Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.0

Three Thousand Years of Longing Blu-ray Movie Review

Phenomenal cosmic power, itty-bitty hotel room.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III November 18, 2022

George Miller's first film since Mad Max: Fury Road (and a brief detour before Furiosa, which just completed principal photography a few months ago), the monumentally-titled Three Thousand Years of Longing brings to mind a sweeping, multi-millennial love story... which it is, of course. But's it's also an intimate, close-quarters tale of two kindred spirits: one is Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton), a successful narratologist who's poured her life into her career, and the other is a Djinn (Idris Elba) who she frees from his glass prison while on a speaking engagement in Turkey. It combines standard genie-in-a-bottle tropes and Arabian Nights-inspired flashbacks where we learn about Djinn's previous loves and losses, which intrigue Alithea as a more grounded individual who's recently suffered from disturbing supernatural visions. While emotionally impactful at key moments and led by two committed performances, Three Thousand Years of Longing still can't help but feel like it's missing the polish and precision of a film that matches its ambitious concept.

If nothing else, Three Thousand Years of Longing starts off well enough: after landing in Turkey, Alithea encounters her first demonic vision at the airport, after which she's greeted by speaking partner Professor Gühan (Erdil Yaşaroğlu) and several event organizers. Things take a disturbing turn during her speech in a crowded auditorium, where a pale-faced figure -- who brings to mind the stained-glass knight from 1985's Young Sherlock Holmes -- causes her to pass out on stage. She later confides in Professor Gühan about her recent flights of fancy but insists they're nothing to worry about and, during a brief visit to an antique shop, selects a small blue-swirled bottle to add to her collection of trinkets back in London. Returning to her hotel room, Alithea's relaxing evening is interrupted by Djinn himself after the bottle is cleaned, where he abruptly appears as an imposingly oversized figure. Naturally, he grants her three wishes -- along with a few ground rules, of course -- with another stipulation that they must truly come from the heart.

Skeptical of Djinn's claims, Alithea is reassured by four separate stories about his previous owners: the beautiful Queen of Sheba (Aamito Lagum), teenage concubine Gülten (Ece Yüksel), a morbidly obese woman nicknamed Sugar Lump (Anna Adams), and a Turkish merchant's brilliant wife, Zefir (Burcu Gölgedar). Each distinct tale features an ambitious scope and production design as Djinn weaves a narrative thread that Alithea can't help but accept at face value. As a woman formerly married but now laser-focused on her career and legacy, she sees Djinn as a similarly broken figure whose own desire for emotional connection -- and similar fear of imprisonment -- has drawn them together.

It's a long-winded way of reminding us that "once you go black, you never go back"... but to its considerable credit, Three Thousand Years of Longing is a refreshingly original production whose intense atmosphere and visuals aim for the back row, elevating a handful of its weaker moments to respectable heights. The same can be said of its supremely well-crafted sound design, a similarly great effort that brings depth and intensity to key moments in an effective way. But its uneven structure make this film feel like more of a rough draft or rehearsal for the real thing, even though the crucial performances of Swinton and Elba absolutely carry their own weight. A scattershot anthology masquerading as a heady and dramatic fantasy epic, Three Thousand Years of Longing is certainly well worth a watch -- and quite possibly a future re-evaluation -- despite having the vaguely bitter aftertaste of a partially missed opportunity.

For a slightly less positive take on the film, please see Brian Orndorf's theatrical review.

Although the separate 4K edition (which also includes this Blu-ray) obviously wins out, Warner Bros.' 1080p transfer is no slouch and comes equipped with the same top-tier Dolby Atmos mix. Unfortunately, the lack of extras, combined with the film's somewhat niche appeal, make either option more of a purchase for established fans only.

Three Thousand Years of Longing Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Much of what was said about Three Thousand Years of Longing's visuals in my 4K review clearly apply to Warner Bros.' respectably great 1080p transfer; even downsampled from its native source resolution and without the obvious benefits of HDR enhancement, this is quite a visual stunner indeed. Saturation, fine detail, and textures meet and sometimes exceed expectations for the format, while solid encoding on this dual-layered disc ensures a perfectly strong and stable image that doesn't fall victim to compression artifacts like macro blocking, posterization, and banding. Black levels are similarly potent within the stricter boundaries of SDR, with no perceivable levels of crush on display during even the darkest moments. Colors are well handled and frequently punchy without feeling overcooked, even if they can't help but pale in comparison to the heights of its 4K counterpart when viewed in direct comparison. Bottom line: on small to mid-sized displays, this disc will put out a great picture that leaves no room for improvement in 1080p.

Three Thousand Years of Longing Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As good as its visuals are, Three Thousand Years of Longing features absolutely stellar sound design that translates perfectly to this default Dolby Atmos mix -- or Dolby TrueHD 7.1, if your receiver doesn't support the newer format. Dialogue and front-field effects are obviously up to par with clear separation, excellent dynamic range, and crystal clarity that makes everything easy to follow. Yet it's the rears, height channels, and subwoofer that leave the most lasting impact here, showing early signs of life during Alithea's first-act hallucinations, Djinn's reveal and voice, the sporadically epic flashbacks, and no shortage of other natural and supernatural effects as the story gradually unfolds. It's a perfectly measured mix that kicks into overdrive at all the right moments and then some, offering an extremely visceral and memorable listening experience that will keep your ears engaged every step of the way.

Optional English (SDH) and Spanish subtitles are both offered during the main feature. All of its frequent instances of foreign dialogue (including "Djinnbish") are paired with forced subtitles which were also present in theatrical showings. No idea why someone chose vertically-stretched "Papyrus" for the font, though. Yeesh.

Three Thousand Years of Longing Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release ships in a dual-hubbed keepcase with no slipcover and a Digital Copy code. Sadly, no extras are included here -- not surprising given the film's box-office performance, but a disappointment nonetheless.

Three Thousand Years of Longing Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

George Miller's Three Thousand Years of Longing is an interesting attempt at fantastical drama for a director mostly known for the Mad Max franchise; it's an ambitious story decorated with solid visuals, mammoth sound design, and committed lead performances, but it also has pacing issues and could've used a script re-write. Yet even in its current form this is a film worth well watching and may even strengthen its case after repeat viewings. Warner Bros.' Blu-ray deserves top marks for its A/V presentation, but the disappointing lack of extras -- and the film's niche appeal -- don't make it an ideal blind buy. The separate 4K combo pack is preferable unless you've got no plans to upgrade.