Future Sport

[Roareye]

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Futur...Blu-ray/24187/

Just received this film on German blu-ray as I did a review of Rollerball vs Rollerball (2002) and never knew this 1998 effort even existed. Obviously not expecting it to match the quality of the 70s film (otherwise I'd likely have heard of it by now) but as I enjoyed the camp (and badly made) nature of Rollerball 2002, I'm wondering what you guys felt of it here?

I'll post my thoughts on the video and audio quality (and even take some screengrabs for you) once I've watched the film. Just surprised this one snuck by me.

Also, forgive me not linking this to the page directly. I actually don't know how to do that.

[Roareye]

Uploading some stills from the German blu-ray below, here's my take on disc;

VIDEO
This is a 1080i video image (likely the highest the movie could be without a full restoration as it was shot for TV in 1998), which means interlacing artifacts rear their ugly heads during fast motion shots - though this usually only affects actions scenes and I'll get to the additional issues they have in a moment.

The movie was clearly shot on cinema film (as such a restored scan of the film negative is technically possible, though I doubt it'll happen for this film due to poor critical reception and lack of general interest) and much of the movie shows this. While a bit soft, in most scenes the image is nice enough, with some great lighting and details coming through in areas of little movement.

However there are numerous sequences (most notably the action sequences) that employ VFX shots - the hoverboards, some of the action during Rollerball/Futuresport matches and several establishing shots. These shots were clearly made in a digital intermediate from the 1990s, and as such seem to simply be upscaled standard definition shots. The action is badly done to begin with (you have to see it in motion to really get how poor the animation is) but this can even become an issue with some transition shots and the credits roll is almost unreadable.

As such Futuresport switches between a good, slightly above-average image to a very poor one from shot to shot. I have 70 stills I'll upload below to give you an idea.

Here's a transition shot that is overly flat and soft and is improved after a cut;




------------------------------------------------------------------------------