6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.1 |
In 1825, John Morgan, an English aristocrat, is captured by a tribe of Sioux Indians. Hoping to save his own life by proving his worth, Morgan undergoes the long, painful Sun Vow ritual, where he is hung in a tree by the flesh of his chest. This film paints a very detailed portrait of the Sioux customs and lifestyle.
Starring: Richard Harris (I), Judith Anderson, Jean Gascon, Manu Tupou, Corinna TsopeiWestern | 100% |
Drama | 42% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
German: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
French: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
Spanish: Castellano y Latinoamerica
English SDH, French, German, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 2.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
I am a man.
A Man Called Horse is a simple movie about self-discovery and an understanding of a people, but it's also far more complex than that.
Questions of actions, motivations, and the varied definitions of "humanity" all come into play as an aristocratic Englishman is forced to endure
emotional and physical hardships when his life is forcibly and forever changed in the 19th century American frontier. The picture takes a long, difficult,
and altogether absorbing look at what shapes a man, how men are different and similar through unshared and shared experiences alike. The picture
posits an interesting question: is a man defined by his upbringing and the sum of his experiences -- how he was raised, whom he has met, where he
has gone -- or is he far more pliable, capable of drastic alterations, difficult at first yes but capable of adapting into a radically different lifestyle when
circumstances completely negate all he's ever before done and known? A Man Called Horse is a difficult picture to watch as it portrays a man's
life suddenly and forcibly reduced to nothing and the literal and physical growing pains he must endure -- not over a lifetime, but rather in a condensed
window in
his adulthood -- if he is to survive in a new climate with new people and a new way of life that just might forever alter his perspective not only of an
entire peoples but of man's ability to adapt and change to suit his environment.
Horse.
A Man Called Horse debuts on Blu-ray with a nice-looking 1080p transfer that suffers through a few issues -- some inherent to the source, others seemingly introduced somewhere along the line after the fact -- but that nevertheless holds up rather well, all things considered. There are a few clear-cut instances of distracting haloing, but such is not a consistent problem throughout the film. Instead, the image is usually naturally sharp and suffers through only the occasional soft shot. Colors are nicely balanced but not quite perfect. They favor an ever-so-slightly faded appearance, but outside of the earthen hues that make up the terrain and the Sioux's dwellings and clothes, there's little in terms of vibrant coloring save for bright blue skies and natural green vegetation. Detail ranges from strong in close-up shots of faces and materials to shaky in some medium-distant shots, particularly in some corners where plants and trees look clumpy and indistinct. Black levels favor a slightly washed-out appearance, but flesh tones appear neutral in shading. The print is in relatively good condition, and a layer of natural grain rounds the image into form as a dependable, but certainly not breathtaking, 1080p transfer from Paramount.
Paramount's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack is at best fair, offering a good presence but at the expense of spaciousness. The presentation is sound at a basic level, with music offering crisp highs and a positive low end. Dialogue, however, is sometimes shallow in texture and low in volume. Most of the native music and sound effects sound more jumbled than they do natural, particularly around the top of the range. Shrieking, ear-piercing highs are the norm, first heard when John is paraded through the Sioux settlement. The track seems to thrive on sonic confusion to accentuate the fear and uncertainty of John's first days as a prisoner, but it would seem the track could use some additional clearing up nevertheless.
No supplements are included.
A Man Called Horse is a powerful film that takes an honest and unflinching look at the human condition, namely what shapes it and how malleable or rigid it may be. It's also a well-crafted film that keeps its themes front-and-center, never once allowing any kind of superfluous element to match or overwhelm the critical themes that shape the story. It's sometimes a difficult watch, but it's also one of the more rewarding pictures out there in terms of its raw ability to spark discussion and force viewers to think about deeper issues that general cinema doesn't normally address. Paramount's Blu-ray release of A Man Called Horse is decent enough for a bargain release. A decent 1080p transfer, a passable lossless soundtrack, and no extras mean that it's worth picking up on a good sale, but no doubt fans will wish for some extras. A documentary on the making of the film would have proven most welcome. Still, as it is, A Man Called Horse comes recommended.
1955
2017
2014
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2024
1962
1969
Warner Archive Collection
1950
1942
Warner Archive Collection
1960
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1960
2001
1972
2014
2006
2-Disc Collector's Edition
1989
1953
Warner Archive Collection
1951
2018