DVD Review: Wing Commander

Support A Guide To Current Film By Clicking The Banner And Visiting Reel.com!

DVD Reviews

DVD For Sale From Reel.com

DVD For Sale From Amazon.Com

The DVD:

Movie:
"Wing Commander" is the meaning of nonsense. The film has no plot, no point, no nothing. I'm aware that it may be based on a popular, well-reviewed video game, but the problem here is that the game's maker also has directed a film that he didn't have the talent to film. There's a bunch of bad guys called the "Kilrathi", but they're mostly talked about for the entire film and not seen.- there are a few effects sequences during the film's opening half, but there's amazingly little going on otherwise; a lot of sequences where people blurt nonsense to each other- sci-fi blather to the highest degree, the meanings of which are never explained.

We have no idea or background on anyone or anything, who they are or why they're there. There's just a lot of talk about nothing in particular and before we've had a chance to figure out what the heck anyone's talking about, the film's already moved onto something else completely. Beyond the nonsense of the plot, the actors themselves don't help any: each of them look seriously bored and/or confused themselves about just what's going on.

And before I knew it, it was over. "Wing Commander" is one of those movies that just runs through its length, never stopping to ponder it's flaws. It truly amazes me that a studio would give a first-time director a 30 million dollar film with absolutely no script and what material that is here is utter nonsense, most of it completely unwatchable. It looks like a video game and it's about as boring as the one video game in the back of the local arcades that no one ever plays.

VIDEO: Fox has done a really nice job with the transfer on this disc. Colors are vibrant and well-saturated, blacks are deep and solid. I would have liked to see the image a little sharper and a little more detailed during some of the scenes. The picture is sharp...but not razor sharp. One of the most enjoyable aspects is the complete lack of artifacts. The image has no pixelization or aliasing problems whatsoever. Contrast is nicely rendered and shadow detail is well-rendered as well. Even the scenes in deep space look nice, with a good amount of information able to be viewed. Flesh tones are accurate and natural throughout. A really pleasing presentation, if only the movie wasn't so awful.

SOUND: Wonderful sound mix- there are frequent and effective uses of the surround during a lot of the action scenes and there are quite a few times when this really creates a fantastically enveloping sound field. During the dialogue-driven scenes, the dialogue is clear, full and natural. The score is actually really enjoyable as well.

MENUS: Fox has put together some very cool animated menus, with a cool "computer" theme.

EXTRAS: Trailer and 2 TV ads.

GRADES:
The Film: 60/D = (300/500 possible points)
Video: 89/B+ = (356/400 possible points)
Audio: 95/A = (380/400 possible points)
Extras: 78/C = (234/300 possible points)
Menus: 88/B = (176/200 possible points)
Value: 75/C = (150/300 possible points)
Presentation:87.5/B = (87.5/100 possible points)

TOTAL POINTS:1683.5/2200
Overall:76.52%/C
Final Thoughts: I mainly just enjoyed the sound on this one... Fox has put together a nice disc in terms of audio and video, but nothing can redeem this film- it's just terrible. Not recommended.

BACK TO THE SITE:
Back To A Guide To Current DVD
Listing Of DVD Special Sales
Back To A Guide To Current Film
A List Of Current/Upcoming DVD For Sale
Soundtracks For Current Films

DVD Information

Wing Commander
Fox Home Video
2.35:1/ Dolby Digital 5.1&2.0
Subtitles:English
100 Minutes
Dual Layer:No
Rated:PG-13
Release Date:7/6/99
Anamorphic:No
Region:1