6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
This feature-length history special looks at the battle of Gettysburg from the perspective of the everyday soldiers who fought there, in a confrontation that changed the fate of our nation. Stripping away the romanticized veneer of past treatments, this special conveys new information and honors the sacrifice of those, both North and South, who fought and died there.
Director: Adrian MoatHistory | 100% |
War | 65% |
Documentary | 63% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In the recent tenth anniversary commemoration of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, we were repeatedly reminded that around 3,000 innocent people lost their lives that horrible day. Some of the many pundits on the air over the days leading up to the main memorial ceremonies tried to put this total into context by drawing a contrast with the attack on Pearl Harbor, which claimed around 2,400 lives. But more than one commentator also brought up the Civil War and its enormous toll on our nation’s lifeblood. This was obviously done not to slight the tragedy of 9/11, but perhaps to remind us of a salient fact that has disappeared in the vestiges of time, namely that the Civil War was by far the bloodiest, costliest event in terms of lives that this nation has ever suffered here in its own boundaries. While the horror of having been attacked by outside elements in both the Pearl Harbor and 9/11 tragedies can’t be underestimated, how much more horrible is it to contemplate the fact that the Civil War was a self-inflicted wound? The cliché of brother fighting brother has long been used to highlight the internecine aspect of the conflict, but perhaps it has become such a cliché, actual thinking about what it must have been like tends not to delve very deeply a lot of the time. We’re into a four year period now where we’re commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, and that will no doubt bring many television specials and other events helping to elucidate the incredible viciousness of this conflict which literally tore our nation in two. Gettysburg is an excellent, if generalist, documentary done for the History Channel, executive produced by the film world’s iconic brothers Ridley and Tony Scott, which gives a fascinating overview of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Contrast 9/11’s death toll of around 3,000 with Gettsyburg’s death toll of around 50,000 (exact numbers are impossible to know due to a number of factors) and some idea of the mass destruction of the three day battle becomes at least a little more real for those who pause to actually consider the numbers and attempt to connect with the human tragedies hiding behind the statistics.
Gettysburg blasts onto Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. Perhaps due to the Scott Brothers' involvement, the recreations here have more of an epic film look than many similar History Channel documentaries. Sequences are filtered and desaturated, and several feature freeze frames and other devices. Overall, fine detail is exceptional throughout the series, even in some of the strangely filtered segments. Colors tend to be skewed wildly and widely at times due to intentional filtering and desaturation, but in the contemporary interview talking heads segments, they are absolutely accurate and very well saturated. Unlike many television offerings on Blu-ray, this is presented in a 1080p (as opposed to 1080i) transfer and that helps the documentary achieve a nicely flowing filmic quality that reproduces the superb production values very well.
Gettysburg's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio mix is incredibly well realized, with floorboard shattering LFE pulsing through the documentary's ninety minute or so running time. While the voiceover narration and talking heads segments are expectedly anchored in the front channels, the battle sequences are fully alive with surround activity, with a variety of great panning effects as blasts and bullets fly this way and that. The low end of this documentary is really astounding at times, with some of the most impressive LFE in recent memory, at least with regard to documentaries and not typical summer action blockbusters. Fidelity is excellent throughout the documentary, and though the piece tends toward some busy sonic activity, the mix is very well done and important information being imparted in the narration is always clear and well prioritized.
No supplements are offered on this Blu-ray disc.
Gettsyburg may not be the be-all end-all in Civil War documentaries in general, or for this battle in particular, but it does manage to highlight some individual stories, as well as some technical aspects, very well. This piece is probably better approached as an adjunct to study rather than the "main event," so to speak. With unusually high production values, and some very visceral recreations of some of the major battles, this is an excellent introduction or review of the "turning point" of the Civil War, though those with an intense interest in the subject will no doubt want more information than this generalist piece offers. With great looking video and astoundingly well done audio, this release is Recommended.
1990
2017
2018
1973
World War II in HD
2009
2007
2010
150th Anniversary Edition
2012
2014
2014
2012
2010
2011
75th Anniversary Edition
2014
Deluxe Edition
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1977
2010
2019
2012
2016