6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.7 |
In Roman-ruled Britain, a young Roman soldier endeavors to honor his father's memory by finding his lost legion's golden emblem.
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong, Tahar RahimAction | 100% |
Adventure | 37% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
BD-Live
Mobile features
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The Eagle harkens back to a simpler age of filmmaking when more intimate, character driven historical dramas were more common than they are today; before CG armies and landscapes knocked the wind out of the traditional epic, before blood and gore became synonymous with potency and spectacle, before Gladiator's acclaim and Academy adoration saddled filmmakers with the notion that bigger was always better. And it does so with disarming ease. It isn't backed by an A-list actor, bankable leading man or box office titan. It doesn't push for a hard-R or revel in gratuitous violence. Even its unrated cut is a decidedly PG-13 affair. It never drifts away from its two main characters, never attempts to tell a sweeping story and never ups the ante, choosing to pull inward where most other swords-n-sandals, mud-n-blood period pieces would push outward. It's refreshing, though, and helps the film trudge through the kind of genre muck that so often drags a film down. But without any pomp and circumstance to divert attention away from its faults, it's left to rise or fall on its own minimalistic terms. The Eagle has little to hide behind; it's offered little sanctuary on its arduous journey. It's simply forced to bare its soul from beginning to end, flaws and all.
"The eagle is not a piece of metal. The eagle is Rome."
In his commentary, director Kevin Macdonald speaks at great length about the intended look of The Eagle, as well as cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle's use of natural lighting and heavy shadow. And the exceedingly filmic results -- as rendered faithfully by Universal's 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer -- are as thoroughly evocative as they are occasionally problematic. As sunlight retreats, grain surges and noise invades the darkness left in its place; as the lights grow dim, a hint of crush undermines fine detail and delineation falters. Be that as it may, the Blu-ray presentation stands strong in the face of every challenger, making the most of whatever Macdonald and Mantle have in their arsenal. Colors are rich and earthy, skintones are warm and lifelike, black levels are reasonably deep, and contrast, though inherently inconsistent, rarely falters. Overall detail is excellent as well. When night falls, hair, fabric and coarse surfaces catch whatever light is available; when the sun rises, clarity is outstanding, boasting crisp, clean edge definition and exceptionally well-refined textures; when dusk presses in, the lovely cinematic softness that arrives is pleasing to the eye and in keeping with the filmmakers' intentions. Moreover, grain is unimpeded, foreground elements pop, and it becomes clear that nearly every subtly in the original photography has been preserved. The encode itself is just as remarkable. Artifacting, aliasing and banding are routed at every turn, and smearing and ringing are nowhere to be found. All things considered, the Blu-ray edition of The Eagle looks every bit as good as it presumably could, delivering an arresting -- albeit slightly uneven -- high definition image.
The Eagle is often a quieter film than I anticipated, but its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track leaves a lasting impact all the same. From the chaotic scuffle of a bloody battle to the serene respite of Britain's fields and rivers, little disappoints. Low-end output is rugged and commanding, bolstering every thundering chariot, harrowing foot chase and crushing blow Macdonald hurls at the immersive mix. The rear speakers join the fight with admirable tenacity, wrapping each scene -- be it a hushed conversation between two unlikely friends or an intense life-or-death encounter -- around the listener with chilling precision and deceptive ease. Directionality exhibits deadly accuracy, pans are smooth and convincing, and dynamics have been fine-tuned to perfection. All the while, dialogue remains clean, clear and carefully prioritized, and only a handful of lines are dragged beneath the madness that sometimes erupts. The Eagle may not appeal to everyone, but I seriously doubt its AV presentation is going to draw much criticism. I, for one, was completely taken with it.
The Blu-ray edition of The Eagle doesn't offer nearly as much as it might first seem. Its unrated cut brings little to the table, its audio commentary isn't exactly begging to be listened to, and its remaining features amount to twenty-five minutes of shoulder-shrugging. On a positive note, though, all of the disc's video content is presented in high definition.
There's something refreshing about The Eagle's minimalism. It doesn't revel in excess, doesn't stray too far from its source and doesn't try to rise above its means. But it's also a bit too rigid, playing its hands a little too straight. Like Neil Marshall's Centurion, it isn't entirely forgettable, but it isn't entirely memorable either. Universal's Blu-ray release is much better, even if its lackluster supplemental package disappoints. Armed with a faithful video transfer and an able-bodied DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, The Eagle doesn't go into the night as quietly as it might otherwise.
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2005
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2004
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Ultimate Edition
2002
Director's Cut
2004
Director's Cut
2004
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