Lonesome Dove Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		3.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Lonesome Dove Blu-ray Movie Review

Mill Creek has released the classic Western miniseries 'Lonesome Dove' to two-disc Blu-ray. The series was previously released to Blu-ray in 2008 under the Weinstein Company label. This release appears to be sourced form the same master (though the image is slightly tweaked) but ditches both the 2008 Blu-ray's multichannel audio and most of the included supplements, only carrying over the meatiest of them all.

Lonesome Dove Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of Lonesome Dove appears to be sourced form the same master utilized for the 2008 release. The main differences include a move from VC-1 on the Weinstein disc to MPEG-4 on this Mill Creek disc. The image appears to be brighter than the older release, with slightly elevated blacks and raised contrast amongst the defining characteristics. Any changes in textural qualities are negligible, but one might consider the older release ever-so-slightly more dense and organic. Overall, on its own, it's a good image, offering quality detailing on worn and weathered Old West faces, well-worn clothes, earthy terrain, wooden planks around town, and the like. The series holds fairly steady to a collection of earthen colors -- browns, beiges -- with some natural greenery mixed in. Contrast is not over-pumped, and if anything the image looks a bit airy and light. It's very watchable as it is. There's obviously room for improvement in a dedicated remastering but fans and newcomers alike should find the viewing experience pleasant though not dynamic.

Lonesome Dove Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Lonesome Dove has yet to appear on Blu-ray with a lossless or uncompressed audio configuration. The previously issued Blu-ray included a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack; this one downgrades that to a two-channel lossy configuration. The track is adequate. Environmental details do well to stretch across the front, whether birds and insects, crackling fires, or din around town. Gunshots lack depth and the absence of surround information and a subwoofer channel limit some of the shootouts (and various other sounds like galloping horses or a mooing cattle herd) but there's more than enough feel for general space and detail up front. Music is adequately detailed and wide, though the absence of a low end limits the feel for richness and range. Dialogue images nicely to the front-center position.

Lonesome Dove Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of Lonesome Dove contains one extra that carries over from the 2008 release: The Making of an Epic (480i, 49:29). From the 2008 review: this vintage piece begins with a recap of the program and contains a massive amount of interviews with the cast and crew, recounting everything a 'Lonesome Dove' fan could ever want to know. The previous 2008 set included several additional featurettes that are not included here, but at least the "primary" supplement has been ported over. The main menu screen only allows users to choose which part of the movie to watch (parts one and two on disc one, parts three and four on disc two; the Weinstein set featured parts one, two, and three on disc one and part four plus extras on disc two).

Lonesome Dove Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lonesome Dove is every bit the series that the reputation that precedes it claims. Gripping, extraordinarily well cast and performed, and unforgettable, it's certainly one of the giants in America's most storied genre. Mill Creek's Blu-ray gets the job done. Video is not much changed from the old 2008 release. Audio is a downgrade to two-channel and this release only carries over one of several extras. There is also a Mill Creek SteelBook, which is a good bit different beyond packaging. Recommended.