6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The story of Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent, who quits his job to devote his life to rescuing children from global sex traffickers.
Starring: Jim Caviezel, Eduardo Verástegui, Javier Godino, Gustavo Sánchez Parra, Kurt FullerBiography | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
English, English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Sound of Freedom releases through Angel Studios, the same company behind the smash hit Christian TV show The Chosen. While a Christian film, Sound of Freedom is not necessarily a family friendly affair. Moderate foul language and a very dark, distressing, and disturbing subject matter -- children kidnapped for the sex trade -- is at the center of the film. It's a difficult watch, but it's a necessary watch, shining light on unimaginable darkness not presented as entertainment but rather as a sobering perspective on the prevailing evil within the world today. Be prepared to be moved and broken as the story develops and, eventually, resolves.
Angels Studios releases Sound of Freedom to the Blu-ray format with a satisfactory 1080p transfer. The image is largely unremarkable, offering good, if not basic, HD visuals as sourced from the mid-grade digital shoot. Noise is fairly prevalent, especially in lower light -- and there are a good number of lower light shots, scenes, and sequences in the film -- but for the most part the image is fine. Colors are a little amplified for effect, giving the sense of slight heat and sweat through the colorful and sticky South American locales. Colors lack absolute nuance but appear to be impactful within the filmmaker intended appearances. Blacks are a little soupy, too, adding to the visceral impact at work. White balance is decent and skin tones look fine, again within context. Detail is solid enough. The image isn't remarkable in terms of the definition found on faces and clothes and environments, but suffice it to say everything reaches a satisfactory level of intricate clarity on essentials in close- and medium-distance shots. The source is not the best, and the Blu-ray appears to do all it can under the constraints. It's a very serviceable image, but not one to exhibit for reference consideration.
Sound of Freedom features no lossless audio option; the primary presentation here is Dolby Digital 5.1, the same found on Vidangel's Blu-ray releases for The Chosen. Despite the lack of lossless, the presentation is solid enough in its own right, offering listeners plenty of surround extension in bustling South American locales or reverb and confinement in the cargo containers into which the kidnapped children are shipped around the world. Overall clarity is good, lacking the nuance that lossless affords, but most listeners will probably not notice much difference between this and any would-be 5.1 lossless mixes. Musical clarity and fidelity are fine, offering good front stretch and modest surround support. Dialogue is clear and efficiently presented with natural front-center placement and solid prioritization.
This Blu-ray release of Sound of Freedom includes the following Trailers (1080p): Angel Promo (2:48), Sound of Freedom (2:08), Cabrini (2:27), The Shift (2:32), The Wingfeather Saga, and Tuttle Twins (1:37). A DVD copy of the film and a digital copy code are included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover.
Sound of Freedom explores challenging material in a way that is gritty but accessible. It is one of the darkest faith-based films on the market, but the "faith-based" label is certainly not the defining element here: the call to attention to the depravity of child trafficking is. The film is difficult to watch but nevertheless necessary as a sobering look into the realities that pervade the world today. Angel Studios' Blu-ray delivers adequate 1080p video and lossy 5.1 audio. No meaningful extras are included. Recommended based solely on the strength, quality, and necessity of the film.
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