What's new

A Few Words About A few words about...™ ex machina -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

Robert Harris

Archivist
Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Feb 8, 1999
Messages
18,272
Real Name
Robert Harris

Alex Garland's sci-fi, fantasy, ex machina, is one of those films during which the viewer has to wait for the pieces to begin to come together.

And when they do, thoughts such as "so it's going there..." or just, "whoa!" go through the mind.

This is a beautifully scripted film that, once it gets going, fires on all 16 cylinders, and keeps going.

Acting is superb, but a special tip of the hat must go to Alicia Vikander, for reasons that will become obvious once you experience her work.

One of the pleasures of ex machina is the way that digital work is combined with Rob Hardy's cinematography.  Again, you'll have to see it to fully appreciate.

Currently under $17 on Amazon, and a great way to spend a couple of hours.

Audio is DTS' newest, DTS:X, about which, until I have more experience, I'll call "interesting."

http://listen.dts.com/pages/dts-x?tracking=DTSX

Highly Recommended

RAH

 

Ronald Epstein

Founder
Owner
Moderator
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 3, 1997
Messages
66,478
Real Name
Ronald Epstein
RAH,


Thank you for the review. Have this on preorder.


Saw it a month ago. Really liked it, though it felt just a "wee bit" short of the hype.


However, I was surprised by the ending, and for that I was more than pleased.


Definitely worth a blind purchase.
 

schan1269

HTF Expert
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
17,104
Location
Chicago-ish/NW Indiana
Real Name
Sam
For those familiar with Vikander...her work here is very good. Just like everything preceding this film.

Oscar has chosen his roles wisely.
 

KeithDA

Supporting Actor
Joined
Jul 25, 2012
Messages
606
Location
Darlington, UK
Real Name
Keith
I enjoyed it, but felt it followed typical tropes and feel that I wouldn't want to see it again, now that I know the ending.

A current UK Channel 4 series called 'Humans' is making a much better job of 'how human can a robot be'? I can strongly recommend this series when it is released as a superior companion piece to 'Ex machina'
 

Rachael B

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2000
Messages
4,740
Location
Knocksville, TN
Real Name
Rachael Bellomy
I suspect that there Ex-Machina is the robot that keeps calling me trying to sell me a home security system.... It sounds like I preordered a decent film though.
 

Oblivion138

Second Unit
Joined
Jun 13, 2012
Messages
413
Real Name
James O'Blivion
Possibly the best sci-fi film I've seen since Moon. This has been on pre-order since the pre-order went up, and Amazon tells me it's in the mail. Should be here tomorrow or Tuesday. Can't wait to watch it again.


EDIT - It's here. Whoo-hoo, Amazon Prime! I know what I'm watching tonight.
 

JohnRice

Bounded In a Nutshell
Premium
Reviewer
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2000
Messages
18,900
Location
A Mile High
Real Name
John
I watched this on release date. The progression of the story is excellent, though I was conflicted about the ending. I wonder if this story isn't more about the journey than the destination. I think it needs at least one more viewing. Oscar Isaac has made particularly good movie choices. 'Drive' is probably still my favorite movie he's been in, but 'Sucker Punch' has a weird sort of campy darkness I really enjoy. He has an effective, low key style. It suits the sort of mysteriously ominous characters he's often played.
 

CraigF

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2002
Messages
3,117
Location
Toronto area, Canada
Real Name
Craig
^ They are available, but extremely few people have them yet. The Fall wave of new AVRs/pre-pros will certainly have it, even fairly "low-priced" (as they go...) products, it's been on the verge for quite a while. Just note that you have to be able to bitstream from your playing device to take advantage, like for Atmos, and not all BDPs are capable of it with some of the newer BDs.


Even Atmos BDs are still few and far between, and IMO are not the "greatest" movies (i.e. style rules substance) even though I don't mind most of them (but I know what I'm really watching).


This is another recent movie, like Kingsman, that I totally overlooked and bought because of all the good reports from people/sites I respect.


