The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box Blu-ray Review
Score: 58
from 3 reviewers
Review Date:
Technically satisfying Blu-ray, but 'The Adventurer: Curse of the Midas Box' disappoints with a derivative and unfocused story, lacking engagement for all audiences.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 69
The Blu-ray presentation of 'The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box' by RLJ/Image Entertainment offers a richly stylized 1080p, AVC-encoded image with deep blacks and vibrant flashes of color. Despite a slightly misty quality typical of steampunk stylings, the transfer maintains strong contrast, clean edges, and impressively detailed close-ups.
Audio: 75
The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box delivers an enveloping DTS-HD MA 5.1 experience with aggressive surround effects, discrete pans, deep bass, and crisp dialogue. The balanced mix enhances the fantastical elements and action sequences, although the score occasionally overwhelms dialogue towards the film's end.
Extra: 17
The sole extra, a 21-minute featurette in 1080p, provides interviews with key figures including the director and principal cast. It touches on the technical challenges of production primarily in Cornwall and St. Michael's Mount, but leans heavily on the filmmakers' ambitions to create a lasting franchise.
Movie: 37
Despite decent production values and a strong cast, 'The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box' fails to establish itself in the crowded fantasy market, as its recycled plot and lackluster characters result in a predictable, uninspired narrative that feels more like a cash-grab than a true cinematic adventure.
Video: 69
The Blu-ray presentation of "The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box" by RLJ/Image Entertainment excels in delivering a richly stylized and immersive viewing experience. Shot primarily with the Arri Alexa and possibly supplemented by scanned film elements, the 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer captures an earlier era with finesse. The dark yet detailed image is highlighted by deep, inky blacks and vivid bursts of color, particularly when depicting flame or gold. This creates a visually compelling atmosphere that complements the cold, grey outdoor scenes representing 19th Century England, specifically Cornwall and Bristol.
Despite an average bitrate of 19.99 Mbps, the digital footage compresses efficiently and is almost entirely free of noise or artifacts, though a few dissolves show light banding. The image successfully conveys a slightly misty, hazy quality, contributing to the film’s steampunk atmosphere without compromising detail. Fine details stand out more in close-ups and well-lit scenes but remain adequate in wider shots. Strong contrast and clean, deliberate edges help characters and objects stand out impressively across various lighting conditions. Colors, though somewhat desaturated to enhance the film’s period feel, remain vibrant when necessary, adding to the visual richness of key scenes.
Overall, this Blu-ray transfer consistently maintains a high-quality image that blends stylistic atmosphere with technical precision, ensuring an engaging visual experience throughout the film.
Audio: 75
"The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box" on Blu-ray features an aggressive and immersive surround sound mix, presented in lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. From the very beginning, the audio landscape is rich with the sounds of London's rain, creating an atmospheric start that threads through both real and fantastical scenarios in the film. Discrete surround effects, seamless pans, and profound bass are prevalent, especially during scenes set in the Prince Regent Hotel, where massive steam engines, hidden chambers, and subterranean excavations come to life auditorily. Fernando Velázquez's score adds urgency and complements the overall soundscape effectively.
Dialogue clarity is a highlight, predominantly emanating from the center channel but occasionally spreading across to the right, left, and rear channels for enhanced depth and immersive imaging. The mix demonstrates impressive directionality, delivering engaging sequences that balance the score, sound effects, and dialogue with precision. Low-frequency effects (LFE) are utilized frequently, providing everything from steady low rumbles to significant explosions without overshadowing other elements of the mix.
However, it's noteworthy that there are instances where the score slightly overpowers the dialogue, mostly occurring towards the film's end. Fortunately, critical plot points are already conveyed by these moments, minimizing any potential disruptions. Despite this minor flaw, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix overall delivers a well-balanced and occasionally surprising auditory experience that aligns with the adventurous tone of the film.
Extras: 17
The Blu-ray extras for "The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box" include an engaging featurette that delves into the production aspects of the film. The highlight is “The Making of The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box,” which runs for approximately 21 minutes. This detailed feature includes interviews with director Jonathan Newman, producer Peter Bevan, novelist G.P. Taylor, and key cast members. It extensively covers the technical challenges faced during filming in Cornwall and St. Michael's Mount. Additionally, the featurette reveals the filmmakers' ambition to create a franchise, drawing parallels with major Hollywood series like 'Harry Potter.' Though some parts focus on financial aspirations, it provides insightful behind-the-scenes perspectives on bringing G.P. Taylor's story to life.
Extras included in this disc:
- The Making of The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box: Interviews and insights on film production, shooting locations, and franchise aspirations.
Movie: 37
"The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box" represents a visually appealing yet underwhelming attempt at launching a new fantasy adventure franchise. With influences visibly borrowed from successful series like Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and National Treasure, the film fails to carve its own unique identity. Set in a steampunk-infused Victorian England, the story follows Mariah Mundi (Aneurin Barnard) on a convoluted quest to rescue his kidnapped family and thwart villain Otto Luger (Sam Neill) from obtaining a mythical box that turns objects into gold. Despite decent production values and commendable efforts from a talented cast including Michael Sheen and Lena Headey, the film feels derivative and lacks the originality essential for sustaining viewer engagement.
