6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Steven Grant discovers he's been granted the powers of an Egyptian moon god. But he soon finds out that these newfound powers can be both a blessing and a curse to his troubled life.
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Ethan Hawke, May Calamawy, F. Murray Abraham, Karim El HakimComic book | 100% |
Adventure | 93% |
Action | 85% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
When Howard Carter famously discovered the tomb of pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1922, that archeological (literal) goldmine may or may not have engendered a "curse", but it certainly helped to spark an interest in Egyptology that rippled through the general zeitgeist of the 1920s and beyond and which informed everything from the study of comparative religion to ancient Egypt inspired design choices (which rather interestingly blended quite well with the then nascent Art Deco movement). All of that may have seemed somewhat comical to anyone who may have been a relative elder in the 1920s and who may have lived long enough to remember what was actually called Egyptomania in the mid to late 19th century, where England in particular was suddenly "ground zero" for architectural triumphs (?) like obelisks and where so-called occult organizations like the Golden Dawn had "initiation" traditions which were filled to the brim with supposed Egyptian lore. (Those of us on this side of the pond had our own potential occult adjacent opportunity rife with Egyptology in Helena Blavatsky's Theosophy movement.) As is discussed in a somewhat lengthy making of supplement included with this release, the love of Egypt and Egyptology was front and center once again for the creatives behind Moon Knight, a miniseries which may or may not be returning for a second season (as of the writing of this review, no "official" announcement has been made, but there's of course been plenty of speculation by fans).
Moon Knight: The Complete First Season is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Disney / Buena Vista with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. Captured with Arri cameras and finished at 4K, this is yet another generally stunning looking presentation from the folks at Marvel and Disney+. While I will cut to the chase and simply say those with 4K setups should probably opt for the standalone 4K UHD release, those with "only" standard 1080 setups shouldn't fret too much, as both detail levels and palette reproduction are typically superior throughout the six episodes offered on the two discs of this set. This particular effort may actually benefit from the relative absence of "major" CGI created characters (though there are some regular occurrences including Khonshu, voiced by F. Murray Abraham), which means there may be more on screen opportunities for practical sets, props and costumes, all of which tend to offer really excellent fine detail levels. The palette is typically gorgeously suffused and both evocatively lit and/or graded material contrasts with some stunning outdoor desert material to offer a really satisfying blend of deep primaries, stunning pastels and some surprisingly vibrant "neutrals" like the beiges on display in the desert scenes. There are some very minor hints of banding that can be spotted throughout several episodes when lighting values suddenly change.
Moon Knight: The Complete First Season follows Disney / Buena Vista and Marvel's kind of odd decision to grant their 4K UHD releases Dolby Atmos tracks, while keeping the 1080 versions "limited" to DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks. Again cutting to the chase, I'd certainly recommend those with 4K and Atmos ready setups to opt for the 4K release linked to above, since the Atmos track (literally?) ups the ante of already excellent surround activity in the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks on this disc. But that's the salient point: the 5.1 audio on these episodes is perfectly enjoyable on its own merits and shouldn't concern audiophiles too much in terms of what they're missing. Engagement of the side and rear channels is consistent throughout all six episodes, and is especially noticeable in all of the calamitous hand to hand combat that takes place. Other fun sonic moments, like when Arthur Harrow creates a ripple in the force (or something like that) also offer some enjoyable panning effects. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English, French and Spanish subtitles are available.
Disc One
Moon Knight offers a real showcase for Oscar Isaac, and the interplay between the various personalities inhabiting "Steven" becomes rather gonzo as things progress, offering Isaac even more opportunities to strut his stuff. The story is perhaps a tad rote when you get right down to it, playing as yet another riff on the "bringing ancient divinities back to life" idea that has been part and parcel of any number of other properties, notably American Gods. Technical merits are first rate, though my advice is those with 4K setups to opt for that version over this simultaneously released 1080 version. Supplements and SteelBook packaging provide additional allure. Recommended.
2021
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