Monsters:
Dark Continent (2014/Anchor Bay Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B+ Extras: C- Film: B
Gareth
Edwards (Director of 2014's Godzilla and the upcoming Star
Wars Anthology: Rogue One) came out with one of the best debut
films in history with Monsters, a film with a unique style and
incredible special effects. What worked most was the fact that
despite giant monsters attacking, what we saw was more the aftermath
of destruction from these creatures rather than seeing them cause the
destruction. In this follow up film, surprisingly with no
contribution from Edwards himself, but rather director Tom Green
(maybe he should be known as 'Thomas Green' to avoid confusion with
the former MTV star? Just a suggestion) comes Monsters: Dark
Continent. While the first Monsters film focused on the
perspective of a Journalist and a shaken American Tourist, this film
is more from the perspective of the Military and is basically a war
film that just so happens to have giant monsters in the background.
Unlike
Starship Troopers, which was more of a flat out satire/comedy
(meant darkly), this is more of the hardened war film akin to The
Hurt Locker with more time spent with the soldiers and more
brutal attacks by the monsters themselves. Too bad these military
characters aren't more likeable nor as dramatic as leads as intended,
which almost gives the creatures more compassion. Showcasing the
same 'look' of the first film along with great special digital
effects of the monsters when they are shown, Monsters: Dark
Continent is a fun follow-up to the original and definitely worth
seeing for fans of giant monster fare. Is it as good of a sequel as
James Cameron's Aliens? No. But it's still pretty
entertaining.
Ten
years on from the events of Monsters,
and the Infected Zones have now spread worldwide. In the Middle East
a new insurgency has begun. At the same time there has also been a
proliferation of Monsters in that region. The Army decide to draft
in more numbers to help deal with this insurgency. We follow four
fresh new recruits from Detroit as they all excitedly look forward to
performing what they were trained to do. At first it all seems like
a game to them but things quickly change when they are given a
special mission; to rescue five soldiers who have been lost deep in
the Infected Zone.
The
main focus of their mission is human but they are instructed to take
down any creatures that get in the way along the route. We have
generally learned to live along side these giant creatures as much as
any other land based animal. The military only strike to control
numbers. Venturing deep into the IZ, the young troops embark on a
life-altering mission through the heart of monster territory. By the
time they reach their goal, they will have been forced to confront
themselves with the true horrors of eradicating the alien threat.
The
presentation on the disc is incredible, captured in high definition
1080p with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, with incredible detail, high
contrast, and barely a hint of artifacts. Combined with a powerful,
lossless DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 track, there really isn't much
to complain about presentation wise here.
Bonus
features are pretty slim - with a Behind The Scenes Featurette that
clocks in around a mere 3 minutes and a Trailer. There could have
been some great opportunity for supplements here but oh well.
-
James Harland Lockhart V
www.facebook.com/jhl5films
