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Excuse
the dribbling over this review, but how can I help it? The visual themes are space (with
the odd star or two), planets (near and far), and of course space ships (big and small)
– minus Luke Skywalker – and it’s all on DVD!
(Who
can’t wait for the STAR WARS saga to hit DVD? – hold out fans it’s maybe
this century! hopefully not ‘to far, far, away’)
Now on
with the review:
One
word: ‘Vision’! A world equally shared to the beautiful scope of ‘2001: A
Space Odyssey’ (by the late Stanley Kubrick). Peter Hyams directs ‘2010: The
Year We Make Contact’, and brings to the screen another adventure of human life,
exploring the unknown and searching for answers (aren’t we all!).
Teamed
with Russian scientists the American crew led by Dr Floyd (Roy Scheider) head on a mission
to re-connect with the ‘Discovery’ which helms the computer system HAL-9000,
(and who could forget the phrase ‘Hello Dave’ from ‘2001’!). The
‘Discovery’ orbiting Jupiter, along with the mysterious Monolith – a
rectangular prism symbolic of a symbol, (very deep), with powers unknown. Mixed with an
almost errie score by David Shire, the events seem quite alien and frightening – but
the emotions aren’t realised fully in the film, but never the less we are taken on a
journey which will keep you enthralled to the end. Mankind is yet to discover the truth of
the Monolith but the concluding message is clear.
Another
surprise to the film is how good the special effects are, which still hold up now even
though the film was released in 1983 - it’s not dated at all! The only hint that
dates the film is with the recording of the dialogue: this seems a bit distant in relation
to the 5.1 soundtrack.
So
How Does This Transfer Hold Up?
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VIDEO
The 2.35:1 (4:3 transfer) creates a visual scope to the film that helps
complete the vast and lonely scale of space. The beginning of the film has the odd film
artefact or two, but when we reach space they are hardly recognisable. A good balance of
detail is maintained throughout the film, and at times quite vivid colours (most notable
on the control boards on the space ships and sequences back on Earth). The Dual Layer
transition point is noticeable at 53:47, I’m afraid that the majority dual
transitions between layers are quite obvious, but hey it beats the old flippers! (Not to
mention Laser Disc . . .don’t get me started!)
AUDIO
For a film from 1983 the audio was quite impressive, like older films the score
would generally create the main source for the surround, but not here. We have a good
function of surround effects - (most notable in 34:30, Space ship entry into the
atmosphere, and 102:40 the trip home). The opening and ending sequences feature ‘Also
Sprach Zarathustrai’ by Strauss, obviously to complete the relationship with
‘2001’, and it is remarkably distributed for the 5.1 Digital Surround
Soundtrack.
EXTRAS
Well I was all set to do the ‘BEHIND-THE-SCENES DOCUMENTARY 2010: The Odyssey
Continues’, that was printed on the back of the DVD cover, and to my surprise this
isn’t featured on the DVD at all, just scene access, and languages. This is what we
call ‘False Advertising’!
OVERALL
If you enjoyed ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, you wouldn’t have a
problem seeing this sequel. And if you like special features like behind the scenes
doco’s, then don’t be disappointed when you buy this DVD.
| PICTURE
QUALITY |
8.5/10 tones are quite
dark |
SOUND
- Quality
- 5.1 WOW Factor |
7/10
7.5/10 (quite obvious throughout the film) |
| EXTRAS |
A total
Misrepresentation of the truth |
| OVERALL |
7.5/10 a good
sequel. |
Review Equipment
TV: SONY Trinitron 80cm (16:9 selectable)
DVD: PIONEER DVD, DV525 (via S-Video) / PIONEER DVD/LD, DVL909 (via S-Video)
Receiver: PIONEER THX-ULTRA DD&DTS VSA-E07
Speakers:-
Fronts: SONY towers SS-X7S
Centre: SONY SS-TX7S
Rears: SONY towers SS-X7S
Sub: RICHTER – THOR
- Reviewed 9th March 2001
*2010 jpeg files for internet
promotion use only. Copyright© exists on all aspects of these filesby Warner HOme Video
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