Alienoid: The Return to the Future Blu-ray Review
Score: 70
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
A worthy successor to 2022's *Alienoid*, *Return to the Future* is a fun, albeit slightly padded, watch with superb technical merits but limited extras.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 86
Alienoid: The Return to the Future's Blu-ray presentation excels with a robust 1080p AVC transfer and a balanced 5.1 DTS-HD MA audio track. While it showcases a vibrant palette and strong detail in practical sets and CGI, it does exhibit some banding in scenes with fluctuating light values.
Audio: 86
"Alienoid: Return to the Future" on Blu-ray sports stellar video quality with sharp visuals and clear details, matched by robust DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks in Korean and English. The audio mix provides immersive surround effects and strong bass. The film serves as a solid sci-fi sequel best enjoyed with its predecessor.
Extra: 16
The 'Alienoid: The Return to the Future' Blu-ray offers a compact set of extras with an informative 'Making Of' segment (3:15), trailers, and automatic play-through of content, enhanced by Well Go USA's typical seamless disc authoring and a slipcover for packaging.
Movie: 66
Alienoid: Return to the Future concludes the intricate dual-timeline saga with impressive action and CGI, although it shifts focus towards slapstick humor and stretches the narrative. While tying up its mysteries well, the film's comedic tone and extended runtime may appeal less to those expecting a more serious sci-fi finish.
Video: 86
The Blu-ray presentation of "Alienoid: The Return to the Future" offers a visually compelling experience that caters well to home-viewing enthusiasts. Utilizing an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, the film showcases a robust color palette and secure detail levels across practical sets, costumes, and CGI effects. While there's some noticeable banding in specific underwater scenes or sequences with sudden light changes, these do not significantly detract from the overall visual experience. The vivid imagery and meticulous attention to detail highlight the strengths of the production, suggesting that the source material likely undergoes a 2K Digital Intermediate (DI) process.
Complementing the visual experience, "Alienoid: The Return to the Future" also features a well-balanced 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. This sound mix places a strong emphasis on clear and nuanced dialogue, ensuring that even whispered conversations are easily discernible. Ambient sounds effectively envelop the listener, enhancing scenes set within both indoor environments and expansive exteriors. Bass is employed judiciously to enrich the film's cheeky score and to underscore key action moments, providing an immersive and engaging auditory experience without overpowering the primary narrative elements.
Audio: 86
The Blu-ray release of "Alienoid: Return to the Future" excels in its audio presentation, offering a rich and detailed soundscape that enhances the cinematic experience. Available in both DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 options for the original Korean language and English dubbing, the auditory experience caters to diverse viewer preferences. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 track is notably impressive, providing a commanding level of immersion. The balance between dialogue and ambient sounds is meticulously executed, with dialogue rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Surround channels are judiciously used to create a dynamic environment, employing both discrete engagements and enveloping effects that heighten the tension and action sequences—particularly during scenes involving otherworldly elements and portal effects.
Despite a heavy focus on dialogue, the audio track does not neglect the lower frequencies. Bass is robust and deep when necessary, underlining crucial action moments without overpowering the mix. Environmental sounds, both in quieter settings like dining scenes and more chaotic action sequences, are well-articulated through the surround channels. This approach ensures that viewers remain engaged with both the narrative and the sonic landscape. The use of ambient audio elements effectively supports the film's dual-timeline storytelling, bridging the futuristic and historical settings seamlessly without causing distraction or inconsistency in acoustic quality.
While some might prefer the English dubbing for initial viewings due to the film's complex plotlines, the original Korean audio remains a compelling choice for purists, offering a more authentic experience. Optional English subtitles are available for those who choose to stick with the original language, providing clarity without compromising on audio delivery. Overall, "Alienoid: Return to the Future" presents a compelling audio mix that complements its intricate visual storytelling, making it a standout in terms of sound design and auditory execution.
Extra: 16
The extras included with the Blu-ray release of "Alienoid: The Return to the Future" provide a brief yet insightful glimpse into the production process and promotional materials of the film. The "Making Of" feature, though short at just over three minutes, offers a concise behind-the-scenes look, efficiently capturing the essence of the filmmaking endeavor. The character trailer efficiently introduces key figures in just over three minutes, providing a quick yet informative overview. The inclusion of theatrical trailers, both for "Alienoid: The Return to the Future" and other Well Go USA titles, is seamlessly automated, ensuring a smooth viewing experience. Packaging with a slipcover adds a premium touch. These extras cater to enthusiasts seeking a deeper yet succinct engagement with the film's background and context.
Extras included in this disc:
- Making Of: Concise behind-the-scenes look.
- Character Trailer: Overview of key figures.
- Trailer: Theatrical trailer for the film.
Movie: 66
"Alienoid: The Return to the Future" is an ambitious continuation of the storyline established in its predecessor, "Alienoid." Building on the intricate narrative of intertwined timelines, director Dong-hoon Choi manages to weave a complex tapestry of sci-fi elements involving an alien race using humans as a penal colony. With advanced alien technology allowing the essence of beings to be trapped in human hosts, the sequel picks up directly where the original left off. The plot revolves around the characters Guard, Thunder, and Lee Ahn as they navigate a tumultuous battle involving time travel to prevent the evil controller from escaping his confinement and wreaking havoc on humanity.
