Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video |  | 4.5 |
| Audio | | 4.0 |
| Extras | | 4.0 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
Hard to Be a God Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 2, 2015
Co-writer/director Aleksey German passed away in 2013, just as he was putting the finishing touches on “Hard to Be a God.” Illness shadowed his life in later years, with the filmmaker funneling what was left of his energy into an adaptation of a complex Russian novel, which took six years to shoot and another six to finish. A herculean effort has been put into the creation of “Hard to Be a God,” and artful passion shines throughout this bewildering, intoxicating picture, which provides a unique test of viewer endurance for those interested in a challenge.
Although technically classified as a sci-fi picture, “Hard to Be a God” remains in the muck, recreating the Dark Ages in a painstaking manner that allows the viewer to feel every drop of mud and filth, every moment of mental illness, and every step of agony. If the feature offered Smell-O-Vision, it would qualify as a lethal weapon. German pays only moderate attention to a plot, instead investing fully in atmosphere, supplying harrowing visits to a diseased period, delivering unforgettable images that bend the black and white cinematography to a breaking point. It’s a gorgeous creation, but not involving in a dramatic sense, electing to immerse viewers in this alien land, not necessarily take them on an emotional journey.
Hard to Be a God Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation explores a movie that's almost exclusively about screen detail. Textures for this alien world of mud and spit are handled satisfactorily, with plenty of touchable surfaces and costumes, while frame depth is sustained. Black and white cinematography is comfortably balanced, though never deeply realized, offering a brightness that appears inherent to the production. Delineation never solidifies, with interiors holding their frame information.
Hard to Be a God Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't built for expanse, rarely surging through the surrounds for a truly immersive listening experience. The track is more about atmospherics, which are extremely detailed to match the chaos of the setting, finding animal sounds, environmental changes, and group activity coming through with clarity. Dialogue exchanges are healthy and sharp. Music is sparingly used, but also arrives intact, sounding clean and full.
Hard to Be a God Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Booklet (16 pages) contains a Director's Statement from Aleksei German and essays by Alexey German Jr. and Aliza Ma.
- Making Of (44:36, HD) is an intense journey of career, philosophy, and time itself with Aleksei German, who walks the viewer through his thoughts on life and cinema. A discussion of the director's illnesses is offered, and some valuable behind-the-scenes footage is included.
- Introduction (29:55, HD) with co-screenwriter Svetlana Karmalita is captured during a special Parisian program devoted to the films of German.
- And a Theatrical Trailer (1:55, HD) is included.
Hard to Be a God Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
At three hours in length, "Hard to Be a God" is not built for casual viewing, ideal for those who enjoy experiencing surreal visions from lost cinema artists. A picture like this is an event, with a backstory as fascinating as the film itself. Thankfully, German puts on quite a show with "Hard to Be a God," making certain every frame of this strange odyssey is packed to the brim with life.
