6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Against his fathers wishes, upper-class Harvard student Oliver marries Jenny, a girl from a poor Italian family. After some struggle, Oliver finishes law school and the young couple are about to start a family when Jenny is found to be gravely ill.
Starring: Ali MacGraw, Ryan O'Neal, John Marley, Ray Milland, Russell NypeRomance | 100% |
Drama | 24% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: Dolby Digital Mono
French: Dolby Digital Mono
Portuguese: Dolby Digital Mono
English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Love means never having to say you're sorry.
The Bible teaches that "love is patient, love is kind...and always perseveres." More or less, that's reflected in the story of Love Story, the
simply-titled, simply-crafted, but incredibly well-acted and conceived story of, what else, love. Director Arthur Hiller's (See No Evil, Hear No Evil) picture offers an honest look at love, a love
that may be transitory in its physical embodiment in the real world but that lives on strongly, that forever perseveres, where it truly matters the most:
in the heart and spirit, through that invisible yet unbreakable bond between soul mates. Love remains, in life or death, in sickness or health, and
trumps all things -- physical, emotional, spiritual -- that may challenge its unique supremacy between two forever-connected entities. It's something
from which joy, tenderness, understanding, and life itself all may spring, something that is perhaps beyond understanding but that is certainly
not above knowing. In the end, maybe love really does mean never having to say "sorry," for in love -- true love -- there's only
innate forgiveness. There's only moments to treasure, time together to remember that cannot slip away in anger or absence or even permanent
separation that sees a break in the physical but a continuing steadfastness in the spiritual that is forever.
In love.
Love Story has aged very nicely. Paramount's 1080p Blu-ray release of this catalogue title that's now over 40 years in age looks marvelous. The image is naturally filmic and very nicely detailed. Light grain remains, accentuating finer details on complex clothes -- knitted sweaters and the creases and wear in leather jackets -- and human faces alike. Clarity is very strong, too, which also enhances textures, depth, and general stability, though a few softer shots remain. Colors are steady and accurate, whether bright red dresses, the crimson Harvard hockey jersey, or various toned-down earthen shades. Flesh tones are balanced, and blacks are fine. The print is clean and relatively free of distracting debris or damage. Banding, blocking, and other ills are largely absent. This is a very handsome transfer that should please longtime fans.
Love Story's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack is fair, at best. The majority of the film is front-heavy, though adequately spaced across that line of speakers. The ambient sounds of the coffee shop near film's start and general outdoor city ambience both play with adequate spacing but also sound clunky and indistinct. The hockey scenes enjoy a bit more vigor than do most, with perhaps a slight bit more surround presence, through again effects -- from slashing skates to a blowing referee's whistle -- lack natural distinction. Music is fairly smooth and enjoys decent clarity, though again is predominantly front-heavy. Dialogue is fair, center-focused but sometimes a bit shallow. At the end of the day, this is an aging soundtrack of a movie that's not very dynamic to begin with. The presentation is fine for what the movie calls for, but this won't dazzle any in the audience.
Love Story contains three extras.
Love Story is as simple as it sounds. It's a story of love, of two people who find they share something so deep that it can only really be felt and not explained. The picture is true and unassuming, evenly paced and always playing with an honest integrity as it eschews genre convention in favor of a genuine slice-of-life look at two people in love as they are, not as Hollywood dictates they should be. Excellent performances and steady direction make Love Story a movie that's easy to fall for. Paramount's Blu-ray release of Love Story features strong video, fair audio, and a few supplements. Recommended.
Warner Archive Collection
1960
2014
Fox Studio Classics
1953
2010
1982
2014
2011
2001
50th Anniversary
1973
2017
2019
2001
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1955
2011
2006
1942
2013
Includes "Him", "Her", and "Them" Cuts
2014
2015
Unrated Edition
2015