Casualties of War Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Casualties of War Blu-ray Movie Review

'Casualties of War' has seemed to be on and off the Blu-ray release radar for some time, at least considering a domestic U.S. release. Sony has finally put the film on disc, released as part of a revamped manufactured on demand ('MOD') line of products that no longer bear the controversial 'Choice Collection' nomenclature. The Blu-ray delivers 1080p video and 5.1 lossless audio as well as a few special features. The film was previously released several times overseas, including a 'Premium Edition' released in June 2017 in the UK and notably an extended cut version for the film's German release.

The victim.

Casualties of War Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sony's 1080p Blu-ray release of Casualties of War delivers a very satisfying overall presentation despite a few nitpicks that pop up along the way. Opening title wobble is evident but not particularly distracting. The open on the bus is a little soft and dreamlike, which reflects Erikkson's inward look back on the rape incident from his time in-country. Black levels push blue and pale in the opening Vietnam shot and subsequent sequence, though such tighten up for the remainder of the film, such as during a scene when there's an attempt on Erikkson's life when he's in the latrine. In well lit daytime Vietnam exteriors, which constitute much of the film, there's an agreeable level of detail. The image appears decently crisp, with visible complex definition ranging from skin (sweat, grime) to clothes (military patches and various textures on helmets and fatigues) and also including all of the local flavor locations seen throughout the film, whether dense jungle, open fields, villages, bridges and rock formations, or wooden constructs around American bases. There's not much in the way of visible grain but the image does not appear in any way aggressively smoothed over or de-grained to the point of losing critical detailing. Colors run a little dull but military fatigues and various greenery around Vietnam present with enough depth and diversity to satisfy. Red blood, fiery explosions, and a few other one-off colors beyond the dominant greens present agreeably. Skin tones appear accurate across a diverse cross-section of characters and in various conditions that render them sweaty, dirty, or red in the face with stress or anger. There's very little reason to be displeased with Sony's presentation. Note that I do not have access to any of the available overseas releases to conduct a direct comparison.

Casualties of War Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Casualties of War's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack presentation is active, with the opening mortar barrage offering good pounding thump and width across and around the stage. Bass is nicely tight and responsive, with minimal muddiness whether considering distant pops or nearby explosions. Gunfire erupts in the second battle in the movie with crackling surround support and stage zip, and the chaos of sudden, raw battle is felt and heard to full effect. Several helicopters lay waste to an enemy position in chapter 11 with impressive intensity and full-on stage engagement. Every action scene delivers responsive, energetic sound elements that may lack total nuance but are never wanting for increased low end output or stage engagement. Falling rain is decently immersive in chapter eight, and thunder cracks and rolls with good surrounding positioning during the same scene. Lighter atmospheric effects filter through with commendable immersion and positioning. Dialogue is readily clear and precise with constant front-center positioning. This is a very good and highly enjoyable listen that compliments the movie extremely well, particularly in battle as it heightens the physical intensity of war which certainly plays a part in the mens' brashness to commit rape and skewered moral center and world perspective.

Casualties of War Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sony's release of Casualties of War contains the same supplemental content found on the above-linked German release, minus the second disc with an extended cut of the film. For convenience, below is a list of what's included. For full supplemental content coverage, please click here. No DVD or digital versions are included. The release does not ship with a slipcover.

• The Making of Casualties of War (1080i upscaled, window boxed, 31:20).
• Eriksson's War - A Conversation with Michael J. Fox (1080i upscaled, 4x3, 18:43).
• Deleted Scenes: Includes Cpl. Clark Testifies (1080i upscaled, window boxed, 1:29), Oahn's Sister's Testimony (1080i upscaled, window boxed, 1:29), Check the Treeline (1080i upscaled, window boxed, 1:10), Hill & Erikson (1080i upscaled, window boxed, 0:53), Interrogation of Ericsson (1080i upscaled, window boxed, black and white, 2:50), and Extended Interrogation Scene (1080p, ~2.39:1, 2:46).
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, ~1.78:1, 2:02).

Casualties of War Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Casualties of War is not a film one "enjoys" in the traditional sense of cinema-as-escapism. It's an emotionally raw, dark, and draining film. It's difficult to watch but rewarding in terms of how the film presents the worst of war and the worst of man as the two interconnect and so often propel one another in what seems like a hopeless loop of depravity and despair. This is not the definitive War film, but it's a relentlessly grim depiction of troubled individuals in troubled times. Sony's MOD release of Casualties of War features good video and audio as well a a decent little array of bonus content. Recommended.