7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A film star helps a young singer and actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career on a downward spiral.
Starring: Judy Garland, James Mason (I), Jack Carson, Charles Bickford, Tommy NoonanRomance | 100% |
Drama | 71% |
Musical | 61% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.55:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.55:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital Mono
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
We're so easily distracted. With pixels multiplying like rabbits, groundbreaking televisions being beamed down to Best Buy from the Enterprise, snazzy Blu-ray players functioning as one-stop entertainment hubs, and 3D mounting a vicious assault on the masses, one oft-unsung hero has slipped beneath the radar: the digital restoration of beloved catalog classics. Aging films that once required extensive photochemical restorations are now being revived frame by frame, color by color. Severely degraded negatives are no longer the daunting obstacles they once were; damaged elements don't pose the overwhelming threat they once did. The future isn't just infinite pixels, advanced displays, or migraine-inducing glasses, dear readers, it's making timeless classics truly timeless. Warner Brothers has saved A Star is Born with one such restoration. Pulled back from the edge of the cinematic abyss, Judy Gardland's troubled 1954 comeback musical has been granted new life in high definition, joining a growing family of films that look as good as they did the day they first graced theaters.
Try framing your face with your hands. Feels good, doesn't it?
Despite the flak Warner receives in some message board circles -- much of which involves broad, hyperbolic criticism stemming from the sheer volume of catalog titles the studio releases and the countless variables associated with each one rather than some nefarious disregard for the films involved, general laziness, or a perpetual oversight -- the quality of its treasured masterpieces and old-Hollywood classics rarely disappoint. A Star is Born has been born anew for its Blu-ray debut, arriving with a bold, decidedly impressive 1080p/VC-1 transfer derived from a snazzy 6K scan and a meticulous, five-month digital restoration. Moreover, WB Motion Picture Imaging colorist Janet Wilson was committed to staying as close to the filmmakers' original intent as possible, retiming and color-correcting each shot accordingly. The results speak for themselves. Splashes of red pop, dazzling blue dresses shine, and black levels are well-resolved. Likewise, skintones never appear flushed or washed out, embracing the warm, rosy-cheeked hues of the era without indulging in '50s cine-pomp. Contrast is vibrant and stable, the film's grain field is intact, bothersome ringing and smearing are nowhere to be found, and both definition and fine detail are noteworthy. That's not to say the picture is razor sharp from beginning to end though. On the contrary, several scenes are downright soft, overall clarity is uneven, and other inherent limitations make their presence known. But for a fifty-six year old film, particularly one plagued by severely degraded source elements and a troubled history, the presentation is incredibly faithful, sometimes to a fault. Better still, the technical transfer is clean and proficient. I didn't notice any significant artifacting, banding, or digital noise, and the print isn't haunted by any unreasonable blemishes.
My one nitpick involves the film's framing. A quick comparison between Warner's new 2.55:1 transfer and its DVD counterpart (initially released in 2000 and reissued as a Collector's Edition in 2001) reveals a number of interesting, albeit admittedly minor discrepancies. In some scenes, the far left and right edges of the Blu-ray transfer retain more of the film's original image; in other cases, slightly less. But the differences are so negligible -- a sliced sliver of shadow here, a trimmed haircut there -- that I would have never noticed had a forum member not suggested I compare the two. It's also worth noting that the culprit is most likely necessity; perhaps even a small concession made during the restoration process. Regardless, A Star is Born joins a growing collection of high-quality catalog classics that have been remastered, restored, and resurrected from an untimely grave.
Star's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track isn't going to attract as much praise as its video transfer, but it still stacks up well against lossless remixes featured on other high-quality catalog releases. Because the film's original four-track stereo mag master was erased nearly fifty years ago, Warner had to rely on several sources to compile a new mix: three mag-striped release prints (one owned by the studio, the other two in storage at the Library of Congress), a 4-track stereo music and effects track from France, and isolated vocal units of Gardland's performances, her choral accompaniment, and the film's complete orchestral scoring sessions. Surprisingly, the end result doesn't sound nearly as inconsistent as it could. Dialogue remains clean and clear throughout (a handful of muffled lines being the lone exception), both the score and the musical numbers are full and boisterous, and sound effects, though a tad pinched, have weathered the decades well. I did find myself bumping my receiver's volume up and down more often than I would have preferred, but it's difficult to get too worked up after learning how many elements were required to create a functional track. LFE output is thin (albeit within reason for a fifty-six year old film), the rear speakers are tasked with little more than instrumental support (meaning purists will cheer the tenor of the mix while modern filmfans will shrug their shoulders), and many a scene sounds older than it looks. Even so, Warner's restorative efforts are commendable. Cinefiles armed with appropriate expectations will relish the whole of the experience and easily shrug off the majority of intrinsic shortcomings they encounter.
Yes, the Deluxe Edition of A Star is Born delivers three-plus hours of special features, and yes, catalog purists will be fairly pleased. However, after exhausting everything the 2-disc set had to offer, I felt as if I had merely plowed through the latter half of a proper supplemental package. While rare, arguably invaluable archive materials abound -- no complaint there -- you won't find any industry retrospectives, behind-the-scenes documentaries, or newly produced tributes. I expected a thorough dissection of Star's elaborate production, its tumultuous existence, multiple cuts, various restorations, and other topics of interest. Instead, I found myself reading the set's (admittedly informative) 40-page Digibook to reacquaint myself with the history and legacy of the film. Hardly an ideal way to explore a classic. It's also worth noting that all of the special features have been relegated to the set's second disc, a standard DVD.
The Blu-ray edition of A Classic is Resurrected... ahem, A Star is Born joins a long list of catalog titles that have been granted new life in high definition. Blessed with a faithful, technically proficient video transfer (itself the product of a magnificent restoration), a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track (compiled from multiple sources no less), handsome Digibook packaging with (gasp) a worthwhile essay, and a decent set of special features makes this 2-disc release worth every penny. Did I mention the film holds up quite well for a fifty-six-year old musical? Even if you aren't ready to come down from your Doctor Zhivago high, be sure to scoop up Warner's latest phoenix-from-the-ashes passion project post-haste.
Warner Archive Collection
1941
50th Anniversary Edition
1961
2004
2009
2014
1976
1957
1954
1953
Reissue
1972
1927
Warner Archive Collection
1951
1951
Director's Cut
1977
2007
50th Anniversary Edition | Remastered
1964
1944
2005
2010
Warner Archive Collection
1955