• Login

    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Resident Evil: Afterlife

    Featured In Issue 153, January 2011

    Picture5
    Sound5
    WSR Score3.5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    36597
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    Sequences of strong violence and language
    (Retail Price):
    $34.95
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    96
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A, B & C
    (Theatrical Year):
    2010
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    12/28/10
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Paul W.S. Anderson
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS HD Lossless 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    Based on one of the most successful video game franchises of all time, "Resident Evil: Afterlife" opens with Alice (Jovovich) on a lonely and dangerous hunt for survivors in a decimated world crawling with the undead. On her quest for the alleged safe-haven "Arcadia," she finds survivors Claire (Larter) and Chris Redfield (Miller), and the smoldering trio heats up the screen as they ravenously set their sights on taking down the evil Chairman of the Umbrella Corporation, Albert Wesker (Roberts) and hordes of the undead along the way. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include commentary with Writer/Director Paul W.S. Anderson, Producer Jeremy Bolt, and Producer Robert Kulzer; the Undead Vision: picture-in-picture Bonus View; eight deleted and extended scenes (HD 06:48); outtakes (HD 04:30); seven featurettes: "Back Under The Umbrella: Direction Afterlife" (HD 06:43), "Band Of Survivors: Casting Afterlife" (HD 06:39), "Undead Dimension: Resident Evil In 3D" HD 07:27), "Fighting Back: The Action Of Afterlife" (HD 05:31), "Vision Of The Apocalypse: The Design Of Afterlife" (HD 07:28), "New Blood: The Undead Of Afterlife" (HD 07:31), and "Pawning The Undead: Camera Of The Afterlife" (HD 06:11); a sneak peek of "Resident Evil: Damnation" (HD 01:10); previews; Movie IQ; and BD-Live functionality.

    The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture depicts a virus-induced post-apocalyptic vision of a world seized by the undead, The color palette is desaturated, for dramatic effect, yet where there is life there is color, at least in the portrayal of fleshtones. Everything else is basically dull but in stylistic character with the storytelling. Spot color is nicely saturated for highlight. Fleshtones are perfectly natural in tone. Contrast is generally good, with revealing shadow delineation. Blacks are deep and solid. Dimensionality is excellent, no doubt due to the set staging for the 3-D filmmaking. Resolution also is excellent, with revealing details, especially during close-ups of facial features, clothes, weaponry, and objects. With its video game roots, the picture is true to the genre, with visuals that are exciting. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is a loud, extremely SPL-energized experience. The Dorough 8-channel meters were often pegged at full SPL during intense action sequences! Tons of deep, solid sub-25 Hz bass penetrates the .1 LFE channels, with also substantial bass energy in all the other channels. The music score projects a wide and deep soundstage, with an aggressive surround presence. With directionalized and panned sound effects and eerie atmospheric effects, the sound is dimensionally holosonic®. The surrounds are seriously engaged, ideally requiring full-range reproduction, to optimally experience. The music score is also intense, with at times a stringent quality and a very rhythmic drum-driven pulse. Surprisingly, throughout all intense sonics, dialogue manages to stay intelligible with good spatial integration. This is a very exciting soundtrack experience that never fails to engage every channel and create an aggressive enveloping experience. (Gary Reber)

    Reason #53 Why Readers Love Widescreen Review:

    There was little in the way of reading material to bridge the gap between the broadcast-level technical and the common consumer. Most of the generic publications were too simplistic with not enough meat. As the DVDs’ popularity developed beyond everyone’s wildest dreams, it became painfully obvious that there was a serious lack of credible printed matter to support the medium. And with HDTV in the wings, even less to draw from. Or so I thought, until I came upon Widescreen Review at a newsstand while on one of those proverbial business trips. I couldn't believe my eyes! Here's the kind of magazine I was looking for. But then, thinking that this was just a one-off issue, which just happened to contain an abundance of knowledge in an occasional issue, I decided to temper my enthusiasm and become a newsstand reader to see if the articles and features held up consistently. Well, that was all many issues ago and I'm now a dyed-in-the-wool reader of Widescreen Review. To their credit, the magazine has and continues to improve upon their expertise in the field. It's truly a one-stop resource when it comes to the latest in the ever-evolving world of audio/video integration for the consumer. Pixel on!

    Wayne J Mastel
    26864 Mandelieu Drive, Murrieta, CA 92562 • Phone: 951 676 4914 • Fax: 951 693 2960
    Copyright © Information • All Rights Reserved • www.widescreenreview.com • Web Site Established In 1995 • Privacy Policy • Partners