Phenomenon (1996/Touchstone
Blu-ray)
Picture: B Sound: B Extras: D Film: B-
It was the summer of 1996 and my parents were away on vacation. My grandmother was watching us and the
easiest way to get four rowdy kids to shut up was to take them to the movies…so
we saw Phenomenon.
I realize it isn’t the best film, certainly not the best Travolta
film; but it holds a special place among my memories and takes me back to that
summer. The fantasy/drama film stars
John Travolta as George Malley. George
is a small town auto mechanic of average intelligence, without very big dreams;
he just wants to get through the day and have some fun with friends. One night while leaving the bar after his 37th
Birthday, George looks up to the sky only to be knocked off his feet by a fast
approaching, shining light. It was that
night George’s life was forever changed.
The following days George begins to experience an incredible boost in
his intelligence, reading multiple books a night, and conducting extremely impressive
experiments. George can absorb any
knowledge around him, which impresses the town’s folk early on but soon
isolates him with only his love interest (Kyra Sedgwick), his best friend
(Forrest Whitaker), and the town doctor (Robert Duval) left by his side.
Fascinated by everything around him George uncovers a secret Morse
Code transmission on his friends CB Radio; which George sets out to crack and
respond to, the bad news it was a government transmission. The government quickly swoops in to take George
and his friend into custody. Nate Pope
(George’s friend) is quickly released, but dumbfounded by George’s intelligence
and code breaking abilities the government suddenly has bigger plans for
George. The focus of the film then
shifts to George getting away from the grasp of the government (FBI) and
wishing he never gained these special abilities.
The film is good enough, but gets a tad sappy and melodramatic. The science fiction/government angle is quite
interesting, but the sadder aspects of the film coupled with a gushy love story
make for a less than stellar film.
The technical features on this Blu-ray are only a slight upgrade from
DVD. The picture is a 2.40 X 1 1080p
presentation that doesn’t boast of high definition quality but does have nice
texture, bright colors, and solid blacks.
The crispness and clarity could be improved, but overall a nice
attempt. The sound is a lossless 5.1
DTS-HD Master Audio Track that doesn’t do anything special as most sound comes
from the front (dialogue), but the musical score does use the other surrounds. Directionality is lacking.
Only one extra exists in the form of the original theatrical trailer.
- Michael P. Dougherty II
