8.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
A tumultuous tale of Russia divided by war and hearts torn by love. Epic images abound: revolution in the streets, an infantry charge into No Man's Land, the train ride to the Urals, an icebound dacha.
Starring: Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, Rod Steiger, Alec GuinnessDrama | 100% |
Period | 46% |
History | 45% |
War | 44% |
Romance | 44% |
Epic | 36% |
Melodrama | 27% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
German: Dolby Digital 5.1
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, French, German SDH, Italian SDH, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD, 1 CD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
If there's one indisputable truism in Hollywood, it's that film is always evolving. Gone are the days of grandiose, golden-age filmmaking, aching romanticism, and unbridled theatricality. Throngs of dusty extras and sprawling historical kingdoms are no longer assembled and constructed, they're manufactured and refined in a computer. The most moving performances ignore the siren song of the old stage, instead drawing upon realism, literalism, and emotional ambiguity. Audiences rarely marvel at the sheer spectacle of a production, demanding more and more from every passing film and inadvertently pressuring directors to abandon story and character to indulge in the latest special effects and craft the most breathtaking worlds. Gone are the days of Doctor Zhivago; the reign of Avatar and its ilk is at hand. But while impassioned filmfans can debate the merits of recent summer blockbusters and the value of aging catalog classics until they're blue in the face, the great cinema of yesteryear continues to slowly fade from our collective cultural consciousness. Doctor Zhivago isn't teeming with modern sensibilities -- embracing sentiment, reveling in majesty and extravagance, and focusing on its star-crossed lovers above all else, it shows every one of its forty-five years -- yet still manages to speak to anyone willing to listen and, imperfect as it may be, warrants our respect, attention, and adoration.
The wonderful wizards of Warner have earned a reputation for investing a tremendous amount of time, money, and passion into meticulously restoring and rejuvenating the studio's most beloved catalog classics -- Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, North by Northwest, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Blade Runner are just a few of the dazzling high definition rebirths that spring to mind -- and the Blu-ray edition of Doctor Zhivago does very little to betray that reputation. Its 1080p/VC-1 transfer breathes new life into Lean's romantic masterpiece, now forty-five years old. The lavish spectacle of cinematographer Freddie Young's palette has been preserved, his vibrant red-star primaries have retained their power, skintones are both pleasant and flattering, and contrast is altogether impressive. Though black levels aren't always as deep as modern filmfans have come to expect, it rarely hinders the impact of the photography. Likewise, while detail isn't as sharp or consistent as it is in the studio's best presentations, I suspect such shortcomings trace back to Lean and Young's photography, the age and era of the film, and the condition of the original print. Nighttime sequences sometimes suffer from softness and a general lack of fine textures, and a few shots have possibly been processed a bit too vigorously. That being said, the film's daytime exteriors, well-lit interiors, and sweeping landscapes and locales look fantastic. In each case, fabric and facial textures are more natural and apparent, edges are crisp and clean, overall clarity is satisfying, and grain is intact. I also didn't detect any distracting digital anomalies or notice any unreasonable print blemishes. Significant ringing, artifacting, banding, and aliasing simply aren't a factor, and scratches and nicks are few and far between.
Does the Blu-ray edition outclass every previous release of the film? Without a doubt. There's no comparison really. Do I believe Warner has done Doctor Zhivago justice? Absolutely. Will everyone gush over its transfer? Sadly, no. It will never be the flawless, razor-sharp marvel some high definition enthusiasts demand every release be. But that shouldn't prevent anyone from enjoying this beautifully restored tour de force or discovering a host of new sights in one of Lean's finest.
From the opening bars of Jarre's overture to the fanciful strings that swell the moment Yevgraf declares, "then it's a gift," Doctor Zhivago's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track showcases another admirable aspect of Warner Brothers' excellent restoration. Honestly, I expected LFE output and rear speaker activity to be a wash, but even when Jarre's stirring score isn't billowing across the soundfield, the thunder of horse hooves, the somber snarl of departing trains, the unrelenting winds of a snow-blown hellscape, and the clamor of hurried crowds emerge from every channel, immersing the listener in Lean's Russia. Low-end tones lend welcome weight and heft to many a scene, and acoustics and environmental ambience are surprisingly authentic. Yet the mix never drifts too far of course; it never turns its back on its sonic roots. Front-heavy as it may sometimes be, it expands the experience without resorting to any transparent trickery. While I would have adored sampling the best of both worlds (the inclusion of a high-quality 5.1 track and a faithful, ideally lossless presentation of Zhivago's original audio mix would have been most appreciated), the studio's remix pays homage to the filmmakers' intentions and effortlessly enhances the tone and tenor of the film. If I have any complaint, it's that dialogue -- though robust, healthy, and smartly prioritized on the whole -- is occasionally tinny, shallow even, and several sound effects are notably shrill. Still, considering the age of the film and the condition of the original elements, it's hardly a concern. Not every lossless mix that graces a catalog classic measures up, but Doctor Zhivago's DTS-HD Master Audio track complements Warner's video transfer nicely. Personally, I'm delighted with the results.
I'm not exactly a fan of Digibooks, but it's difficult to deny that Doctor Zhivago's sturdy case is both handsome and classy. The Digibook itself houses two of the set's three discs in clear plastic shells (one on either side of Warner's gorgeous 40-page booklet) while a separate cardboard sleeve has been devoted to the bonus soundtrack sampler. As for the discs themselves, disc one, a roomy BD-50, includes the film, a commentary track, and a 40-minute documentary; disc two, a standard DVD, contains the remaining supplemental content; and disc three, an audio CD, offers eight selections from composer Maurice Jarre's rousing score.
Grand, evocative, sweeping, and unabashedly romantic, Doctor Zhivago has endured forty-five years of critical scrutiny and arrived in the 21st century largely unscathed. It isn't a perfect film by any means, nor is it an infallible classic, but it is a marvelous, utterly extravagant testament to an age and style of filmmaking that's tragically fading from modern memory. Thankfully, Warner Brothers is doing everything in its power to propel Zhivago into the future with a remarkable restoration and an equally remarkable Blu-ray release. Equipped with a strong video transfer, a dramatic DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and a generous supplemental package, it deserves a coveted spot in many a cinephile's collection. I know it's found a place in mine.
70th Anniversary Edition
1939
40th Anniversary Edition
1981
2012
65th Anniversary Limited Edition
1957
1956
1994
1980
80th Anniversary Edition
1942
1978
2012
1996
1951
1942
1966
2003
Il gattopardo
1963
1960
25th Anniversary Edition
1993
Fox Studio Classics
1960
60th Anniversary Limited Edition
1962