Universal Soldier Blu-ray Review

"Universal Soldier" storms onto Blu-ray with an exceptional 1080p high definition transfer, impressive in its clarity and detail, and framed in the movie's original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen. The image quality is extraordinary, exhibiting vibrant colors, rich blacks, and outstanding contrast, which together enhance both daylight scenes and darker moments with equal finesse. Facial details are notably sharp, allowing viewers to observe every sweat bead on Jean-Claude Van Damme's face, while expansive scenes such as those at the Hoover Dam boast remarkable depth and a near three-dimensional quality. Despite a few softer shots during rapid stunt sequences, the overall presentation maintains a consistent sharpness and a clean aesthetic, free from any form of grain or film-related defects.

The digital scrubbing process employed to achieve this clarity has removed virtually all natural film grain, resulting in a picture quality that leans more towards video than traditional film. While this may unsettle some purists who prefer the authentic grainy texture of celluloid, the high level of detail and the preservation of fine image characteristics are undiminished. Colors pop without bleeding or oversaturation, supported by well-balanced black levels that add to the visual depth of each scene.

Moreover, the Blu-ray's transfer retains the dynamic range of the original film, bringing night scenes to life with bright, punchy whites and rich, inky blacks without faltering. Though some might consider the removal of film grain and other imperfections a point of contention, it's hard to deny that "Universal Soldier" looks phenomenal for a film of its age. Its video presentation on Blu-ray satisfies with clean rendering and a crispness that makes it one of the standout catalog titles available in high definition, appealing to both long-time fans and newcomers to the franchise.

The audio presentation of "Universal Soldier" on Blu-ray, encoded in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, delivers a robust and engaging experience that befits the movie's dynamic action sequences and thematic depth. With an average bitrate around 4mbps, the track showcases its strengths in creating an immersive sound field, although it presents a mixed bag in terms of audio fidelity when compared to contemporary soundtracks. Notably, the soundtrack, largely instrumental and dramatic, complements the film's essence well, ensuring that dialogue remains intelligible amidst the high-octane scoring and effects. However, some aspects, like the bass response and soundstage balance, exhibit signs of aging with a tendency towards slowness and boominess in the low frequencies, detracting from the potential for a room-filling, detailed auditory experience.

Despite these shortcomings, the mix effectively utilizes surround channels to envelop the listener in a barrage of action-packed audio cues, from bullets to explosions, though not without its technical distractions. The calibration of surround channels occasionally results in an overly dominant rear sound field, undermining dialogue clarity and the integration of sound movements within the space. Additionally, while the low-frequency effects channel (LFE) provides ample bass, it lacks the precision and depth of modern digital soundtracks. Still, moments of brilliance shine through with gunshots and explosions packing a satisfactory snap that could have been enhanced with a tighter bass response.

Overall, LionsGate's commitment to delivering lossless audio on their Blu-ray releases is commendable, even if "Universal Soldier's" audio mix falls short of perfection. The track's dated elements and imbalance in sound field dynamics slightly mar an otherwise engaging auditory experience. Despite these criticisms, enthusiasts and fans of the film are likely to appreciate the effort to preserve and present the movie's original audio charm in high-definition format, alongside thoughtful inclusions like multiple subtitle options for added accessibility.

The extra presentation on the "Universal Soldier" Blu-ray maintains a mixed bag of archival content that might cater more to hardcore fans or completists rather than offering new, insightful, or high-definition enhancements. The compilation includes quotidian features like an "Out of the Blue" trivia track and a "Making of Featurette" titled "Guns, Genes, and Fighting Machines," which, despite its comprehensiveness, may struggle to hold the viewer's attention throughout. More engaging perhaps is the "Tale of Two Titans," a retrospective glance at the careers of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren, offering a dose of nostalgia with personal anecdotes from the European stars turned Hollywood action icons. The inclusion of an alternate ending provides an intriguing, albeit less satisfying, conclusion to the film. Noteworthy is the average audio commentary by key figures including director Roland Emmerich and stars Van Damme and Lundgren, furnishing standard production anecdotes. All extras are presented in standard definition, a decision that remains consistent with the porting over of special features from previous DVD releases rather than creating or including newly produced high-definition content.

