9 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery.
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Aldo Giuffrè, Mario BregaDrama | 100% |
Period | 64% |
Epic | 52% |
Western | 50% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
It’s the most famous of the Spaghetti Westerns, the picture that shot Clint Eastwood to worldwide fame, and remains arguably the finest movie Sergio Leone ever directed. In 1966, he unleashed “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” and westerns were forever changed, not to mention the industry itself. A power play among three morally dubious characters remains at the heart of the feature, all chasing the elusive promise of gold, but the effort is really more of a showcase for Leone’s inimitable style, which becomes an unstoppable force as the endeavor unfolds. There have been many imitators, but there’s only one Leone, and his guiding force, backed by Ennio Morricone’s legendary score, is the true star of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” capping his “Dollars Trilogy” with a humdinger of an epic conclusion.
Oh boy. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" has enjoyed multiple home video releases, the last being a full 4K remaster from Italian company
L'Immagine Ritrovata, which gifted the picture a broad push of yellow some fans have condemned as all wrong, providing an image inconsistent with
the original theatrical release. The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation from Kino Lorber has decided to reverse the yellow fever,
dialing down colors to help even out the viewing experience, giving it more of a natural appearance. Protests have greeted this alteration as well. So,
here we are with yet another disc that isn't exactly what was originally intended, or even imagined, leaving the faithful with another piece of the puzzle
that seems more impossible to solve with every passing year. The basics are simple: without the blazing yellow, the Kino disc looks colder, more
restrained, returning everything to a less extreme palette. It's not unappealing, but it lacks urgency and the extremity Leone often favors, muting
cinematographic achievements to a slight degree. It's hardly a black and white event, but it's missing a certain snap. Detail is satisfactory, securing
rich
facial particulars from Leone's beloved close-ups, and more panoramic shots maintain depth. More problematic are black levels, which come off a tad
brightened, draining depth and restraining delineation. Compression issues are present as well, with posturization peeking through periodically.
I know this is a major, inescapable "your mileage may vary" title, so I offer 40 screenshots, which aren't the definitive tool for Blu-ray assessment, but
they're a terrific start.
"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" is supplied with 5.1 DTS-HD MA and two 2.0 DTS-HD MA (English and Italian) tracks, and while it's more of a blunt instrument, the mono mixes are far more satisfying when taking in Leone's unique world of cacophonous elements. Tininess is unavoidable, and there's hiss present throughout the listening experience. Dialogue exchanges are acceptable, and scoring hits high points of volume, adding to the singular push of tension the film provides. Sound effects are enjoyably harsh, retaining their sound library origin.
Theatrical Cut:
I believe intentions were pure, and surely this release of "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" will provide some relief for fans who were unnerved by the yellowing of this classic. It's strange to consider that there isn't a definitive version of the picture, which enjoys enduring popularity and reverence in film aficionado circles, and while the Kino Lorber release doesn't quite pull off the impossible, it does supply an alternate take on the effort's visual agenda -- perhaps one that might divide fans even more than they already are.
Il Buono, il brutto, il cattivo
1966
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo
1966
DVD Packaging / Il Buono, il brutto, il cattivo
1966
Il Buono, il brutto, il cattivo
1966
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo | Remastered
1966
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Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo
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Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo | Remastered
1966
1966
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1964
1965
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2010
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2015
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1990
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