8.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Torn from his homeland and the woman he loves, Spartacus, a Thracian warrior captured by Romans, is enslaved into a gladiator training school owned by Batiatus and his wife Lucretia. He is forced to fight daily for his life against deadly foes, under the brutal whip of trainer Doctore. Against all odds, Spartacus' rebellious instincts, his intense love for his wife Sura and his powerful fighting skills drive him to win a series of near-impossible battles - setting in motion a revolution against the tyranny of Rome. To survive, he must become more than a man, more than a gladiator. He must become a legend.
Starring: Andy Whitfield, Liam McIntyre, Lucy Lawless, Nick E. Tarabay, Peter MensahAction | 100% |
Adventure | 52% |
Epic | 50% |
History | 38% |
Period | 26% |
Biography | 12% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Four-disc set (4 BDs)
movieIQ
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Perhaps there is something beyond glory.
There's probably no other television show that's as potentially divisive as "Spartacus: Blood and Sand." Here's a series that pushes all sorts of
boundaries that even decidedly adult-oriented programs like "Oz" and "The Sopranos" would have never dared approach even but a few short years
ago.
Not only is "Spartacus" awash in the ultra-violence of ancient Rome's gladiatorial arenas, it's also home to blunt sexual dialogue, full-frontal male
and
female nudity, and plenty of steamy sex scenes that place the show in the same grouping as some of the more explicit soft-core pornographic
programs that used to be exclusive to middle-of-the-night airings on Cinemax. The series' first episode is particularly steamy and violent, but
viewers
who tuned out the show after its first outing missed out on a season that quickly turns into a far more emotionally engaging and thematically
challenging story arc than its "blood and boobs" early veneer may have otherwise suggested. No, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" isn't at the top of the
TV heap, and yes, the show probably exists more to push boundaries than it does to tell a meaningful story, but it still manages to offer a whole lot
of
good-old-fashioned entertainment that gets the blood pumping and the senses excited, all the while entwining some well-constructed drama and
good
character development amidst the cartoonish violence and almost nonstop parade of nudity, sexual intercourse, and the kind of explicit dialogue that
might
even
make Quentin Tarantino blush.
A legend is born.
"Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is set free on Blu-ray through a revealing 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer. Although the image sports a very glossy video-like sheen, it captures an exceptional level of detail that's evident from the series' first shot of the Thracian who will come to be called Spartacus awaiting his turn in the gladiator ring. Facial hairs; small lines and wrinkles in skin; beads of sweat; the stitching of his tattered clothes; and the texturing of the rough, worn, and filthy wall against which he sits are all revealed both here and elsewhere with an almost breathtaking level of excellence. Subsequently, the entire series proves to be nothing less than a showcase of stunningly gorgeous elements; whether the amazingly-rendered individual pebbles and grains of sand that make up much of the terrain seen in the show or the leather and metal armor pieces that are home to untold levels of detail, right down to the smallest nicks, scratches, and creases that are the result of everyday wear-and-tear and time in the arena, the transfer picks up and displays even the smallest details that elevate the transfer to lofty heights. Additionally, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" features an excellent color palette; although the show is dominated by earth tones, it delivers the more vibrant hues -- generally seen on clothes, hair, and gems -- as well as the tans, browns, grays, and greens that are so prominent in the series. Blood is bright red and cartoonish in appearance but displayed as it was meant to be seen. Black levels are generally of a high quality, though several scenes appear a bit too bright. The only real issue of note comes in the form of minor banding and the resultant poor color gradations sometimes seen in skies or, less frequently, human skin in slightly out-of-focus shots. Otherwise, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" delivers an excellent 1080p viewing experience that rivals many of the finest Blu-ray releases.
"Spartacus: Blood and Sand" storms onto Blu-ray with a high-powered Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Making fine use of the surround channels and often playing out with an aggressive posture and implementing plenty of wonderfully-realized sound effects, the entire 13-episode season is as sonically revealing as the show is visually stimulating. The highlight, of course, comes from the many gladiatorial battle sequences that feature an abundance of crowd noise spilling out from all over the soundstage, accentuated by the clanking of sword-on-sword or sword-on-armor contact, not to mention the series' amped up sounds of general human carnage accompanying various slices and dices into flesh and over-exaggerated sounds of blood exiting the body. Even better, the track doesn't shortchange listeners when it comes to clarity; the rambunctious elements are all strongly integrated, and while the track never completely fools the listener into believing he or she has suddenly been transported back in time, it does find a fair amount of distinction between elements with none of them sounding too phony or mushy. Several sound effects are accompanied by excellent imaging as sound moves effortlessly about the soundstage, and the track captures distinct, speaker-specific elements equally well. Additionally, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" features some lesser but no less critical atmospheric effects that heighten the calmer scenes throughout the film; a chilly winter's wind howling around the soundstage in one scene or insects buzzing about in another are but two examples of the various elements that spring to life and the ease with which the track replays more subtle nuances. Bass is never lacking in power, and the low end rattles the furniture in several scenes in support of both music and sound effects. The show's score plays with an effortlessness and pinpoint accuracy across the front and with a heavy surround-speaker accompaniment. Last but not least, dialogue is consistently crisp and accurate, primarily through the center channel. No doubt "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" sports something of an over-pumped and over-exaggerated listen at times, but Anchor Bay's lossless track handles it superbly, making it the perfect compliment to the show's cartoonish violence and nonstop action and sex.
