Hollow Man Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Hollow Man" maintains a serviceable, filmic image, though it's evident the film's visual fidelity could benefit from a remaster. While sporting a generally solid clarity, the video presentation is hampered by a few inconsistencies, such as facial and clothing definitions that don't quite jump off the screen. The color palette, anchored in steely grays, reflects an accurate but subdued tonal depth, offering a muted yet faithful representation of the film's aesthetic. Some visual effects, particularly those involving muscular systems, betray the film's age, appearing slightly ragged compared to contemporary standards. On the positive side, this release avoids suffering from excessive compression issues, ensuring an unblemished viewing experience with only minor sporadic spots and speckles.

While this Blu-ray seems to utilize the same master as previous releases, as no new remastering effort is evident or advertised, it remains a reasonably pleasing experience for viewers. Although some wider shots exhibit more grain than ideal, flesh tones appear warm and natural, and overall detail remains satisfactorily solid. With expectations tempered, this Blu-ray version suffices in absence of a 4K upgrade, providing an acceptable standard for the time being.

However, the Blu-ray's compression down to 20.8 gigs does limit its potential, resulting in an occasionally flat image with overly brightened scenes lacking depth and robust black levels. When CGI-heavy scenes are present, the resulting noise and pixelation diminish the visual impact, akin to a video game cinematic from an older console era. These issues notwithstanding, "Hollow Man" delivers visually intriguing moments that justify the need for an enhanced future release to do its effects justice.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack on the Blu-ray of "Hollow Man" emerges as a well-rounded audio presentation with several strengths. Music, particularly during a standout Rock song at the 7-minute mark, engages the full soundstage, revealing excellent depth and noteworthy surround fill at reference volume. Action sequences are characterized by potent volume, stable clarity, and comprehensive surround integration, enhancing the viewer's engagement during high-intensity moments. Notably, the sound design includes discrete spatial elements that add dimension to the soundstage, helping to elevate tension through ambient details. Dialogue remains satisfyingly clear and centered throughout the film.

This release maintains a similar level of quality as its predecessors, offering an impressive DTS-HD Master Audio mix that rivals earlier audio formats like the Dolby Digital and PCM tracks. Key audio elements, such as vocals, are sharp and crisp, while surrounds are effectively utilized, particularly during the film's climactic sequences. Jerry Goldsmith’s score stands out as a highlight, complementing the film's atmosphere and ensuring a rich listening experience even amidst explosive sequences.

However, some might find the DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix lacking in terms of low-end punch. While dialogue clarity and enveloping surround presence are positives, the absence of a deeper low-end impact may detract from action sequences where more weight is desired. Despite these shortcomings, the track remains functional for the film's storytelling needs, offering an average yet competent soundscape underscored by Goldsmith’s excellent musical contributions. This soundtrack may not reach the pinnacle of audio fidelity but still provides an acceptable auditory experience relative to its genre and production era.

The Blu-ray release of "Hollow Man" offers limited but insightful bonus content. While previous editions flaunted a richer selection of supplementary features, this disc includes only one notable extra. The intriguingly titled feature, "Full Transparency: Scoring Hollow Man," provides an engaging interview with Jeff Bond, biographer of eminent composer Jerry Goldsmith. Running at approximately 18 minutes, Bond adeptly outlines Goldsmith's composition process and his collaboration with director Paul Verhoeven. Despite Bond's expertise and compelling insights, the absence of additional features such as deleted scenes or more elaborate featurettes from prior releases is noticeable. This addition, while informative, may not satisfy those seeking a comprehensive array of extras.

Extras included in this disc:

• Full Transparency: Scoring Hollow Man: An interview with Jerry Goldsmith's biographer, Jeff Bond, exploring the composer's work on the film.

Paul Verhoeven's 2000 reimagining of "Hollow Man" offers a fascinating exploration of a well-trodden narrative: the allure and peril of invisibility. Starring Kevin Bacon as Dr. Sebastian Caine, the film delves into the ethical implications and psychological descent associated with achieving invisibility. While some may argue that the film does not fully leverage its potential for rich satire or thematic exploration akin to Verhoeven's past works like "RoboCop" or "Basic Instinct," it nonetheless presents remarkable visual effects that captivate the viewer. The narrative remains largely driven by its high-concept premise and intense special effects, rather than profound moral contemplation, thus leaving those craving deeper intellectual engagement wanting.

Despite this, "Hollow Man" is technically impressive, boasting excellent performances, particularly from Bacon who captivates as the egocentric scientist slowly descending into madness. Elisabeth Shue and Josh Brolin offer commendable support, though their characters lack depth and seem more like narrative pawns in Caine's spiraling labyrinth. The film's climactic third act is where it falters most, lapsing into predictable and somewhat tiresome territory. Yet, for fans of Verhoeven's visually driven style, the experience may still prove engaging albeit not as lasting as his earlier achievements.

As a Blu-ray release, Mill Creek Entertainment's SteelBook edition provides a visually striking presentation with a new supplement absent from previous editions, enhancing its collector appeal. However, the technical limitations of a BD-25 disc restrict audio-visual fidelity somewhat. Nonetheless, this release serves as a worthy addition for collectors and those curious about Verhoeven's unique approach to blending scientific ambition with human fallibility. While it might not meet all expectations for Verhoeven aficionados seeking his characteristic satirical depth, "Hollow Man" offers an energetic ride through cinematic invisibility that, at least visually, can captivate across its runtime.

Paul Verhoeven's "Hollow Man," despite not reaching the critical acclaim of his other works like "Robocop" and "Starship Troopers," offers its own intrigue, albeit minimal. While the film contains elements of interesting content and ideas, it largely falls into the category of a stereotypical slasher boosted by big-budget visual effects. Kevin Bacon's performance stands as a highlight, yet the film does not elevate itself beyond the basics of its narrative. The latest Blu-ray release from Mill Creek presents an aesthetically pleasing SteelBook packaging, but unfortunately, the video quality is compromised due to being compressed onto a smaller disc. However, the audio remains decent for viewers.

The release introduces a new supplement focusing on composer Jerry Goldsmith, which will likely appeal to enthusiasts of film music. This feature is perhaps the most significant addition to this version, raising questions about whether these few enhancements justify purchasing yet another copy. The SteelBook's design contributes to its appeal, though fans must decide if packaging and supplemental material carry enough value to warrant purchase.

In conclusion, while "Hollow Man" is unlikely to be celebrated as a significant release in 2024, fans of Paul Verhoeven or collectors of visually compelling steelbooks may find it a worthy addition. Despite its flaws, some may still appreciate it for its place within Verhoeven’s filmography and its incremental extras. For others, this release might be better skipped unless you're specifically drawn to these newly included features.