Written by: Michael Den Boer on January 26th, 2010
Theatrical Release Date: USA, 2006
Director: Jason D. Morris
Writers: Michael B. Martin, Erin McRaven, Jason D. Morris
Cast: Joe Amos, Robert J. Carrera, Glen Caspillo, Shoni Alysse Cook, Jeremia Draper, Gary Lowenthall, William Martin, Erin McRaven, Jason D. Morris, Michael Platt, Jim Rufini
DVD released: 2007
Approximate running time: 92 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Letterboxed Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English
Subtitles: N/A
DVD Release: Digital Shadow Films
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: $9.99
Synopsis: The fate of the world lies in the hands of a young woman. Who’s ‘visions’ hold the key to preventing the Apocalypse. This young woman has been recruited by a government agency that uses her unique abilities to help them solve crimes. Her father who has been missing for twelve years was also linked to the same government agency she now works for. She is teamed up with a man who claims to known the reason behind her visions and the truth behind her fathers’ disappearance. Will she find the answers she seeks or will she be silenced in her quest for the truth.
Millennium Apocalypse was original released on the internet as an episodic web series. According to the commentary included with this DVD release the original web series was more fleshed out than the feature film version included with this DVD release. Outside of an alternate opening, none of the other deleted scene has been included with this DVD release.
The plot for Millennium Apocalypse bears a striking resemblance to the X- Files and Millennium T.V. series which also featured story lines about government conspiracies and end of the world scenarios. While there are many similarities to the two aforementioned series, the T.V. series that this film most resembles is Dark Angel. Even though all the foundation needed to for this story to work has been laid out. The end result is a convoluted story that quickly loses itself it is lofty ambitions. One has to wonder if the missing scenes. That was trimmed from episodic web series to make this a more desirable time length for a feature film. If leaving more or all of them in. Would they give the viewer an easier to digest story.
For a feature film that was original intended as episodic web series and obviously made on a very limited budget. The flaws do overshadow the few positives there are.
The DVD:
Digital Shadow Films presents Millennium Apocalypse in a letterboxed widescreen that preserves the film’s original aspect ratio. This transfer has been flagged for progressive playback. The daytime scenes look the crisper than the darker / nighttime scenes which tend to lack the same clarity. Colors and flesh tones look accurate and edge enhancement while present it is never too excessive.
This release comes with one audio option a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English. The audio is a mixed bag as there are a few scenes where the audio sounds to low and background noise is noticeable. Despites these flaws this is a serviceable enough track.
Extras for this release include a trailer for the film, trailers for other films also released by Digital Shadow Films, a production slide-show with music from the film playing in the background, alternative opening sequence, a brief 3-D effects segment, a preview of the film’s soundtrack and an audio commentary with Jason D. Morris. The audio commentary is an interesting track that primarily focuses on the more technical / making of aspects of the film. Overall Millennium Apocalypse gets a good DVD presentation from Digital Shadow Films that is highlighted by the informative audio commentary with Jason D. Morris.