The Eagle Huntress Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

The Eagle Huntress Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 28, 2017

Hollywood could probably stand to learn a lesson or two from The Eagle Huntress. While there's certainly room and a place for big mindless blockbusters, remakes, re-dos, sex comedies, empty Horror flicks, pretentious art films, and so on, there's something to be said for the soulful journey picture, the simple depiction of a dream, the struggles to achieve it, and the joys of reaching it. Moviemaking doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't have to be slick. It just has to be pure. The Eagle Huntress is one such picture, reminiscent, in a way, of Wadjda, another film about a young girl dreaming of doing something that, in her culture, is generally disallowed because of her gender. The main character in The Eagle Huntress doesn't face quite the same seemingly insurmountable cultural and political obstacles, but the movie is nevertheless a joyful exploration of the human spirit and man's connection to the world. Simple, smart, and heartwarming even though its many frigid locations, The Eagle Huntress flies high as an example of the power of honest, down-to-earth storytelling that sources its narrative from the place where the best are found: the human spirit.

In Mongolia, people have for generations hunted food with trained golden eagles, sharing the spoils with their winged friends and releasing them from duty after seven years in service. It's a long-held and cherished tradition, but it's a tradition reserved for men only, one that's been followed and revered for generations. But things are about to change. A young girl named Aisholpan dreams of becoming the first female eagle huntress. Many traditionalist voices speak out against her, but she is trained in the art, anyway, finds success, and enters competition, breaking centuries of tradition but opening up new paths for the generations to follow.

The movie is quite simple in production quality and presentation, playing like a hybrid feature film/documentary that effectively blurs the line between the two. It captures a magic of scope and splendor of the lands and the concept of eagle hunting while simultaneously yielding a soulful fulfillment of a story of life lived simply while still espousing some good, fundamental virtues on equality. At its center is a narrative theme that's not particularly novel; the tale of a girl looking to break through a gender barrier is nothing new (as noted with the Wadjda comparison) and that she succeeds in proving the naysayers wrong and standing tall for her own dreams doesn't come unexpectedly. Other qualities set it apart. The backdrop is fascinating, looking into a culture that is in many ways familiar and advanced but that maintains a sense of old fashioned tradition not only in the political sense of keeping the eagle hunting exclusive to men but rather in the harmonious circle of nature that the people use to their advantage to sustain themselves through the environmental challenges they face. The movie captures and presents the world simply and effectively, conveying its core values and the challenges the people face while celebrating one girl's spirit and drive to live her dream.

Key bits are narrated in English (by non other than Star Wars' Daisy Ridley) but the movie transcends the language barrier. Certainly the spoken word (subtitled for most audiences) is critical in piecing together some of the story specifics, but the film is of a high enough caliber, and the story so fundamentally universal even as it's so foreign, that it could just as easily be enjoyed by its visuals and emotional cues alone. Director Otto Bell has pieced the film together in a manner that emphasizes both the world's greater splendor and the story's more intimate notes. Viewers will effortlessly understand what's happening, and why, and just as important how the characters feel about and respond to their actions and the world around them even without the benefit of the narration or dialogue; it's a remarkable achievement and speaks to the universal quality of the filmmaking process and, more, the human condition. Supported by a quality, reinforcing score by Jeff Peters, the movie soars beyond traditional delivery with a beautiful presentation of life embodied in the dreams of a young girl and the natural beauty and relative simplicity of the world around her.

The Eagle Huntress Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Eagle Huntress was shot in video, and the image is home to a number of eyesores that linger throughout. Right off the bat, images of natural terrain are awash with jagged edges, shimmering, and noise, not to mention a general absence of sharp definition. These problems, as well as banding, macroblocking, even some false colors, run rampant throughout. The source tightens up a bit in more stable, medium- and close-up shots. Neither skin nor clothing textures ever find a significant level of detail and intimacy, nor do rocks, grasses, terrain, feathers, or other natural features. Yet it finds enough basic textural significance to, at its best, please, revealing the basics without much effort or room for serious, hair-pulling complaint. Colors lack precision and nuance, but there's an honest assortment with good punch to some of the louder shades found on various bits of clothing, particularly contrasted against various cold white and gray backdrops. Natural greens and earthy shades are fine, and whites don't appear severely blown out of contrast. Skin tones appear accurate and blacks unassuming. The image is certainly messy, but much of it seems to trace back to the source. It has its moments of looking good, but never excellent. These are always the hardest Blu-rays to score. Technically, the Blu-ray transfer is probably fairly accurate to the source, but it's not exactly a pleasing HD image, either.

The Eagle Huntress Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Eagle Huntress' Kazakh language DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack delivers a good, quality listen, one without much depth or weight but a well-rounded, though naturally mild, presentation. Dialogue dominates the film. A bit of English narration is interspersed with dialogue. Both present clearly and richly from the front-center channel, and with no prioritization problems to report. Music is well spaced, predominately up front but instrumental clarity is strong and the low end kicks in as-needed to bring added depth to the presentation. Atmospherics are enticing if not a hair uneven. Rainfall and thunder near film's start struggle to immerse the listener, hanging on up front without much in the way of encircling surround support. Strong gusty winds, however, and particularly in the third act, do push through with some enjoyable depth and stage immersion.

The Eagle Huntress Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Eagle Huntress contains a commentary, a featurette, and a trailer. No DVD or digital versions are included.

• Audio Commentary: Director Otto Bell opens with a discussion of Ridley's narration and moves on to cover shooting specifics, influences, characters and their personal histories, locations, challenges of the shoot and language barrier, and plenty more. The track is a bit reserved in delivery but very insightful. Fans will appreciate the director's comments.
• Capturing The Eagle Huntress (1080p, 10:27): A look at project origins, the main character, Director Bell's work, cinematography, film structure, shooting locations, the crew's life and work in Mongolia, shooting various moments in the film and the photographic equipment utilized in the shoot, Ridley's role in the film, and more.
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 1:40).

The Eagle Huntress Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Eagle Huntress is a wonderful film. It's simple, captivating, a true slice-of-life picture with purpose and power on its side. No flash, all substance, all real, the movie is a pleasure as both an escape from today's sight-and-sound-first cinema and a journey into a foreign land but a familiar human quality. Sony's Blu-ray is fair. Video is largely unattractive but seemingly at the source. Audio is unexciting but technically fine. Supplements are limited to a commentary and a featurette. Recommended on the strength of the film.