7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Babylon is set in South London at the start of the '80s, a time when reggae music was at its peak and racism was rife, and follows Blue, the lead rapper for Ital Lion Sound, in the run-up to a Sound System competition with a rival crew led by Jah Shaka. Over the course of the film Blue clashes with his friends, family, police and the violent racists who endeavour to make life hard for him; all of which in turn set up for the film's violent climax.
Starring: Trevor Laird, Mel Smith, Karl Howman, T-Bone Wilson, Maggie SteedDrama | 100% |
Music | 14% |
Crime | 12% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
(Jamaican Patois English)
English
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Fully restored and remastered, Franco Rosso’s cult "Babylon" (1980) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of UK-based distributors Icon Home Entertainment. The film is regarded by many as a milestone in the history of British Black Independent Cinema. Region-Free.
On the streets of Brixton
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC, and granted a 1080p transfer, Franco Rosso's Babylon arrives on Blu-
ray courtesy of UK-based Icon Home Entertainment.
I am very impressed with how good Babylon looks. Contrast and clarity here are simply stunning, the color-scheme fabulous, and detail very
strong. Furthermore, this newly restored transfer has not been DNR-altered either. On the contrary, the 1080p presentation offers a good dose of
natural film-grain. For the record, edge-enhancement and macroblocking are most definitely not an issue of concern.
Also, I must note that those of you with large screens and projectors will more than likely be very pleased with how tight the image
looks as well. Having seen what Babylon looked before (and I mean before Icon Home Entertainment released it on DVD), I must say that this new Blu-
ray transfer is quite the revelation. Finally, there are no debris, scratches, or dirt. (Note: Even though this Blu-ray disc is marketed as
Region-B, it is in fact Region-Free. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).
There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: a Patois English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. First of all, it is very easy to tell that the audio has also undergone a massive restoration because Dennis Bovell's soundtrack comes off the speakers with plenty of clarity and depth. The dialog is crystal clear, though I would not say that it is easy to follow and understand (for obvious reasons, you will more than likely end up using the optional English subtitles). Furthermore, there isn't any substantial activity in the rear channels, which is understandable given the age of the film and the manner in which it was shot. Still, I think that the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 allows for notably more depth and improved dynamics than the Dolby Digital 2.0 track from the DVD release does. Finally, I would like to point out that the English subtitles are very well done and extremely helpful. They are white and optional.
An audio commentary for the newly restored transfer of Babylon with director Franco Rosso, associate producer Martin Stellman, actor Brinsley Forde and producer Gavrik Losey is the first extra on this Blu-ray disc. During the commentary you will hear a lot of comments addressing the history of the film, what inspired it, how it was made possible as well as a detailed analysis of specific scenes. Next is Q +A with the Cast + Crew that was recorded at BFI Southbank on September 11th, 2008. Here you will hear even more personal recollections and thoughts about the film from the cast and crew (for the record, there is great atmosphere during the session with plenty of jokes being exchanged). Finally, there is a Restoration Featurette that allows us to see the enormous effort that has gone into making Babylon look as it does on this Blu-ray disc.
I cannot recommend highly enough this film to those of you interested in British Black Independent Cinema. Babylon is a true cultural phenomenon from the early '80s that will certainly continue to be analyzed and studied by film critics and casual filmgoers in the years to come. The Blu- ray disc herein reviewed, courtesy of Icon Home Entertainment, is nothing short of spectacular. In fact, I would say that it is an event worthy of grand celebration. Bravo to the UK distributors for giving this important film a new life. Very Highly Recommended.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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