Twelve Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Twelve" impresses with its high-definition video quality, accurately capturing the film's stylized visuals. Employing an AVC-encoded transfer at a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the film leverages sepia-toned filtering and muted colors to achieve a distinctive aesthetic. Shot using the Red One digital camera, the transfer's clarity and color fidelity are commendable. The image quality is strikingly detailed; elements like the texture of clothing and skin tones are meticulously rendered, though these occasionally shift toward yellow due to the film's warm color cast. Contrast is dynamically applied, enhancing the depth of blacks, though it sometimes overwhelms shadow detail, which seems intentional.

Detail retention in "Twelve" is excellent for the most part, with sharpness and definition maintained throughout various perspectives and scenes. The high-definition video is free from typical video anomalies such as aliasing, macroblocking, and post-processing artifacts like edge enhancement or digital noise reduction (DNR). The video remains consistent and whistle-clean, ensuring watchers experience the director's vision uncompromised. Notably, there are color-tinged shots with fluorescent yellow or icy blue hues to heighten dramatic effect, while other scenes showcase New York City’s architectural detail without a hint of aliasing, demonstrating the encode’s robust capability.

The rendering of skin tones, although occasionally influenced by the film's stylized color grading, is generally accurate. This level of detail extends to nuanced features such as subtle facial stubble and beads of sweat, underscoring the film's gritty narrative elements. The film’s contrast is particularly notable during dream sequences where characters are starkly juxtaposed against high-contrast backgrounds. Despite minor issues in a few low-lit scenes, "Twelve" on Blu-ray delivers a visually compelling experience that aligns well with modern high-definition standards.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack for "Twelve" delivers clear, articulate dialogue that maintains a prominent and balanced presence across the front three channels. Sound effects demonstrate robust dynamic presence, feeling both full-bodied and authoritative. The mix showcases excellent detail, accurately placing sounds within the sound field and maintaining the right levels. This precision adds depth to environmental cues and subtly enhances the texture of voices and sound effects. While the film doesn’t demand heavy use of surround sound, it leverages the full soundstage when necessary to enhance atmospheric elements.

Vocals are consistently clean, intelligible, and perfectly balanced without issues such as crackles or dropouts. The music in "Twelve" is dynamic and full, sometimes activating the LFE channel to provide impactful low-end potency. Realistic soundscapes feature atmospheric details like street noise and party clamor extending into the surround channels. Noteworthy moments include basketballs moving across channels and gunshots sharply punctuating scenes with authoritative effects. Ambient noise further enriches the experience, with the vibrant party sounds and voices of partiers pulsating from the rear channels.

Overall, the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track delivers a rich auditory experience that complements the film's narrative style and setting. Kiefer Sutherland's distinctive voice is given an exemplary stage, enhancing his narrative presence. Gunshots, ambient street noise, and hip-hop tracks are rendered with accuracy and vigor, ensuring an immersive soundscape that matches the visual storytelling. This well-crafted audio mix ensures an engaging experience perfectly suited to the film’s tone and pace.

The Blu-ray release of "Twelve" offers a somewhat barebones experience in terms of extras, providing only a selection of sneak peeks for other titles. While the main feature maintains high presentation quality, those seeking additional insights or behind-the-scenes content related to the movie itself may find the lack of such extras disappointing. The available previews, while professionally done, fail to substantively enhance the viewing experience beyond mere promotional content.

Extras included in this disc:

• Mirrors 2: Trailer
• Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps: Trailer
• The A-Team: Trailer
• Predators: Trailer
• Vampires Suck: Trailer

"Twelve" directed by Joel Schumacher, is an adaptation of Nick McDonell's novel, exploring the bleak lives of wealthy teens in Manhattan's Upper East Side. The narrative follows White Mike (Chace Crawford), a philosophical dropout turned drug dealer, who supplies marijuana and a potent new drug called Twelve, introduced by Lionel (Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson). Following the mysterious murder of White Mike's cousin and Lionel’s subsequent arrest, Mike's life increasingly spirals out of control. Despite the film's intended gravitas, the characters come off as unlikable and unsympathetic, their privileged woes failing to elicit any genuine concern.

Schumacher's direction swings dramatically toward a glossed-over, exaggerated melodrama, which often undermines the story's potential depth. Kiefer Sutherland’s omnipresent narration aims to inject profundity but instead feels pedantic and pretentious, dictating emotions rather than evoking them naturally. The commanding performance of Crawford as White Mike is overshadowed by a misfit character palette that fails to coalesce into a coherent or engaging narrative. This sprawling ensemble of self-destructive, superficial teens feels more like a gratuitous parade of cliché-ridden archetypes rather than authentic characters.

Technical achievements aside, "Twelve" suffers mostly from shallow characterization and vapid storytelling. The film’s stylistic choices lend it a veneer of artificiality that betrays any attempt at sincerity. The excessive reliance on voiceover not only patronizes the audience but also fails to compensate for the script’s deficiencies. Ultimately, "Twelve" is a disjointed effort that masquerades as insightful drama but collapses under its misguided pretensions, rendering it an arduous viewing experience rather than the intense cinematic exploration it aspires to be.

Joel Schumacher’s Twelve lands quite decisively in the realm of cinematic disappointments, especially when scrutinized through the high expectations typically associated with Blu-ray releases. Despite the names attached to the project and its initial buzz, this film ultimately fails to deliver a meaningful or engaging experience. The narrative, centered around the tribulations of affluent youths, lacks depth and resonates poorly with viewers who seek more than superficial drama akin to a drawn-out episode of Gossip Girl.

Technical aspects of the Blu-ray release, while usually a selling point, struggle to compensate for the film's fundamental flaws. The visual quality is up to a professional standard, presenting clear and crisp images that make full use of the high definition format. The audio, too, benefits from robust processing and delivers an immersive surround sound experience. However, these technical merits only serve as a veneer, failing to add any substantive value to a storyline so markedly devoid of nuance or originality.

In conclusion, even the pristine presentation on Blu-ray cannot mitigate the inherent issues of Twelve. The film's lack of narrative coherence and emotional engagement are formidable barriers to appreciation. Despite commendable audio-visual performance, the unremarkable plot renders this Blu-ray release an unfortunate miss. We recommend looking elsewhere for a rewarding cinematic experience. Avoid this title unless curiosity prevails and forewarned disappointment is an acceptable outcome.