7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.1 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.6 |
The Pillars of the Earth is set against a backdrop of war, religious strife and power struggles which tears lives and families apart. In that time, there rises a magnificent Cathedral in Kingsbridge. Against the backdrop, love-stories entwine: Tom, the master builder, Aliena, the noblewoman, the sadistic Lord William, Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge, Jack, the artist in stone work and Ellen, the woman from the forest who casts a curse. At once, this is a sensuous and enduring love story and an epic that shines with the fierce spirit of a passionate age. Follett masterfully weaves these stories through political turmoil of 12th century England, creating a relevant and viable world for today's audience and for generations to come.
Starring: Ian McShane, Matthew Macfadyen, Eddie Redmayne, Hayley Atwell, Natalia WörnerHistory | 100% |
Drama | 72% |
War | 65% |
Romance | 56% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English, English SDH, French
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Who will rule once I am gone?
Just when it seemed like the Miniseries was dead, kaput, muerto, or at least taken over by ultra-cheesy or super-weepy three-hour ScyFy and
Hallmark Channel crud, "The Pillars of the Earth" arrives on the scene as an epically lengthy, gracefully acted, opulently produced, and
handsomely directed colossal-like heavyweight with the strength to overwhelm all but the finest of television's classiest best-of miniseries, the clout
to call attention to itself like few others, and the artistic grace to shame all of those three-hour wannabes into acknowledging that they are but lowly
peasants on the totem pole of entertainment, whimpering in the darkness that is the recesses of the gargantuan shadow cast by the filmed
adaptation of Author Ken Follett's titanic thousand-page book of the same name. No doubt about it, "The Pillars of the Earth" puts on an
impressive front, but is there any substance behind the towering façade, or is its opulence but a mask concealing the emptiness that exists where
there should be a tighter, deeper, and more meaningful production? The answer lies somewhere in the middle. "The Pillars of the Earth" is much
like the massive cathedral that plays a central role through the series. It's built as a labor of love with stalwart hands off an infallible blueprint. It
takes shape with all the splendor and spectacle befitting such a grand pursuit, and the end product is indeed a thing of beauty, but walk inside and,
while the beauty remains, a cold, empty feeling of pending doom and other cruelties linger about, subtly bouncing around the cavernous emptiness
like a spirit itching to be freed from the confines of a beautiful but ultimately hollow and lifeless box. "The Pillars of the Earth" is one of the
more ambitious project of the past ten years, and while the filmmakers have succeeded in creating a behemoth of a Miniseries, they've failed to
bring to the project that real sense of purpose that must lie beyond the awe and wonder to truly succeed, instead leaving viewers thrilled with the
prospect but disappointed with the end result that is
the nearly eight-hour journey into English life, religion, and politics of centuries past.
Let there be Anarchy.
"The Pillars of the Earth" arrives on Blu-ray with a gorgeous 1080i, 1.78:1 high definition transfer; please note that the information on the back of the box incorrectly lists 1080p. Though it occasionally appears slightly glossy, "Pillars" delivers a nearly faultless high definition image that's overflowing with exquisite detailing that's evident in nearly every single frame. Sony's transfer captures the subtlest of nuances on the sometimes frayed or muddied period garments, faces, chain mail armor, muddy dirt, gravely roads, stone façades, straw roofs, wooden accents, or any other number of objects seen throughout the series. This transfer offers plenty of splashes of bright but reserved and in no way over-boosted or unnatural colors, but the predominant shades of gray and earth tones are splendidly reproduced, giving the series a somewhat cold, tired, and gloomy appearance but not one that engenders too much of a sense of visual or emotional fatigue. Blacks are wonderfully deep and inky without exhibiting excess black crush, and flesh tones seem spot-on accurate throughout. Depth of field is nicely realized, and the transfer is consistently and naturally sharp and clean. Blocking and banding are practically nonexistent, and only scant traces of noise and aliasing are readily evident. "The Pillars of the Earth" looks fantastic, and it's another in an already lengthy list of top-tier transfers from Sony.
"The Pillars of the Earth" builds its story through a wonderful DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This is a superb presentation from beginning to end that passes every technical test. Though a made-for-television miniseries, "The Pillars of the Earth" features a grand score that's epic in both feel and presentation and is expertly handled by Sony's DTS track. It delivers a rich cinematic texture in every episode, remaining clean and accurate while playing with a grandiose and elegantly sweeping sensation that adds quite a bit to the overall "Pillars" experience. The surround speakers are utilized throughout as well, helping to support various atmospherics such as pouring rain, background music, or the patron chatter around an outdoor marketplace. The track handles various echoing sensations with realism and ease, while more impressively loud and violent effects, such as raging fire or crumbling blocks, immerse the audience in hot flames or send then them scattering for cover, respectively. Of course, it goes without saying that dialogue is never problematic, playing with a crisp center-focused and natural pitch. "The Pillars of the Earth" sounds fantastic, and Sony is once again proven to be one of the best in Blu-ray soundtrack business.
"The Pillars of the Earth" features a few extras scattered across all three discs in the set. Disc one contains both BD-Live connectivity and The Making of 'The Pillars of the Earth' (1080p, 27:36), a quality overview of the series that features cast and crew covering the scope of the production (including the importance of ensuring it enjoyed the proper length), the quality of the cast, the grand look and structure of the series, the strength of the script, and the merits of the source material. Disc two contains Visual Effects Progression (1080p, 9:49), a well-made piece that focuses solely on demonstrating how various digital elements were inserted into the series; the piece is without narration or interview clips. Disc three offers Main Titles Progression (1080p, 5:39), a short piece that takes a look inside Acme Filmworks for a glimpse into the work necessary for creating the series' unique opening titles. Also included on disc three are 1080p trailers for "Damages: Season One," Nowhere Boy, Welcome to the Rileys, and The Bridge on the River Kwai.
"The Pillars of the Earth" is as ambitious as it needs to be; whether that ambition is realized to its full potential is certainly up for debate, but there's no denying the series' power and grandeur from its first shot to its last. Yes, it drags on occasion and yes, it's sometimes overly complicated and impossibly overcrowded, but while there's sometimes not enough meat on the gargantuan bones, what is there is mighty tasty. "Pillars of the Earth" is packed with violence; sex; and immoral, corrupt, and ugly behaviors; it's a series for mature audience with a patience to get through the opening salvo that throws quite a bit of information at the viewer, but once everything is sorted out and settled in by the third part, "Pillars" makes for a generally enjoyable if not somewhat flawed event that's best enjoyed in chunks rather than in a single eight-hour marathon. Sony's Blu-ray release of "The Pillars of the Earth" spreads out over a handsome three-disc set that offers all eight episodes in crystal-clear 1080p video and lush lossless sound. It's too bad that the extras are far too short, but fans of the series can buy with confidence. Recommended.
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Limited Edition to 3000
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Fox Studio Classics
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