Synopsis
On an unnamed planet hundreds of years in the future, two cities — Brecca and Obsidian –have been at war for almost a century. They are but shattered remnants of their former selves,and the war carries on pointlessly. The governing general of Brecca leads a small expedition toObsidian on a quest that might finally bring the war to an end. The film has some of the post-apocalypse-on-a-budget feel of Albert Pyun epics (the Nemesis series) or stuff like CircuitryMan. This b…ing a Nu Image production, however, the effects are a lot more ambitious. Theydon’t always work, but they liven things up, and the imagination at work is pleasant. Thisstudio’s work is rarely dull, and Final Encounter might well summon fond memories of B-epicsfrom the 50s and 60s. This isn’t to say that the script, though it aims high, isn’t also ratherincoherent, and the characterizations aren’t pretty much by the book. Still, there is plenty outthere that is much, much worse.
Audio
The 5.1 mix is somewhat hampered by the low budget of the film itself, and so sounds a bitcheap. Some good surround opportunities are missed (such as crowd scenes), but thunder andexplosions sound fine, as does the music.
Video
This may be a low-budget release, but we have been provided with a respectful 1.85:1anamorphic widescreen transfer. That always makes me happy. The colours, flesh tones andcontrasts are all fine (within the limits of the film itself), and the image is sharp and grain-free.
Special Features
Nothing much here. The menu is basic, and the only extras are trailers for Imposter,Undisputed, Beneath Loch Ness and Halloween Resurrection.
Closing Thoughts
I’m not saying rush out and buy this. And the boast on the case that this is “in the thrillingstyle of Pitch Black, Event Horizon and Armageddon” is rubbish. But there are a few imageshere and there, such as the Obsidian wall of glass, that make this worth a peak for the SF fansout there.
Special Features List
- Trailers