Edit: I just thought I'd add for Canadian and British readers that the local versions of this BD title do NOT have DTS:X audio, just the "core" DTS-HD MA 5.1, not even 7.1
 

McCrutchy

Second Unit
Joined
Jun 18, 2012
Messages
468
Location
East Coast, USA
Real Name
Sean
Michel_Hafner said:
Yes. DTS:X decoders are not yet available, I think, so Mr. Harris just heard regular DTS.
Michael,

My point was that the core is not "regular DTS", but DTS-HD Master Audio (DTS-HD MA). I know many like to use the terms "DTS" and/or "DTS-HD" to describe DTS-HD MA, but this always causes confusion, not least with reviews.

More to the point, with this particular release of Ex Machina, there was some confusion over the available audio tracks, because we were not sure that a 7.1 core would be used for the DTS:X track, and because the packaging states that there is DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio, without mentioning 7.1.

I now have the disc, so for the sake of clarity, I will post the BDInfo scan below as well.

:)
 

McCrutchy

Second Unit
Joined
Jun 18, 2012
Messages
468
Location
East Coast, USA
Real Name
Sean
This disc is Region A LOCKED.

There has been some confusion regarding the audio tracks on this disc. I can tell you that both BDInfo and my player read the DTS: X track as having a DTS-HD MA 7.1 core, while the mix identified in the menu as "Theatrical" is in fact a lossy DTS 5.1 track. The track identified in the menu as "DTS: Headphone X" is the lossy DTS 2.0 track.

English subtitles are English and English SDH in a white font.

BDInfo scan:

