Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Three Ages Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 19, 2017

For 1923’s “Three Ages,” Buster Keaton wanted to prove himself as a feature-length helmer after a career crafting shorts. However, to achieve such box office dependability, he returned to the process of making shorts, transforming “Three Ages” into a study of time and comedy, capturing the wilds of human behavior in Prehistoric Times, the Roman Age, and Modern Times, identifying the evolution of society and the enduring insanity and determination of a man in love.

For more extensive analysis on “Three Ages,” please read Casey Broadwater’s previous review.

Three Ages Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Billed as a "New 2K restoration by Lobster Films," the actual age of the transfer isn't entirely clear, as this is an MPEG-2 visual (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation. "Three Ages" is certainly a difficult nut to crack for restoration efforts, with surviving elements in rough shape to begin with, requiring delicate handling and painstaking work to bring the picture back to life. Wear and tear remains on display throughout the viewing experience, with prominent scratches, speckling, and flicker detected, and bursts of chemical damage arrive periodically. Clarity goes about as far as original cinematography allows, supplying a softer but still expressive image that highlights some texture on period costuming and facial response. Delineation is adequate, handling distances passably.

Three Ages Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For the 2.0 LPCM sound event, listeners can choose between scores by The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra and Robert Israel. While the tracks vary in ambition, they both sound as expected, with encouraging instrumentation and stable levels of excitement, supporting the onscreen action with confidence and crispness.

Three Ages Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Vintage Alka-Seltzer Commercial (1:04, SD) features Buster Keaton as a frustrated mailman who can't catch a break, receiving a bit of digestive aid advice from a tiny stop-motion animated mascot named Speedy.

• "Candid Camera" (5:53, SD) is a clip from the long-running prank show, with host Arthur Godfrey setting up a skit where Keaton sits next to unsuspecting customers at a diner, using his expert physical comedy skills to turn his lunch into a grand mess of tiny accidents. In terms of television high jinks, it's remarkably tame compared to today's dedication to staged cruelty.

• "Man's Genesis" (9:12, SD) is a clip from a 1912 D.W. Griffith short that inspired Keaton to craft the varied eras of "Three Ages."

Three Ages Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The passage of time plays a more important role in the "Three Ages" viewing experience, offering a rougher look at Keaton's visual growth, but the essentials of a developing filmmaker remain amusing and educational, watching the actor take control of his career.