Plot: What’s it about?
In the near future, cloning has become a standard practice and though laws have been passed to prevent human clones, underground experiments still take place. The average man on the street has no clue however, although one such man, Adam Gibson (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is about to discover the truth. Gibson is a crack helicopter pilot and after a nearly fatal accident, he finds himself lost in a world where his place has been taken by another. When Gibson returns home, he sees that he is already inside his home with his family, but the man inside is not him, because he is still outside, looking in. Soon, Gibson is sucked into an underground world where he learns the truth, a ruthless corporation seeks to replace humans with clones, on a global scale. Of course, Gibson was the target of such a plan and when the men behind the idea discover he isn’t dead, they’ll hunt him down to finish the task. Now Gibson has to remain ahead of the assassins sent to silence him, as well as delving into the mystery behind this clone conspiracy, in order to reveal the truth to the masses. But can one man do all this and in the end, how can Gibson be sure of what’s really happened to him?
I’ve always liked the films of Arnold Schwarzenegger and although his star seems to be slipping, I’ll still head out to the theaters to see his latest pictures. He was once the prime draw of the action genre and while he is not what he used to be, Arnold still delivers the goods better than most, which is enough in my book. So when The 6th Day was released, I went to see it and while it wasn’t an explosive return to the top, it wasn’t as bad as I had heard. Maybe it is because the whole cloning concept interests me, but I found The 6th Day to be a fun ride and while it wasn’t a classic, I never expected it to be. So perhaps that’s why I wasn’t let down this movie, I wanted a good action movie and that’s what I was shown, nothing more and nothing less. I know this is no True Lies or even Commando, but come on, Arnold is still more than capable and this another good resume addition for him. But if you want the next action blockbuster, look elsewhere, as The 6th Day is just a fun action flick, with some cool sci/fi elements tossed in for good measure. This movie is well worth a rental and if you’re interested in a purchase, make sure to grab this two disc special edition, as it is the version of The 6th Day you’ll want to own.
This might not be his most shining moment, but superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger still does his best to deliver in terms of action thrills. Although I do think The 6th Day is one of his weaker films, Arnold still supplies some good moments, more than you’ll find in most action flicks. I do wish this was more action oriented of course, but I suppose you have to stuff the plot and characters in there somewhere, which takes up time. Arnold is as impressive as ever, which means he handles the action sequences well, but his dialogue is ever in need to work. But since this is an action flick, I don’t think Arnold’s dialect can be cause to knock his performance. As I said, this is by no means his best effort in front of the cameras, but as Arnold goes, his turn isn’t that bad in the end. Other films with Schwarzenegger include The Running Man, End of Days, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Total Recall, Predator, and Commando. The cast here also includes Robert Duvall (The Apostle, Days of Thunder), Wendy Crewson (What Lies Beneath, Air Force One), Michael Rooker (Mallrats, Cliffhanger), Michael Rapaport (Small Time Crooks, Higher Learning), and Sarah Wynter (Species II, Lost Souls).
Video: How does it look?
The 6th Day is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. To put it in simple terms, it just doesn’t get any better than this, folks. Another reference level transfer from Columbia/Tristar, who is always reliable for their visual presentations. This one shows no flaws I could detect, as the image is clean and sharp at all times, just gorgeous to look at. The colors are vivid and bold, no signs of errors there and the flesh tones seem natural as well. No issues in terms of contrast either, as detail is strong and black levels are razor sharp, excellent work all around here. If you’re looking for a disc to show off your system with, The 6th Day would more than handle those needs, in both video and audio terms.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is an action movie with Arnold and as such, you need powerful audio and in that respect, this track more than delivers. The included Dolby Digital 5.1 option is a real gem, lots of surround use and a myriad of directional usage, very impressive indeed. I was very pleased with this track, as it places you right in the midst of it all, a very immersive experience from start to finish. Whether the effects are loud and booming or more subtle, this track handles them well and ensures they’re placed just right within the mix. One of the better mixes I’ve heard of late, this one doesn’t disappoint in terms of musical score or dialogue either, as both elements are well mixed and presented with no flaws in the least. This set also includes language options in French, Spanish, and Portuguese, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Korean, Chinese, and Thai, so almost all the bases should be covered here.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This film was released before and just before it hit the streets, a number of supplements were yanked for the American release, though import discs still featured the additional bonus materials. But now Columbia has dipped back into their archives and loaded on all the promised goodies, now spread across two discs. Back from the original disc is an isolated musical score with comments from Trevor Rabin, as well as the RePet promo spots, talent files, and the film’s theatrical trailer. But you want to know what is new here, right? You’ll find a storyboard comparison & animatics, more RePet goodies, and the main elements absent from that first release, a series of behind the scenes featurettes. A general look behind the scenes is offered in a Showtime special, but eight additional featurettes are also included here, which are more narrow in focus. Although some are on the brief side, if you combine them together, you’ll find a sizable amount of information and a quite in depth look behind the scenes.
