7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A man of the sword and a man of the cloth unite to shield a South American tribe from brutal subjugation by 18th-century colonial empires.
Starring: Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, Ray McAnally, Aidan Quinn, Cherie LunghiDrama | 100% |
History | 56% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
Italian: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, French, Italian SDH, Spanish, Dutch
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Little in this world unfolds as we predict.
What makes The Mission such a gorgeous film on several levels is the way it weaves so many rich and compelling subtexts into a story that's
as superficially simple as they come. At its most basic, Director Roland Joffé's (The Killing Fields) film tells the story of a Jesuit missionary and a
converted salve trader and mercenary who join forces to stop European powers from enslaving and murdering South American natives in the 1750s.
Through that simple story comes a host of layered and complex themes that will challenge every viewer on several levels; the picture looks not only at
the role of the church and the powers of the state to exceed or override religious institutions in the affairs of peoples hailing from foreign lands but also
the ideas of
self-preservation, self-determination, revenge, love, hate, understanding, repentance, and the bonds of family that can be formed not only within a
closed communal setting but between peoples of vastly different backgrounds when they meet in peace, good faith, and mutual respect. The
Mission is at once soulfully touching but visually exciting; thematically smart but casually entertaining; and beautifully filmed but at times
repulsively ugly. Nominated for several Oscars -- including Best Picture, Best
Director, and Best Original Score -- and winning for its incredible cinematography, The Mission is a timeless picture with themes that resonate
even today, almost three centuries following the heartbreaking true events depicted in the film.
Take up the sword.
The Mission's 1080p Blu-ray transfer won't dazzle viewers, but it's a good image in its own right. It's certainly a bit flat with some blurry edges and a few soft shots, but details are generally adequate-to-strong, whether those seen in the textured wet rocks around a waterfall or the materials of various garments. Distant vistas capture vegetation that looks clumpy and indistinct, but closer shots reveal more definition and detailing in individual leaves. Colors are somewhat muted, with greens, browns, and other earthen tones dominating most of the movie. Unsightly artifacts or digital enhancement are not readily apparent. Blacks as seen in a few nighttime scenes are steady, and flesh tones rarely feature a red push. The Mission also retains a fair bit of grain and features what is certainly a bit rough and soft but otherwise film-like texture. This is the sort of transfer that's better judged on its own merits than comparatively against newer, brighter, and crisper transfers. The Mission by its nature isn't a film that's been built to dazzle the senses, but Warner Brothers' 1080p transfer seems nicely representative of what the film has to offer in its admittedly limited visual scope.
The Mission debuts on Blu-ray with a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack that, much like the video transfer, is fine on its own merits but lacking if judged against the top-tier Blu-ray presentations. The track's most potent element comes from the raging waters around a waterfall that's seen and heard several times throughout the film. It's certainly loud but not always as seamless and smooth as one might expect, but then again, what is a powerful waterfall if not simply a wall of crunching, heavy, and mostly indistinct sound? Bass seems a bit sloppy in such scenes, but again, a raging waterfall seems like something that even in real life wouldn't be made of anything beyond a simple and, yes, audibly sloppy cacophony of sound. Jungle atmospherics and various sound effects are handled primarily across the front; the back channels never really come into play to any great degree throughout the movie. Fortunately, Warner's track handles Ennio Morricone's superb score exceptionally well; it's crisp and spacious and benefits a great deal from the lossless presentation. Action sound effects heard primarily during the final act neither impress nor disappoint; the action falls a bit flat from a sonic perspective, but that seems more the film's intention rather than a fault of the track itself. Finally, dialogue is clean and precise. The Mission's soundtrack doesn't seem built to dazzle listeners, but fans should find what's here to be pleasing and a fine compliment to the film.
The Mission features but two supplements; fortunately, both are excellent. First is an audio commentary track with Director Roland Joffé who delivers exceptionally smart insight into not just the generalities that define the making of the picture, but also its story, characters, score, themes, relevancy, historical parallels between what the film depicts and modern events, his experiences of working with native tribes, and plenty more. Far superior to more generic commentaries, Joffé's is instead a track that's history lesson, engaging story, and behind-the-scenes insight all in one. This is a must-listen track. Also included is Omnibus: The Making of 'The Mission' (480p, 57:17), a vintage documentary that chronicles the making of the movie. It looks at the process of casting real Indians in the film and their importance in adding authenticity to the story, their performances and involvement in the intricacies of the filmmaking process, Native culture today in South America, the history of Jesuit missions, the film's set construction, action scene construction, the picture's story and themes, the presence of the modern-day Colombian Army on the set and the resultant parallels to the film, and much more. As with the commentary, this is a strong supplement that's a must-watch.
The Mission emphasizes feeling and purpose rather than excess dialogue and visual panache, all of which highlights the story's narrative and allows for a meaningful and emotionally challenging experience. That doesn't mean that The Mission is a dull picture; quite the contrary, if the poignant story's not enough to move the soul, then the beautiful cinematography and stirring score are sure to do so. There are but a few pictures that are as elegant as The Mission in terms of craftsmanship and both quality and purpose of story; it's the complete package and a movie that's required viewing for all connoisseurs of the cinematic medium. Warner Brothers' currently Amazon-exclusive Blu-ray release of The Mission yields a good-in-context technical presentation and two very high quality extras. Enthusiastically recommended.
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