7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Several pillars of society have robbed an Army safe containing $100,000 so they can buy the land upon which the coming railroad will be built. But they haven't reckoned on the presence of the master gunslinger, Sabata.
Starring: Lee Van Cleef, William Berger, Franco Ressel, Aldo Canti, Linda VérasWestern | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.34:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Already an actor with an extensive history in westerns, Lee Van Cleef found himself in possession of a red-hot career after the global success of 1966’s “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” working his way up from supporting turns to starring roles. 1969’s “Sabata” was one of many gunslinger efforts Van Cleef participated in during this critical time, transformed into a glaring, unforgiving hero, feeding into a slightly zany atmosphere of showdowns masterminded by director Gianfranco Parolini. “Sabata” is an odd one, teeming with exaggerated characters, mild gymnastics, and the image of Van Cleef as the titular character, prowling around with delightful screen confidence, especially for a character who keeps a coin as part of his arsenal. For the most part, the movie has a snappy pace, fierce style, and bursts of aggression, keeping genre elements alert as it details a peculiar story of blackmail.
The AVC encoded image (2.34:1 aspect ratio) presentation doesn't feature a consistent run of damage and debris, but pockets of trouble are detectable, along with some mild flicker. Grain appears tasteful and largely contained, delivering a filmic appearance. Colors are aged but remain communicative, offering welcome hues for costumes and interior decoration, while the western palette of dusty browns and cool grays remains intact. Detail is available, with reasonable textures during close-ups, while set design and distances are open for inspection. Blacks are thick but seldom impenetrable, with delineation adequate.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix emerges with a heavily dubbed presence, making dialogue exchanges thick but understandable, with slower emphasis to keep up with the translation, helping to preserve performances. Atmospherics are pronounced, with jangly spurs and whooshing winds, but lack crispness, adding to the muddy sound of the movie. Scoring is available, with passable clarity and definition, but nothing emerges as dominant, with levels managed to keep performances top priority. Highs with violence and outbursts do register on the shrill side, hitting some weak extremes when passions come alive.
"Sabata" offers gunfights, a villain with an amazing comb-over and a deadly cane, flip-happy supporting characters, and plenty of squinty duels. But the real star of the show is Van Cleef, who snarls his way through a charmingly meaty performance, allowing body language to guide the work. As the focal point of the movie, Van Cleef sustains the gunslinger's acts of intimidation and evasion, making him a welcome rogue out to stomp on those who cross his invisible line. "Sabata" is most engaging when simply keeping close to Van Cleef, finding everything it needs in the actor's icy stare.
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