Priest Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Priest" showcases a deeply atmospheric presentation through its intentionally dark and somber visual style. Predominantly leveraging a steely-blue tint and grayscale color palette, the film succeeds in creating an immersive, foreboding environment. Shadow delineation is robust overall, providing substantial detail within the darker scenes, thanks to stable contrast and deep blacks that give these sequences a satisfactory gradation with crisp whites and dynamic highlights. The use of bold contrast allows brighter elements to visually pop amid the otherwise dark and gritty textures. Resolution is generally sharp, with intricate and well-defined detail, although certain scenes exhibit minor softness that occasionally interrupts the visual clarity.

Regrettably, the 3D conversion does little to enhance the viewing experience. Although there are moments where depth and spatial separation are slightly more pronounced, the overall effect is underwhelming due to the film's inherently dark visuals. Nighttime interiors, already poorly lit, suffer further in 3D as the additional dimness leads to significant detail loss. While some exterior shots with bright lighting display an appreciable sense of depth and dimension, such scenes are sparse. Consequently, the 3D transfer often feels superfluous, particularly given the limited palette and predominant use of shadows.

Overall, "Priest" on Blu-ray offers strong technical merits in its 2D presentation, with excellent shadow detail and resolution that bring out the film's intended visual bleakness. However, the 3D conversion fails to capitalize on these strengths, falling short of delivering a truly engaging three-dimensional experience. This release is best appreciated in its original format, where the deliberate dark cinematography shines without the encumbrance of unnecessary 3D effects.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "Priest" leverages a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack, which is both aggressive and engaging, perfectly suited to the film’s horror-action blend. This highly active surround sound mix excels in creating an immersive experience with well-placed directional and ambient sound effects. The track's dynamic range is noteworthy, featuring clean and extended bass reproduction which enhances scenes with palpable impact. For instance, the battle sequence within the deserted hive showcases a multi-directional wave of sound that effectively places the viewer in the heart of the action. Throughout, dialogue remains clear and intelligible, even amidst the film’s most chaotic moments.

The soundtrack is consistently balanced, with music that is crisp, spacious, and integrates seamlessly into the back channels. Atmospheric effects are exceptionally realized, whether it’s the drip of water in darkened caves or gusty winds swirling throughout immersive desert townships. However, these ambient sounds can sometimes become overly prominent, drawing attention away from front-stage events. Despite this, the comprehensive use of the entire soundstage and robust low-end ensures that action sequences are thoroughly engaging. While directionality and movement can occasionally lack finesse and upper frequencies may verge on being ear-splitting, the strong clarity and channel separation compensate well. Although certain conversations might get drowned during intense scenes, the sound design overall significantly enhances the film's viewing experience.

The Blu-ray release of "Priest" delivers a robust collection of extras that substantially enhance the viewing experience. The commentary track with Director Scott Stewart, Writer Cory Goodman, and stars Paul Bettany and Maggie Q offers valuable insights into various aspects of production, balanced by entertaining anecdotes. The Picture-in-Picture experience, "Bullets and Crucifixes," provides a thorough behind-the-scenes exploration, from its thematic influences to special effects. In "The Bloody Frontier," cast and crew delve into the creation of the film's unique world, while "Tools of the Trade" examines the detailed design of weapons and vehicles. Seven deleted and extended scenes further enrich the package. Exclusive to the 3D edition are interactive 3D explorations of weapons and vehicles and a 3D trailer for "Uncharted 3."

Extras included in this disc:

• Weapon and Vehicle Exploration in 3D: Interactive feature with a 360-degree perspective.
• Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Trailer: Available in both 2D and 3D.
• Bullets and Crucifixes: Picture-in-Picture Experience: Behind-the-scenes with cast and crew.
• Audio Commentary: Insights from the director, writer, and lead actors.
• Deleted & Extended Scenes: Seven scenes offering additional context.
• The Bloody Frontier: Creating the World of Priest: A look into the film’s unique world-building.
• Tools of the Trade: The Weapons & Vehicles of Priest: Detailed analysis of key props.
• Twisted Metal Uncut Trailer: Brief but engaging preview.
• MovieIQ
• BD-Live

"Priest" attempts to blend various cinematic genres, resulting in a film that is rich in visual style but lacking in originality. Set in a grim, post-apocalyptic world where mankind has retreated behind church walls after a devastating war with vampires, the plot follows a warrior priest (Paul Bettany) who defies church orders to rescue his kidnapped niece. The film expertly combines elements of westerns, religious epics, and sci-fi horror, achieving a unique aesthetic bi forcefully defined by a dark and dystopian atmosphere. Despite its visually striking landscape of electronically-dominated cityscapes and dusty high-tech western settings, much of the movie feels derivative, borrowing heavily from more accomplished films like "Blade Runner" and "The Searchers."

While the film's technical execution, including Don Burgess’ morose cinematography, is commendable, the storytelling and characters fall short. Paul Bettany’s portrayal of the eponymous priest and Cam Gigandet’s sheriff sidekick lack depth and conviction, hampered further by clichéd dialogue and predictable plot points. The narrative is laden with uninspired writing, heavy exposition, and underdeveloped emotional arcs. The action sequences, despite their slick presentation and polished effects, fail to inject fresh energy into the formulaic plot, often feeling like recycled scenes from "The Matrix" or "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon."

Ultimately, "Priest" is an exercise in style over substance. It wraps itself in an atmospheric and coherent visual tapestry but falters due to its generic storyline and forgettable characters. The film's mish-mash of borrowed elements underscores a regrettable lack of originality and creativity, leaving it an unremarkable entry in the genre it so ambitiously tries to redefine.

"Priest," directed by Scott Stewart, is an underwhelming sci-fi fantasy set in an alternate history plagued by vampires and superhero priests. Despite boasting a competent cast, led by Paul Bettany, and a visually intriguing premise reminiscent of John Ford’s "The Searchers," the film falls flat due to its lack of originality and thematic depth. It feels pieced together from better movies, delivering a forgettable and convoluted narrative that fails to engage its audience.

Sony's Blu-ray 3D release offers a technically proficient but dimensionally uninspiring 1080p transfer. While the video quality is solid, it does not enhance the viewing experience significantly beyond the standard 2D version. The accompanying lossless soundtrack is impressive and consistent with the 2D release. Additionally, two new extra features are included, yet they barely justify the added expenditure for the 3D version.

In conclusion, "Priest" serves more as an example of unoriginal studio entertainment than a noteworthy addition to the sci-fi genre. Its proficient technical aspects fail to compensate for its narrative shortcomings. The Blu-ray 3D release, while technically sound, does not offer enough added value to warrant a purchase. It's best reserved for a rental rather than a place in your permanent collection.