Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Message 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Eleven years ago, my colleague Marty Liebman covered Starz & Anchor Bay's BD-50 of Moustapha Akkad's The Message (1976). To read Marty's views of the film and his evaluation of that Blu-ray's a/v presentations, please click here.

The Message 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shout! Factory's release of The Message comprises a three-disc set: a 4K Ultra HD (BD-100) and Blu-ray (BD-50) of the English version, plus a third disc (BD-50) containing the longer Arabic version. Director of photography Jack Hildyard shot The Message in Panavision with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The AB transfer of the English cut that Marty reviewed was cropped significantly to 1.78:1 and presented in only 1080i. The Eastmancolor has been fully restored on these transfers. The film is presented in its proper "Scope" AR. Marty described the picture on the AB as flat, uninspired, and dull. The image is the polar opposite here, particularly on the 2160p transfer. Colors are bold and vibrant. The costumes look resplendent. The Message was filmed in sunny conditions throughout Morocco and Libya. That warmth is beautifully reflected here.

Marty mentioned speckles, edge halos, and some noise on the older transfer. Those issues have been eliminated here. There's a little bit of damage near the top left of frame grab #s 24 and 25. But other than that, any lingering print defects on the 4K DI are minimal.

I watched and compared the native 4K presentation with the 1080p transfer, which I upscaled to 4K on my player. Grain and texture are superior on the UHD. The HDR also shines on the latter. My video score on the 4K is 4.75/5.00.

The English version on the 4K Ultra HD averages a mean video bitrate of 63.0 Mbps. The full disc carries a total overall bitrate of 71.8 Mbps. The MPEG-4 BD-50 for the English version has a poor encode and low bitrate. The Blu-ray averages a standard video bitrate of just 19995 kbps. The Arabic version fares a little better at 22993 kbps. Please note that for the handful of screen captures I've compared for the three discs, I was only able to obtain identical frame matches for the second disc to go with the first. The reason is because the Arabic version contains separately filmed scenes with an almost entirely different cast. For these, I located similar shots for the same scenes.

Screenshot #s 1-25, 28, 31, 34, 37, & 40 = Shout! Factory 4K Ultra HD (downscaled to 1080p)
Screenshot #s 26, 29, 32, 35, & 38 = 4K-scanned BD-50 (Arabic Version)
Screenshot #s 27, 30, 33, 36, & 39 = 4K-scanned BD-50 (English Version)

Both the English and Arabic versions receive the standard twelve scene selections from Shout!

The Message 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

On discs one and two, Shout has supplied an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround mix (3593 kbps, 24-bit) and an English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo track (2001 kbps, 24-bit). (The average audio bitrates are identical on the English version 4K and Blu-ray discs.) On disc three, Shout has provided an Arabic DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround mix (3640 kbps, 24-bit) and an Arabic DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo track (2000 kbps, 24-bit). In my research, I learned that a 4-track stereo mix of The Message was presented in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia theaters. I would assume that both of the English-language tracks are based on this "full surround stereo" mix (which a 1977 advert touted in the Chicago Tribune). I listened to both the English mixes in their entirety. Marty mentioned some "reverberating dialogue" at the film's beginning in his review. I heard a bit of an echo, too, on both tracks, although it's more prevalent on the 2.0 stereo mix. In the first interior scene, it sounds like one of the actors is speaking through a microphone. Dialogue is always audible but it sounds like it was mixed too high, particularly on the 2.0 track. That mix is fortunately deeper and richer than what Marty describes on the Anchor Bay BD.

Reverbs of music and sound f/x are noticeably more prominent on the satellite speakers on the 2.0 option compared to the 5.1 surround where it's more distributed across the sound stage. For spoken words, I prefer the 5.1 mix, which sounds more natural with an even pitch heard along the front channels. Both tracks offer substantial improvements over the criticisms Marty cites of the DTS-HD MA 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 on the AB. My audio score is 3.75/5.00.

I own UK record label Tadlow Music's 2-CD set of Lion of the Desert and The Message, which was released in 2010. In the liner notes, it is explained that Maurice Jarre traveled with Moustapha Akkad throughout Arab and Islamic nations recording "many strange and wonderful sounds," which aided the composer when he later wrote the score to The Message. Jarre read several books about the Prophet Mohammad's life and times. Jarre is quoted in the booklet stating he spent five months working on the music for the film. Jarre recorded his score with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.

The optional English SDH on discs one and two are complete and accurate. They identify the names of characters in brackets. Please note that some dialogue in the English version is spoken in Arabic with imposed English subtitles. (See Screenshot #s 24-25.)

The Message 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Anchor Bay Blu-ray didn't possess any extras. Shout has ported over bonus features from various DVDs and included a very brief featurette on The Message's restoration. Note: the English and Arabic trailers were initially included on a 1998 DVD put out by Anchor Bay in the US.

