LEGION - Blu-ray review

Remember that scene near the end of 1981's "Raiders of the Lost Ark" where all the bad guys finally get around to opening up the Ark? Remember what happens to them, except for Harrison Ford and Karen Allen? Ever since, I've known that pissing off God probably won't do much for one's life expectancy. To hammer this idea home, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is releasing "Legion" on Blu-ray. If you don't agree with the above sentiment before checking out this action/thriller/sci-fi flick that oozes with symbolism, drips blood and stinks of profanity, you may after you experience it.

I heard very little about "Legion" when it hit theaters in late January 2010. Another film that got more attention than it probably needed ("Avatar") sort of stole the spotlight, but this didn't stop "Legion" from pulling in a decent take at the box office (it eventually just more than doubled its $26 million budget). I enjoyed it more than I expected, and despite a few flaws along the way, think it deserves a chance. It may not impress all viewers, but the action sequences and bizarre yet intriguing plot concept can entertain.

"Legion" was released under the Screen Gems umbrella, so you might know what to expect from the guys who brought you "Resident Evil" and "Underworld." Directed by a man (Scott Stewart) better known for his visual effects work on titles including "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," "Sin City" and "Red Cliff," "Legion" focuses on random group of folks who get dealt a pretty bad hand and have no other option than to roll the dice. Its editing is quick, tone dark and atmosphere dank, yet as a whole I think it works, at least on a superficial level.

The film opens with a pretty tough looking unnamed guy (Paul Bettany) literally falling to Earth. Lucky for him, he hits the pavement in Los Angeles and whips out a knife, cutting off something attached to each shoulder blade. He breaks into a warehouse, performs a quick stitch job on himself (see image at left) and starts amassing some pretty heavy weaponry from this location. Two patrol cops stumble upon him accidentally, and after he kills them he loads up their squad car with guns and hits the road.

Things shift pretty quickly to a remote truck stop somewhere in New Mexico. We meet the owner, Bob (Dennis Quaid), his son, Jeep (Lucas Black) and the restaurant cook Percy (Charles S. Dutton). Jeep has an eye for Charlie (Adrianne Palicki), a pregnant waitress with no family or father around for her soon to be born child. He also is tasked with fixing the broken vehicles that stop by, including a BMW that belongs to Howard (Jon Tenney), his wife Sandra (Kate Walsh) and their daughter Audrey (Willa Holland). A man named Kyle (Tyrese Gibson) is lost on his way to Las Vegas, and stumbles in for cigarettes. What seems to be a normal day turns sour pretty fast: phone lines go out, television signals get lousy and no one can pick up any radio stations.

After an old woman comes into the diner, takes a bite (literally) out of Howard's neck and is shot dead by Kyle's concealed weapon, a few rush to the nearest hospital. They drive into a swarm of flies and turn around, only to encounter the tough looking fellow from the opening scene standing at Bob's shotgun point. He pulls out weapons, passes them around, funnels everyone inside and tells Charlie not to do anything brave. Shortly after this, more cars show up with drivers who stumble out in an aggressive, violent state. The stranger instructs everyone to shoot to kill, and after a violent sequence, bodies are stacked near sky high.

After things calm down, we learn this stranger is actually the Archangel Michael, who along with the Archangel Gabriel (Kevin Durand) was tasked with exterminating mankind. God has apparently lost faith in the human race, and rather than a plague or flood chose this medium to exact his punishment. Michael, however, refused to comply, strongly believing mankind deserved another opportunity, which he states exists in Charlie's unborn child. In order for humans to survive and get another shot at things, this child must be born and raised. From here, the film follows the characters as they deal with possessed, bloodthirsty visitors to the truck stop, and more importantly, each other, in an effort to survive the apocalypse.

