Life [Blu-ray]

Alien.There. I went ahead and got that out of the way. Now, let's get on with Life.Life is a story about vindicating the Origin of Species with--ironically--the demise of the human race. In a sense, that would be a genuine celebration of evolution because the brightest minds mankind has to offer are succumbing to a more cunning, adaptable, and more perfect lifeform. While Life's plot isn't really new (consider Alien, The Thing, Harbinger Down), the film is a unique take on the claustrophic horror genre that's impressive on several levels.First off is the CGI, and the convincing performances of the cast considering how much acting was done in front of a green screen. Mimicking zero gravity on film has always been a challenge, and on top of that, convincing your audience that you are truly terrified of something that's only in your imagination while filming should illustrate just how good the cast and director were. The CGI was done well enough to be mostly unnoticeable throughout the film, bringing a realism that makes you feel as if you were actually on the International Space Station. Contrast that with bad CGI (eg Battlefield Earth, or the hideous Ultraviolet) which becomes obtrusive and painful to watch, and you'll appreciate just how much attention to detail was paid to immersing you in its world. Although the same cannot really be said of the "alien" the crew discovers, that's really besides the point. The beauty of Life is not so much in its creature's appearance, but rather what it stands for.All good horror movies provide a dose of mystery. For example, what made the original Blair Witch Project terrifying was not so much Blair herself (whom you never really see throughout the film), but rather the uncertainty surrounding her nature. What exactly is Blair capable of doing? What's her weakness? Her goals? What are the RULES we're dealing with here? When you don't understand your enemy, then you cannot defend against it and that contributes to serious tension throughout a good horror film. Many of the greatest horror/thrillers had this element of mystery, from Freddy Krueger to Jason and even the original Alien and Predator. Throughout much of those films we had no idea what those creature's rules were, and thus were wholly vulnerable to them.Life laid out only three rules for "Calvin" the Martian from early in the film: that it's carbon based, that its cells were each capable of muscle, neuronal and photosensitivity functions, and that it has survived for likely millennia in hibernation on Mars. This makes it one giant blob of muscle, brain and eyes, and it is damn tough. If you were on the ISS while this possibly sentient being was unleashed, what the hell would YOU do? What CAN you do? How do you defend against something that could well be far more intelligent than you when you have few places to hide, and escape wasn't an option?Life tackles these questions from a very practical viewpoint that allows the audience to relate with the crew as they face off against Calvin. This isn't Doom where space jockeys spit bullets at zombies, but rather a drama of survival among a very human and flawed crew as they engage a series of moral dilemmas left in Calvin's path. This emphasis on people with whom we could relate with was crucial in the success of Alien, and the director has done a fine job here shining the light on the astronauts rather than on making Calvin look pretty.While Life does nod to Alien in some respects (the similarities between their opening titles should be a giveaway), it isn't trying to beat Alien, because it's not. Life is set in a completely different time and environment, and deals with issues that should be given some more thought than they're currently receiving. Should we be really that eager to establish contact with an alien race, no matter how primitive it first appears? Do we have the right to poke, prod, and otherwise torture it when we find it? And if it starts eating us, can we really fault it for trying to survive?I finished the film thinking about such issues and that made me give it a well-earned 5 stars, because the world Life created made me want to stay there longer. The film was compelling enough to make me care about the astronauts and even for Calvin, I do hope we get to see more in a sequel of some kind. That said, though, the ending does seem to lend some credence to the "Venom" rumors going around, but if that is remotely true, it would signal a VERY different, and I'd say difficult to film, path forward for Spiderman's nemesis. If the rumor is REMOTELY true, then this has got to be among the best prequels of all time.

As we know it..

Well done. Good movie to watch at home. Have read reviews that say it is a bit like Alien. I'd have to agree with that.

