Manticore
(DVD)
Picture: C Sound: C+ Extras: D Telefilm: D
Tripp
Reed’s Manticore (2005) is yet
another lame, tired Starship Troopers
wanna-be even though it is actually set in Iraq. A group of soldiers arrive only to have to
battle an ancient killer bird of the title, which it turns out has had some
prodding in its resurrection.
Unfortunately, nothing can resurrect the lame teleplay here by John
Werner as this becomes as shallow as it is almost insulting. It starts out badly, then just gets worse and
worse.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is very soft, including bad digital work
and a downtrade of what is likely lesser HD shooting to begin with. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is limited in its
richness, surrounds and dialogue sounds compressed. The Dolby 2.0 version is no better or
worse. There are no extras, giving you
another reason to skip it.
- Nicholas Sheffo