Code:
Total   Video                                             Title                                                           Codec   Length  Movie Size      Disc Size       Bitrate Bitrate Main Audio Track                          Secondary Audio Track-----                                                           ------  ------- --------------  --------------  ------- ------- ------------------                        ---------------------00800.MPLS                                                      AVC     1:48:17 25,779,965,952  46,550,825,716  31.74   24.00   DTS-HD Master 7.1 4380Kbps (48kHz/24-bit) DTS 5.1 768Kbps (48kHz/24-bit)
Code:
DISC INFO:Disc Title:     EX_MACHINADisc Size:      46,550,825,716 bytesProtection:     AACSBD-Java:        YesBDInfo:         0.5.8PLAYLIST REPORT:Name:                   00800.MPLSLength:                 1:48:17.324 (h:m:s.ms)Size:                   25,779,965,952 bytesTotal Bitrate:          31.74 MbpsVIDEO:Codec                   Bitrate             Description     -----                   -------             -----------     MPEG-4 AVC Video        24000 kbps          1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1AUDIO:Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     -----                           --------        -------         -----------     DTS-HD Master Audio             English         4380 kbps       7.1 / 48 kHz / 4380 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)DTS Audio                       English         768 kbps        5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bitDTS Audio                       English         768 kbps        2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bitSUBTITLES:Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     -----                           --------        -------         -----------     Presentation Graphics           English         26.200 kbps                     Presentation Graphics           English         28.451 kbps                     Presentation Graphics           Spanish         24.784 kbps                     FILES:Name            Time In         Length          Size            Total Bitrate   ----            -------         ------          ----            -------------   00276.M2TS      0:00:00.000     1:48:17.324     25,779,965,952  31,742          CHAPTERS:Number          Time In         Length          Avg Video Rate  Max 1-Sec Rate  Max 1-Sec Time  Max 5-Sec Rate  Max 5-Sec Time  Max 10Sec Rate  Max 10Sec Time  Avg Frame Size  Max Frame Size  Max Frame Time  ------          -------         ------          --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  1               0:00:00.000     0:07:24.193     26,329 kbps     37,425 kbps     00:01:24.250    35,630 kbps     00:03:20.491    35,554 kbps     00:03:15.486    137,254 bytes   492,911 bytes   00:01:01.227    2               0:07:24.193     0:04:08.998     29,073 kbps     37,071 kbps     00:11:24.433    35,776 kbps     00:11:20.429    35,561 kbps     00:10:15.865    151,573 bytes   419,206 bytes   00:11:33.192    3               0:11:33.192     0:06:38.064     28,088 kbps     35,912 kbps     00:11:44.412    35,546 kbps     00:11:41.409    35,502 kbps     00:11:37.655    146,437 bytes   422,465 bytes   00:11:34.193    4               0:18:11.256     0:05:43.551     21,808 kbps     32,648 kbps     00:20:38.946    32,313 kbps     00:20:43.367    32,306 kbps     00:20:38.362    113,696 bytes   239,893 bytes   00:23:50.554    5               0:23:54.808     0:08:11.991     27,907 kbps     35,884 kbps     00:24:37.559    35,595 kbps     00:24:33.555    35,530 kbps     00:25:13.303    145,497 bytes   471,529 bytes   00:25:54.636    6               0:32:06.799     0:03:35.965     28,225 kbps     35,281 kbps     00:35:39.470    35,081 kbps     00:35:37.677    34,964 kbps     00:35:32.672    147,151 bytes   213,468 bytes   00:33:04.107    7               0:35:42.765     0:10:22.413     26,833 kbps     35,916 kbps     00:44:28.374    35,579 kbps     00:44:28.374    35,519 kbps     00:44:28.248    139,894 bytes   472,217 bytes   00:39:03.382    8               0:46:05.179     0:07:32.618     25,543 kbps     35,980 kbps     00:47:10.911    35,549 kbps     00:47:06.698    34,423 kbps     00:47:03.946    133,167 bytes   472,123 bytes   00:50:46.376    9               0:53:37.797     0:06:57.083     22,352 kbps     35,724 kbps     00:53:43.762    35,013 kbps     00:54:00.445    34,198 kbps     00:54:01.071    116,534 bytes   483,979 bytes   00:54:01.488    10              1:00:34.881     0:08:39.018     26,851 kbps     36,218 kbps     01:04:50.928    35,671 kbps     01:04:13.766    35,441 kbps     01:06:50.798    139,987 bytes   470,735 bytes   01:00:47.602    11              1:09:13.899     0:04:16.839     25,194 kbps     35,941 kbps     01:11:43.340    35,537 kbps     01:11:41.588    35,491 kbps     01:11:41.171    131,350 bytes   251,938 bytes   01:11:25.072    12              1:13:30.739     0:08:14.577     21,850 kbps     35,792 kbps     01:15:13.217    35,121 kbps     01:15:12.799    31,239 kbps     01:15:12.799    113,917 bytes   471,097 bytes   01:15:43.622    13              1:21:45.317     0:07:34.829     20,085 kbps     28,373 kbps     01:25:31.126    28,140 kbps     01:25:29.374    27,624 kbps     01:25:25.286    104,716 bytes   194,349 bytes   01:22:28.485    14              1:29:20.146     0:06:55.998     22,758 kbps     32,529 kbps     01:31:35.156    30,874 kbps     01:30:39.851    27,634 kbps     01:30:08.361    118,649 bytes   210,859 bytes   01:35:06.701    15              1:36:16.145     0:05:43.718     21,571 kbps     37,898 kbps     01:40:09.670    35,720 kbps     01:39:42.810    35,623 kbps     01:39:58.534    112,460 bytes   378,145 bytes   01:40:06.333    16              1:41:59.863     0:06:17.460     9,768 kbps      41,405 kbps     01:44:19.044    36,498 kbps     01:44:09.159    35,543 kbps     01:44:04.029    50,940 bytes    492,911 bytes   01:42:33.480    STREAM DIAGNOSTICS:File            PID             Type            Codec           Language                Seconds                 Bitrate                 Bytes           Packets         ----            ---             ----            -----           --------                --------------          --------------          -------------   -----           00276.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                     6497.157                24,001                  19,491,922,883  106,025,189     00276.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x86            DTS-HD MA       eng (English)           6497.157                4,380                   3,556,969,476   20,344,641      00276.M2TS      4353 (0x1101)   0x82            DTS             eng (English)           6497.157                755                     612,779,750     3,654,750       00276.M2TS      4354 (0x1102)   0x82            DTS             eng (English)           6497.157                755                     612,779,750     3,654,750       00276.M2TS      4608 (0x1200)   0x90            PGS             eng (English)           6497.157                26                      21,278,568      123,037         00276.M2TS      4609 (0x1201)   0x90            PGS             eng (English)           6497.157                28                      23,106,649      133,720         00276.M2TS      4610 (0x1202)   0x90            PGS             spa (Spanish)           6497.157                25                      20,128,684      116,868
Extra: Through the Looking Glass: Making Ex Machina