I really enjoy Science Fiction / Adventure / and pretty much anything to do with Space, so this movie hits all the right boxes for me out of the gate. If these are you genres, and you also like horror- You'll enjoy this. A few other films that immediately come to mind to give you an idea of this film would be SUNSHINE by Danny Boyle and most Recently UNDERWATER (which is AWESOME.)I like futuristic movies, but I also really like movies that try to depict an accurate setting with a realistic scenario. (The Martian). This movie shows a slightly updated ISS, which is cool, but it still very much has the spirit.I've seen a lot of comments complaining about the characters... Being critical of their actions and decisions, despite the fact as far as I can tell there isn't anyone on this board who has claimed to have experience with travelling to the ISS and to work with a team in the space the size of a two bedroom apartment for hundreds of days up to over 400 days. You guys can't just act like this is a totally normal everyday work environment, when it's one of the most foreign habitats known to man - its like the most isolated place you can be. You've heard about cabin fever? It's the same in Space- it's very hard on a person's sense of self. Jake is clearly damaged, and is completely detached from his home and has very little to no emotions for earth. if you just take a little time to understand the characters, their back stories, you can get a better understanding of their motivations and flaws. I mean. THe other thing is, do you go to watch scary movies because you enjoy how the characters always act in complete rational and mundane ways. I mean, the whole POINT of scary movies is shout at the screen and feel the terror rise as you know that someone is about to make a bad move!I think the alien in this movie is absolutely TERRIFYING. It seems like the most realistic creature we've seen, and it's really interesting. There are other life forms that this creature was modeled from, so its not like it was based on magic.Prepared to be grossed out and scared out.

Ok we all know that some of the best movies in the genre of 'alien gets on board spaceship in space and stalks and kills members of a crew' will always be movies like : 'Alien' and 'Aliens' for example.Thoses 2 movies are simply 2 of the best of that genre.Theyre classics and they were briliantly executed by 2 amazing directors.And they will stand the test of times.Same thing with movies in the genre of 'Die hard'.U know the terrorist takes over a location and one man saves the day type thing.Die Hard will always be the classic and one of the best ones but it doesnt mean that some of the clones that were made after it are not good.There are tones of great Die Hard clones like Under Siege,Speed,Passenger 57,Sudden Death...ect..Well the same thing with Alien clones there are some good ones that were made and i believe Life is one of them.Sure its not a movie that is the most memorable and that really stands out all that much from maybe other clones of Alien but its very competently made and it has a cast of really great actors.Plus it has tension all the way true.The alien creature even though it really doesnt look as great as the HR gieger creature from alien it surely is menacing in the way that it just wants to relentlessly get rid of all the crew members in a sadistic way.I mentioned a great cast of actors.In here we have Jake Gillenhall wich to me is kind of not playing his best in here.He's not bad but i have seen him acting a whole lot more in recent movies like 'Ambulance'.Here he seems to be just cruising through his part a bit.He doesn't give it all that much.Rebecca Furguson is good.Ryan Reynolds is playing his usual smartass and the comedian.I found he seemed a bit out of place in a movie like this.There is 2 other actors that i have seen before and theyre good actors.Anyways the movie doesnt take long before it gets going.Once the creature bust loose it never really stops.There is great tension all the way through.Now for the 4k picture i can't comment on the 4k disc cause i dont have a player for it but the bluray looks really good.I heard the 4k disc looks a bit better.There is good detailed shots but some of the movie was shot a bit in an odd way so some shots look a bit kind of less detailed.But thats intentional and not a fault of the transfer.The audio mix is pretty good too.There is good bass when things happen like spaceships crashing and stuff.Extras are a bit thin.Just a couple of short behind the scenes.No fx reels like how they made the creature on the computer.Kind of dissapointing for that.But if you like the movie or like 'Alien' type movies in space with non stop tension this movie won't dissapoint.Its a good 4k to buy also plus you get a bluray copy too for thoses not equiped for 4k.

Excellent quality DVD with safe packaging to ensure its safe delivery.

Excelente película de Suspense que tiene sentado en el sillón hasta el sorprendente FINAL

