The One Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "The One" exemplifies the high-quality releases we've come to expect from Sony, maintaining a professional and detailed perspective on its visual and auditory enhancements. With vivid colors, sharp high-definition detail, and deep blacks that are slightly crushed to enhance pop, the film's visual appeal is undeniable. Granted, there's a smattering of low-level digital noise, but it's hardly a distraction against the overall crisp imagery. The natural grain presents a filmic texture that aficionados will appreciate, adding to the authentic cinematic experience. The audio doesn't lag behind, with a dynamic soundtrack that boasts solid bass extension, an engaging surround sound mix, and crystal-clear dialogue that keeps viewers immersed, especially during the high-octane extended fight scenes that showcase an impressive range of sound effects.

While the video fidelity is generally praiseworthy for its accuracy and vibrant contrast, there is a notable clinical edge to the color grading—a Sony characteristic—leaning towards yellow and cyan hues without compromising overall balance or the realism of flesh tones. This presentation outshines previous releases like "Seven Pounds," also from Sony, in terms of color accuracy and depth. However, the boon of definition and the rich black levels expose some less flattering details: Yulaw's intense expressions now resemble comical grimaces due to the clarity of 1080p, and the stark resolution makes some set pieces look inexpensively done. Despite these minor setbacks, which include visible film grain and a few spots of cheap-looking sets, the clear visual definition offers viewers intricate textures and depth in clothing, hair, and skin that were not possible in the DVD version, enhancing the viewing experience significantly.

The audio quality of "The One" on Blu Ray, presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1, excels in delivering a crisp and nuanced auditory experience that enhances the film's dynamic range. Technical proficiency shines through with vocal tracks presenting clear and detailed timbres, ensuring dialogue integrity amidst the bustling action sequences. The eclectic choice of music, featuring artists like Drowning Pool, Disturbed, and Linkin Park, adds a unique and surprisingly fitting layer to the sci-fi narrative, bridging genres with its rich midrange and well-balanced bass response. This selection, although unconventional for the genre, emerges as a standout element, contributing significantly to the movie's atmospheric depth and emotional resonance.

The technical setup, including high-end equipment from JVC, Oppo, Toshiba, Panasonic, Sony, Marantz, Denon, and a suite of exceptional speakers and amplifiers, ensures the soundtrack's fidelity is preserved and experienced as intended. The integration of Canton Ergo Series and Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers alongside the SV Sound PB-13 Ultra subwoofer exemplifies the meticulous audio engineering, combining to produce an expansive soundstage. This setup not only supports but elevates the film's auditory landscape with a meticulous balance of treble brightness and bass heftiness; moments of high LFE content, such as intense car chases, benefit significantly from this expert calibration.

Handling of the surround field merits special mention; it demonstrates restraint and precision, avoiding overt flamboyance for a more authentic and immersive listening experience. This careful engineering ensures environmental sounds and action cues are spatially accurate, enhancing realism and viewer immersion. The blend of aggressive bass during action-packed sequences and the conservative but effective use of surround channels showcases an understanding of auditory subtlety and impact. The audio presentation of "The One" on Blu Ray stands as a testament to how technical prowess and creative choices can coalesce to amplify the cinematic experience.

The Blu-ray release of "The One" maintains the same set of extras as the DVD version, without any enhancements or upgrades to high definition. This compilation provides a comprehensive look at the making of the movie, from inception to final product, though it falls short in offering a fresh, high-definition experience for its bonus content. The included features delve into various aspects of production, such as director and crew commentary, insights into Jet Li's contribution to the film, a detailed exploration of stunts and fight choreography, a brief look at the special effects processes, and an animatic comparison to showcase the film's visual planning stages. However, the lack of HD upgrades for these extras is a missed opportunity to fully utilize the Blu-ray format's capabilities.

