{"id":11574,"date":"2016-03-15T19:57:28","date_gmt":"2016-03-16T02:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/?p=11574"},"modified":"2016-03-15T19:57:52","modified_gmt":"2016-03-16T02:57:52","slug":"review-species2-bd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/2016\/03\/review-species2-bd\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Species II BD + Screen Caps"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The first movie was a fun guilty pleasure. Species II<\/em><\/strong> is just plain guilty of being a bad film all around. The writing is poor and the acting was at best phoned-in, though Natasha Henstridge at least seemed to give it her all and she might be the only reason it\u2019s even watchable.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Species II<\/span>
\n(1998)<\/strong><\/p>\n


\nREVIEW NAVIGATION<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe Movie<\/a> | Special Features<\/a> | Video Quality<\/a> | Audio Quality<\/a> | Overall<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Genre(s): <\/strong>Horror, Science Fiction
\nShout Factory | R \u2013 93 min. \u2013 $29.99 | March 8, 2016<\/p>\n

Date Published:<\/strong> 03\/15\/2016 | Author:<\/strong> The Movieman
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n		\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/u>MOVIE INFO:
\n<\/u>Directed by: <\/strong>Peter Medak
\nWriter(s): <\/strong>Dennis Feldman (characters), Chris Brancato (written by)
\nCast: <\/strong>Michael Madsen, Natasha Henstridge, Marg Helgenberger, Mykelti Williamson, George Dzundza, James Cromwell, Justin Lazard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/u>DISC INFO:
\n<\/u>Features: <\/strong>Commentary, Featurettes, Outtakes, Interviews, Still Galleries
\nDigital Copy: <\/strong>No
\nFormats Included: <\/strong>Blu-ray
\nNumber of Discs: <\/strong>1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Audio: <\/strong>English (DTS-HD MA 5.1), English (DTS-HD MA 2.0)
\nVideo: <\/strong>1080p\/Widescreen 1.85
\nSubtitles: <\/strong>English
\nDisc Size: <\/strong>42.9 GB
\nCodec: <\/strong>MPEG-4 AVC
\nRegion(s): <\/strong>A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

THE MOVIE<\/strong> \u2013 2.0\/5<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Plot Synopsis:
\n<\/strong>Having just returned from a mission to Mars, Commander Ross (JUSTIN LAZARD) isn\u2019t exactly himself. He\u2019s slowly becoming a terrifying alien entity with a one-track mind: to procreate with human women.<\/p>\n

When countless women suffer gruesome deaths while bearing half-alien offspring, scientist Laura Baker (MARG HELGENBERGER) and hired assassin Press Lennox (MICHAEL MADSEN) use Eve (NATASHA HENSTRIDGE), a more tempered alien clone to find Ross and his virulent brood. But they underestimate Eve\u2019s maternal drive, and before long she escapes to mate with Ross in order to create a pure, unstoppable race that could spell doom for mankind.<\/p>\n

As time is running out, the ultimate battle takes place in a chilling climax that puts Darwin\u2019s theory to the ultimate test… only the strongest species will survive.<\/p>\n

Quick Hit Review:
\n<\/strong>his is really the a-typical 1990s sequel that more-or-less takes the script from the first movie, switches some things around and wa-la, you\u2019ve got a quick theatrical release. But this version isn\u2019t very good and lacks the fun factor. Returning actors Marg Helgenberger and Michael Madsen, the latter especially, seemed to sleepwalk through their roles and Natasha Henstridge has her moments but it\u2019s limited. On the plus side, for 1998, the effects were respectable enough but that\u2019s really the most I can say about this needless sequel…<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

SPECIAL FEATURES \u2013 2.25\/5<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

This release comes with a reversible cover with custom made artwork; personally I prefer the poster art.<\/p>\n

Audio Commentary<\/u><\/strong> with Director Peter Medak<\/p>\n

From Sil to Eve (16:21; HD)<\/u><\/strong> is a new interview with actress\/star Natasha Henstridge as she talks about her career, working on both Species<\/em> movies (and even a bit on the third film).<\/p>\n

Creature Creations (28:48; HD)<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 Interviews with creature & special make-up effects creator Steve Johnson, suipervising cosmetic designer Leonard MacDonald, transformation supervisor Joel Harlow, and chrysalis effects supervisor William Bryan are featured here discussing their work on the sequel.<\/p>\n

Alien Evolutions (19:00; HD)<\/u><\/strong> is an interview with Chris Brancato.<\/p>\n

Special Effects Outtakes & Behind the Scenes Footage (13:32; HD)<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 These are merely some extra footage.<\/p>\n

Species II<\/u><\/em><\/strong>: Eve of Destruction (11:53; SD)<\/u><\/strong> is a vintage making-of featurette cut together with that trailer voice.<\/p>\n

Uncut Footage Not Shown in Theaters (8:02; SD)<\/u><\/strong> is footage cut down probably to avoid an NC-17 rating.<\/p>\n

Also included are the Theatrical Trailer (2:15; HD)<\/u><\/strong>, Still Gallery<\/u><\/strong> and Special Makeup Effects Gallery<\/u><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

VIDEO \u2013 3.7\/5<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Shout, via their Scream Factory line, releases Species II<\/em><\/strong> onto Blu-ray presented in its original theatrical 1.85 widescreen aspect ratio and given a nice but flawed 1080p high-definition transfer. Although the transfer does have brilliant colors and detail does look good, I did notice some minor instances of aliasing that presumably have to do with how the film was shot and preserved. That said, it\u2019s still a nice looking HD picture.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

AUDIO \u2013 4.0\/5<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is fairly robust providing for crisp and clear dialogue levels throughout while the bulk of the depth is courtesy of the over-the-top sci-fi\/action sequences especially during the finale. The LFE channel does kick in every so often giving some additional depth to the lossless track. Also available is a DTS-HD MA 2.0 track that, based on my sampling, also sounds pretty damn good.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
\n<\/a>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

OVERALL \u2013 2.5\/5<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Overall, the first movie was a fun guilty pleasure. Species II<\/em><\/strong> is just plain guilty of being a bad film all around. The writing is poor and the acting was at best phoned-in, though Natasha Henstridge at least seemed to give it her all and she might be the only reason it\u2019s even watchable. The Blu-ray released by Shout Factory offers good video and audio transfers and a fair amount of bonus material.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Check out some more screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers<\/strong>.
\nThese are only here to give an idea of the movie\u2019s video quality and may not be truly representative of it.<\/p>\n