8.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
During the Cold War, U.S. bomber jets are equipped with fail-safe boxes that instruct pilots when and if to attack. When an attack order is inadvertently administered due to a system malfunction, the President of the United States must scramble to fix the mistake before the bombs are dropped on Moscow.
Starring: Dan O'Herlihy, Walter Matthau, Frank Overton, Edward Binns, Fritz WeaverDrama | 100% |
War | 20% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (448 kbps)
None
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Sidney Lumet's "Fail-Safe" (1964) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Via Vision Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; audio commentary with director Sidney Lumet; and an archival featurette with clips from various interviews. In English, without optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
We are heading to Moscow
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Sidney Lumet's Fail-Safe arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Via Vision Entertainment.
The master that was used to source this release must have been prepared a while ago, most likely from a secondary source. Detail and clarity range from good to very good, and in select segments depth can actually be very pleasing. However, there are also some obvious density fluctuations; there are areas with visible contrast and sharpness fluctuations as well. Grain is visible throughout the entire film, but because of these fluctuations, some of which are not source-related, it can routinely appear under/overexposed. Overall image stability is very good. Finally, there are sporadic blemishes, some minor specks and even a few scratches popping up here and there. All in all, this is a decent presentation of Fail-Safe, but it is quite obvious that with a fresh new master the film will almost certainly look a lot better in high-definition. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Dolby Digital 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are not provided for the main feature.
There are no serious technical anomalies to report, but in certain areas the audio becomes a bit too thin. Clarity is pleasing, though occasionally some extremely mild background hiss nearly sneaks in. There are no audio dropouts or digital distortions to report in our review.
Sidney Lumet's Fail-Safe channels the same fears that inspired Stanley Kubrick to shoot Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. While there is a part of it that feels quite dated, its core message actually remains relevant today. The film is now available on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Via Vision Entertainment. It could look better in high-definition, but currently this is the only Blu-ray release on the market. RECOMMENDED.
(Still not reliable for this title)
1964
Nanjing! Nanjing!
2009
1963
5 Days of August
2011
2014
Imprint #42
1967
2004
1969
2008
1967
2015
2013
Special Edition
1986
2017
공동경비구역 JSA
2000
2008
Classics Remastered
1977
2011
World Cinema #03
2018
Cinema Cult
1957