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Grade
Content Grade:
B
Sound Grade:
C
Extras Grade:
C+
Picture Grade:
A-
Specs
1080p
Widescreen 16x9
Studio/Label Website:
http://warnervideo.com
Aspect Ratio:
2.4:1
Sound Options and Formats: Dolby 1.0 Mono
Disc Length: 98 minutes
Exclusive HD Extras
Exclusive HD Extras: There are no exclusive HD features on this disc.
Review
Charleton Heston stars as the "Last Man on Earth" in this 1971 science fiction thriller. Costars include Rosalind Cash as his African American lover , and Anhony Zerbe as the leader of the "Family", a group of plague infected albinos slowly dying from the bacteria warfare that has devastated the planet.
Heston's performance is both as amacho, gun toting (natch) survivor obsessed with finding the the hideout of the "Family", which lives somewhere in deserted Los Angeles. He hunts for them by day, methodically marking off streets and buildings he has searched. His lone film performance has a lot of energy and he comes across as a tough but vulnerable hero, longing for companionship and fighting off his ever increasing questioning of his sanity. When Rosalind Cash and a group of survivors are discovered, he is given new hope of a new beginning for humanity while discovering a way to treat the infected population. Zerbe is great as the leader Mathias, a former television news anchor , who has shunned all remnants of the former world and wants to wipe out all remaining vestages of it.
Loosely based on Richard Matheson's "I Am Legend" novel, this science fiction film has all the markings of an early 70's film, including 8 track tapes and a cheesy music soundtrack. Warner released this just as "I Am Legend" hit theaters and even includes a paper promo for the film in the blu-ray case.
Picture and Sound
The picture on this 1971 Charlton Heston romp is breathtaking. While it has a few flaws (dirt does show up near some reel changes) for the most part, Warner has really done a good job with this high definition version. Colors are bright and well balanced, and the picture is so sharp intricate patterns on set pieces can be clearly seen and enjoyed.
Sound is another story-its Dolby mono and its dynamic range is limited. This is the only choice on the disc in 5 different languages.
Extras
Extras included are few but interesting none the less. Co-stars Eric Laneuville and Paul Koslo recall their scenes with Heston and are still thrilled in working with the mega movie star. An original making of promo film features Heston explaining his motivation in several scenes.
Summary
"The Omega Man" may not be a science fiction classic but fans of Heston in all his teeth gritting angst have more enough in this film. The picture for this old film really shows off the potential for the high definition format.