"Spartacus: Blood and Sand" features extra material spread across all four discs, with the bulk of the extras found on disc four. MovieIQ
connectivity, episode recaps, and Spartacus Historicus: Pop-Up History -- the latter a pop-up trivia track that features "historical information
about gladiators and
the Roman Empire" -- may be found accompanying each episode. Several audio commentary tracks are also scattered throughout the set. The
following is a disc-by-disc breakdown of what's included.
Disc One
Disc one features extended versions of The Red Serpent and Sacramentum Gladiatorium while featuring episode-specific commentary
tracks for The Red Serpent (with Director Rick Jacobson, Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Executive Producers Rob
Tapert and Joshua Donen), Sacramentum Gladiatorium (with Director Rick Jacobson, Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight,
and Executive Producer Rob Tapert), and The Thing in the Pit (with Director Jesse Warn and Actor Andy Whitfield).
Disc Two
Disc two offers an enhanced version of Shadow Games and extended versions of Delicate Things and Mark of the
Brotherhood.
Audio commentaries include Director Michael Hurst and Actors Andy Whitfield and Lucy Lawless discussing Shadow Games and Director Rick
Jacobson, Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Actor Erin Cummings taking viewers through Delicate Things.
Disc Three
Only audio commentaries for Whore and Party Favors with Actors Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless, and Viva Bianca; and
Revelations with Writer Brent Fletcher, Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Actor Nick E. Taraby are included.
Disc Four
Aside from a commentary track accompanying the enhanced episode Kill Them All with Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight
and Actors Peter Mensah and Katrina Law, disc four features a host of additional extra content. First up is a collection of nine featurettes presented in
high definition. 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' -- Behind the Scenes (14:50) features cast and crew offering a brief general overview of
the series and its construction, sharing their thoughts on themes, the evolution of the series, the special effects, costumes and props,
historical accuracy, the actors' physical training, the characters, and more. Spartacus: Battle Royale (7:26) is a compilation piece constructed
from several of the series' most exciting and brutal action scenes. Gladiator Boot Camp (4:21) takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the actors'
physical training for their parts. Grime & Punishment: The Hole (4:54) looks closely at one of the show's more vile set pieces. Andy Gets
Plastered (2:44) features the series' lead actor being molded for a full-body casting. Legend Re-Imagined (4:00) looks at the show's
rewriting of history for entertainment purposes. Oh, Those Randy Romans (6:14) features a glimpse into the series' hedonistic underbelly.
Shooting Green: The Shadow of Death (4:48) is a brief piece that looks at the challenges and purpose of shooting in front of a green screen
environment. Finally, Exposing Your Ludus (5:21) captures some of the lighter moments on the set. Rounding out this collection of extras is
a trailer labeled "Spartacus: Vengeance" (1080p, 1:31) which is really just a trailer for "Spartacus: Blood and Sand."
"Spartacus: Blood and Sand" often feels like a rip-off of 300 and Gladiator, a bodybuilding competition, a Playboy or Playgirl spread, and a late-night soft-core porn movie, but those elements don't necessarily overwhelm the show. Once it finds its footing, "Blood and Sand" plays out as an entertaining and interesting series that weaves its story through the political inner-workings of ancient Rome and the dominance that gladiatorial combat played in the lives of all citizens, from the lowest of slaves to the highest of officials. The series certainly builds its main elements through political intrigue, sex, and ultra-violence, with the latter two seeming to define the series' visual and thematic direction and serving as its raison d'être. It's never going to be classic television or intelligent entertainment, but for 13 episodes worth of brutal violence and nearly unrestricted sex and nudity, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" is tough to beat. This Starz/Anchor Bay Blu-ray release features exceptional video and audio presentations as well as a nice array of bonus materials. "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" comes recommended to audiences looking for escapist entertainment at its most base level and who aren't easily offended or turned off by an excess of sex and violence.
2012
2013
Bonus disc
2013
2011
The Ultimate Cut
2004
with Bonus Disc
2010
2001
Director's Cut
2005
2000
2010
2011
2006
Director's Cut
2004
Director's Cut
2004
2012
2005-2006
1995
2016
2014
2017
2014
2003
2011