7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A pair of U.S. Navy fighter pilots risk their lives during the Korean War and become some of the Navy's most celebrated wingmen.
Starring: Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson, Thomas Sadoski, Daren KagasoffWar | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.20:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.20:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Sandwiched in between World War II and Vietnam is America’s “forgotten war” in Korea, and it is on this war which Devotion focuses. There is also another war at play in the film, and that is the war over the human soul. The story is centered around a black aviator who finds himself unexpectedly befriended and expectedly looked down upon. It follows his own moments of soul-searching as he faces doubt and discrimination head-on while also standing up for himself and his abilities, not only in the cockpit, but as a father, husband, friend, and man. In many ways, then, the movie is familiar with a different framework to tell it, but it is so genuinely acted, smartly written, and beautifully photographed in such ways that any residual sense of familiarity gives way to the film's own heartbeat.
Paramount's 1080p Blu-ray release of Devotion looks terrific. The image is crisp and satisfying, presenting complex details with startling ease. The image boasts fine point textural awareness at the most intimate levels of skin and hair while also capturing flight suits and Naval dress unforms with precision material command. The planes look great, whether on the deck or in the air, with every rivet and paint detail plainly visible and razor-sharp. Color output is excellent. The image boasts crisp clothing hues, expert skin tones, and plenty of pop to an assortment of primaries seen throughout the film. Whites are beautifully rendered, too. The film shows no significant source defects or encode anomalies. This Blu-ray is ace!
Paramount has curiously chosen to forego a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, not only for Devotion's Blu-ray release, but also for its companion UHD. Instead, both discs feature identical DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtracks. Despite the absence of that desirable overhead and surround-back extension, the track is plenty wonderful and practically perfect within its 5.1 parameters. The track offers superb engagement through all channels with fluid movement and hearty depth, especially zipping and rumbling plane engines which power through the stage with expert placement and very satisfying depth. Action scenes are alive with splendid movement and seamless directionality, accompanied, again, by the powerful low-end support. Gunfire rings out with striking accuracy and alarming depth; it's very real. The aerial action scenes are simply spectacular for movement, clarity, and subwoofer support, especially as the fighters first engage at the 75-minte mark as anti-aircraft fire rips through with a real sense of upward-and-through movement amongst the planes. A ground battle at the 86-mnute mark is equally impressive for similar dynamics. Musical clarity, spacing, and depth are all first-class, too. Ambient supports are nicely detailed and enveloping in various locales, especially on board the carriers where little hums and PA announcements and other odds and ends help fill in the sonic space. Dialogue is clear, center-focused, and well prioritized for the duration.
This Blu-ray release of Devotion includes two featurettes. No DVD copy is included, but Paramount has bundled in a digital copy voucher. This
release ship with a non-embossed slipcover.
Devotion is a very well-structured film that builds around a historically accurate and contemporarily engaging narrative, combined with excellent acting and world-class visuals and action. The film certainly exists in Top Gun: Maverick's shadow, but this is nevertheless a film that is not to be missed. Paramount's Blu-ray offers spectacular video and audio. Supplements are thin, but the limited content is very good. Highly recommended.
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