensemble including James Franco, Milla Jovovich, and Lucy Liu, but it ultimately fails to deliver on its promise. The plot revolves around Prince (Jeffrey Wahlberg) who embarks on a journey to find a cure for his dying mother, Queen (Lucy Liu), in a dystopian world. Along the way, he encounters Ash (Suki Waterhouse), a synthetic robot fleeing from Warlord (James Franco). Despite its intriguing setup, the film is hampered by choppy editing, poor acting, and a lack of coherent storytelling.

Franco's portrayal of Warlord is inconsistent, oscillating awkwardly between menacing and farcical, reminiscent of his character in The Interview. Jeffrey Wahlberg shows some promise but is underutilized in the uninspired script. Milla Jovovich stands out with her role as a drug lord, exuding a chaotic energy that momentarily lifts the film. However, Lucy Liu's brief appearance is underwhelming, reducing her to an extended cameo despite her top billing. Suki Waterhouse’s portrayal of Ash struggles with shallow character development and requires more depth to truly resonate.

The technical aspects of Future World also leave much to be desired. The film’s direction by Franco and Bruce Thierry Chung lacks finesse, resulting in a disjointed narrative flow and poorly choreographed action sequences. Although the film incorporates elements from iconic sci-fi classics like Mad Max and Ex Machina, it fails to innovate or cohesively blend these influences into a compelling story. The movie is marred by stylistic excesses and abrupt tonal shifts, making it reminiscent of low-budget direct-to-video fodder rather than a polished production.

"Future World," starring James Franco, Lucy Liu, and Milla Jovovich, is a film that seems to struggle under the weight of its ambitions. While the production boasts some distinctive visual elements and occasional compelling moments, it fundamentally falters in storytelling and execution. Directed by Franco and Bruce Thierry Cheung, the narrative is marred by clichéd backdrops and awkward scenes that often verge on cringeworthy. This results in a disjointed experience that neither captivates nor entertains.

From a technical perspective, the Blu-ray release by Lionsgate does an admirable job with both audio and visual presentations, ensuring that the film's intended aesthetic is well-represented. The video quality maintains a sharp 2.39:1 aspect ratio with clear, vivid imagery, while the DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track provides an immersive experience for those interested in the technicalities of the home viewing setup. Moreover, the inclusion of subtitles in English and Spanish adds accessibility for a broader audience. However, despite these technical merits, the supplementary materials are lackluster, providing little incentive for viewers to delve deeper into the film.

In conclusion, "Future World" is ultimately a disappointing effort that fails to live up to its star-studded potential. Lacking originality and plagued by subpar directing, editing, and acting, it stumbles in its attempt to offer a memorable sci-fi thriller. While collectors or Franco aficionados might find some reason to check it out, the overall recommendation is to skip this release given its myriad of shortcomings.