8.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
In the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.
Starring: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino da Hora, Matheus Nachtergaele, Phelipe Haagensen, Seu JorgeDrama | 100% |
Crime | 41% |
Foreign | 29% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Portuguese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Bonus View (PiP)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Winner of the Visions Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles' "Cidade de Deus" a.k.a "City of God" (2002) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Canadian distributors Alliance. The only supplemental feature on the disc is the documentary film "News From a Personal War". In Portuguese, with imposed English or French subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Li'l Ze's soldiers
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer,
Fernando Meirelles' City of God arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Canadian distributors Alliance.
The release offers a pleasing but somewhat inconsistent presentation of the film. Generally speaking, fine object detail is good. The close-ups, including the ones during the extremely dark nighttime footage, look very good. Contrast levels fluctuate quite a bit from episode to episode, but the fluctuations are part of the original cinematography. The color scheme is impossible to evaluate as there are several different manipulations throughout the entire film -- blues, yellows, reds, greens, browns, and blacks appear in all sorts of different variations. For example, most of the early episodes convey a very strong faded look. Macroblocking, which was a very serious issue of concern with the old Miramax DVD release of this film, is nowhere to be seen. There are no serious stability issues to report in this review either. Finally, while viewing the film I noticed a few tiny flecks popping up here and there. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There are two audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: Portuguese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1. For the record, Alliance have provided imposed English and French subtitles for the main feature. This means that the film can be viewed either with imposed English or imposed French subtitles. The film cannot be viewed without selecting one of the two options.
The Portuguese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is a good enough reason to strongly recommend this Blu-ray disc. Its dynamic amplitude is excellent - the bass is powerful, rich and punchy, the surround channels intelligently used (during the mass shootouts, there are some terrific surround effects), and the high-frequencies not overdone. The dialog could be somewhat chaotic at times, but it is still rather easy to follow. Additionally, there are no serious balance issues with Ed
Cortes and Antonio Pinto's soundtrack. I also did not detect any disturbing pops, cracks, or hissings to report in this review.
The Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks is unimpressive. It most certainly does not match the dynamic intensity of the Portuguese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track (compare the opening shootout scene where Li'l Ze's thugs chase the chicken).
News From a Personal War - an outstanding documentary film about the favelas, the drug industry in Brazil, and the ongoing war between BOPE and the drug lords. The film contains interviews with various drug traffickers and soldiers. In Portuguese, with imposed English subtitles. (57 min, 480/60i).
Fernando Meirelles'City of God has already achieved something of a cult status - but, arguably, for all the wrong reasons. Canadian distributors Alliance have put together a competent package, which should please fans of City of God in North America. RECOMMENDED.
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