Extras included in this disc:

• Out of the Blue: Pop-up trivia track
• Guns, Genes, and Fighting Machines: Making of featurette
• Tale of Two Titans: Retrospective on the careers of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren
• Alternate Ending: A different conclusion to the film
• Audio Commentary: With director Roland Emmerich, writer Dean Devlin, and stars Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren

"Universal Soldier," a film that dabbles in the often-explored terrain of super-soldiers and government conspiracies, stands as a significant marker in the careers of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren, two towering figures of the action genre during the late '80s and early '90s. Directed by Roland Emmerich, this 1992 flick serves as a cocktail of violence, science fiction, and relentless action sequences that are elegantly translated into the Blu-ray format, which, albeit not groundbreaking, notably surpasses its DVD counterpart in both visual quality and additional content. The conversion captures the essence of a narrative that is straightforward yet engaging enough to act as a solid backbone for the on-screen battles between its protagonists.

The movie's premise revolves around Luc Devreaux (Van Damme) and Sgt. Andrew Scott (Lundgren), two soldiers from the Vietnam War era resurrected by a clandestine government program to become part of an elite fighting force known as Unisols. This duo, reanimated with no memories or feelings, swiftly becomes entangled in a gritty chase after Devreaux regains his awareness and takes off, prompting a nationwide hunt that revisits the bitter rivalry formed in the jungles of Vietnam. The treatment of these characters - one desperately clinging to shreds of his humanity and the other spiraling into a vortex of madness - is compellingly portrayed, pulling viewers into a cat-and-mouse game that unfurls across various locales, including a tension-filled sequence at the Hoover Dam.

It's worth mentioning that aside from being a visual treat, "Universal Soldier" benefited from innovative sound technology for its time and became part of cinema history for its utilization of Cinema Digital Sound - a leap forward in immersive movie experiences. While the film might have been classified as a derivative work during its initial release, drawing comparisons to other sci-fiction action staples like "Terminator" and "Robocop," it has since carved out its niche. The ensuing years have seen it garner a following that appreciates it for more than its surface-level thrills - partly due to the chemistry between Van Damme and Lundgren and the finesse with which Emmerich manages to conduct this symphony of chaos, making "Universal Soldier" a requisite addition to the collection of any action aficionado seeking a blend of nostalgia and adrenaline-fueled entertainment.

The Blu-ray presentation of "Universal Soldier," despite the film's reputation as a rather standard entry in the sci-fi action genre from the late '80s and early '90s, surprisingly stands out in today’s home entertainment setups. The technical execution of this Lionsgate catalog title on Blu-ray breathes new life into a movie that might not compete with the era's top-tier blockbusters but certainly shines in terms of audiovisual quality. When tested on an array of high-end equipment, including the JVC DLA-RS1x 1080p High Definition Front Projector, Carada Precision Brilliant White 96 Screen, and a variety of players (ranging from Oppo, Toshiba, Panasonic, to Sony PlayStation 3), complemented by Marantz and Denon’s audio processing power through Canton and Axiom Audio speakers, the Blu-ray disc delivered an immersive experience. This level of detail was further enhanced by top-notch cabling from Wireworld, VizionWare, Audioquest, and best Deal Cables, all safeguarded by robust power conditioning and surge protection from APC AV S15BLK and Furman SPR-20i, ensuring the absolute integrity of the signal and power quality.

While this release might be a bit scant on extras compared to its 2004 special edition DVD counterpart, the upgrade in picture and sound quality makes it a worthwhile acquisition for devout fans of Lundgren and Van Damme, or for those with a penchant for action movies of that era. The clarity and immersiveness experienced through the aforementioned high-caliber system setups reveal that Lionsgate has indeed delivered a version of "Universal Soldier" that surpasses previous formats, making it a gem in the collection of fans eagerly seeking to revisit the spectacle in unparalleled quality.

In conclusion, this Blu-ray edition of "Universal Soldier" elevates an otherwise routine action sci-fi flick to a memorable viewing experience for fans and collectors alike. Its exceptional visual and audio presentation, especially when paired with enthusiast-grade home theater equipment, offers a compelling reason to add this title to one’s library. Despite the film's modest standing amongst its contemporaries and its stars' somewhat underrated performances, the technical prowess demonstrated here lends it a noteworthy spot in the annals of high-definition releases. At its current price point, it represents not just nostalgia but a definitive version of the movie that fans would not want to miss.