The Poseidon Adventure Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "The Poseidon Adventure" demonstrates several challenges typically associated with made-for-TV movies, which impact the overall video quality. The film is offered in 1080p utilizing an AVC MPEG-4 codec, but despite this, it is clear that the limitations of the source material and transfer affect the viewing experience. The single-layer BD-25 disc struggles with compression artifacts, evident through moments of aliasing and noticeable posterization, particularly during slow fades. The CGI incorporated within the movie suffers significantly in clarity and detail, often appearing jagged. This is compounded by the observable film grain that is pervasive throughout both foregrounds and backgrounds, creating consistent visual noise that detracts from image purity.

The color balance attempts to bring vibrancy, especially with blues standing out clearly, but frequently falls into oversaturation, leading to unwanted noise. Black levels vary in quality; some scenes exhibit crushing, while others appear washed-out, greatly diminishing depth and creating a "flat" look. Bright scenes endure "hot" whites typical of video-based lighting, and overall, the visuals occasionally take on a cheap appearance due to uninspired cinematography. Despite these flaws, there are instances where the video manages to impress, with close-ups delivering sharp details and some sequences achieving a discernible depth.

Overall, while "The Poseidon Adventure" on Blu-ray struggles due to substantial grain, compression issues, and dated CGI, the transfer does have moments of visual competence. However, it is far from being considered demo-worthy material. The balance of image softness against sporadic clarity makes it apparent that this version could benefit significantly from a more refined and less compressed transfer. For fans and collectors, this Blu-ray provides just an acceptable viewing experience but falls short of heightening the visual potential present in modern releases.

"The Poseidon Adventure" Blu-ray audio presentation offers four tracks: Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby 2.0, and Linear PCM 2.0. The Dolby Digital 5.1 track, encoded at 448kbps, initially proved underwhelming due to low dialogue levels in the mix. The DTS 5.1 track, despite not being HD Master Audio, presented a marked improvement with enhanced vocal clarity and a more dynamic overall mix. This mix proved to be effective particularly during the movie's chaotic disaster sequences, with rear channels capturing ambient effects like ballroom chatter and kitchen noise effectively.

Dynamics in "The Poseidon Adventure" are solid, with LFE rumbles in the ship’s bowels and crisp high-end sound effects. The uncompressed tracks labeled as "Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Uncompressed" and "2.0 Stereo Uncompressed," decoded as PCM tracks, provided a noticeable increase in clarity and presence. Surround activity is decent, particularly during the intense action scenes which showcase discrete effects, though they do not coalesce into a fully immersive soundscape. A prominent subwoofer enhances the lower frequencies while upper frequencies remain clean and transparent.

For a TV movie, the audio performance of "The Poseidon Adventure" on Blu-ray surpasses expectations. The mix, although inconsistent at times, creates a satisfactory surround experience with substantial rear presence and a better-than-average dynamic range. Dialogue is generally fine but occasionally dips in quality. Overall, considering the source material and its era, this audio presentation gives the film a fresh and surprisingly effective auditory dimension.

The extras on "The Poseidon Adventure" Blu-ray are modest but provide some insightful behind-the-scenes content. The Director Featurette with John Putch offers a brief tour of the ballroom sets, although it lacks footage of the more dynamic tilt sets. While in 1080p, both the featurette and other extras appear to be upscaled from lower resolutions. The Interviews segment includes six cast members—Adam Baldwin, Rutger Hauer, Steve Guttenberg, Bryan Brown, Peter Weller, and C. Thomas Howell—who discuss their characters and reflect on their experiences with the original film and its effects. Overall, while the extras are minimal and somewhat superficial, they add a layer of context for the production.

Extras included in this disc:

• Director Featurette with John Putch: An overview of the ballroom sets with minimal behind-the-scenes details.
• Interviews: Cast members discuss their characters and experiences with the film.
• The Poseidon Adventure Trailer: Original trailer for the film.

NBC's made-for-TV remake of "The Poseidon Adventure" seeks to capitalize on the disaster film resurgence of the late 90s and early 2000s, brought on by refined CGI techniques. Helmed by John Putch, this iteration swaps out the iconic rogue wave for a cookie-cutter terrorist plot, which ultimately adds little intrigue to the original premise. The film follows a predictable yet fun narrative: a diverse group of characters, including Adam Baldwin’s Mike Rogo, Steve Guttenberg’s philandering Richard Clarke, and Rutger Hauer’s lonely priest, must navigate the capsized vessel. Despite its attempt at a more character-driven story, the pacing suffers under prolonged setup and predictable soap opera archetypes. When the action finally arrives, it’s gratifyingly chaotic yet lacks the precision of high-budget features.

The film’s production constraints are evident in its limited practical effects and lackluster CGI. The capsizing sequence is a highlight, featuring actors stumbling through tilted sets and chaotic scenes reminiscent of 90s video game cut-scenes. Practical effects still manage some moments of effectiveness, such as a well-executed flooded well sequence. However, continuity errors and laughable computer screens undermine the experience. Furthermore, stereotypical character dynamics and predictable melodramas provide some unintentional humor but weaken emotional investment.

Despite these flaws, the film manages to deliver isolated thrills and retains some charm through its eclectic cast of B- and C-list actors, all of whom treat their roles with unexpected seriousness. This seriousness lends a certain gravitas to the otherwise campy proceedings, rendering this version entertaining in its mishmash of action and character-emphasis. Though unnecessary and undoubtedly inferior to the original 1972 classic and even Wolfgang Petersen’s big-budget remake, NBC's "The Poseidon Adventure" offers a nostalgic, if technically flawed, diversion for fans of disaster flicks.

"The Poseidon Adventure," released on Blu-ray by Echo Bridge, provides a nostalgic trip to a classic disaster film, though not without its faults. The video quality, while watchable, suffers from overcompression, resulting in softer and less detailed images than what modern audiences might expect. This issue is particularly noticeable during action sequences, where finer details tend to get lost. On the audio front, the presentation is competent but unremarkable. It delivers clear dialogue and an appreciable soundstage, yet lacks the immersive depth found in higher-end releases.

The special effects of the movie, despite being characteristic of a TV movie from its era, come across as dated and sometimes distract from the overall experience. However, these imperfections might turn into charming quirks for fans of vintage disaster flicks. The inclusion of Steve Guttenberg in the cast adds a layer of nostalgic enjoyment for viewers who remember his peak in the '80s and '90s.

When it comes to supplementary content, the Blu-ray package is disappointingly bare. The extras listed on the back of the box appear extensive, but in reality, they offer little in terms of substantive insight or additional entertainment value. Given the low price point, this might be forgivable for some but frustrating for those seeking a more comprehensive collector's edition.

In conclusion, there are far better disaster films to spend your hard-earned money on. With an unimpressive visual presentation, merely sufficient audio, and a barebones package of extras, I can only recommend this made-for-TV sinker to diehard Poseidon enthusiasts. Save your money and buy Knowing instead.