Code:
QUICK SUMMARY:Disc Title: EX_MACHINADisc Size: 46,550,825,716 bytesProtection: AACSBD-Java: YesPlaylist: 00101.MPLSSize: 5,727,750,144 bytesLength: 0:39:59.688Total Bitrate: 19.09 MbpsVideo: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 18000 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1Audio: English / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Extra: SXSW Q&A with Cast and Crew

Code:
QUICK SUMMARY:Disc Title: EX_MACHINADisc Size: 46,550,825,716 bytesProtection: AACSBD-Java: YesPlaylist: 00102.MPLSSize: 8,731,041,792 bytesLength: 1:00:57.904Total Bitrate: 19.10 MbpsVideo: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 18000 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1Audio: English / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Extra: Behind the Scenes Vignettes

Code:
Total   Video                                             Title                                                           Codec   Length  Movie Size      Disc Size       Bitrate Bitrate Main Audio Track                          Secondary Audio Track-----                                                           ------  ------- --------------  --------------  ------- ------- ------------------                        ---------------------00805.MPLS                                                      AVC     0:28:40 4,106,840,064   46,550,825,716  19.09   18.00   DD AC3 2.0 192Kbps
Code:
DISC INFO:Disc Title:     EX_MACHINADisc Size:      46,550,825,716 bytesProtection:     AACSBD-Java:        YesBDInfo:         0.5.8PLAYLIST REPORT:Name:                   00805.MPLSLength:                 0:28:40.885 (h:m:s.ms)Size:                   4,106,840,064 bytesTotal Bitrate:          19.09 MbpsVIDEO:Codec                   Bitrate             Description     -----                   -------             -----------     MPEG-4 AVC Video        17996 kbps          1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1AUDIO:Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     -----                           --------        -------         -----------     Dolby Digital Audio             English         192 kbps        2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dBFILES:Name            Time In         Length          Size            Total Bitrate   ----            -------         ------          ----            -------------   00283.M2TS      0:00:00.000     0:03:38.760     522,110,976     19,093          00284.M2TS      0:03:38.760     0:03:34.214     511,242,240     19,093          00285.M2TS      0:07:12.974     0:03:07.020     446,324,736     19,092          00286.M2TS      0:10:19.994     0:03:16.696     469,438,464     19,093          00287.M2TS      0:13:36.690     0:03:09.814     452,960,256     19,091          00288.M2TS      0:16:46.505     0:03:15.862     467,417,088     19,092          00289.M2TS      0:20:02.367     0:02:35.989     372,264,960     19,092          00290.M2TS      0:22:38.356     0:02:53.339     413,620,224     19,089          00291.M2TS      0:25:31.696     0:03:09.189     451,461,120     19,090          CHAPTERS:Number          Time In         Length          Avg Video Rate  Max 1-Sec Rate  Max 1-Sec Time  Max 5-Sec Rate  Max 5-Sec Time  Max 10Sec Rate  Max 10Sec Time  Avg Frame Size  Max Frame Size  Max Frame Time  ------          -------         ------          --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  1               0:00:00.000     0:03:38.760     18,016 kbps     37,262 kbps     00:02:41.119    34,315 kbps     00:02:39.325    30,936 kbps     00:02:34.404    93,927 bytes    492,890 bytes   00:00:00.000    2               0:03:38.760     0:03:34.214     17,997 kbps     37,362 kbps     00:04:56.754    29,831 kbps     00:04:55.420    28,953 kbps     00:04:48.663    93,848 bytes    492,890 bytes   00:07:12.974    3               0:07:12.974     0:03:07.020     17,997 kbps     34,293 kbps     00:08:29.050    27,462 kbps     00:08:26.797    23,868 kbps     00:08:29.008    93,846 bytes    492,890 bytes   00:10:19.994    4               0:10:19.994     0:03:16.696     17,997 kbps     36,866 kbps     00:13:14.627    30,932 kbps     00:13:13.042    26,575 kbps     00:13:08.037    93,850 bytes    492,911 bytes   00:13:35.689    5               0:13:36.690     0:03:09.814     17,995 kbps     37,772 kbps     00:16:08.842    31,111 kbps     00:15:48.947    27,586 kbps     00:16:04.338    93,839 bytes    492,890 bytes   00:16:46.505    6               0:16:46.505     0:03:15.862     17,996 kbps     38,447 kbps     00:17:59.453    30,209 kbps     00:18:23.977    29,113 kbps     00:19:05.394    93,844 bytes    492,890 bytes   00:20:02.367    7               0:20:02.367     0:02:35.989     17,996 kbps     36,952 kbps     00:21:59.943    31,541 kbps     00:21:58.150    27,034 kbps     00:21:14.022    93,850 bytes    492,890 bytes   00:22:38.356    8               0:22:38.356     0:02:53.339     17,994 kbps     37,391 kbps     00:23:45.298    29,374 kbps     00:23:41.962    27,746 kbps     00:23:37.082    93,837 bytes    492,890 bytes   00:25:31.696    9               0:25:31.696     0:03:09.189     17,974 kbps     26,591 kbps     00:26:13.905    26,019 kbps     00:26:01.393    25,795 kbps     00:25:57.389    93,750 bytes    428,010 bytes   00:26:13.071    STREAM DIAGNOSTICS:File            PID             Type            Codec           Language                Seconds                 Bitrate                 Bytes           Packets         ----            ---             ----            -----           --------                --------------          --------------          -------------   -----           00283.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                     218.593                 18,012                  492,151,836     2,677,784       00283.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x81            AC3             eng (English)           218.593                 192                     5,250,816       34,185          00284.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                     214.047                 18,011                  481,911,558     2,622,045       00284.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x81            AC3             eng (English)           214.047                 192                     5,141,760       33,475          00285.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                     186.853                 18,013                  420,713,831     2,289,093       00285.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x81            AC3             eng (English)           186.853                 192                     4,488,960       29,225          00286.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                     196.530                 18,013                  442,504,294     2,407,647       00286.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x81            AC3             eng (English)           196.530                 192                     4,720,896       30,735          00287.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                     189.648                 18,011                  426,966,666     2,323,116       00287.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x81            AC3             eng (English)           189.648                 192                     4,555,776       29,660          00288.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                     195.696                 18,012                  440,597,875     2,397,262       00288.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x81            AC3             eng (English)           195.696                 192                     4,700,928       30,605          00289.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                     155.822                 18,016                  350,905,981     1,909,267       00289.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x81            AC3             eng (English)           155.822                 192                     3,744,000       24,375          00290.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                     173.173                 18,012                  389,893,118     2,121,367       00290.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x81            AC3             eng (English)           173.173                 192                     4,160,256       27,085          00291.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                     189.022                 18,011                  425,555,935     2,315,424       00291.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x81            AC3             eng (English)           189.022                 192                     4,541,184       29,565
 

