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Fierce Creatures
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray B - United Kingdom - Fabulous Films Review written by and copyright: Samuel Scott (25th June 2015). |
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The Film
 ***This is an A/V and Extras review only. For reviews on the movie from various critics, we recommend visiting HERE.*** A massive corporate conglomerate, Octopus Inc., run by a shrewd and cruel tycoon named Rod McCain, purchases a UK-based leisure company, and also the failing London Marwood Zoo. To bring more business to the zoo, Octopus hires a new manager, Rollo Lee, who promptly comes up with a way to increase profits-do away with all the animals except for the ferocious ones. This new Fierce Creatures Policy shocks the Marwood zookeepers, led by the unendingly talkative Adrian 'Bugsy' Malone. Eventually, Rod McCain's son Vince, along with the up-and-coming business executive Willa Weston, take control of the zoo and revoke the Fierce Creatures Policy. Vince instead comes up with many under-handed and vicious schemes to attract customers-unauthorized celebrity endorsements, shoddy, overpriced zoo merchandise, and using robotic animals instead of real ones. However, Vince is also stealing from the zoo's funds, and when his father finds out, he attempts to turn the zoo into a Japanese-owned golf course....
Video
Independent British distributor Fabulous Films have given Fred Schepisi's and Robert Young's 1997 comedy "Fierce Creatures" its worldwide debut on the Blu-ray format and have presented the feature in the original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The transfer is 1080p and receives and AVC MPEG-4 encode. Now I know what you're all thinking. A catalogue title that is using a master provided by Universal who are without doubt, the worst of the major studios when it comes to older titles. Thankfully, "Fierce Creatures" is at the better end of their spectrum, but it does still suffer from the typical dreaded digital noise reduction and edge enhancement that Universal have become renowned for. Although there is some obvious digital noise reduction, it must be said that it is certainly nowhere near as bad as other Universal efforts like "Weird Science". Faces are a little waxy, but at the same time, there's still good detail shown throughout. Colours are bright and vivid and blacks are dark and inky, though some minor crush is visible during scenes in darker office and internal environments. The edge enhancement is noticeable, but isn't overly distracting, and there is some minor banding in a couple of skylines. There are no problems to speak of with print damage, and fans of the film will certainly be happy. Whilst there is room for improvement here, the differences between the old Universal DVD and this new Blu-ray are crystal. There likely won't be a better master available for this one in the foreseeable future. The feature is uncut and runs 93:12.
Audio
Fabulous Films have provided us with a single audio option here; English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. It's a technically solid albeit mild affair with the surrounds used mainly for the score and the occasional effect. The film is very much dialogue based, with all speech clear throughout and no syncing issues to speak of. Volume levels are well-balanced and consistent, and the sound stage is well managed. The LFE is relatively quiet throughout, but does come to life for occasional short periods such as gunshots. The score never overpowers the dialogue and there are no signs of damage such as pops, crackles, scratches, drop outs, or background hiss. A solid effort. No subtitles have been included.
Extras
Just a theatrical trailer (0:59).
Overall
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