5.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
After losing the love of his life to a cruel Philistine prince, a young Hebrew with Supernatural strength defends his people, sacrificing everything to avenge his love, his people, and his God.
Starring: Jackson Rathbone, Billy Zane, Taylor James (I), Rutger Hauer, Lindsay WagnerFantasy | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
There are several Biblical characters and events that transcend Christianity, that have become ingrained in culture and part of the common lexicon of believers and non-believers alike. Creation and Christ, Daniel and David, and Saul and the story of Samson are amongst the Bible's most widely known highlight reels. The story of Samson, the supposedly (who knows for sure!) musclebound and long-locked man whom God granted great strength and who lost it under the pressures of great temptation has been the subject of several films, including the well-regraded Cecil B. DeMille 1949 film Samson and Delilah. 2018's more succinctly titled Samson, Directed by Bruce Macdonald, stars Taylor James in the title role of the famed Biblical character whose legendary strength, forged in his faith, has made him into one of the great icons from the Bible.
Samson arrives on Blu-ray with a natively digital 1080p transfer framed at approximately 2.35:1. This is, more often than not, a high yield presentation. There is some low light noise infecting lower light shots -- darker interiors, generally, but occasionally visible elsewhere -- but additional visual shortcomings generally associated with more modestly budgeted digital productions are very few and far between: drone shots lack crispness and a few effects shots suffer from significantly poor resolution and other problematic eyesores, like aliasing. Otherwise, textural efficiency is very high. Close-ups are intimately revealing, and while the image has something of a flat, slightly glossy digital sheen, it in no way interferes with the transfer's abilities to reveal skin, fabrics, armor, stone structures, and dusty terrain with careful attention paid to the finest examples of wear and complexity. There are some mildly smudgy edges which are inherent to the original source. Colors are pleasing to the eye, enjoying a nice level of saturation and intensity, particularly various clothing hues that contrast against predominantly earthy backdrops. The transfer is fairly strong overall, like the movie limited by its sources but presenting fairly well on Blu-ray.
Samson's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack isn't as strong as the film's namesake, but it's adequately potent when it must be. The track is fairly straightforward. Music enjoys a pleasing amount of front-end width, pushing towards the far edges and presenting with good instrumental clarity throughout the range as well as a solid low end support element as necessary. The subwoofer impact carries over to various action scenes as well, including a lion's growl when Samson finds himself face-to-face with the beast in chapter six, in support of spilling and crumbling rubble, and shaping thunder claps in the film's finale. Surrounds engage at peak usage during the climactic scene in the film and carry variously light but mood-critical effects as necessary. Dialogue propels the majority of the film, and its presentation is without flaw in terms of detail, placement, and prioritization.
Samson's Blu-ray release contains a featurette and two music videos. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are
included with purchase.
Samson lacks the polish of a bigger budget production, but Pure Flix has achieved a fairly stout picture even through a handful of limitations thanks to absorbing source material, a few good-to-great performances, and excellent story flow. Universal's Blu-ray delivers a quality video and audio experience. Extras are not substantial but the studio has at least seen fit to throw in a few bonus goodies. Recommended.
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