The Messenger Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Messenger Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 3, 2016

With “The Messenger,” director Su Rynard utilizes the plight of the songbird as a way to warn viewers that environmental catastrophe is here to stay. Instead of creating a valentine to the tiny creatures, the production is more interested in doomsday, generating a sobering look at the dwindling songbird population around the globe and what’s causing this troubling loss of life. It’s not easy to digest, but “The Messenger” is an important documentary that adds to the discussion of pollution, which arrives in many forms.

“The Messenger” covers a wide range of topics concerning threats to songbirds, and a few are truly eye-opening. One of the more extensive chapters of the documentary takes a look at specialty glass installation in office buildings, which helps to cut down on incidents of accidental death, allowing the birds to understand what’s in front of them during flight. The rise of genetically modified seeds is explored and the process of tracking migratory patterns all over the world is displayed, including the careful capture of subjects. Perhaps most controversial is a look at a rise in the cat population, with felines doing their part to destroy birds and their nests in great numbers.

The Messenger Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation is uneven at best, working through some difficult compression issues. Mild banding is present throughout, but bursts of posturization are common, found during visits to a wind tunnel to watch songbirds fly in slow-motion. The viewing experience is best in the bright sun, which brings out terrific detail, capturing feathery textures and rural expanse. Colors are also welcoming, clarifying bird identity and lush greenery. Skintones are natural. Delineation isn't always defined to satisfaction, but it's not problematic.

The Messenger Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is a simple listening event, but it cares for surround placement, pushing out woodsy locales and bird songs, while scoring also finds a circular position. Interview sequences are crisp and fresh. Atmospherics are secure. The basics are handled well here, helping the feature achieve its reflective moods.

The Messenger Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet offers ten pages of bios, press notes, and resources to help protect birds.

• Behind-The-Scenes (4:44, HD) takes a look at the creation of the wind tunnel sequence, which required careful lighting and timing to photograph songbirds in flight.

• "A Coffee Primer for Birds and People" (3:33, HD) introduces the idea of "bird friendly coffee" -- a product that celebrates the delicate balance of migratory flight between North and South America. The featurette is hosted by Dr. Richard Rice of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.

• Deleted Scene (6:07, HD) spotlights the plague of the Cowbird as it takes over Wood Thrush nests.

• Interview (8:48, HD) with director Su Rynard discusses her background, the educational value of the film, and her opinion on cats.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:41, HD) is included.

The Messenger Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Messenger" tries to be informative, and it's largely successful when communicating the stark details of bird death, hitting viewers with a painful reality that's part of a greater problem. It can be a grim picture at times, but Rynard doesn't submerge "The Messenger" in sadness. Instead, there's concern, trying to spotlight issues facing this invisible population.