The film expertly revisits essential plot points with a brief recap, allowing viewers to quickly catch up. While the narrative structure maintains its layered complexity with dual timelines—one set in present-day 2024 and another centuries in the past—the sequel significantly emphasizes humor more than the original. This tonal shift results in a lighter mood, which, although refreshing at times, somewhat diminishes the serious sci-fi elements that made the first part compelling. This is not to say "Alienoid: The Return to the Future" lacks action; quite the opposite. The film offers striking CGI visuals and engaging action sequences, though some viewers might find it overly convoluted, leading to potential confusion.
Despite tonal differences and some narrative padding, "Alienoid: The Return to the Future" remains a solid piece of sci-fi cinema. Dong-hoon Choi deserves commendation for successfully wrapping up numerous complex story arcs in a coherent manner, a feat often elusive in time-travel narratives. While some elements could have been streamlined—reducing the two films into one cohesive feature—this sequel still manages to deliver a satisfying conclusion for fans of the original film. The mix of cartoonish ambiance, impressive production design, and action ensures an engaging experience even if it raises as many questions as it answers.
Total: 70
"Alienoid: The Return to the Future" offers a visually and audibly impressive follow-up to its predecessor, though the narrative complexity may leave some viewers feeling a need for a refresher. The Blu-Ray presentation excels in delivering a cinematic experience at home, featuring a crisp 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio and robust Korean and English DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio tracks that enhance the high-octane action and atmospheric moments. The subtitling in English is well-executed, ensuring non-native speakers can follow the densely interwoven plot without missing crucial details. Viewers may find it beneficial to watch this installment back-to-back with the original "Alienoid" to fully appreciate the intricate storyline and character development.
The film benefits from strong performances by Yoon Byung-Hee, Lee Dong-Hee, and Kim Eui-sung, directed with a sure hand by Dong-hoon Choi, who also penned the script. However, the dense plot can occasionally feel overly padded, and some may find that the two-and-a-half-hour runtime could have been trimmed for a tighter narrative experience. Despite these minor pacing issues, "Return to the Future" maintains its engagement factor with thrilling set pieces and a compelling continuation of the saga.
Overall, while "Alienoid: The Return to the Future" may not quite reach the heights of its predecessor, it stands as a worthy successor with substantial enjoyment value. The technical prowess of the Blu-Ray disc itself adds an extra layer of immersion, though the limited extras may leave some collectors wanting more. If you're planning a viewing, consider watching both films consecutively to mitigate any potential confusion and maximize your enjoyment. Taking into account its strengths and minor flaws, we recommend this release as a fun watch for fans of sci-fi action.
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 90
Bass is strong and deep when called upon, but mostly is there to accentuate the cheeky score, although there are a few standout moments of action that really pull it out of the low end....
Audio: 90
This film is very much the second half of the first one, and as such, I personally recommend watching the two back to back....
Extras: 20
...
Movie: 80
This film is very much the second half of the first one, and as such, I personally recommend watching the two back to back....
Total: 80
Now the Blu-ray itself looks and sounds killer, but like usual, don’t expect much in the way of extras....
Blu-ray.com review by Jeffrey KauffmanRead review here
Video: 90
As of the writing of this review, the IMDb doesn't list much in the way of technical information, but the Making Of featurette has a couple of brief glimpses of an Arri camera, and I am assuming this had...
Audio: 90
Both the surround tracks offer commendable immersion throughout, with a variety of both discrete engagement of single side and/or rear channels, but also some all enveloping, and at times neatly panning,...
Extras: 20
Note: As tends to be the case with Well Go USA Blu-ray releases, the disc has been authored so that supplements follow one another automatically (so that clicking on Making Of is essentially a Play All...
Movie: 60
Since perhaps amazingly this second outing does not overtly set up a situation primed for another potential sequel, it's perhaps unlikely that anyone not wanting to sit through the two hours of this offering...
Total: 60
If you enjoyed the first Alienoid film, chances are you will be substantially if perhaps not consistently engaged with this follow up, though the fact that a two and half hour opus can be summarized in...
Director: Dong-hoon Choi
Actors: Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Tae-ri, Kim Woo-bin
PlotIn a futuristic world where humanity coexists with advanced alien technology, a series of mysterious and catastrophic events threatens the delicate balance. A renowned scientist, Dr. Yoon, discovers an ancient relic that holds the key to understanding these events. He enlists the help of an elite team of specialists—Jin, a brilliant hacker with a troubled past, and Min, a skilled fighter with telepathic abilities. As they dive deeper into the relic's secrets, they uncover a hidden conspiracy orchestrated by rogue extraterrestrial forces aiming to destabilize Earth’s technological infrastructure. The team is forced to travel back in time to stop these malevolent beings, facing numerous obstacles and challenges as they attempt to alter the future.
Amidst their journey, tensions rise as conflicting personal motives and past traumas come to the surface. The team encounters allies and enemies from different timelines, making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe. Each revelation brings them closer to understanding the true nature of the relic and its connection to the present crisis. Just as they start to piece everything together, an unexpected twist forces them to reassess their strategy, accelerating their race against time. The fate of both worlds hangs in the balance as the team prepares for a final confrontation that will determine whether they can save humanity and restore order.
Writers: Dong-hoon Choi
Release Date: 10 Jan 2024
Runtime: 122 min
Rating: N/A
Country: South Korea
Language: Korean