Doom (Unrated)

Review by Richard Lee

Universal Studios / 2005 / 113 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: February 7, 2006

Specifications:
-DVD-Video
-DVD-9
-Region 1

Aspect Ratio: 
-2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen

Audio:
-English Dolby Digital 5.1
-Espanol Dolby Digital 5.1
-Francais Dolby Digital 5.1

Subtitles:
-English SDH*
-Espanol
-Francais
-Off
*Subtitled for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

Main Menu:
-Play
-Bonus Features
-Languages
-Scenes

Bonus Features:
-Basic Training
-Rock Formation
-Master Monster Makers
-First Person Shooter Sequence
-DOOM Nation
-Game On!
-DOOM 3 XBOX Demo

Loosely based on the extremely popular video game by Activision and id Software, “DOOM” follows the exploits of a small band of well-trained marines as they are taken to task on the planet Mars where their mission is to rid an archeological, genetics, and weapons research facility stationed there of an unwelcome presence which is proceeding to kill any and all of the unlucky inhabitants therein. Though on the surface, the fact that the action takes places on Mars and involves military types with a kickass arsenal of weaponry, that’s where the similarity to the game ends. For whatever reason, and it probably had something to do with not offending the religious demographic of the movie-going audience, the producers saw fit to completely remove the original game’s premise of a portal on the Martian surface leading to Hell itself being opened letting loose all sorts of nifty imps and demons into our dimension culminating with the “uber” boss - the gigantic cyber-demon. What we have here instead is a rehash of “Resident Evil”, but instead of the artificially-produced T-virus of Racoon City, we have a Martian virus creating mutations through a 24th chromosome. The result can be either enhanced physical strength or the worst make-over imaginable with a wanton desire to slaughter the living. With that said, those expecting a faithful adaptation of the game will be gravely disappointed - no fireball-throwing demons or the soul cube to be found here. For the un-initiated who have never played the video game, however, they may enjoy this testosterone-fueled homage to films like “Aliens” and “Predator”.

Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak who is better known for urban action flicks like “Exit Wounds” and “Cradle To The Grave”, this is his first venture into Sci-Fi/Horror territory and he can now take his rightful place alongside other esteemed genre directors like Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil and Alien Vs. Predator). One particular five minute sequence which is deemed “groundbreaking” by none other than the producers of this film basically mimics the “first person shooter” perspective from the latest version of the game on PC and Xbox. While it does a good job recreating the look and sound of the game, it comes across like an elaborate advertisement for game itself; instilling in me a desire to boot it up in the console as soon as the movie was over - more evidence of the pervasive marketing strategy of the movie business and its ever-growing tie-ins with the video game industry. “DOOM” features WWF wrestler-turned-thespian The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) in the role of Sarge, a part he seemed destined to play. Along for the ride are “Lord Of The Rings” Karl Urban as John “Reaper” Grimm and Rosamund (Die Another Day) Pike as his estranged sister Samantha Grimm who plays a scientist at the ill-fated Martian facility. It is mentioned that all three of these actors are contracted for two more “DOOM” movies should this one prove successful for Universal; hopefully if another does get green-lit, they will see fit to cater to the devotees who made the game a success in the first place and find a way to introduce more elements from the original’s premise into the film.

Picture Quality:

One attribute of the game is how dark it is; so much so that you frequently need to use a flashlight to see where you are going. This film retains that aspect quite faithfully; much of the action takes place in subdued lighting with extreme blue filtering - as a result, black levels and contrasting run rampant but detail is still crisp and colors, when they do show up, are pure and vivid. The widescreen aspect ratio retains the scope of an action Sci-Fi spectacle.

Audio Quality:

This 5.1 Dolby Digital track is one of the more aggressive ones I’ve heard in a while. From the beginning zoom-in shot of the planet Mars, the LFE channel sprung to life vibrating the subwoofers and shaking the Buttkicker modules attached to my Berkline theater seats. When the soldiers are patrolling the corridors of the facility, ambient sounds emanate from the rears. Bullets ricochet off the rears as well. Monsters springing out of nowhere are accompanied by the entire soundfield coming to life. Pulse-pounding heavy metal music plays with each gun battle - to reiterate, aggressive.

Scenes For Demonstration Purposes:

1. (0:00) - Altered Universal Logo And Zoom-In Shot Of Mars. 2. (12:00) - The Transporter Ark. 3. (52:00) - “That’s Why I Don’t Do Nano Walls”. 4. (67:15) - The Plasma Gun. 5. (89:50) - The First Person Shooter Sequence. 6. (96:45) - Climactic Duel.

Bonus Features:

“Basic Training” (10:33) - a featurette detailing the military training that the actors were put through prior to principle photography. The instructor , Tom McAdams, is a former British SAS soldier and he wanted to emphasize that the actors look like they were special forces. This involved the effort to “not flinch” when firing a weapon, a reaction some actors had a more difficult time with than others.

“Rock Formation” (5:38) - details the make-up sessions that The Rock had to go through to achieve his look during the climactic duel.

“Master Monster Makers” (10:55) - covers how the staff at Stan Winston Studios studied the monsters from the id Software game and translated those 2-D images to 3-D sculpted body suits. No CG images were used, or so The Rock claims, to create the monsters of DOOM so gravity and weight and actor interaction could be genuine and realistic-looking.

“First Person Shooter Sequence” (11:01) - details the planning and rehearsals that went into filming the FPS sequence. FX supervisor Jon Farhat, who directed this sequence as well, states how CG monsters were used (sorry, The Rock) and how the gun had to be manipulated for the widescreen aspect ratio of the movie as opposed to the full-screen image normally viewed for the game. 

“DOOM Nation” (14:40) - relates the history of the game and all its incarnations as told by the makers themselves and guest interviewees which include The Rock and the hosts of videogame review shows from the G4 cable channel. They speak of the affect the game had on them and their friends when computers and the internet were just starting out, the trepidation of tackling DOOM 3, and the anticipation by hardcore gamers once the images of the newly designed creatures of DOOM 3 were released on the web.

“Game On!” (6:47) - is a tips and strategies guide on how to stay alive playing DOOM 3.

“DOOM 3 Xbox Demo” lets you play an entire level of the game should you happen to own an XBox.