7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
A look at the relationship between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife.
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Emily Watson, Charlie Cox, David ThewlisBiography | 100% |
Drama | 33% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Where there is life, there is hope.
The image of the wheelchair-bound Stephen Hawking and the sound of his synthetic, computer-generated voice have long stood as symbols not of
scientific progress but of man's unique determination to overcome the odds -- no matter how debilitating they may be -- and fulfill a life's wish and a
universe's destiny. The Theory of Everything, directed by James Marsh (Shadow Dancer), shares the details of the life story of the renowned
author and acclaimed scientific mind in a movie that's less about the man's theories and genius and more a champion for the human spirit, a spirit
that exists beyond the body and even the mind and defines a man in ways that physical dexterity or mental ability cannot. Indeed, that spirit
manifests itself in one's desire to move forward, to refuse to succumb to life's challenges and instead to rise above them, to make use of whatever
gifts one has
or, in Hawking's case, which remain, to refuse to allow life's burdens to interrupt, inhibit, or incapacitate life's benefits. The film is simple but
remarkably performed and fully heartfelt, a portrait of a hero whose powers aren't physical or even, despite his genius, mental, but instead an
unending desire to push forward and fulfill potential no matter the circumstances.
The story is yet to be written.
The Theory of Everything arrives on Blu-ray with a clean and detailed 1080p transfer that comes sourced from the original digital photography. The image is precise and nuanced, with handsome, accurate detailing evident on faces, clothes, and general backgrounds, whether a sterile hospital operating room or warm and inviting Cambridge accents. The film features a unique color palette, one that often favors a light and almost glowing appearance that warms the screen, only sometimes contrasted by icy blue-dominant backgrounds and other assorted cooler flavors. Still, colors are attractive and balanced in the film's parameters. Black levels satisfy with their depth and accuracy, while flesh tones take the shape of the dominant lighting style. The image appears free of any bits of excess banding or blocking artifacts with only a hint of noise. On the whole, this is a rich, accurate presentation from Universal.
The Theory of Everything's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is big and satisfying. Music is aggressive yet maintains a commendable level of clarity and evenness around the stage, with a wide front end and a healthy surround support engagement. Only mild muddiness is evident in a few highs, and loud background party music disrupts dialogue intelligibility in one early film scene. The track delivers a good variety of background support pieces throughout, with most every scene where it's expected brought to life with well defined yet oftentimes subtle atmospherics. The track's big moment comes in a barrage of fireworks that pop with tremendous weight and exacting full-stage placement. Otherwise, the movie is heavy on dialogue. The spoken word plays clearly and truly from the center, whether standard speech, Hawking's slurred dialect midway through the film, or the famed robotic voice heard later in the film.
The Theory of Everything contains an audio commentary, a featurette, and a handful of deleted scenes. A DVD copy and a voucher for a
UV/iTunes digital copy are also included.
The Theory of Everything is a well-made movie wherein the sum is greater than the parts. The movie is at its best as the audience, and Hawking, come to realize that ends can be beginnings, that life's challenges need only interrupt and perhaps inconvenience but not terminate one's essence. Certainly Hawking's story is unique considering the unmistakable genius at play within his mind, and even as he offers some controversial theories on beginnings and ends that some may find fault with, he's nevertheless a hero of the human spirit as evidenced by his will to push forward even through the most challenging difficulties. Eddie Redmayne's performance is stellar in all areas, rounding a good, meaningful movie into one of the year's better entries. Universal's Blu-ray release of The Theory of Everything features high end video and audio. A fair supplemental package is included. Highly recommended.
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