The Sony Pictures Home Entertainment June 20, 2017 DVD/Blu-ray/4K releases of the 2017 Ryan/Reynolds/Jake Gyllenhaal scifi action film "Life" provides a chance to see this roguish charmer with wonderful sarcastic wit and this darker moodier hunk team up against a parasitic alien. This not-so-favorite Martian makes the titular existence very rough for our boys and their fellow crew members on the International Space Station in the not-so-distant future.
The following YouTube clip of the theatrical trailer for "Life" provides a good sense of the great cinematography and sound that make excellent use of Blu-ray; this promo. also highlights the suspense and the humor that make this one worth adding to your collection.
Dynamic "Deadpool" scribes Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick cleverly provide good exposition before delighting in once again getting Reynolds battered and bruised. This background comes via crew members video chatting with adorable elementary school children; the shared information includes the nature of the station, a little about the crew, and the mechanics of going to the bathroom in space.
The action then shifts to a tricky docking between the space craft that Reynolds' Rory Adams is piloting back from Mars and the station. Of course, Reynolds jokes and machos his way through this initial drama.
The precious cargo from the Adams Expedition is a sample from Mars. Initial excitement regarding that then-manageable ALF (or E.T. depending on your preference) turns to panic as it literally latches onto scientist Hugh Derry, whose emotional bond is already at a point of naming this new arrival Calvin. These events give Derry the chance to recreate a classic (and oft-satirized) sci-fi moment.
In typical Reynolds fashion, Adams defies authority (and common sense) in rushing in to to save Derry. The ensuing battle of man vs. outer space jelly fish verifies that mankind is not ready for that particular one great leap into the final frontier.
The quickly evolving ALF threatening the life of the station crew is not the primary concern; allowing this creature to reach earth is a sure means for certain doom for the roughly six billion meat suits down here.
Station commander/Adams verbal sparring partner Ekaterina Golovkina gets her moment in the spotlight regarding a perilous spacewalk to prevent a wandering Calvin from re-entering the station.
Having Gyllenhaal on board as crew member David (rather than Hal) Jordan takes much of the leading man pressure off Reynolds. Jordan begins his not-so-excellent adventure with a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with Calvin. This is part of a heroic suicide mission that hits a few snags.
Reese and Wernikc present all this action and adventure at an apt consistently brisk pace. Ending the movie with a genuine surprise that shows that everything is not Jake screams for a sequel.
The plethora of Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes and a few "making-of documentaries."
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Life" is encouraged to email me; you also can connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.
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