V:The Final Battle (Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Warner Brothers 
 Release Date: April 14, 2020
 Rating:  G
TV Show: 3/5
 
 Plot
 Is there life out there? Finally, we know. Because they are here. Alien spacecraft with humanlike passengers have come to Earth. They say they come in peace for food and water. The water they find in our reservoirs. The food they find walking about everywhere on two legs.
 
That saga that began with V now culminates in a struggle to save the world in V: The Final Battle. Sci-fi film stalwarts Marc Singer, Robert Englund and Michael Ironside head a large cast in this tense adventure that leaps from the stunning revelation of reptilian beings concealed by human masks to the birth of the first human/alien child to the harrowing countdown to nuclear doomsday. The future begins or ends here.
 
 My Thoughts
 In 1983 NBC debuted a miniseries aimed at the Sci-Fi audience with a two night event from writer/director Kenneth Johnson. Out of nowhere a fleet of huge flying saucers descend to Earth sending its citizens into panic, but there’s no need to worry. These Visitors are our friends and are willing to help us out in exchange for some chemicals they need. But they have other things in mind. When scientists begin vanishing and others are accused of subversive activities, a group of rebels (or to use modern terms, Alien “Deniers”) begin to fight back in order to save the human race from extinction.
 
Needless to say, the show was quite popular and ended in a cliffhanger. Everyone asked, where do we go from here? Well, the wait wasn’t long and in 1984 the network brought the show back for a three-night event, but creative differences between Johnson and the studio meant that a new team of writers would take over the story. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the same vision as the creator and the quality of the entertainment dropped off for the sequel. In fact, I had watched the first miniseries with my wife (since she hadn’t seen it before) and it held up well nearly 40 years later, but the sequel series turns out to be a bit too campy and the character development is non-existent for the new people that are introduced.
 
I really liked the tone of the series overall in how it mimics the Nazi takeover of Germany. What was also telling is in today’s context of Covid-19 and home confinement—“Don’t worry,” the government says, “It’s for your own good.” Yes, I’m one of the crowd that thinks we’re overreacting and want to get back to living a normal life. Needless to say, I sympathize with the rebels in this show—where do I sign up?
 
The A/V quality is decent, but nothing to write home about. The picture is clean and clear and the audio is somewhat dynamically challenged, but conveys the story.
  
 Video 3.5/5 
 
 Audio 3/5 (DTS HD-MA 2.0)
 
 Special Features:
 

• Episode Recaps

 

 Conclusion
 Like a lot of things from my youth, my perception has changed with aging. Overall, it’s a decent concept but the sequel falls off from the original. NBC also tried to launch a TV show, which failed miserably, and in 2009 the concept was rebooted but didn’t pick up the following that the original had. If you haven’t seen it before and you’re a sci-fi fan, it's worth checking out, but be prepared for some campy acting and mediocre special effects.   
 
 Reference Review System:
  
 Reference Review System:
 JVC DLA-RS2000 4K Ultra High Definition Front Projector
 (Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
 Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Fixed Screen
 Anthem AVM60 Audio/Video Processor 
 ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
 Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player 
 System Controller: URC MX-980
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
 Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
 SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
 HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
 JL Audio Fathom F110 Subwoofers x 2 (stacked)
JL Audio Dominion D110 Subwoofer x 2 (stacked)

Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
 Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
 PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner

[tripplej]

Thanks for the review. I remember seeing this and the first one. Greatly enjoyed both but then again, I was a kid. lol.

Will have to revisit the first one and then this one later.

[AVSCraig]

Never saw this show - just the 2009 - 2011 version with Morena Baccarin.