Das internationale Forscher- und Ingenieursteam der ISS nimmt die lange ersehnte und mindestens genauso lange durchs All gereiste Bodenprobe vom Mars auf, wertet sie aus und entdeckt DIE Sensation: den Beweis für Leben "außerhalb der Erde". Der Organismus, zunächst Einzeller; aber rasend schnell wachsend ist erst regelrecht zutraulich, interpretiert dann aber verschiedene Tests der Besatzung wohl falsch und beginnt nicht nur, die Besatzungsmitglieder als Feinde zu sehen, sondern sie auch als Feinde zu eliminieren.. Und eine "Landung" des Aliens auf der Erde droht auch noch.Klingt schon ein wenig nach dem 1979er Science Fiction-Klassiker "Alien" von Ridley Scott, nicht wahr? Und prinzipiell ähneln sich die Filme auch ziemlich stark: eine kleine Crew stößt unverhofft auf einen außerirdischen Organismus, der sich als höchst- und lebensgefährlich erweist, gegen den kaum ein Kraut gewachsen ist und der die Besatzung nach dem "10 kleine Negerlein"-Prinzip dezimiert. Außerdem muss dessen Landung auf der Erde zum Wohle des Fortbestandes der Menschheit unter allen Umständen verhindert werden. So weit, so gleich; die Unterschiede liegen in der beengten, beinahe schon klaustrophobischen Umgebung der ISS im Gegensatz zur weitläufigen Location des Frachtschiffes in "Alien", die mit ihren engen Gängen, den vielen Schleusen und der beinahe schon sterilen Sauberkeit und Ordnung einen krassen Gegensatz zum versifften, öl- und fettverschmierten "Containerschiff" "USS Nostromo" bildet. Einen Androiden, der mehr gegen als für die Besatzung arbeitet und naturgemäß keine Angst vor dem Alien haben muss, gibt es auch nicht. Besonders das Aussehen des Aliens differiert: Während das titelgebende Alien in Scotts Klassiker zu einem der bekanntesten und (meiner Meinung nach) furchterregendsten Viecher der Filmgeschichte wurde, ist Calvin optisch zunächst eine Weile liebesbedürftiges Pflänzchen, um in der nächsten Evolutionsstufe auszusehen wie ein roher Calamari aus dem griechischen Restaurant ums Eck. Nach weiterem Wachstum sieht das Alien dann immer noch eher aus wie eine Art Tintenfisch, bloß eben größer und ist für mich persönlich nicht so recht angst machend.Klar weist "Life" auch ein paar ordentliche Logiklöcher auf, die allerdings nur Inhaber des schwarzen Gürtels in Physik, Chemie und (Xeno-)Biologie wirklich stören dürften. Quizfrage ist allerdings, warum die Besatzung dem Vieh mit Sauerstoffentzug den Garaus machen oder es mit Sauerstoff anlocken will, während Calvin stundenlang außerhalb der ISS im luftleeren Raum umhertollt..Ansonsten ist "Life" tatsächlich (bis auf das Creature-Design) relativ innovationslos und kombiniert Versatzstücke verschiedener alter und neuerer Science Fictioner wie eben "Alien" oder "Gravity", besticht aber nach etwa 25 Minuten durch hohes Tempo, ordentlich Spannung, ein paar gelungene Bilder wie z. B. Blut in Schwerelosigkeit und einen doch recht fiesen Schlusstwist. Der Cast tut sein Übriges, und hier besticht vor allem Jake Gyllenhaal.Bereits das Bild der Blu-ray ist sehr gut ausgefallen. Die Schärfe und Tiefenschärfe sind stets hoch und bleiben es auch; der Kontrast und der Schwarzwert sind herausragend. Die Plastizität könnte besser sein. Meiner Ansicht nach ist der Film wohl ursprünglich für die 3D-Auswertung angedacht gewesen; schade dass es ihn nicht in 3D gibt: dadurch hätte der Streifen erheblich profitieren können.Die 4k-Version kann da in jeder Hinsicht noch eins drauf setzen: besonders der Detailreichtum in den Bildhintergründen und in dunklen Abschnitten nimmt deutlich zu; der Farbraum (natürlich) sowieso. Die Plastizität ist beeindruckend. Das Bild ist exzellent, und lediglich ein Mal fielen mir ein paar Artefakte auf, als Ryan Reynolds` Charakter sich schnell vor einem dunklen Hintergrund bewegte. Ob das nun schon für 4k-Referenz reicht kann ich nicht beurteilen, dazu habe ich bislang zu wenig 4k-Scheiben gesehen.Auch tonal ist die Scheibe sehr gut. Als einzigen marginalen Mangel auf dem DTS HD MA-Track der Blu lässt sich anführen, dass der Bass die meiste Zeit etwas schwachbrüstig wirkt; aber das lässt sich regeln. Der Track erfreut durch einige toll abgemischte direktionale Effekte, durch eine sehr gute Signalortbarkeit und eine insgesamt hervorragende Surroundkulisse: Wenn sich die Beschädigungen an der ISS langsam auswirken, quietscht und knarrt es aus allen Richtungen. Das Ganze wirkt im englischen Original mit Atmos natürlich noch deutlich besser, luftiger und umhüllender, wenngleich aus den Heights gar nicht mal soviel kommt. Allerdings sind die Dialoge im Englischen etwas leiser.Die Extras habe ich nicht angesehen; ich vergebe die Durchschnittsnote.Mein persönliches Fazit: "Life" bietet im Endeffekt nichts wirklich Neues und Frisches, zeigt aber das Althergebrachte zumindest auf eine spannende und unterhaltsame Art und Weise. Größter Pluspunkt des Films ist die straffe Inszenierung, größter Minuspunkt für mich ist die Optik des Viechs. Die Designer haben da für mich persönlich lange nicht so gute Arbeit geleistet wie seinerzeit, als Ridley Scotts "Alien" zum Leben erweckt wurde. Beim Anblick von Calvin krieg ich eher Hunger auf Carpaccio di Polpo als Angst..