A fundamental issue lies in the film's disjointed narrative and inconsistent tone. Director Jonathan Newman oscillates between gloomy, Dickensian themes and whimsical sci-fi elements without committing fully to either, resulting in a jarring viewing experience. The steampunk setting, largely conveyed through Victorian-era costumes rather than immersive world-building, compounds this instability. The scattershot approach extends to character development, where figures like Mariah and Captain Will Charity (Michael Sheen) are presented with thin motivations and ambiguous intents. Aneurin Barnard’s performance as Mariah, though sincere, suffers from poorly written material that renders his character lifeless and passive.
The supporting roles, particularly the female characters such as the enigmatic hotel manager Monica (Lena Headey) and potential love interest Sacha (Mella Carron), offer little depth or significance to the plot. Attempts at subplots, like Sacha’s relationship with her alcoholic father, feel tacked on and fail to enrich the story or characters. Ultimately, "The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box" stands as a missed opportunity—a technically sound production hampered by uninspired storytelling and an inability to evoke the magic or heroism of the great adventure films it seeks to emulate.
Total: 58
"The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box" on Blu-ray features a technically sound presentation that includes commendable video and audio quality. The film itself, however, falls far short of expectations. Despite the high production values and potentially engaging premise, it ultimately lacks the magic and excitement required to capture the audience's imagination.
As the protagonist, Mariah Mundi's journey is overshadowed by a convoluted plot heavily centered around the mysterious Midas Box. This narrative focus leaves little room for character development, making it difficult for viewers to form any meaningful connection with the characters. The story suffers from pacing issues, coming across as both listless and meandering. The absence of a cohesive and compelling storyline hampers its ability to engage viewers of any age effectively.
In conclusion, "The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box" aims to emulate the fantastic adventures of beloved franchises like 'Harry Potter' and 'Lord of the Rings' but fails to deliver the same level of wonder or enchantment. While the Blu-ray's technical quality is commendable, the film itself does not live up to its potential. Ultimately, it is too derivative for adults and too diffuse for kids, resulting in little appeal for any audience. Not recommended.
Blu-ray.com review by Michael ReubenRead review here
Video: 90
The average bitrate of 19.99 Mbps is on the low side, but digital footage compresses well, and the compressionist has taken advantage of the letterbox bars and the many dark portions of the frame for maximum...
Audio: 100
It starts from the very opening, where the sound of London's rain envelops the listener, and continues through a host of situations, both real and fantastical....
Extras: 20
To the extent one is interested in the nuts and bolts of making the film, there is worthwhile material here, including the technical challenges of shooting in Cornwall and the island of St. Michael's Mount....
Movie: 40
At the moment, the greatest threat to England and the world is one Otto Luger (Sam Neill, in his best villain mode), a fanatical collector of antiquities who is believed to be close to finding the fabled...
Total: 50
The Blu-ray is technically satisfying, but in the end it's what is on the disc that counts....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
There's a slightly misty, hazy quality to the air around the characters, which generates a cold, damp feeling that, considering what one assumes is part of the steampunk subgenre, seems to be part and...
Audio: 80
LFE is present frequently, generating everything from consistent low rumbles to larger explosions without being oppressive with the rest of the mix....
Extras: 20
The featurette does delve a little into the making of the film, but it feels more like a financial justification than anything else....
Movie: 20
And when the film is like this one, it's also safe to presume that such a tentpole was ostensibly built by committee – that is, a cadre of overseers guided every aspect of the film for the sole purpose...
Total: 40
Listless and meandering, the story of Mariah Mundi never feels like it's about a young man's journey to becoming something worthwhile; instead it's too focused on the titular Midas box to develop any of...
Why So Blu?Read review here
Video: 80
Audio: 90
Extras: 20
Movie: 60
Total: 60
Director: Jonathan Newman
Actors: Aneurin Barnard, Michael Sheen, Lena Headey
PlotMariah Mundi's life takes a dramatic turn when his parents go missing and his brother is kidnapped by a sinister figure. Thrust into a perilous adventure, Mariah partners with the enigmatic Captain Will Charity, who reveals that his family's fate is tied to the legendary Midas Box—an ancient relic said to possess unimaginable power. Their quest leads them to the sumptuous Prince Regent Hotel, a lavish and mysterious place filled with secret passageways and dark, hidden agendas.
There, Mariah must navigate a labyrinth of deception, encountering curious allies and treacherous enemies. As he delves deeper into the hotel's secrets, he encounters the malevolent Otto Luger, who harbors his own insidious plans for the Midas Box. Mariah's journey is fraught with danger as he races against time to rescue his loved ones and prevent the malevolent forces from harnessing the box's cursed power. With wit and bravery, Mariah faces challenges that test his courage and intellect at every turn.
Writers: Christian Taylor, Matthew Huffman, G.P. Taylor
Release Date: 05 Dec 2013
Runtime: 100 min
Rating: PG
Country: United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium
Language: English