Extras included in this disc:

• Director & Crew Commentary: Insightful discussion with the director and crew about the film's production.
• Jet Li is The One: A 13-minute featurette focusing on Jet Li's role and performance.
• Multiverse Create: An 18-minute featurette on the stunt and fight choreography.
• About Face: 6-minute special effects breakdown.
• The Many Faces of Jet Li: A 2-minute feature showcasing Jet Li's versatility.
• Animatic Comparison: Comparison of a sequence with computer-based and hand-held miniatures.
• (HD) BD Preview - Resident Evil Degeneration: A preview of another Blu-ray release.
• BD-Live Enabled: For interactive features accessible via internet-connected Blu-ray players.

"The One," starring Jet Li in a dual role as both protagonist Gabriel Yulaw and his malevolent counterpart from an alternate universe, offers a unique blend of science fiction and martial arts, though it struggles to deliver on the potential of its premise. The film explores the concept of a multiverse, where Yulaw traverses through different dimensions, eliminating versions of himself to become more powerful, ultimately targeting his last remaining alternate, Gabe Law, a Los Angeles police officer. This narrative setup promises an intriguing exploration of identity and power but finds itself mired in convoluted sci-fi logic and underwhelming execution.

Despite Li's commendable performance, showcasing distinct fighting styles for his two characters, the movie fails to capitalize on its sci-fi themes compellingly. The plot awkwardly borrows elements from seminal genre films like "The Matrix" and "The Terminator" without achieving similar levels of engagement or originality. The direction and acting are criticized for not elevating the material, resulting in a narrative that feels disjointed and lackluster. Moreover, the heavy reliance on CGI effects detracts from the martial arts sequences, which are choreographed by Cory Yuen, masking Li's genuine skill and reducing the fight scenes' overall impact.

Nevertheless, for martial arts aficionados and fans of Jet Li, "The One" offers a few highlights, notably in its action sequences. These moments, where Li battles his alternate self, are where the film shines brightest, albeit briefly. The Blu-ray presentation is acknowledged to be a solid upgrade from DVD versions, providing a clearer visual experience for viewers willing to overlook the movie's narrative and technical shortcomings. However, it's clear that the film misses a significant opportunity to merge its high-concept sci-fi premise with the kinetic energy of martial arts cinema effectively.

The Blu-ray presentation of "The One" delivers a formidable upgrade in visual and auditory experience, particularly when evaluated on a high-end home theater setup. Utilizing components like the JVC DLA-RS20 1080p High Definition Front Projector and Carada Precision Brilliant White 96 Screen, the high-definition picture quality sharply brings to life the sci-fi visuals and martial arts choreography that the film endeavors to showcase. Coupled with audio reproduction through an array of premium devices including the Denon AVR 5308CI THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor and an impressive lineup of Canton Ergo and Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers, the Blu-ray edition underscores the film's dynamic sound effects and soundtrack, thereby elevating the overall viewing experience.

However, technical prowess in presentation does little to amend the fundamental flaws intrinsic to "The One's" narrative and execution. Despite the enhanced picture and sound quality afforded by equipment such as the Panasonic DMP-BD55K Blu-ray disc player and the meticulous selection of cabling from Wireworld and Audioquest, the film itself remains a lackluster endeavor that struggles to captivate. Drawbacks noted include a derivative plot that inadequately exploits its sci-fi potential and Jet Li's inability to fully embody the menacing antagonist role, thus failing to escalate the critical sense of threat and tension vital for this genre. These cinematic shortcomings are slightly mitigated by the nostalgia factor and the crisp HD presentation for followers of martial arts films and the early-2000s sci-fi surge.

In conclusion, while the Blu-ray edition of "The One" benefits significantly from a state-of-the-art home theater setup, offering a visually and sonically enhanced viewing experience, it cannot overcome the movie's intrinsic narrative and directorial weaknesses. This release may appeal primarily to die-hard Jet Li or martial arts aficionados seeking a visually upgraded stroll down memory lane. However, for viewers seeking a compelling storyline and well-executed action within the sci-fi genre, "The One" might not deliver fully on those expectations, despite its technical presentation merits.