LEGION (2010, Blu-ray released May 11, 2010 – MSRP $34.95)
Angels are waging war on mankind…again. They’re always so jealous of us–well, we’d love to have wings! This time, they’re under orders to wipe us out. Sony Pictures release, Legion, puts the fear back in the “fear and reverence…”
The only hope for mankind’s survival is our unlikely set of protagonists at a diner in the middle of nowhere. But they’re not alone—they have an angel on their side. No, not Lucy Liu—Michael, the archangel. Michael has always been the butt-kicker, the patron saint of the warrior. If mankind was going to need someone, it’s him! Paul Bettany wears the wings and wields the weapons.
This is Scott Stewart’s first feature length film after working mostly in visual effects. Legion is a fear-driven, action film–A reason to see a gun-totting angel take on his own kind with the help of a diner owner (Dennis Quaid), his son (Lucas Black), the diner’s cook (Charles S. Dutton) and the lucky patrons of the Paradise Falls Diner. Stewart’s experience in visually effects can be seen in the entire film. There are crazy creatures and heavenly weapon designs that are pretty cool.
The 1080p transfer is almost perfect. A little banding can be seen, but you’d really have to be looking for it. Details are sharp, whether it be a day or night scene. The blacks are deep and rich and the colors are impeccable, handling the contrasting exterior dusty surfaces and the gloomy interiors as they hunker down for the showdown.
The sound is delivered in a DTS-HD MA 5.1 format with startling clarity that packs a punch in the action sequences, and keeps the dialogue clear. It builds atmosphere with a mood-affecting soundtrack in the eerier sequences, where background creaks, cracks and buzzing are key, and come at the listener through the rear channels with outstanding audibility.
In the extra content department, there are a few HD-quality features like a close-up look at the special effects created for the film, and how some stunts were performed. Using BD Live, viewers can access HD trailers for other Sony titles such as The Road and 2012. There are cast interviews and what these High Definition platforms were made for, picture-in-picture commentary intercut with actual scenes from the film, linking interviews, effects demonstrations and even storyboards. Another Sony feature is their MovieIQ that uses the BD Live track to offer trivia throughout the film.
Bettany and Stewart are working hard on their next project together: Priest, an adaptation of the Korean comic that deals with more angels in a supernatural-horror and Western setting. They obviously enjoyed themselves the first time.
