- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
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- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Especially as a fan of Luc Besson's work, there are a myriad of things I find myself latching on to in his latest directorial effort.
If you're reasonably steeped in Monsieur Besson's work, you'll find that Lucy (with a superb Scarlett Johansson) in the title role, fits right in. If not you should be ashamed, and immediately access copies of Leon: The Professional and La Femme Nikita as required viewing. That would be a good place to begin. Then pick up The Big Blue, Extraordinary Adventures...
Lucy is a mash-up of genres that works. Going along with Samuel Goldwyn's possibly apocryphal comment regarding how long a film should be -- "As long as it's good" -- the film comes in at an exceedingly quick paced 90 minutes. I ran it last night for a friend that would not normally see a film of this type and she walked away smiling -- although still wondering precisely what she had just viewed.
There have been numerous discussions on line regarding current Blu-ray vs. the coming "4k" or UHD technology, and I've been advocating that 4k doesn't fit all needs or all films. Sit at a normal viewing distance from your panel or screen, and in most cases you won't be able to tell the difference.
Lucy, from Universal, is one of those film that will absorb that UHD technology, and shine on screen. Audio is DTS-HD MA, which is basically a very nice bucket into which anything can be placed, but this particular bucket, when decoded, will push you back in your seat and clean the lint out of your speakers, much like we'll be hearing when the Interstellar Blu-ray arrives.
But I bring up UHD, as that's an area where Lucy's imagery (as captured by cinematographer Thierry Arbogast, who has also shot La Femme Nikita and Leon) will shine.
Even in standard old, off-the-shelf Blu-ray, the visuals found in Lucy are magnificent for their color, power and resolution. Keep in mind that Lucy was shot digitally (Arri Alexa XT Plus, Red Epic, Sony CineAlta F65) and imagery was prepped not only for standard 35mm and DCP, but for actual (as opposed to faux) IMAX.
You see where this is going. The filmmakers' ability to create freely with first generation composites of various digital effects is in full play here.
Lucy is a terrific movie. A superb entertainment -- please view with suspension of disbelief in gear -- and a magnificently presentation on Blu-ray.
Also, at its current under $20 street price on amazon, one of the best buys going.
A final point. I'm not a fan of slipcovers. Many of them are flawed, as the slick blue plastic box held within will simply fall out. Others are created from cheap paper, simply replicating (for no apparent reason) the same artwork found within.
Universal's artwork and packaging on Lucy is, in a word, gorgeous. One slipcase out of thousands, worth retaining.
Highly Recommended.
RAH