DISC ONE (4K UHD; 2:58:19) – THE MESSAGE (English Language)

• Audio Commentary with Producer/Director Moustapha Akkad - this track was recorded for Anchor Bay's R1 "30th Anniversary Edition" two-disc set, which was released in 2005. Akkad briefly tells of how David Lean influenced him the most of all directors. He recalls working with Sam Peckinpah on Ride the High Country (1962). Akkad shares a story about the costumes and how they were put in the sun, gives his thoughts of working with Anthony Quinn and Irene Papas, the camel actor, and filming locales. The commentary runs through the whole film but there are many gaps. These would have lessened with the presence of a moderator. In English, not subtitled.

• Audio Commentary with Producer/Director Moustapha Akkad - this track was recorded for Anchor Bay's R1 "30th Anniversary Edition" two-disc set, which was released in 2005. Akkad briefly tells of how David Lean influenced him the most of all directors. He recalls working with Sam Peckinpah on Ride the High Country (1962). Akkad shares a story about the costumes and how they were put in the sun, gives his thoughts of working with Anthony Quinn and Irene Papas, the camel actor, and filming locales. The commentary runs through the whole film but there are many gaps. These would have lessened with the presence of a moderator. In English, not subtitled.

• EXCLUSIVE Restoring The Message (1:56, 1080p) - an all too brief featurette that gives a short overview about how The Message was restored. We hear from Marie Fieldman (senior film technician), Daniel Hack (head of digital imaging), Lisa Copson (digital restoration), and Steve Bearman (film colorist). In English, not subtitled.

• The Making of an Epic: Mohammad – Messenger of God (46:36, upconverted to 1080p) - this documentary first appeared on Anchor Bay's 1998 R1 DVD of The Message, which was also released on DVD by AB in the UK in 2000 and reissued there three years later. Along with the compilation of vintage promotional clips included on this disc, there's copious behind-the-scenes footage. Interviewed in the program are producer/director Moustapha Akkad (seated in a post-production facility), screenwriter Harry Craig, construction manager/set dresser Albert Blackshaw, production co-designer Maurice Fowler, costume designer Phyllis Dalton, dialogue coach David Giles, cinematographer Jack Hildyard, and horse master Tommy Reeves. Clips from the English version are shown in 2.35:1 while BTS footage is presented in 1.33:1. The doc was done by Filmco International Productions. The narrator and interviewees speak in English, not subtitled.

• EXCLUSIVE Promo Clips (23:33, 1080p) - this is a compilation of mini-featurettes shot during production of The Message. The mini-featurettes play in succession. They display footage showing various scenes and sets that were used for both the Arabic and English versions of the film. There are segments on the training of horses, script continuity by Phyllis Crocker, and a "camel actor." Narrated in English by one of the actors in the English version. Clips from the versions are shown in 2.35:1 while BTS footage is presented in 1.33:1.

• Theatrical Trailer (Original Trailer) (3:52, upconverted to 1080p) - a full trailer for The Message presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. It is rife with film artifacts. The trailer has not been color corrected. In English, not subtitled.

• Theatrical Trailer (Re-Release Trailer) (2:15, 1080p) - this is the cinema trailer to commemorate the "40th anniversary" of the "restored version" of The Message. It appears in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. It shows actors from the English version only. In English, not subtitled.

• DISC THREE (BLU-RAY; 3:26:33) – AR-RISALAH (Arabic Language, No English Subtitles) - the Arabic cut of the movie first appeared on Anchor Bay UK's 2003 DVD sans any English Subtitles.

• Audio Commentary with Producer/Director Moustapha Akkad - this is a different commentary track from the one above as Akkad speaks in Arabic. It also was recorded ca. 2005. It doesn't come with any English Subtitles.

• Theatrical Trailer (Original Trailer in Arabic) (4:43, upconverted to 1080p) - a full trailer for The Message presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. While it sports dirt on the print, it's in better shape than the vintage English trailer. In Arabic, not subtitled.

• Theatrical Trailer (Re-Release Trailer in Arabic) (2:21, 1080p) - this is another cinema trailer to commemorate the "40th anniversary" of the "restored version" of The Message. It appears in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. It's interesting to see all of the Arabic cast members. In Arabic, not subtitled.

The Message 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Message is sort of a "Mohammad in Arabia" except the audience never sees the oft-spoken-about Mohammad out of deference to the Islamic faith of not using an actor to portray the prophet. This is an epic and moving film that's both educational and entertaining. Shout! Factory's 4K transfer blows the Anchor Bay out of the water. I would strongly urge you to primarily view the UHD as the Blu-ray on Disc Two features a rather poor encode with a low bitrate. The audio is also substantially improved, although some minor issues remain. While it's nice to have the longer Arabic cut, English subtitles have been dropped likely due to rights issues and contractual reasons. All of the legacy extras have been brought back in this package. A VERY SOLID RECOMMENDATION.