Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 9, 2017

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.

For a deeper analysis of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” and to track previous Blu-ray releases, please read reviews from Casey Broadwater and Michael Reuben.

“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” is presented on Blu-ray in two versions: the Theatrical Cut (162:43) and the Extended Cut (178:45).

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

"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.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Theatrical Cut:

• Commentary features film historian Tim Lucas.

• "Trailers from Hell" (3:24, SD) sits down with director Ernest Dickerson to quickly pore through the history of the "Dollars" trilogy and Sergio Leone's style.

• Alternate Scene: "The Optical Flip" (:52, HD) provides a brief look at two versions of a Tuco showdown, one dressed up with cartoonish "flip" transition.

• Deleted Scene 1: "Skeletons in the Desert" (1:03, HD) features Blondie making an unsavory discovery while on his death march. It's presented without sound.

• Deleted Scene 2: "Extended Torture Scene" (1:03, HD) is a more explicit take on Tuco's misery.

• "'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' On Set" (8:12) collects BTS snapshots from the production, providing a look at cast and crew camaraderie and Leone's directorial enthusiasm.

• "Promoting 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'" (9:05) continues the photo journey, this time examining poster art and lobby cards from the feature's international release.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:22, SD) is included.

Extended Cut:

Note: the MGM-produced special features have been mangled for this Blu-ray, displayed with low resolution and stuttery frame rates, which makes them resemble particularly problematic YouTube videos.

• Commentary #1 features film historian Richard Schickel.

• Commentary #2 features Leone biographer Sir Christopher Frayling.

• "Leone's West" (19:55, SD) is a 2004 featurette produced for the original DVD release of "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," featuring interviews with Schickel, English translator Mickey Knox, producer Alberto Grimaldi, and actors Clint Eastwood and Eli Wallach.

• "Il Maestro: Ennio Morricone & 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Part 1" (7:48, SD) is a discussion of the great composer's work with historian Jon Burlingame.

• "Il Maestro: Ennio Morricone & 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Part 2" (12:27) is an audio-only continuation of the Burlingame overview, with more specific examples.

• "The Leone Style" (23:48, SD) returns to the cast and crew, who share their feelings on the helmer's visual motifs and artistic choices, including the influence of dreams on his direction. Eastwood and Wallach also share an irresistible tale of the mishap on the set that resulted in the premature detonation of the bridge set.

• "The Man Who Lost the Civil War" (14:23, SD) is a historical featurette on Civil War military tactics, included to prove how accurate Leone's vision was.

• "Reconstructing 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'" (11:09, SD) takes a look at the work required to restore the picture to its original Italian premiere length, requiring special equipment to deal with the Techniscope transfer, while English audio was provided by a much older Eastwood and Wallach. Interviewees include Paul Rutan, Jr. of Triage Labs and MGM official John Kirk.

• Vignette #1 (:40, SD) features a brief anecdote from Eli Wallach.

• Vignette #2 (:43, SD) features Eastwood.

• Vignette #3 (:10, SD) returns to Wallach.

• Vignette #4 (:59, SD) once again chats up Wallach.

• Deleted Scene: "Extended Tuco Torture Scene" (7:14, SD).

• Deleted Scene: "The Socorro Sequence: A Reconstruction" (3:01, SD) generates a loose overview of an excised moment with Tuco and Blondie, parts of which can be found in the film's French Theatrical Trailer.

• And the French Theatrical Trailer (3:30, SD) is included.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

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.