Greenland Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of the Blu-ray release of "Greenland" delivers a solid visual experience, albeit one that reflects the limitations of the 1080p format. The movie's 2.39:1 AVC-framed picture is largely stable and precise, capturing the film's digitally shot scenes, frequently set at night or in low light, with commendable accuracy. Nevertheless, this setting introduces some digital artifacts such as source noise, particularly evident in the darkest sequences. Incidences of banding and macroblocking are minimal, although black levels can sometimes appear either flat and pale or overly dense. Despite these minor issues, the depiction of facial nuances, clothing, and natural landscapes in well-lit exterior scenes remains robust, with skin tones that are generally healthy and accurate.

One of the standout features of this Blu-ray is its excellent brightness and peak contrast. The imagery maintains solid stability, supported by firm black levels which are typical for pure black presentations. A slight muting in the color palette successfully sets the intended mood without losing saturation. Eerie skylines, rich greenery, and solid flesh tones exhibit a decent range of colors. While night scenes employ an orange/teal color scheme, they manage not to lose the vibrancy of natural colors in brighter primary sources. Details remain crisp and dynamic throughout, underscoring why a 4K UHD release would significantly enhance this experience. Textural details on faces and wide shots of cities are particularly impressive, maintaining a high level of definition from start to finish.

While it is unfortunate that the film was not released on 4K UHD Blu-ray, as it richly deserves, the Blu-ray still manages to deliver an engaging visual performance. The color consistency, although occasionally artistically shifted towards yellow due to narrative elements, remains effective. Some minor instances of noise and banding do appear, mostly unnoticeable unless scrutinized. Overall, viewers will find this Blu-ray to offer a pleasing and satisfactory visual journey through the dramatic events portrayed in "Greenland."

The Blu-ray audio presentation of Greenland features an exemplary 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track, representing a reference quality experience that leaves little to be desired. This sound mix masterfully combines aggressive low-frequency effects, such as those from explosions and comet impacts, with intricate surround usage that ensures a powerful, immersive experience. While the absence of a Dolby Atmos or DTS:X mix is noted, the existing 7.1 track provides explosive low-end depth and precise spatial awareness that compensate for it. Rich bass extends dynamically, reacting seamlessly with the intense score and environmental effects, which include car crashes, debris impacts, crowd chaos, and more.

Technically sophisticated sound design is evident in its balanced approach: substantial bass does not overshadow the critical clarity of dialogue. Channel separation is exacting, with meticulous attention to directional audio that complements the on-screen chaos effectively. Notable scenes include the shockwave from a comet blast, which projects massive impact and sound movement throughout the listening space, enveloping the viewer in total immersion. Layered effects, such as pelting comet fragments and militaristic environments with planes and helicopters swirling in every channel, also provide depth and demonstrate smooth panning across the fronts to rears.

Incorporating superlative imaging and an ostentatious yet precisely controlled use of the surround channels, this 7.1 track is exceptional in its ability to both immerse and impress. The audio presentation achieves a merited balance where dialog clarity remains unchallenged by the severe action sequences surrounding it. The overall hemispheric sound environment produced is noteworthy for its bluster, strong dynamics, and fidelity to the film's thematic elements. Panning techniques are natural, and LFE has genuine bite during key moments, including intense action sequences and fireballs with heavy jolts. This expertly crafted master audio mix elevates Greenland into a home theater spectacle.

The Blu-ray release of "Greenland" delivers a concise yet satisfactory selection of bonus content, appealing particularly to fans of behind-the-scenes material. The centerpiece is the audio commentary by Director Ric Roman Waugh and Producer Basil Iwanyk, which delves into the film's production, narrative structure, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its release. Despite occasional audio quality issues stemming from remote recording, the commentary is insightful. The deleted scenes, featuring three cuts including an original ending, provide additional context albeit not adding substantially to the storyline. The brief featurette titled "Humanity" offers a fleeting glimpse into the film's key qualities but doesn't delve deep enough to be wholly satisfying. Consumers are also presented with a DVD copy and a digital download code for added viewing flexibility.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Three scenes with optional director introductions.
• Humanity: A brief behind-the-scenes look.
• Audio Commentary: Director and producer discuss various aspects of the film.
• DVD Copy: Included.
• Digital Code: Paper insert for digital access.

"Greenland" masterfully bridges the gap between emotionally charged survival stories and large-scale disaster action. Gerard Butler stars as John Garrity, a structural engineer given an emergency alert to evacuate with his estranged wife, Allison (Morena Baccarin), and diabetic son, Nathan (Roger Dale Floyd), as Earth faces an impending comet strike. The comet's fragments initially met with fascination, quickly become a source of terror as impacts begin causing catastrophic damage.

Director Ric Roman Waugh balances intense action sequences with compelling emotional arcs. The plot effectively fuses gut-wrenching survival drama with thrilling disaster elements, generating constant tension without falling into extreme despair. The film focuses predominantly on the human condition, illustrating humanity's best and worst traits amidst rising panic and lawlessness. Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin deliver compelling performances, portraying believable characters navigating a crumbling world and relentless dangers.

Unlike typical disaster films, which often lean heavily on spectacle, "Greenland" maintains its focus on personal stakes and survival. The visual effects are generally impressive but do include some moments of noticeable CGI, especially during large-scale destruction scenes. Despite some leaps in plausibility and occasional plot contrivances, the film remains gripping from start to finish. The narrative places humanity's response to calamity at its core, providing a chilling yet engaging depiction of a family’s struggle for survival against the backdrop of ultimate catastrophe.

"Greenland" offers an intense, human-focused narrative that delivers both emotional depth and thrilling spectacle. The film centers around a working-class family struggling to survive an impending global disaster, offering a powerful and relatable storyline that stands out in the disaster movie genre. Visual effects are deployed effectively to support the narrative, rather than overshadowing the film's emotional core. Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, and the rest of the cast deliver strong performances that anchor the plot in credible human experience.

The Blu-ray release from Universal is a mixed bag. While the 1080p picture quality is solid, it's the DTS-HD MA 7.1 audio track that truly shines, reaching reference-level quality that's both immersive and dynamic. However, the disc falls short in the extras department, with only a few modest features included. Despite this, the overall presentation remains highly engaging and technically impressive for those who do not hold out for a future 4K Ultra HD release.

The movie isn’t perfect, but "Greenland" managed to impress me when I was expecting something a lot weaker. It’s a solid thriller with great post-apocalyptic undertones, and the low-key plot of survival is riveting to watch. There are some issues with pacing in the last act, but overall the movie exceeded expectations and makes for a very good watch. The Universal Blu-ray provides good video, exceptional audio, but a weak selection of extras. Definitely worth checking out if you’re into thrillers or disaster movies.

Technical Specifications:

Starring: Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Roger Dale Floyd, Scott Glenn, Randal Gonzalez
Directed by: Ric Roman Waugh
Written by: Chris Sparling
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 AVC
Audio: English: DTS-HD MA 7.1, English DVS
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Studio: Universal
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 120 Minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: February 9th, 2021

Recommendation: Fun Watch