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In Short: Hypnotic sci-fi thriller from David Cronenberg gets an anamorphic transfer from Miramax. The Movie: 
"eXistenZ" is a creepy thriller from director David Cronenberg, a spooky sci-fi picture that although I didn't find quite as entertaining as "The Matrix", it certainly surpasses the bore that was "13th Floor". Jennifer Jason Leigh stars in a fascinating performance as Allegra Gellar, a young woman who designs virtual reality video games for a living. When she gives a presentation of her new video game, things don't go quite as planned and she's nearly assassinated. She goes on the run with Ted(Jude Law, who was absolutely fantastic in "Gattaca") from the group of rebels that were part of the attack on her life. The picture is fascinating from the very begining; Cronenberg is working with a fantastic cinematographer and some fine actors- it all becomes instantly believable, this world where virtual reality is perfectly normal and "bio-ports"(plugs in the back where players plug into the game...it gets a little too gross to go into detail on) are absolutely a "must-have". The movie creates such as strange world that the picture becomes hypnotic. The two don't know where to run or who to trust in what quickly becomes a nightmare landscape- on the run from terrorists and not sure who to trust; even a mechanic can be an enemy. I really liked the "matter-of-fact" nature that the characters bring to every step of life. Ted asks if anyone comes to an area to ski anymore, to witch Allegra replies, "no one actually physically skis anymore, come on...you know that." The film makes a statement about the unsure nature of reality while being part of a machine, or working with computers to the point where we're not in-touch with the outside world anymore. In "Existenz" the movie is wonderfully just-out-of-touch with reality,so the audience doesn't quite know just what could happen next in this mysterious world and just what is real. It's a very strange, stylish picture that I found quite enjoyable. If you're in the mood for an odd, wild sci-fi picture, "Existenz" will be certainly something that you'll enjoy. The DVD VIDEO: Miramax goes anamorphic for the second time ever, and like Shakespeare In Love, the results are really quite pleasing, with image quality being consistently very good throughout. The haunting cinematography by Peter Suschitzky("Crash", Immortal Beloved) is captured accurately here, from the ominous colors and tones to the wonderfully composed shots. Colors are deep and wild, from the cold blues of the night to the stunning greens of the countryside. Even in the darker scenes, there is still a very nice amount of information in the picture. Flesh tones are accurate and flattering throughout the picture, as well. There are only a very slight trace of problems here and there; a very tiny bit of pixelization and a slight bit of shimmering- nothing at all that is very distracting. All in all, this is the second anamorphic transfer from Disney and it's quite an impressive work- a consistently clear and sharp image that will please most viewers. The majority of the image quality is very smooth and "film-like". Hopefully, Miramax will do anamorphic transfers for more titles than the handful that they've announced for December. SOUND: Howard Shore(Analyze This, The Game)'s score sounds great here, sounding rich and crystal clear throughout. There are also some very nicely defined details as the two sit in the countryside, such as bugs chirping, a clap of thunder or two and more. Dialogue is especially crystal clear and always easily understood. It's an interesting soundtrack, with some nice effects, but mainly, the movie's tone is built upon the amazingly creepy score, which sounds really very good. MENUS: A very basic Disney menu based on the cover art. EXTRAS:: As with any Disney produced disc, just the trailer. Where To Find It: Where To Find It:
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