Though the film has a gritty look by nature, the Blu-ray presentation is excellent. The high definition presentation only enhances the gloomy feel of the film with its sharp detail showing the layers of dirt and grime. Colors are well represented. Most of the interiors are dark and drab, but the infirmary is a stark off-white, and blood appears as a deep, frightening red. The definition is so clear that it becomes all the more apparent that the space-mine buildings in the exterior shots are models. That's not a criticism, just an observation. The colony, backed by the swirling clouds of the gas giant behind it, and the blackness of space looks great.
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack makes good use of the surrounds for the ambient sounds of the colony, especially during crowded bar scenes. The hum of the station and spacecraft is present along with all the pings and thumps expected in an industrial setting. The dialogue is clear and easy to understand. Outland does not show its age in terms of the way it looks or sounds on Blu-ray.
The special features are sparse, but the commentary by by writer-director Peter Hyams is entertaining and informative. The commentary seems to have been recorded recently, as Hyams references modern TV shows. He mentions it has been a while since he has watched this film, but his memory must be pretty strong as he remembers a great deal about the production. The only other feature is the theatrical trailer, which means the vintage "making of" featurette from the DVD didn't carry over for some reason.
While I don't consider Outland to be a sci-fi classic, I find it to be a very enjoyable film to watch. I like Connery's performance and I have always appreciated the interplay between he and Sternhagen. Outland is a film worth checking out or revisiting if you haven't seen it in a while, especially with this strong high definition transfer.
Article comments
1 - GW
Nice review. You may want to take a look at High Noon, as it's a (if not THE) direct influence on Outland. it's basically a remake of that old western set in space. I'm actually ancient enough to have been to the Creation Convention the film was introduced at (I have a press kit for it somewhere in a bin of old stuff from the 80's).