How do I possibly begin to describe “Gattaca”? I can use words like awe-inspiring, magnificent, and stunning...
This clever scenario leads to the makings of a very taut thriller that is neither psychological nor action-oriented. Rather, "Gattaca" is a film that depends heavily on the acting and the script to propel the story forward without once turning to special effects for help. Many successful sci-fi films depend heavily on either blockbuster-size action sequences or horrific alien creatures that stalk and kill unfortunate human beings to enrapture audiences. While not denying the viability of such enterprises, I praise "Gattaca" for playing to a different set of expectations. Forget spectacular explosions as the movie relies on explosive performances from Ethan Hawke, Jude Law, and Uma Thurman (as Vincent's love interest). Forget menacing alien creatures as the theme of widespread state-sponsored discrimination is far more menacing and real than any monster will ever be. In a way, "Gattaca" could be termed an intellectual sci-fi film.
As the movie progresses, the Gattaca institute becomes a symbol of both the good and the ugly parts of this new social structure. An institution that embraces genetic engineering as a way of improving humanity, Gattaca also needs the non-enhanced in order to function, but it relegates the "In-Valids" to the status of second-class citizens. Towards the end of the film, a glimmer of hope emerges from this dark vision of the future, for Vincent´s crusading spirit proves that any prejudicial notions can be overcome. Perhaps there isn´t a scientific gene for the human spirit, but there certainly is one in our psyches.
Several aspects of "Gattaca" that stand head and shoulders above the rest are its impressive visuals, set designs, and musical score. When the world of "Gattaca" first unfolds, it is hard for me to decide whether I am watching an updated episode of the original "Twilight Zone" series or a Ralph Lauren-inspired movie. To tell you the truth, it is actually a pleasant combination of both. The cast is fashionably clothed in impeccable suits and dresses that convey 1950s chic, a pervasive theme throughout the movie. In keeping with this retro theme, the vehicles in the film resemble classic roadsters that have been updated to run silently on electricity instead of gasoline. The architecture and set designs are a sight to behold. Featuring smooth and metallic curved lines on almost every corner, Jan Roelfs´s impressive interior designs create a world lacking any warmth but also maximizing the utilization of space. Outdoor sets are equally impressive, with wide-open spaces and hardly any clutter. As if to counter the cold interior, outdoor shots take on an intentionally warm, yellow glow. Add Michael Nyman´s hauntingly beautiful musical score to this incredible mix, and you get one of the best combinations of audio and visual elements ever produced on film. Really, "Gattaca" oozes so much style that it would take a lot to peel your eyes and ears away from watching such a stunning production.
Credit must go to writer-director Andrew Niccol for creating an exceptional story and for his message-laden symbolic images. One such image is that of the spooky behavior of Gattaca´s employees. They dress the same and walk zombie-like in single files, not even stopping once to acknowledge one another. As a metaphor, this bizarre behavior can be attributed to how Niccol tries to convey his vision of a single-minded society that has become so blinded by their own superiority that they consistently fail to see the potential of anyone outside of this system.
A Note About "Superbit" DVDs:
Columbia Tri-Star (owned by electronics giant Sony) has been offering a special line of DVDs marketed with the "Superbit" brand. Basically, "Superbit" DVDs are encoded with a high bit-rate digital transfer process that seeks to optimize video and audio quality by using every available bit on a disc. Though the process requires the sacrifice of bonus materials due to a lack of space for them, the end results of "Superbit" DVDs are often stunning, to say the least. ("Superbit Deluxe" releases have extras on a second disc, and the "Superbit" edition of "Panic Room" does have a trailer and some text-based bonuses.)
Video:
Like its previous release on DVD, this "Superbit" edition of "Gattaca" presents the film in anamorphic widescreen with a ratio of 2.35:1. I wouldn´t go so far as to say that the transfer is flawless, but one would be hard pressed to find any imperfections. Even with the big color contrasts between the interior and exterior scenes, the colors look natural and vibrant in both. All the images are sharp, detailed and well defined, proving once again that video transfers encoded at twice their normal bit rate do make a difference in producing a high quality print.
Audio:
Apart from the original Dolby Digital 5.1 track found on the previous DVD release, the "Superbit" edition also offers a DTS 5.1 track. For a film that puts more emphasis on dialogue than on sound effects, the surround channels are understandably under-utilized. Even then, some subtle effects are not totally lost and do get the surround treatment. Dialogue is crisp and clear without any drastic changes in volume. The superb musical score sounds rich and full, setting a tone that conveys the distinct emotional state of each scene.
When compared to the DD 5.1 soundtrack, the DTS mix seems louder and more forceful. However, bear in mind that, because of the way that DTS and DD tracks are encoded onto DVDs, DTS tracks often sound "louder" because they have been mixed with higher decibel ratings than comparable DD tracks. If you use sound meters to measure each speaker and then adjust your overall volume accordingly, then you´ll find that DTS and DD tracks sound about the same when it comes to "loudness".
Subtitles are available in a wide variety of choices, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai.
Extras:
With most of the space on the disc devoted to the highest possible video and audio presentations, no extras are included.
--Miscellaneous--
A glossy insert provides chapter listings.
