Skyline Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Skyline" employs a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that offers a solid if somewhat unconventional visual experience. The visual design of the film is highly stylized, utilizing a limited color palette of steely blues, grays, blacks, with splashes of crimson and muted sepia tones, fitting well with the film's thematic elements. Skintones are generally well presented despite the de-saturated chroma. Uneven light and shading are prevalent, contributing to an inconsistent yet aesthetically intentional contrast that includes punchy whites and gradational grays. While black levels are slightly elevated, resulting in a flatter appearance, shadow detail offers mixed results, influencing depth perception across different scenes.

Special effects like the lumbering behemoths and floating ships benefit from the high definition transfer, though some CGI and green screen elements have a softening effect on wide-angle shots. Noise is present in nighttime sequences, occasionally accompanied by minor ringing and crush issues. Interior scenes lack fine detail, with faces appearing as soft blobs without much resolution. Outdoor scenes fare better under natural light but can sometimes exhibit overblown whites and overly hot skin tones. Despite these drawbacks, elements like aerial shots of L.A. demonstrate the film's best black levels and add dimension to the visual experience.

Overall, "Skyline" on Blu-ray delivers a clean and adequately resolved image with fine textures, albeit with some shortcomings in delineation and clarity in various conditions. A faint veneer of grain is consistently preserved, offering a proficient presentation that should satisfy fans of high-definition sci-fi spectacle. The visual fidelity reflects the directors' stylized intentions, capturing every shard of alien metal, stream of goo, and pulpy sliver of brain matter with faux-gritty resolve. However, the transfer's issues—soft shots, noise in some scenes, and inconsistent contrast—slightly hinder the overall viewing experience.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track for "Skyline" impresses with its robust and dynamic sound presentation. The mix showcases excellent clarity and high-level detail, which is particularly evident in the dialogue that remains lucid and definitive through the center channel. The spatial distribution and front channel separation are spot-on, enhancing the immersive nature of the soundfield. The mix effectively harnesses the surround channels to amplify the front soundstage, creating a compelling 360-degree web of sound during intense action sequences. This allows for a nuanced directional correlation of both large and small sound elements, making the listening experience highly engaging.

The soundtrack’s handling of low-frequency effects is especially notable. The LFE channel delivers viscerally potent impact with bass reaching ultra-low depths, adding a tactile dimension to the audio experience. While some viewers might find the LFE mixed on the hotter side, leading to slightly over-accentuated bass response at times, this doesn’t detract from the overall quality of the bass, which remains high. Action scenes are enriched by the constant rumble of footsteps, the roar of jets, and the mechanical whirrings of alien machines, all seamlessly panning through the soundfield to create an immersive listening environment.

Despite minor drawbacks such as occasional ADR mismatches where voices don't entirely align with the actors' on-screen performance, these issues are overshadowed by the overall resonance and responsiveness of the audio mix. Directionality is convincing, and cross-channel transitions are smoothly executed, contributing to a cohesive sound experience. Dialogue, on the whole, remains resilient through the chaos, maintaining intelligibility even against the backdrop of relentless action. For fans of the genre’s auditory spectacle, "Skyline’s" DTS-HD Master Audio mix will undoubtedly provide an exhilarating sonic adventure.

The Blu-ray extras for "Skyline" offer an extensive array of features, predominantly led by director and writer commentaries that range from insightful to overly defensive. Featuring two full-length commentaries—one from co-directors Greg and Colin Strause and another from co-writer/producer Liam O'Donnell and co-writer Joshua Cordes—the content delves deeply into production notes, often veering into technical specifics and revealing personal takes on the film's divisive elements. The supplemental package includes seven deleted scenes, alternate scenes, pre-visualizations, and trailers, all with optional commentary. Despite mixed tonal shifts between earnest assessments and more cavalier dismissals, fans and critics alike will find comprehensive behind-the-scenes insights. Functionality extras such as BD-Live and Pocket BLU App enhance the offering.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary: Seven extraneous scenes discussed by the filmmakers.
• Alternate Scenes with Optional Commentary: Two interchangeable scenes explored in detail.
• Pre-Visualizations with Optional Commentary: Early CGI drafts of key scenes.
• Teaser/Theatrical Trailers with Optional Commentary: Marketing material insights.
• Feature Commentary with Greg and Colin Strause
• Feature Commentary with Liam O'Donnell and Joshua Cordes
• My Scenes Bookmark Feature
• D-Box Motion Code Enabled
• Pocket BLU App

"Skyline" attempts to captivate with an alluring setup—a sudden, inexplicable dawn brings about an alien invasion in Los Angeles, sweeping residents into monstrous ships of unknown origin. Visually, the film is a feast for the eyes, owing much to its stunning special effects and grandiose depiction of extraterrestrial tankers, drones, and alien creatures. However, the narrative it accompanies is considerably less compelling. The script, penned by rookie screenwriters Joshua Cordes and Liam O'Donnell, crumbles almost immediately under scrutiny. Plagued by gaping plot holes and trite conventions, the story struggles to engage, while the cast's lackluster performances further detach the audience from what should be a pulse-pounding survival scenario.

Staying predominantly within a luxurious high-rise, the ensemble, led by Eric Balfour and Scottie Thompson, meander through a series of illogical decisions and stilted monologues, never truly invoking care or empathy for their plight. The aliens themselves suffer from a similarly problematic design—while visually arresting, their modus operandi of brain-harvesting remains convoluted and inconsistent. The alien invasion comes off as a disjointed amalgamation of better-executed scenes from films like "Independence Day," "The Matrix," and "District 9," yet it fails to meld these elements into a coherent or original narrative. Furthermore, the illogical finale transforms what could have been a suspenseful climax into an unintentional farce.

Despite its ambitious special effects work by directors Colin and Greg Strause (The Brothers Strause), who previously handled visual effects for "Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem," "Skyline" ultimately delivers a hollow experience. The repetitive interior setting of Terry’s penthouse grows tiresome, and the film’s reliance on elementary dramatic tropes—such as unplanned pregnancies and infidelity—feel shoehorned and unnecessary. In sum, "Skyline" is best appreciated as a technical showcase rather than a cohesive sci-fi thriller, leaving audiences to yearn for visual spectacle in a more narratively robust package.

"Skyline" on Blu-ray presents an intriguing yet flawed alien invasion narrative, leaving much to be desired. The film boasts technically impressive visual effects, but they fail to compensate for the lack of fundamental storytelling. The script is disjointed, borrowing heavily from superior genre works, and renders both human and alien characters as inconsequential. Despite the cast's commendable effort, the performances fall short of mitigating the film's evident narrative weaknesses.

The Blu-ray release does, however, present an exceptional audio-visual experience. The sound design is particularly noteworthy, delivering some jaw-dropping moments that add an engaging auditory dimension to the viewing experience. Yet, the visuals suffer from a hazy, inconsistently lit aesthetic that detracts from the overall immersion. While there are a few stunning shots, such as aerial footage of L.A. at night, the majority of scenes appear confined and plagued by a foggy look, which diminishes the film’s potential impact.

In conclusion, "Skyline" on Blu-ray might appeal to fans of campy, subpar alien flicks who are seeking a good laugh or a unique addition to their collection. However, for most viewers, the film's lackluster script and incoherent narrative overshadow its technical merits. Universal's effort is commendable in terms of AV presentation and supplementary features, but the film itself does not warrant prioritizing over other more compelling titles.