"Legion" takes a different approach with its characters. Everyone has a skeleton or two in the closet, but according to Michael, these issues are not enough to dent his faith in man. Typically, angels are the good guys, but here they represent a much darker approach. If these angels work for God, I can only imagine what Satan's demons have up their sleeves. The justification that the work they execute is God's only goes so far for Michael, who states that his resistance may not be what the man upstairs wants to hear, but rather needs to hear. Bettany's performance is extremely strong. He is cold, focused and calculated throughout, yet exhibits a compassionate shoulder like the Terminator develops in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." He knows his objective, and fights to the death to achieve it.

At times, the film feels like George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead," where a random slew of everyday individuals are boarded up with minimal protection and forced to kill or be killed. "Legion" has the gore factor most horror flicks bring to bear, too. Body parts fly, boiling skin explodes and more than a few bullets spatter blood around the truck stop. As it progresses, it gets a bit too ridiculous for its own good, and the cat and mouse game of who will make it out alive runs its course thoroughly in 100 minutes. The religious symbolism, including an upside down crucifixion and a few Christ-like figure poses, works okay, but feels awkward amidst the over the top violence and profanity.

"Legion" works because its supporting cast executes its roles decently, while the action and effects don't really ever stop (they just slow down now and again). I can't say that the carefully placed soapbox speeches every character has to offer don't get old, but they make each just a little more tangible. These folks are all deeper than you may anticipate, but writer Peter Schink and co-writer/director Stewart don't allow these moments too much screen time. Yet somehow, "Legion" didn't feel like it leaned on its action or effects to over-compensate for these thinner moments. As a whole, the film flows well, managing not to overwhelm with any particular element.

There is one thing that doesn't cut it: Black's character Jeep. His story and love for Charlie is a sort of coming of age tale that develops in the background, and at the end we're supposed to believe Michael has inspired him to serve and protect Charlie and her child. His commitment is noble, but I found it hard to stomach his very fast transition from an insecure push over to a confident protector. At the end, the story feels like it is meant to be his, when in reality mankind's survival is the focal point.

Still, "Legion" has a pretty decent cast execute its slightly unconventional story and approach. Its length is just right, and the experience feels gritty and unsettling from start to finish. I liked it because, while I thought I could predict where it was going, the twists and turns it took still had an impact.

Video:
"Legion" is among the better-looking films on Blu-ray that I've seen recently. Things go down mainly at night, and the dark coloration dominates this High Definition experience from the get go. The 2.40:1 1080p video transfer is clear and sharp, allowing both wide angle and close up shots to have a presence and impact. I didn't see any grain in the image at all, and the well-detailed special effects shine clear and bright, blending in with the live action smoothly. All the good things you've come to love about Blu-ray are here, and you'll know it after just a few moments pass.

Audio:
I had to flip the volume switch up an extra three notches to really appreciate the film's English 5.1 DTS-High Definition Master Audio soundtrack. The action sequences and all their glory (gunshots, punches and screams) come through fine, but the regular toned dialogue has its strong and weak points. It isn't so bad that you can't pick up on anything, but the vocal hills and valleys are noticeable. Thankfully, the action scenes make up for this. Other audio options include a French 5.1 DTS-HD MA, and subtitles are offered in English and French.

Extras:
Not all that much to go on here. There are three featurettes: "Creating the Apocalypse" looks at the film's physical effects, "Humanity's Last Line of Defense" examines the cast and characters, and "From Pixels to Picture" investigates the film's visual effects. The Blu-ray exclusive add ons include a picture-in-picture option titled "Bringing Angels to Earth," movieIQ and BD-Live capabilities plus a digital copy of the film. Nothing superb or lavish, but not exactly cookie cutter offerings either.

A Final Word:
"Legion" might be a guilty pleasure film, but I think it also has more to offer than it seems. The story isn't all that easy to believe, but the performances are decent. I don't want to compare it to other apocalyptic titles because its messaging is somewhat different, but I will suggest that its entertainment value helps mask its short comings. I suppose the real test is whether or not it will stand up to multiple viewings, and with such strong effects and a lively pace, this might not be an issue.