7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
From acclaimed director Robert Eggers, The Northman is an epic revenge thriller that explores how far a Viking prince will go to seek justice for his murdered father.
Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Ethan Hawke, Anya Taylor-JoyDrama | 100% |
Thriller | 80% |
History | 53% |
Action | 35% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.00:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.00:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
The Northman is a story of bloodlust. It is the story of a young warrior who witnesses great atrocity and vows revenge on the man who forever changed his life's focus and direction, who metaphorically ripped his heart out when he destroyed that belonging to another. This story is not new, and this is not noteworthy. However, this is that story told in all of its morbid, bleak, and unrelenting authenticity, exploring a broken man who has built a body and a skillset well suited to the combat of his day while grooming a heart for vengeance and a soul bent on destruction. The movie is visceral and raw and very well done within these gruesome and grisly parameters. Prepare for an intense journey into the past set on the converging bloody battlefields of the mind, soul, and body.
The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.
The Northman sees a fairly sizeable upgrade from the Blu-ray for this 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD release. While the companion Blu-ray looks marvelous and holds up very well in an A-B comparison battle with this
UHD image,
there is certainly no denying that the UHD absolutely trounces the Blu-ray for color depth and accuracy as well as for textural sophistication and
overall
clarity and sharpness. The Dolby Vision grading is a delight, even as the film holds fast and tight to its intensely gray and bleak color scheme.
Splashes
of brighter colors, beginning with a red sweater garment seen on young Amleth as he watches his father approach home, do make an impact for
expressive sophistication, even under these coloring conditions. Blood splashes and natural
greens enjoy more fruitful depth and accuracy here as well, and the UHD is careful not to overindulge in these colors, rather managing to bolster
depth
and
accuracy without pushing them overly bright so as to ruin the film's intended appearance. Even the grayscale is boosted for nuanced clarity and
detail,
and of course black levels are handsome while whites are brilliant, notably snow.
The 2160p resolution reveals superior clarity, generally, and added sharpness and stability, broadly, resulting in a wonderful, razor-sharp, and
perfectly
filmic image that is going to look beautiful both on basic TV sizes and projected as large as possible. The period attire enjoys agreeable boosts to
definition and visibility, especially considering fabric density and individual threads and frays as they are seen in close-up. Skin details are pushed to
another level beyond the Blu-ray, enjoying exceptional intricacy and fine-point intimacy to individual pores, strands of facial hair, and the like. Caked-
on
mud and blood enjoy superior tactile exactness. Natural locations thrive with the ability to precisely reveal every blade of grass, the texture on a pile
of
mud, and the like. There are absolutely no print issues and no encode artifacts. This one is a bonafide winner.
The featured Dolby Atmos soundtrack is an absolute treat. The presentation is rich with detail and commanding in its spacing and accuracy. Listeners will feel in the center of combat, evading devastating blows, dodging swooping arrows, and feeling totally submersed in the maelstrom of epically violent hand to hand combat. Musical score is powerful and commanding, offering full stage engagement defined by crystal clear detail, impactful but not overburdening bass, and full stage immersion, including the top end. Discrete effects are not commonplace overhead, but the added fullness the Atmos channels provides only adds to the sense of authenticity the track offers. Light ambient effects within the world are incredibly realistic and engaging as well. Dialogue is clear and center positioned for the duration.
This UHD release of The Northman includes deleted and extended scenes, a handful of featurettes, and an audio commentary track. A
Blu-ray
copy of the film and a Movies
Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.
The Northman disguises its plot simplicity with authentic grit, copious amounts of raw violence and bloodshed, and just enough character depth beyond the march for revenge to play as a very good example of its kind. The locations, costumes, and weapons look as authentic as one would expect and beyond Nicole Kidman the cast disappears into the roles. The Blu-ray looks and sounds terrific and is supported by a solid amount of bonus content. Highly recommended.
2012
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1977
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2021
Special Edition
2008
Limited Edition to 3000
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