I.T. Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "I.T." offers a 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer that maintains a professional and engaging visual clarity. The digitally sourced material is delivered with an average bitrate of 20.02 Mbps, ensuring a consistent level of detail throughout. Despite being filmed in Ireland, which occasionally detracts from the nominal D.C. setting, the imagery remains crisp and clear. The digital cinematography by Ekkehart Pollack effectively captures the production design's nuances, particularly Ed's cyber-stalker home base, which appears visually compelling.

However, the visual presentation is not without its shortcomings. The use of drab and overcast filming locations in Ireland results in a color palette that leans heavily towards steely grey and green hues, giving an overall muted tone to the film. While black levels are solid with no crush issues, there is a noticeable lack of depth in several scenes. This color grading choice also affects flesh tones, which often appear sickly and pale, though this seems to be an intentional artistic decision rather than a flaw in the transfer.

The audio presentation of "I.T." on Blu Ray features a robust English DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack that effectively captures the film's digital and technological ambiance. The mix excels in creating an immersive environment with detailed soundscapes, ranging from the subtle hum of computers to more intense sequences involving dynamic car crashes and storms. Notably, the fight scenes and action sequences are delivered with wide dynamic range and impressive intensity, allowing the viewer to be fully enveloped in the on-screen action. The soundtrack also incorporates Tim Williams' generic thriller score, helping to heighten the film’s suspense.

Throughout the film, dialogue reproduction is consistently clear and precise, ensuring that speech remains intelligible against the backdrop of sounds and music. In the quieter parts of the movie, the sound mix utilizes spacious silence effectively, making room for electronic noises such as typing and digital beeps to stand out, contributing to the thematic atmosphere. As the narrative progresses towards more action-heavy scenes, the audio retains its quality and continuity, offering an immersive experience with solid imaging and a sense of spatial movement as various sound elements traverse the screen.

All in all, while "I.T." might be a relatively subdued thriller in terms of content, its DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track provides an engaging and technically sound auditory experience that enhances the film’s overall impact.

The extras included in the Blu-ray of "I.T." offer a range of insightful and supplemental content to enhance your viewing experience. The highlight is the "Behind the Scenes of I.T.," an eight-minute featurette delivered in 1080p resolution and a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, providing engaging interview snippets with the cast and crew. Despite its brevity, it serves well as an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) with standard interviews covering character motivations and production insights. Accompanying the featurette is a high-definition collection of production stills in the Photo Gallery. Additionally, introductory trailers for other thriller films, including "Criminal Activities," "Rage," "Devil's Knot," and "The Numbers Station," offer entertaining previews in crisp HD quality.

Extras included in this disc:

• Behind the Scenes of I.T.: Engaging EPK interview featurette.
• Photo Gallery: High-definition collection of production stills.
• Introductory Trailers: Previews for Criminal Activities, Rage, Devil's Knot, and The Numbers Station.

"I.T." is a fundamentally flawed film grappling unsuccessfully with the cyber thriller genre. The story centers on billionaire entrepreneur Mike Regan, played by Pierce Brosnan, who unwittingly invites a sociopathic I.T. specialist, Ed Porter (James Frecheville), into his high-tech home and private life. Director John Moore, whose track record includes other disappointing works like A Good Day to Die Hard, can't seem to bring the script by Dan Kay and William Wisher to life. The plot rushes through pivotal events, failing to build any credible tension or character depth. The idea of leveraging modern technological vulnerabilities for suspense is promising but is poorly executed. Brosnan's character, despite his supposed business acumen, makes baffling decisions that wouldn’t convince a discerning audience.

The character development within "I.T." is another significant lapse. Both Brosnan’s Mike and Frecheville’s Ed come off as one-dimensional sketches. Mike's quick trust in Ed feels implausible, and Ed's supposed menace is delivered so heavy-handedly it borders on parody. The only saving grace appears in the final act when Michael Nyqvist’s Henrik steps in with palpable charisma, although it's too little too late for the film. Additionally, the movie’s understanding of technology seems superficial and often inaccurate, as it relies on clichéd and misrepresented technical elements which diminish its believability.

In conclusion, "I.T." fails to hit essential plot benchmarks and instead falls into trite genre cliches. Despite having competent actors and an intriguing premise, it lacks the nuance necessary for a compelling narrative. The film neither offers genuine suspense nor a satisfying engagement with its technological themes, resulting in a lackluster viewing experience.

“I.T.” arrives on Blu-ray with a solid audio-visual presentation, yet it struggles to break free from the confines of derivative storytelling. Pierce Brosnan delivers a commendably strong performance, but even his charisma can’t elevate the film above its predictable and formulaic plot. The narrative, centered around a tech-expert turning against his employer, lacks the originality to stand out in the crowded techno-thriller genre. The film leans heavily on cliches and familiar tropes, leaving viewers yearning for the innovation and tension that defines superior entries in this category.

On a technical front, the Blu-ray impresses with robust audio and video quality. The picture clarity is exceptional, offering a crisp and detailed presentation that amplifies the sleek, digital world “I.T.” tries to immerse us in. The sound design complements the visual experience well, with clear dialogue and an immersive soundscape. However, this high-quality A/V packaging is undermined by the sparse bonus features. Fans of behind-the-scenes content and insightful extras will find little to satiate their curiosity here, making the overall offering feel somewhat incomplete.

It’s unfortunate that “I.T.” is so lacking, because it was the last project by Brosnan's producing partner, Beau St. Clair, to whom a dedication appears in the end credits. St. Clair worked with Brosnan on "The Thomas Crown Affair," "Evelyn," and "The Matador," and she deserves a better epitaph. Despite the evident effort put into its production, “I.T.” fails to make a significant impact and offers little in terms of rewatch value or engaging content. While the Blu-ray format does justice to the film’s technical aspects, the movie itself does not offer enough to warrant a recommendation.