X-Men: Apocalypse (DVD): Review

Film

X-Men: Apocalypse, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and as we join the heroes, the world’s first mutant has re-emerged, the aptly named world-destroyer Apocalypse. Now, with the fate of all humanity at stake, the X-Men must unite to defeat his plan for the extinction of mankind.

Beginning in ancient times, the film gives a brief prologue detailing Apocalypse’s drive and desires, and then moving to present day where we join the team of X-Men. Positioned after the events of First Class and Days of Future Past. While there are several references, and connections back to these films, X-Men: Apocalypse can stand on its own, should one not have seen the others.

The film is certainly energetic, spending less time on character development (as covered in the previous two, mentioned above) and more time on the story and action. And as far as action goes, the effects are rather awe inspiring. Coupled with good an engrossing plot (and a small dose of tongue-in-cheek humour) viewers are sure to be enthralled.

A not too complex plot means that one is not looking for huge twists in the tale. A sure fire hit for the whole family.

Disc

Bonus content on the disc is a bit more than one normally finds on a DVD these days, and great to have the added bonus of a commentary. While not a large amount of extras, these are good.

Technically, the disc is of a high quality.

X-Men: Apocalypse is available now, to purchase on disc, in South Africa.

Video

Video is encoded at a high average bitrate, with no visible artefacts on screen. Colours are vibrant, with good detail in darker scenes. There is no colour bleed noticeable.

Viewers with the necessary hardware or software could scale up to a larger or higher resolution screen, should they wish.

Audio

Audio on the disc is presented in a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. It is encoded at a high average bitrate.

Ample use is made of the surround channels, expanding the on-screen action, and further drawing the viewer in to the action, and aiding in positional awareness in large and chaotic scenes. Dialogue is clear via the centre channel.

Navigation

Navigation is simple and easy to use. For areas such as the gallery, detailed instructions are given, along with options to advance manually through images, or to have them play automatically as a slideshow.

Background on the menus is a static image, with music, saving space on the disc for more bonus features, and for not having to compress the main feature more than is necessary.

Bonus Features

Gag Reel: A short feature with a few of the laughs shared by cast and crew on-set, during filming. While short, there are a few genuinely funny moments.

Audio Commentary by Bryan Singer and Simon Kinberg: An insight into the filmmaking process by writer / director Bryan Singer and writer Simon Kinberg. Informative insight into the creative process, delving into what it took to make such a film. This will delight fans and filmmakers alike.

Gallery: A categorized plethora of concept art, photos, stills from pre-production and filming. Each set in it’s own submenu. These are best viewed on a modern screen, so as not to lose any detail. Definitely one that fans will enjoy.

 

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb