8 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
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
English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Arabic, Dutch
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
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.
Sony's commitment to releasing the finest Blu-ray products is evident with every spin of a Sony-branded disc. The consistency of product -- from the
latest blockbusters to the most cherished classic titles from years gone by -- is arguably tops in the entire industry, and why shouldn't it be; Sony
was a lead Blu-ray design and advocacy outfit, its PlayStation 3 console offered disc playback and instant wide format adoption, and the first wave of
titles released back in 2006 bore the
Sony label on the spine. Since then, and through a few growing pains and spurts -- a bloody format war, a misstep or two, the transition from Dolby TrueHD to DTS-HD Master Audio -- the
studio has emerged as the most trustworthy in the industry when it comes to its Blu-ray product. When it says Sony, chances are extremely
high that the movie is going to look
(and sound) about as good as the format allows. Now, Sony is recalling the days of its "Superbit" DVD releases with the emergence of "Mastered in
4K"
(*)
Blu-ray discs. The initial wave consists of a handful of films, all of which have enjoyed previous, and largely very high quality, Blu-ray transfers. The
new
transfers are sourced from 4K masters but here's where the giant asterisk comes in: they're then downscaled to standard Blu-ray 1080p resolution.
That
means buyers can enjoy them on their regular old Blu-ray players and their regular old HDTVs -- no fancy new hardware required. The downside is
that
viewers aren't really seeing the material in 4K; even those who shell out the large sum of cash for a new 4K TV will be treated only to an upscaled
presentation, much the same way today's regular old TV/playback 1080p device combos upscale standard definition DVDs.
Watching the "Mastered in 4K" transfer in 1080p does yield some benefits over the standard 1080p Blu-ray releases, even if it's not a true 4K
experience. The discs
take advantage of a significantly higher bitrate than regular old Blu-ray discs, meaning more muscle to produce the finest picture quality, revealing
superior details and showcasing that perfect cinematic, pleasing grain texturing for pictures photographed on film and more accuracy for those
photographed in the wholly digital realm. "Mastered in 4K" discs also promise superior color balance and accuracy, reproducing a more
faithful-to-the-source palette that will reveal the sort of natural shading and subtle nuance even the best of 1080p Blu-ray cannot match. More, Sony
promises
enhanced viewing on its own line of 4K TVs thanks to a proprietary upscaling algorithm that's designed to squeeze the most out of
the "Mastered in 4K" line of Sony discs, above and beyond what any competitor's display can offer. Makes sense considering some branch of Sony is at
work
along every step of the process. Unfortunately, one of Sony's shiny new 4K televisions was not available for review purposes, but suffice it to say that
either of the launch displays -- the 55" and 65" XBR-labeled sets -- will undoubtedly offer the best consumer viewing picture to date, whether joined
with a Sony "Mastered in 4K" disc or a regular old Blu-ray from any studio.
Sony previously released Glory to Blu-ray in June 2009 to largely excellent results in the picture
quality department. The studio has revisited one of the best films in its -- or any studio's -- library with a more balanced, more filmic, more beautiful
presentation of the Civil War classic. The transfer showcases fine grain throughout, grain that's even and subtle but critically present to help define
the
finest details and provide a pure cinematic texture. Grain does spike once or twice, notably when Shaw is first presented with the opportunity to
command the regiment while in the presence of Governor Andrew and Frederick Douglass. The details throughout the film are largely spectacular.
The
brightest scenes yield the best clarity and visible nuance, particularly in the blue uniform textures -- fabric, frays, rank insignia -- all the way down to
the
design on Shaw's sword, seen briefly in the opening minutes in a shot showing him on the march towards Antietam. Additionally, facial textures are
complexly pure, and terrain, vegetation, and manmade structures look fantastic. Even in darker scenes and through the literal fog of war -- when
smoke from cannon and musket fire clutter the screen -- the transfer's superior stability shines through. Colors are beautifully balanced and fully
accurate. Red trimming on drums, brass buttons on uniforms, blue rank insignia, and flags all sparkle. Certainly, the entire palette feels a little more
vibrant than that of the previous release, though not by significant leaps and bounds. Skin textures, too, appear perfectly balanced. Black levels
sometimes drift to a slightly pale appearance in the darkest shots. The image appears free of unwanted edge enhancement, banding, blockiness, or
other eyesores. To be sure, this is an improvement over the previous release, not quite so pronounced as Ghostbusters but more pronounced than, say, The Karate Kid. Still, a fabulous transfer all around and, even without
an
upscaling ability, a must for dedicated fans of what is one of the finest motion pictures ever made.
All screenshots have been sourced from the "Mastered in 4K" Blu-ray disc. The first sixteen shots have been selected to match those found in
the review of the old release. New screenshots have also been aded for perusal.
Glory comes alive on Blu-ray with a well-crafted Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack, the same, it seems, as found on the previous release. 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.
THis Blu-ray release of Glory contains no bonus content.
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 "Mastered in 4K" Blu-ray release of Glory contains no extra content, a good lossless soundtrack, and a great "Mastered in 4K" transfer. It's an improvement, albeit not a major one, over the last release. Considering the quality of the film, the uptick in PQ, and the rather low price, those who deeply appreciate Director Edward Zwick's masterpiece owe it to themselves to make a purchase. 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