Michel_Hafner

Screenwriter
Joined
Feb 28, 2002
Messages
1,350
McCrutchy said:
Michael,

My point was that the core is not "regular DTS", but DTS-HD Master Audio (DTS-HD MA). I know many like to use the terms "DTS" and/or "DTS-HD" to describe DTS-HD MA, but this always causes confusion, not least with reviews.

Most DTS on BD is DTS-HD MA. The lossy variants are not often used the last couple of years. Anyway, my point was Mr. Harris did most likely not hear the special sauce of DTS:X with height information and precise sound objects moving around but good old immersive 5.1/7.1 DTS. It should not sound differently from many other surround mixes.
 

kathy13xia

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Dec 19, 2014
Messages
54
Real Name
Kathy Xia
Have watched this movie last week, really like it. Ex Machina is one of those movies you can't write about without delving into the last act.
 

Ken LB

Supporter
Joined
Jul 21, 2011
Messages
19
Real Name
Ken
Via an industry friend, I was able to hear the Blu-ray DTS:X mix, properly decoded, in a nice 7.2.4 setup. Clearly, this isn't the movie to demo objects whizzing around above, but the height channels were fairly active throughout and definitely enhanced the overall ambience.
 

Robert Crawford

Crawdaddy
Moderator
Patron
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Dec 9, 1998
Messages
67,472
Location
Michigan
Real Name
Robert
I've been tracking the pricing of Ex Machina on Amazon and it's now down to $14.99 so I pulled the trigger and will watch it Friday after its arrival. After watching The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 2015 film last week, I decided not to wait any longer after seeing Alicia Vikander in that film. A fine young actress.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Articles

Forum statistics

Threads
356,712
Messages
5,121,143
Members
144,147
Latest member
cennetkaralowa
Recent bookmarks
0
Top