The One: Superbit DVD Review

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The One (Superbit Collection)

Title: The One: Superbit

Region: One

Genre: Sci-Fi Martial Arts Action

Stars: Jet Li, Delroy Lindo, Carla Gugino, and Jason Statham

Writers: Glen Morgan and James Wong

Director: James Wong

Feature length: 87 minutes

Languages: English DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Subtitles: English Captions and Closed Captions and French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai Subtitles

Packaging: Keep Case

Chapter Stops: 28

Sound: DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Year of Theatrical Release: 2001/DVD Release: 2003

Theatrical Distributor: Columbia Pictures

Home Video Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

Jet Li stars in dual roles as “Yulaw,” a criminal who has been jumping from one quantum reality to another assassinating his alternate selves and taking their life energy, which makes him stronger, quicker, and smarter than the multiverse law enforcement team that has been attempting to capture him. Now there is only one more alternate self he must kill and then he could be the one. The threat this poses is that no one knows what the consequences could be if there is only one self with the energy of all the alternates now dead. Some speculate that the universes where the energy of the various dead duplicates was taken could implode or maybe the survivor could explode. Yulaw believes it will make him a god, but regardless those who are after him will stop at nothing to prevent Yulaw from becoming the one because if Yulaw can’t be stopped then the only other alternative is the final two must be destroyed simultaneously so that the balance between the universes can be maintained.

“The One” has some great effects sequences and some interesting possibilities that are ultimately never explored. For instance who says that parallel worlds have to be alike at all? What if there were worlds where the density made the visitor superhuman or what if the visitors were incredibly weak? What about what they breathe? What is the food chain in an alternate universe? Why are they all human? Why is it that there are only 125 Yulaws including the evil one in a universe of infinite possibility? If the multiple universes are not infinite what does that say about the science and spiritual beliefs of our characters? Why are there not more agencies policing or traveling between the various worlds? How do you even begin to map these worlds and then enforce a hidden, but strict control between them?

“The One” has so many unexplored and unexplained possibilities and story points that the film begins to lose momentum quickly as one feels that the events onscreen are becoming increasingly absurd. In some ways the film relies too much on fancy CGI and not enough on Jet Li’s natural abilities, which sells both Li and the audience short. The use of bullet time footage does not work nearly as well as it has in films like “The Matrix” or even “Swordfish,” where the effects complement the storytelling instead of cover-up for the apparent lack of story development.

Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment’s “Superbit” DVD Edition of “The One” makes up some for the films multiple shortcomings by providing a great looking anamorphic (2.40:1) widescreen aspect ratio that preserves the theatrical exhibition presentation as close as possible for home video users. The picture quality benefits from the increased space allotted on the dual layered DVD so that although there are no extra features, the transfer at double the bit rate gives a sharper and more detailed image with vivid colors and textures. One can appreciate the little nuances in the background more whether it be the subtle details found in the film’s closing scene, which features a flying HK like machine that looks like the ones seen in the “Terminator” films or simply the little things like the dust on top of the helmets that are easy to miss because honestly when someone first watches any movie, who really notices dust on a police helmet? We usually focus on the actors and the action the first time around so I’d say this is definitely an improvement over last year’s “Special Edition” release. A dynamic English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack is included and is well mixed along with an English DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Soundtrack coupled with optional English Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired and French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai Language Subtitles. There is little difference between the DTS and Dolby Digital soundtracks for this release. The both sounded about the same to me.

The picture is a definite improvement, but the sound between the listening options and the “Special Edition” and “Superbit” releases are more or less of equal quality and that is not a bad thing in my opinion because I think the “Special Edition” 5.1 Surround Soundtrack was pretty good as is. So I’ll put it to you all this way, I want the best picture and sound quality possible for the DVDs I watch. “The One: Superbit” has a superior picture quality and a DTS option, which I prefer, but neither soundtrack is better than the “Special Edition” release and as a standard “Superbit” release, none of the extras from the “Special Edition” are included, which is a shame since if this were a “Superbit Deluxe” then I’d say it is worth the upgrade. However as is if you are perfectly happy with your “Special Edition” DVD of “The One” then there is no reason to buy this one unless you are a DTS fan like me and don’t care for the extra features on the “Special Edition” and thus would prefer the improved picture quality found on “The One: Superbit” instead.

“The One: Superbit” will debut on DVD-Video on Tuesday, August 5, 2003 from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

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The One (Superbit Collection)