Resident Evil: Retribution 3D

In Resident Evil: Retribution, the Umbrella Corporation's deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh-eating undead. The human race's last and only hope, Alice (Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella's most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past, as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C., and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun. (Gary Reber)

Special features include "Project ALICE: The Interactive Database"; eight featurettes: Maestro Of Evil: Directing Resident Evil: Retribution (HD 08:06), Evolving ALICE (HD 06:50), Reunion (HD 09:42), The World Of Design & Build (HD 09:11), Drop (Un) Dead: the Creatures (HD 06:58), Resident Stuntman (HD 06:17), Code: Mika (HD 05:34), and Face Of The Fan (HD 03:17); Capcom game trailers; and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 2.40:1 1080p MVC picture was photographed in dual-strip 3D Redcode RAW and projected theatrically in D-Cinema 3D. The imagery depicts a virus-induced, post-apocalyptic vision of a world seized by the undead. As with the previously reviewed Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D Blu-ray Disc (Issue 157), dimensionality is excellent, no doubt due to the set staging for the 3D filmmaking. The extra-dimension is naturally rendered without the excessive in-your-face images. Depth is not exaggerated and appears realistic. During the extended opening fight sequence in the Umbrella Corporation headquarters, the 3D effects are quite effective, with spent shell casings from gunfire, bloody zombies, and debris-shattered white and red floor, ceiling, and wall breakup thrown in all directions. Weapons and characters also are extended, dramatically offsetting objects closer to the foreground from those further away. Such scale is never conveyed in the 2D version. The other visual qualities match those of the 2D version. The color palette is naturally hued and vivid, to enhance dramatic effect and realism. Where there is life, there is color, especially with respect to fleshtone accuracy. Contrast is excellent, with revealing shadow delineation. Blacks are deep and solid. Resolution also is excellent, with revealing details, especially during close-ups of facial features, clothes, weaponry, and objects. There is no noticeably distracting crosstalk ghosting in the imagery. There is no real difference in terms of color, detail, black level, and shadow delineation between the 2D and 3D versions (both available on this Blu-ray Disc). With its video game roots, the picture is true to the genre, with visuals that are exciting. And with incredibly effective 3D dimension, both in and out of screen, the visceral realism is enhanced and sustained throughout. The 3D version is definitely the preferred viewing experience. (Gary Reber)

As with the previous release, the DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is a loud, extremely SPL-energized experience. The reference Dorough 8-channel meters were often pegged at full SPL during intense action sequences! Tons of deep, solid sub-25 Hz bass penetrates the .1 LFE channels, also with substantial bass energy in all the other channels. The music score projects a wide and deep soundstage, with an aggressive surround presence. With aggressively directionalized and panned sound effects and eerie atmospheric effects, the sound is dimensionally holosonic®. The surrounds are seriously engaged, ideally requiring full-range reproduction, to optimally experience. The music score is also intense, with, at times, a stringent quality and a very rhythmic synthesizer-driven pulse. Surprisingly, throughout all the intense sonics, dialogue manages to stay intelligible, with good spatial integration. This is an adrenaline inducing and exciting soundtrack experience that will seriously energize your sound system. (Gary Reber)