*****MAJOR spoilers!*****I recently bought Life on Blu-ray and I actually quite liked it. It was good value for money at the time. The Blu-ray version looked great on a 42" HD Smart TV. I like having Ultra Violet codes because you never know when you might get stuck in a hotel with your laptop and a terrible TV with limited channels.As other reviewers have stated, this film cannot be reasonably compared to the Alien franchise. As one reviewer stated: 'I don't think there are any similarities at all apart from the fact it involves an alien life form.' This is very true. Whilst the Alien movies are at times very scary, it could also be labelled as 'over the top' or implausible. Life however, is scary because it is much more realistic and plausible. It's also very close to home (being on the ISS, but the sample coming from Mars - basically, a murderous organism in your back yard!). Finding life so close to home, and finding out that it is predatory and hostile, is much more realistic than the premise of the Alien franchise. That exemplifies the horror element, the fact that there 'could' be life and it 'could' be on Mars/Venus/moons etc., and be VERY hostile and resilient.The premise of Life is not only plausible but thought provoking. The Human race is obsessed with knowing whether there is life outside of Earth and if we are alone in the universe or not. As Professor Stephen Hawking has rightly said in the past, if we do find life outside of our own planet, there's a real possibility that said life could be hostile. There is an equal chance of alien life being belligerent or as friendly.The movie boasts a few big names such as Jake Gyllenhaal as Dr. David Jordan, Hiroyuki Sanada as Sho Murakami and Ryan Reynolds as Rory Adams (MARRY ME!). I really like Hiroyuki Sanada, who I recognised from Helix, The Last Ship and Extant (series one). I'm not sure why exactly, but I am not keen on Gyllenhaal, but as Dr. Jordan he was alright in Life.The movie is probably much more of a 'horror' film than a 'sci-fi' film. The only sci-fi element is the fact that the events happen in space for most of the movie. It uses current day tech and is not really future tech based. It is predominantly a horror/thriller. The movie exposes viewers to a number suspenseful moments and a number of very grizzly deaths. One unlucky soul is devoured from the inside, another is snapped, twisted and contorted all over and one poor soul even drowns in their space suits coolant when it leaks into their helmet. The thought of dying in the vacuum is scary enough, but the prospect of drowning whilst in space, outside of a ship or base, and the fact that it is toxic coolant and not water, is quite horrifying. The deaths are violent and graphic which further amplifies the horror. There is a fair bit of suspense.I rated this as four stars and not five because I thought it was very predictable in places. For example, Gyllenhaal's Dr. Jordan suggested using two craft to evacuate the ISS, he would lure the alien onto his escape craft and then manually pilot himself into deep space, killing himself and stopping the organism from reaching Earth. Rebecca Ferguson's character, Dr. Miranda North, would then take the other craft to return to Earth and the quarantine would thus be technically upheld. I instantly, as many probably did, realised that Dr. North would end up somehow being thrown into deep space and that the organism would manipulate Dr. Jordan's limbs to get itself to Earth, which it did. I knew from the beginning that the organism would reach Earth.The story is left open ended with a very predictable, climactic, cliff hanger. There is definitely scope for a sequel and I believe they have confirmed that there will be one at some point in the near future.Life is definitely worth a watch. It's entertaining and good value for money. The entertainment value and positive points far outweigh any shortcomings.