6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Against a background of war breaking out in Europe and the Mexican fiesta Day of Death, we are taken through one day in the life of Geoffrey Firmin, a British consul living in alcoholic disrepair and obscurity in a small southern Mexican town in 1939. The Consul's self-destructive behaviour, perhaps a metaphor for a menaced civilization, is a source of perplexity and sadness to his nomadic, idealistic half-brother, Hugh, and his ex-wife, Yvonne, who has returned with hopes of healing Geoffrey and their broken marriage.
Starring: Albert Finney, Jacqueline Bisset, Anthony Andrews, Ignacio López Tarso, Katy JuradoDrama | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM 2.0
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Nominated for Oscar Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Music, Original Score, John Huston's "Under the Volcano" (1984) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Odeon Entertainment. There are no supplemental features on this release. In English, without optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
The drunkard
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, John Huston's Under the Volcano arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Odeon Entertainment.
The release has been sourced from a pre-existing master. As a result some of the wider shots can look softer than they should, but for the most part detail and clarity are rather pleasing (you can see what type of softness to expect in screencapture #5). The majority of the daylight close-ups, in particular, look quite nice (see screencaptures #2 and 9). There are no traces of problematic degraining adjustments. Grain could and should be better exposed and resolved, but what is present on the current master has not been manipulated. Also, sharpening corrections have not been performed. Overall image stability is very good. Lastly, a few tiny flecks pop up here and there, but there are no large distracting cuts, debris, stains, or damage marks to report in our review. All in all, there is clearly room for different improvements, but this is a fine organic presentation of Under the Volcano that makes it rather easy to appreciate the vision of its creator. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your Blu-ray player regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles have not been provided for the main feature.
The audio has not been remastered, but clarity and depth are very good. Alex North's score breathes quite easily, but its harmonic structure is such that the range of nuanced dynamic is rather limited. The dialog is stable and clear, but optional English SDH subtitles should have been included for viewers that need them. There are no audio dropouts or distortions to report in our review.
Unfortunately, there are no supplemental features to be found on this Blu-ray release.
A British diplomat in Mexico quits his job and tries to drink himself to death in John Huston's Oscar-nominated drama Under the Volcano. Much like Barbet Schroeder's Barfly, Under the Volcano isn't for everyone, but viewers who appreciate dark and intense films should not miss it. The technical presentation is quite nice, but there are no supplemental features on this release. RECOMMENDED.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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