Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Spartacus Blu-ray Movie Review

I Am Restored!

Universal has re-released 'Spartacus' to Blu-ray with a dazzling restored transfer and a newly created 7.1 lossless soundtrack, replacing the previous edition that suffered from a less-than-desireable picture quality and contained a 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This new release adds two new supplements: an interview with Kirk Douglas and a fairly superficial, but nonetheless interesting, feature on the restoration process.

Spartacus Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Spartacus. Restored. Wow. This looks amazing. Jaw-dropping amazing. The included Restoring 'Spartacus' supplement offers a nice little technical overview of the restoration process. It lacks depth, but it yields a good, generalized insight into the process that sheds some light on the hows and whys and and ins and outs of how Universal has brought Spartacus back from the depths of disappointment and turned it into a masterpiece that pushes the limits of the Blu-ray format's capabilities (a few more words on the piece are included in the supplemental section below; likewise, Jeffrey Kauffman's review of the previous disc touches on some of the highlights of the film's history on home video and its 1991 reconstruction). With that said, this review will focus more on the end product rather than how it got there, and needless to say the end product more than impresses. All viewers -- whether longtime Spartacus fans, those who have caught the movie once or twice on TV or home video, those disappointed with the previous Blu-ray, and those who have never before seen the movie -- are in for a treat in what is, arguably, and to this point, the must-see catalogue restoration of the year, if not the format's entire lifespan.

This is a meticulous restoration. It's clean yet filmic, retaining a very mild, but critical, grain structure that helps accentuate the incredible depth, precision detailing, and vibrant coloring the movie has to offer. The sheer level of detail is striking. Obvious elements like skin and clothing textures reveal some of the most innately complex details imaginable, down to the most nuanced fabrics and most weathered, sweaty faces. But perhaps most impressive are small and distant elements. Every grain of sand, pebble, blade of grass, leaf, and other natural details are refined and sharp, even at some distance. Roman armor, resplendent columns and structures, and various support bits reveal every fine bit of wear, tiny crack, and little seam. Even large sprawling distance shots are meticulous. Look at the battlefield at the 2:30:55 mark (also screenshot #18) and marvel in how well defined people and the terrain appear. Colors are bold and bright, more nuanced and vibrant here than in the previous transfer to be sure. Regally colored attire is particularly attractive, and contrasted against the pure earthen colors that define so many backgrounds they appear even more so. Black levels are inky deep and natural, and even day-for-night shots, which go a bit more blue than black, satisfy. Flesh tones are excellent, whether clean and pampered or sweaty and grimy faces. Viewers who strain very hard might spot a hint of minuscule blockiness across a couple of sky shots, but it's hardly a deal breaker or even a minor annoyance. Banding, noise reduction, aliasing, edge enhancement, and other intrusions are nowhere to be found. This is, in every way, a startling improvement over the previous release. Bravo, Universal. May all of the classics arrive on home video -- whether on Blu-ray or future formats -- with the same level of care and attention to detail.

Note that screenshots 1-20 have been selected to approximately match those found in Jeffrey Kauffman's review of the 2010 Blu-ray release. Additional screenshots have been added at the end for perusal.

Spartacus Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Not to be overshadowed by the immaculate 1080p transfer is Spartacus' DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack, newly remixed and briefly covered in the restoration supplement noted above and described below. Music is the dominant factor here, and it's a real treat. It manages width, depth, and power without sacrificing the finest points of Alex North's Oscar-nominated score. The music envelops the stage. Surrounds are nearly as dominant as the front, if not equally so. The sense of true immersion is striking, and the nuanced attention to detail is startling. The track enjoys a potent low end; the orchestral percussion elements are truly spectacular. The track features some nice little supportive details that are equally enveloping and satisfying, yielding precise clarity no matter how minor; such little details often melt into the experience rather than call attention to themselves, which is exactly what a great track should accomplish. Battle scenes yield a satisfyingly robust bit of chaos. Clanking swords, screaming combatants, and other little bits pour from every speaker. Music still dominates, but there's no shortage of intense and detailed elements to pull the listener into the chaos. Dialogue is well prioritized, center balanced, and clear for the duration. This is a terrific track from Universal that marvelously compliments the newly resorted 1080p picture, and the movie in general.

Spartacus Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This restored and re-released Blu-ray version of Spartacus contains two new extras, denoted as such, and the material from the previous Blu-ray release. Please see Jeffrey Kauffman's review, linked above, for a little more insight into the older supplements.

• NEW: I Am Spartacus: A Conversation with Kirk Douglas (1080p, 9:39): The acclaimed actor discusses his memorable role in Spartacus, speaking on the challenges in making a movie of that scale, the cast, Stanley Kubrick's direction, his book I Am Spartacus, the Hollywood "blacklist" of decades past and Dalton Trumbo's involvement with the film, and more.
• NEW: Restoring Spartacus (1080p, 9:00): Universal's VP of Content Management Peter Schade, Restoration Project Manager Seanine Bird, and Re-Recording Mixer John Blum discuss going back to the original source, the film's original editing, the original shoot in 35mm "Technirama," using a 6K scanner that outputs at 4K, repairing damage to the original elements while staying true to the original filmmaker intent, Blu-ray.com member Robert Harris' involvement in Spartacus' restorations, the color correction process, removing dirt and scratches, and sourcing a 7.1 surround presentation from the original track.
• Deleted Scenes (480i): Spartacus Meets Varinia (UK Version) (2:07), Spartacus Meets Varinia (US Version) (2:25), 1967 Finale (2:26), and Gracchus' Suicide (Audio Recording) (0:59).
• Archival Interviews (480i): With Peter Ustinov (2:57) and Jean Simmons (3:43).
• Behind the Scenes Footage (480i, 5:11): Swordplay rehearsals.
• Vintage Newsreels (480i): London Ovation (1:44), Tony Curtis Honored (1:12), Sir Laurence Olivier Returns to Hollywood (0:35), Kirk Douglas Honored (0:51), and Kirk Douglas Arrives in New York (0:35).
• Image Gallery (1080p): Production Stills, Concept Art, Costume Designs, Saul Bass Storyboards, and Posters & Print Ads.
• Theatrical Trailer (480i, 2:45).

Spartacus Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's a shame that film buffs, Blu-ray fans, and admirers of Spartacus had to wait so long for a proper, fully restored high definition presentation of the classic Oscar-winning film, but it's safe to say that the wait was not in vain. Universal's hotly anticipated, and long-demanded, restoration looks absolutely stunning, and it sounds great, too. Considering the film's quality, the breathtaking transfer that legitimately dazzles with every frame, and the top-shelf soundtrack, Spartacus is only a more thorough supplemental package away from being considered among the top handful of releases the format has seen. Even if its extras leave just a bit to be desired, this is absolutely a must-buy and must-see for all audiences, even considering ownership of the previous release. This restored Blu-ray of Spartacus earns my highest recommendation.