8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.3 |
Robert Gould Shaw leads the U.S. Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices from both his own Union Army and the Confederates.
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman, Jihmi KennedyWar | 100% |
History | 97% |
Drama | 45% |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
French: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
We fight for men and women whose poetry is not yet written, but which will presently be as
enviable and renowned as any.
Though the American Civil War has not spawned the same number of classic films as either World
War II or
the Vietnam Conflict, Director Edward Zwick's (Defiance) moving,
important, and expertly assembled 1989 film Glory finds its
message and setting in the midst of the bloodiest conflict in American history.
Though the
winner of three Academy
Awards, including Best Supporting Actor (Denzel Washington, Training Day), Best
Cinematography, and Best Sound, neither the film, its director, nor its composer earned
nominations, both the Best
Picture and Best Music, Original Score nomination snubs perhaps two of the great injustices in
the
history of the award. Not only a well-made film from a technical perspective, Glory takes
audiences on a moving spiritual and emotional journey that sees the corruption, repression, and
prejudices of the day breed not contempt or hatred but rather a bond among men with not the
color of
their skin their defining attribute but rather their moral code, spiritual foundation, and
unwavering desire for equality not only in the safe haven of their tents but on the front lines of
combat.
Glory Hallelujah.
Glory debuts on Blu-ray with a high quality 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer. Though the film often sports a somewhat hazy, faded appearance, the transfer reflects the intended look and sparkles in context. Battlefield smoke and drab colors occasionally mask fine detail, but the transfer nevertheless exhibits a wonderful film-like appearance. A generally heavy layer of film grain enhances the experience, and though the transfer sees some noise over bright backgrounds and the occasional speckle, it nevertheless recalls a nicely-rendered theatrical presentation. The transfer enjoys a fair amount of depth and detail in background objects. Likewise, close-up shots showcase an adequate level of detail in the uniforms, character faces, the brick façades and the wooden crates and barrels seen throughout the picture, and the sandy South Carolina beaches seen at the end of the film. Generally, the image is sharp, though several scenes exhibit a hint of softness that lends a bit of a surreal feel to them. The film features varying color schemes, parts of the film appearing almost monochromatic while others see vibrant reds and blues on the flags or greens that make up the grasses lining the fields of Antietam. Flesh tones and black levels don't disappoint. Glory is not a vibrant or abundantly colorful picture, but this Blu-ray presentation highly impresses thanks to its film-like presentation and faithfulness to the source.
Glory comes alive on Blu-ray with a well-crafted Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Explosions pack a wallop, some a bit more clear than others, with some sounding more like a jumbled mess of sound. Nevertheless, the track generally impresses. Artillery fire screams from one side of the soundstage to another, and the power of musket volleys penetrates the listening area and creates a terrifying sensation that brings the War to vivid life. After the battle of Antietam, the moans and cries of wounded men populate the listening area, accompanied by a slew of subtle sound effects heard off in the distance that never sounded so clear as they do here. Indeed, atmospherics impress throughout. The chatter and clanking of silverware in a scene in chapter three or a thunderstorm in chapter four that completely envelops the soundstage adds realism to the mix. The period wartime music, particularly the percussion section of the regiment's marching band, plays nicely all across the front soundstage with a fair amount of heft in support. Likewise, James Horner's score has never sounded better, both the military beats and the lighter, more angelic notes pouring from the speakers with pinpoint precision throughout the entire dynamic range. Dialogue, while generally strong, occasionally plays as a bit muffled. On the whole, though, Glory sounds great, easily the best the film has ever played for home viewing.
Glory enlists on Blu-ray with a nice selection of supplements. The package is headlined by a commentary track with Director Edward Zwick. He recounts both the making of the film and historical accounts of the War. He speaks on the violence of the War and its translation to the film, the locations and lighting, varied filming techniques used throughout the film, the work of the actors, the score, and so much more. Zwick delivers a superb track that is a must-listen for both fans of the film in particular and cinema in general. Virtual Civil War Battlefield allows users to click through points-of-interest on a map and learn about various aspects of the Civil War through both text and video-based features. The Voices of 'Glory' (480i, 11:18) is an all-too-brief feature that recounts the history of the 54th, primarily through letters written by the men during their wartime experiences. The True Story Continues (480i, 45:18) is a piece, narrated by Morgan Freeman, that takes viewers deeper into the history of the period and the 54th, intercut with actual and deleted scenes from the film. Original Theatrical Making-Of Featurette (480i, 7:36) is a vintage piece that recounts the story, features interview clips with cast and crew, and showcases behind-the-scenes footage. Next up is a pair of 480i deleted scenes (The Apple Picker, 3:03, and Crisis of Conscience, 2:35) with optional director's commentary. Concluding the supplements is BD-Live (Blu-ray profile 2.0) functionality and 1080p trailers for The Da Vinci Code: Extended Cut, The Patriot, Black Hawk Down, Air Force One, and The Legend of Zorro.
Director Edward Zwick's Glory is the definitive Civil War picture. Though not as epic-in-scope as Gettysburg, it is the more fundamentally and emotionally sound of the two, a picture where the drama defines the story and never becomes lost under the action. A winner of several Oscars though disappointingly failing to earn nominations for Best Picture and Best Score, the film nevertheless remains critical viewing not for its portrayal of the Civil War but rather for its profile in courage as a group of men define themselves not by the color of their skin but rather by their moral code, brotherhood, and steadfastness in defending both their lives and the principals they stand for, no matter the odds or their opponent. Completed by a memorable score courtesy of James Horner, Glory is a lasting tribute to both the power of courage and heroism and fantastic filmmaking. Sony's Blu-ray release of Glory never disappoints. Sporting a strong, film-like transfer; a powerful lossless soundtrack; and a fine selection of bonus materials; there is no reason not to make one of the best War films of the past several decades a permanent addition to any Blu-ray collection. Highly recommended.
2-Disc Special Edition
2006
Extended Director's Cut
2003
1995
1977
1969
9 rota | Collector's Edition
2005
2006
1962
1965
Director's Cut
1993
2001
Extended Cut
2000
2012
1955
2017
2002
2020
2011
1964
2018