Rating summary
| Movie |  | 3.5 |
| Video | | 3.5 |
| Audio |  | 4.5 |
| Extras |  | 3.0 |
| Overall | | 3.5 |
Storm Over Asia Blu-ray Movie Review
The final feature in the compelling Bolshevik Trilogy
Reviewed by Neil Lumbard April 4, 2020
The final feature included in The Bolshevik Trilogy: Three Films by Vsevolod Pudovkin collection is the gripping Storm over Asia (also known as The Heir to Genghis Khan). The film was written by Osip Brik (Incident on a Volcano) and Ivan Novokshonov. A compelling experience that feels higher budget than one would expect to encounter for a classic silent feature, the film finds a balance between the surreal and the now.
The storm has arrived.
The story of the film explores the unexpected rise to power of an unknown Mongol living out a quiet peaceful life before being discovered by the British army alongside a gem indicating that he is actually a descendant of the great Genghis Khan. As the simple and peaceful man becomes thrust into a role of power, a surprising spiral of events occurs and leads to a shocking conclusion. With impressive costumes and production design merits, Storm over Asia is worth a watch.
Storm Over Asia Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The Bolshevik Trilogy: Three Films by Vsevolod Pudovkin is an expansive collection containing three (surprisingly different) presentations. Each of the three films is presented with a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1 (full frame). The presentation for Storn over Asia is detailed below:
Kino presents the epic Storm over Asia with a brand-new 2K restoration. The print is surprisingly clear for an old black-and-white film. The print has fewer examples of print scratches even though there are still some visible during the transfer. Print damage appears somewhat inconsistent but is never going to feel detrimental to the experience. The transfer also looks a bit washed out at times and black levels are far from robust. Even so, the 2K restoration is acceptable looking, and Storm over Asia is ultimately the second-best transfer in the collection.
Storm Over Asia Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The last feature in the set is Storm over Asia. The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 audio track is startlingly crisp and clear with exceptional fidelity. The score track accompanying the video is performed by the Olympia Chamber Orchestra sounds fantastic throughout. This is a first-rate score audio track and one that uses the 24 bit audio to the best of its ability. The track impresses in spades. Bravado.
Please Note: Optional English subtitles are included for the intertitles.
Storm Over Asia Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Audio Commentary on Storm over Asia by film historian and scholar Jan-Christopher Horak
Storm Over Asia Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Storm over Asia is a compelling experience (particularly for the quality of the production values given the age of the film). The music is compelling and the experience is one filled with some interesting visuals. The Blu-ray presentation is inconsistent but worthwhile. Fans of director Pudovkin should certainly consider seeing the film and exploring its unique merits.