Entertainment Value:
How do I possibly begin to describe "Gattaca"? I can use words like awe-inspiring, magnificent, and stunning, but they don´t seem to do justice, in my opinion, to the film´s status as a science fiction classic. Undoubtedly one of my favorite films of all time, "Gattaca" certainly deserves more recognition and accolades than has gone its way. The public response to "Gattaca" at the box-office was underwhelming--it grossed a paltry $12.3 million in the US. For a film with such a thoughtful story and an inspiring theme, it is a real shame that there are many people who never got to see it the first time around. Therefore, make that trek to your local video store right now and rent "Gattaca" (or better still, buy it). You will definitely not regret it.
As the movie progresses, the Gattaca institute becomes a symbol of both the good and the ugly parts of this new social structure. An institution that embraces genetic engineering as a way of improving humanity, Gattaca also needs the non-enhanced in order to function, but it relegates the "In-Valids" to the status of second-class citizens. Towards the end of the film, a glimmer of hope emerges from this dark vision of the future, for Vincent´s crusading spirit proves that any prejudicial notions can be overcome. Perhaps there isn´t a scientific gene for the human spirit, but there certainly is one in our psyches.
Several aspects of "Gattaca" that stand head and shoulders above the rest are its impressive visuals, set designs, and musical score. When the world of "Gattaca" first unfolds, it is hard for me to decide whether I am watching an updated episode of the original "Twilight Zone" series or a Ralph Lauren-inspired movie. To tell you the truth, it is actually a pleasant combination of both. The cast is fashionably clothed in impeccable suits and dresses that convey 1950s chic, a pervasive theme throughout the movie. In keeping with this retro theme, the vehicles in the film resemble classic roadsters that have been updated to run silently on electricity instead of gasoline. The architecture and set designs are a sight to behold. Featuring smooth and metallic curved lines on almost every corner, Jan Roelfs´s impressive interior designs create a world lacking any warmth but also maximizing the utilization of space. Outdoor sets are equally impressive, with wide-open spaces and hardly any clutter. As if to counter the cold interior, outdoor shots take on an intentionally warm, yellow glow. Add Michael Nyman´s hauntingly beautiful musical score to this incredible mix, and you get one of the best combinations of audio and visual elements ever produced on film. Really, "Gattaca" oozes so much style that it would take a lot to peel your eyes and ears away from watching such a stunning production.
Credit must go to writer-director Andrew Niccol for creating an exceptional story and for his message-laden symbolic images. One such image is that of the spooky behavior of Gattaca´s employees. They dress the same and walk zombie-like in single files, not even stopping once to acknowledge one another. As a metaphor, this bizarre behavior can be attributed to how Niccol tries to convey his vision of a single-minded society that has become so blinded by their own superiority that they consistently fail to see the potential of anyone outside of this system.
A Note About "Superbit" DVDs:
Columbia Tri-Star (owned by electronics giant Sony) has been offering a special line of DVDs marketed with the "Superbit" brand. Basically, "Superbit" DVDs are encoded with a high bit-rate digital transfer process that seeks to optimize video and audio quality by using every available bit on a disc. Though the process requires the sacrifice of bonus materials due to a lack of space for them, the end results of "Superbit" DVDs are often stunning, to say the least. ("Superbit Deluxe" releases have extras on a second disc, and the "Superbit" edition of "Panic Room" does have a trailer and some text-based bonuses.)
Video:
Like its previous release on DVD, this "Superbit" edition of "Gattaca" presents the film in anamorphic widescreen with a ratio of 2.35:1. I wouldn´t go so far as to say that the transfer is flawless, but one would be hard pressed to find any imperfections. Even with the big color contrasts between the interior and exterior scenes, the colors look natural and vibrant in both. All the images are sharp, detailed and well defined, proving once again that video transfers encoded at twice their normal bit rate do make a difference in producing a high quality print.
Audio:
Apart from the original Dolby Digital 5.1 track found on the previous DVD release, the "Superbit" edition also offers a DTS 5.1 track. For a film that puts more emphasis on dialogue than on sound effects, the surround channels are understandably under-utilized. Even then, some subtle effects are not totally lost and do get the surround treatment. Dialogue is crisp and clear without any drastic changes in volume. The superb musical score sounds rich and full, setting a tone that conveys the distinct emotional state of each scene.
When compared to the DD 5.1 soundtrack, the DTS mix seems louder and more forceful. However, bear in mind that, because of the way that DTS and DD tracks are encoded onto DVDs, DTS tracks often sound "louder" because they have been mixed with higher decibel ratings than comparable DD tracks. If you use sound meters to measure each speaker and then adjust your overall volume accordingly, then you´ll find that DTS and DD tracks sound about the same when it comes to "loudness".
Subtitles are available in a wide variety of choices, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai.
Extras:
With most of the space on the disc devoted to the highest possible video and audio presentations, no extras are included.
--Miscellaneous--
A glossy insert provides chapter listings.
Entertainment Value:
How do I possibly begin to describe "Gattaca"? I can use words like awe-inspiring, magnificent, and stunning, but they don´t seem to do justice, in my opinion, to the film´s status as a science fiction classic. Undoubtedly one of my favorite films of all time, "Gattaca" certainly deserves more recognition and accolades than has gone its way. The public response to "Gattaca" at the box-office was underwhelming--it grossed a paltry $12.3 million in the US. For a film with such a thoughtful story and an inspiring theme, it is a real shame that there are many people who never got to see it the first time around. Therefore, make that trek to your local video store right now and rent "Gattaca" (or better still, buy it). You will definitely not regret it.
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[release]486[/release]