Resident Evil: Vendetta Blu-ray Review

"Resident Evil: Vendetta" makes a strong visual impression on Blu-ray with its 1.85:1 AVC encode, exhibiting a blend of vibrant colors and shadowy details typical of its digital animation roots. Primary colors, especially neon blues and blood reds, stand out amid dark, moody environments, providing dramatic visual contrasts. Close-ups reveal an admirable level of detail and texture in elements such as grotesque monster designs and tactical gear. However, the film occasionally exhibits issues related to its digital nature, like banding in dark scenes and shimmering lines in certain sequences. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall presentation maintains a high standard, akin to an exceptionally well-done video game cutscene.

Additionally, the overall color vibrancy and texture detail are commendable. The colors maintain accuracy and richness throughout, underlined by a film-like digital grain that tries to add depth but sometimes results in noisy sequences. While foreground and middle-ground elements are nicely detailed, background objects can lack texture, leading to an artificial sense of weightlessness in certain scenes. Despite these limitations, the Blu-ray transfer for "Resident Evil: Vendetta" is notably solid given its production constraints, managing to deliver a visually compelling experience.

The digital release of "Resident Evil: Vendetta" on Blu-ray features a robust DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which, while not matching the intricacies of the Dolby Atmos track on the UHD version, delivers an immersive and aggressive audio experience. Action sequences are vividly brought to life with chaotic gunfire, substantial LFE that accentuates monster battles, and pinpoint accurate bullet movement. The soundstage is filled with directional effects that enhance the viewing experience, including distinct environmental noises and frighteningly optimal moans and groans from zombies. The 5.1 mix maintains clear and well-prioritized dialogue, ensuring spoken words are discernible during both quiet and intense moments. Although it could benefit from the expanded spatial characteristics of the Atmos mix, this DTS-HD MA track remains highly capable and engaging.

The Dolby Atmos mix found on the UHD release exemplifies the superior format's ability to create a multidimensional soundscape, particularly shining during quieter scenes where subtle audio cues like creaking wood and clock chimes provide heightened immersion. The directional channels are effectively utilized, such as when Rebecca's lab is attacked, with above-space effects adding depth to the chaos. However, during intense action sequences, the separation between elements can become muddled, leading to a slightly squashed auditory presentation. Despite this occasional blending of voices, gunfire, and music, dialogue clarity is generally preserved, though adjustments in volume may be necessary at times.

Overall, "Resident Evil: Vendetta" showcases Sony’s commitment to high-quality audio presentations. While both audio tracks offer engaging experiences, the Atmos mix's nuanced directional uses and expansive soundstage underscore the benefits of this advanced audio technology, even if some minor issues arise during peak action moments.

The Blu-ray extras for "Resident Evil: Vendetta" offer an in-depth and engaging behind-the-scenes experience. With comprehensive featurettes, detailed commentary, and insightful galleries, the supplementary content is a treat for any fan of the franchise. The two-disc set is packed with intriguing material that dives deep into the animation process, motion capture techniques, and overall film design. Notably, the Japanese audio commentary with English subtitles provides a rich understanding of the creative process from the Director Takanori Tsujimoto, Executive Producer Takashi Shimizu, and Writer Makoto Fukami. Despite the absence of a digital copy code, the extensive nature of the included extras ensures a robust and satisfying addition to any film aficionado's collection.

Extras included in this disc:

Audio Commentary: Insightful commentary by Director Takanori Tsujimoto, Executive Producer Takashi Shimizu, and Writer Makoto Fukami.
CGI to Reality: Two-part featurette exploring creature designs and overall visual construction.
Motion Capture Set Tour: Dante Carver's tour that delves into motion capture's intricacies.
Still Gallery: Conceptual artwork sketches.
Theatrical Trailer: Official public trailer.
Teaser Trailer: Preliminary promotional trailer.
Previews: Additional Sony titles trailers.

Bonus Disc:

BSAA Mission Briefing: Combat Arias: Detailed mission summary featuring key characters and plots.
Designing the World of 'Vendetta': Overview of digital animation and various design aspects.
Tokyo Game Show Footage 2016: Creative team discussion and Q&A session from the event.

“Resident Evil: Vendetta” positions itself as a compelling bridge between the beloved video game series and its animated counterparts. While the live-action films have treaded their own paths with varying success, the animated trilogy including “Vendetta” takes strides to remain faithful to its source material. By threading familiar characters such as Chris Redfield, Leon Kennedy, and Rebecca Chambers into a high-stakes narrative, the film crafts a robust tale of bioweapons and revenge. The plot of "Resident Evil: Vendetta" centers on Glenn Arias, a vengeful arms dealer who deploys a new A-Virus capable of differentiating between friend and foe. This innovation elevates the deadly potential of the bioweapons introduced in the story.

Technically, “Vendetta” excels with its cutting-edge digital animation, which resembles high-end video game cutscenes with exceptional fluency and visual quality. However, some may argue that this strength also serves as a double-edged sword—the film sometimes feels like an extended game sequence sans interactive gameplay. Despite this, the film balances its narrative aspects with intense, blood-spattered action scenes that are both thrilling and grotesque. Glenn Arias emerges as a complex antagonist, driven by personal vendetta rather than corporate malfeasance, adding depth to his character and a fresh layer of urgency to the storyline.

While the animated installment stands out for its vibrant portrayal of iconic characters and relentless action sequences, it is not without its pitfalls. As the series progresses, there is a palpable sense of repetitiveness. Each film introduces a new villain and monster to battle, creating a cycle that risks becoming formulaic. Despite its engaging premise and technical prowess, "Resident Evil: Vendetta" must strike a balance between long-standing fans’ expectations and innovative storytelling to push the franchise forward meaningfully.

"Resident Evil: Vendetta" is a "filler" movie that caters well to fans of the franchise, offering an entertaining 90-minute diversion that complements the established universe without deeply intertwining with either the game or film narratives. Directed by Takanori Tsujimoto, the film delivers a gratifying experience with its operatic violence and creatively grotesque monster effects, all while featuring an intricate villain that enhances the movie's appeal over other similar productions.

The Blu-ray release by Sony Pictures is commendable, boasting a robust 1080p video transfer and an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio mix (though an upgrade to Atmos would have been ideal). The release also includes a second disc packed with special features, providing plenty of content for viewers to explore beyond the film itself. The aspect ratio is preserved at 1.85:1 AVC, maintaining the director's visual intent. Clocking in at 97 minutes and rated R, this installment will satisfy fans of both the video games and previous CGI entries in the "Resident Evil" series.

Overall, "Resident Evil: Vendetta" may not break new ground but serves as a tasty treat for franchise enthusiasts, offering solid audiovisual quality and enough bonus material to merit a purchase. While the over-the-top action is starting to feel a bit trite, the film still manages to keep viewers engaged. It's an enjoyable outing for those invested in the "Resident Evil" universe. Recommended.