Edge of Tomorrow appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.40:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. I expected a brand-new big-budget flick like this to look great, and Edge did.
Overall definition worked well. Some effects shots could be a little soft, but those instances were infrequent and minor. The vast majority of the flick offered tight, accurate delineation. I saw no shimmering or jagged edges, and the image lacked edge haloes or print flaws.
Like many modern action flicks, Edge opted for a fairly teal palette; it also leaned toward an amber tone at times. I would’ve liked something that deviated from the norm, but within its parameters, the hues seemed positive. Blacks were deep and dark, while shadows showed nice clarity and smoothness. Across the board, the movie looked terrific.
I also felt consistently pleased with the excellent DTS-HD MA 7.1 soundtrack of Edge. With tons of action, the soundscape used all the channels on a frequent basis. This led us to an exciting sonic experience from start to finish.
The various speakers provided lots of information that filled out the movie and blended together in a seamless manner. Bullets, explosions, vehicles – you name it and it blasted all around us. This formed a dynamic soundscape with a lot to offer.
In addition, audio quality seemed strong. Music was bold and full, and even with a lot of looped lines, dialogue remained crisp and natural. Effects appeared lively and vivid, with clear highs and deep lows. I felt pleased with this impressive soundtrack.
In this package, we get both 2D and 3D versions of the film. The picture quality comments above reflect the nature of the 2D edition – does the 3D image add much to the proceedings?
Not especially. On its own, the 3D presentation seems decent, but I don’t think it brings real pizzazz to the movie. It offers more depth, though this can take on something of a “Viewmaster” feel without the most natural impression. I don’t dislike the 3D version but feel the 2D edition offers the more enjoyable visual presentation; the 3D effects fail to contribute enough to compensate for the format’s shortcomings.
Under Operation Downfall, we find two components: “Operation Downfall – Adrenaline Cut” (2:34) and “Storming the Beach” (8:59). “Adrenaline” just shows a scene from the movie; without directly comparing it to that sequence, I can’t tell if any differences occur, but I see no obvious changes, so I don’t know what point it serves.
A more traditional featurette, “Beach” provides notes from director Doug Liman, producers Erwin Stoff and Jeffrey Silver, production designer Oliver Scholl, stunt coordinator/2nd unit director Simon Crane, visual effects supervisor Nick Davis, and actors Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt and Bill Paxton. The piece examines various issues related to the creation and shooting of the movie’s major battle sequence. It’s a short but satisfying take on the topics.
During the eight-minute, 25-second Weapons of the Future, we hear from Cruise, Blunt, Liman, Paxton, Scholl, Crane, Silver, and exo-suit designer Pierre Bohanna. “Future” examines the design and execution of the various military elements seen in the film. It gives us a useful enough examination of these areas.
Next comes Creatures Not of This World. The five-minute, 38-second short involves Liman, Stoff, Scholl, Cruise, Davis, Silver, Crane, and Blunt. Here we learn about the design of the Mimics and the effects used to bring them to life. Like its predecessors, “World” lacks great depth but it tosses in some good information.
On the Edge with Doug Liman fills 42 minutes, 37 seconds and delivers notes from Liman, Cruise, Crane, Scholl, Blunt, Silver, Stoff, Bohanna, Paxton, Stoff, Davis, costume designer Kate Hawley, Liman’s assistant Dan Lyons, script supervisor Lisa Vick, and actors Tony Way, Jonas Armstrong, Charlotte Riley, Franz Drameh and Kick Gurry. While it offers a general focus on Liman’s work, “Edge” tends to become a general overview of the production. This means we find a mix of subjects like cast and performances, sets and locations, design and effects, stunts, and related subjects.
Similar to the other programs, “Edge” can be more than a little fluffy, but it provides a nice range of details as well as plenty of good footage from the shoot. These factors allow “Edge” to turn into the disc’s best piece.
Finally, we get seven Deleted Scenes. These fill seven minutes, 38 seconds and mostly give us extensions to existing sequences. We see more of how Cage adapts to his military gig as well as additional interactions with Rita and the other soldiers. None of these provide anything memorable, but they’re enjoyable to see.
The disc opens with ads for Mad Max: Fury Road and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. No trailer for Edge appears here.
A third disc brings us a DVD copy of Edge. It includes the Weapons and Creatures featurettes but lacks any of the other extras.
Edge of Tomorrow gives us a clever sci-fi plot and turns into a lively, exciting action flick. Despite a number of potential pitfalls, it keeps us engaged and entertained. The Blu-ray delivers excellent picture and audio as well as a decent array of supplements. A winner from start to finish, Edge ended up as my favorite summer 2014 movie.
To rate this film visit the 2D review of EDGE OF TOMORROW