8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
A slave leads a violent revolt against the Imperial Rome at its glorious height. Filmed in Technirama.
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter UstinovDrama | 100% |
Epic | 41% |
War | 40% |
Period | 38% |
History | 37% |
Biography | 22% |
Romance | 6% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.20:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.20:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Universal and Best Buy have collaborated on a store exclusive SteelBook release for Director Stanley Kubrick's legendary 1960 film 'Spartacus.' The disc and digital content is identical to that found in the 2015 restored wide release, not the inferior 2010 Blu-ray. See the 'Special Features and Extras' section of the review below for more on the SteelBook's look and feel.
For a full Blu-ray video review, please click here.
For a full Blu-ray audio review, please click here.
Universal's SteelBook is of a predominantly red color front and back. It's nicely textured and won't slip around in the hand. It also will not readily
display fingerprints from basic handling. The front image depicts two warriors -- Spartacus and Draba -- locked in battle. Draba, with his back to the
audience, holds a trident in his right hand, raised and ready to strike his foe. His left hand is holding Spartacus' right wrist, attempting to keep away his
sword. The battle looks like it's forever frozen in time in bronze. The film's title appears in the top quarter portion in the familiar Spartacus
type in white. The text "A Stanley Kubrick Film" appear smaller, above. The rear panel depicts an eagle perched atop a decorative pillar. A Universal logo
and
legalese appear in fine print center bottom and a model number may be seen on the bottom right. The red spine holds the title in the same color and
style
from the front, center. A Blu-ray disc logo has been placed at the top and a Universal studio logo at the bottom.
Inside, the digital copy code is tucked underneath the left-hand-side tabs. The single Blu-ray disc is situated on the right in
a center hub. The inner print is a two-panel spread that features a black-and-white battle scene depicting Kirk Douglas as Spartacus on the left in the
midst of a chaotic confrontation. He's focused on striking an opponent, looking towards the left, grasping a two-handed weapon. Out-of-focus battle
elements
appear behind him and to his right.
For a breakdown of included supplemental content, please click here.
The Blu-ray presentation is excellent and the SteelBook is quite attractive, too. Do note that the film is set to be released on the UHD format in July 2020, also to include a SteelBook packaging variant. Both of those will most assuredly include this Blu-ray in addition to the UHD. Smart to hold out for that one unless one is a Spartacus collector and/or completist.
1960
Universal 100th Anniversary
1960
1960s Best of the Decade
1960
Academy Award Series
1960
Restored Edition
1960
Restored Edition
1960
1960
1960
60th Anniversary Limited Edition
1962
2005-2006
1963
1970
2008
2005
1975
1934
2008
2008
1951
1961
Fiftieth Anniversary
1959
Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter
2013
1987
Il gattopardo
1963
25th Anniversary Edition
1993
2014
65th Anniversary Limited Edition
1957
1963