The Film
Its release was seriously hampered by something that the film-makers likely didn't see coming; The Thirteenth Floor hit theaters at about the same time as the similarly themed blockbuster The Matrix. And while "13" lacks the intense action of that other series of movies, the film noir style take on the world of "VR" is actually fairly original with a few notable twists and turns. But maybe that's part of the problem. It has all the look and feel of a virtual world - it is somewhat empty, and by the end, there is far too little substance in this thriller for it to feel like much more than a simulation of a good techno-thriller.
The Picture
Virtual worlds never look as good as the real deal, and even the promise of high-definition graphics usually fails to deliver. This might be the best way to explain why the Blu-ray presentation of The Thirteenth Floor seems a bit grainy. While the 1937 simulation within a simulation is supposed to look muted, the entire film looks more like an upscaled DVD than true HD. As a result the 2.40:1 1080p widescreen presentation won't fool anyone into thinking the world on the screen is our reality.
The Sound
The producers threw in a few notable audio cues to remind you that this package supports Dolby TrueHD 5.1, notably during the "entering the simulation" effects, which include a booming rear channel burst of sound. Beyond that the surround sound is essentially as flat as the rest of the world, suggesting that the designers need to go back to the drawing board to make the virtual world sound a little more lifelike.
The Extras
The disc's bonus features hardly pass for even simulated extras, including just a commentary track with the co-writer/director and the production designer, along with a music video by The Cardigans. We must therefore assume that the rest of the bonus features were seemingly lost in the transfer back to reality, but maybe this is why BD-Live support was included.
Final Thoughts
The concept of The Thirteenth Floor is a good one, and had it not been for The Matrix it is possible this film might have been better received. The problem is that the "reveal" is hinted at way too early, and once it happens the story almost drags to its conclusion.
Where to Buy
Product Details
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