7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
A dramatization of the political coup plot and 20 July assassination against Hitler.
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van HoutenThriller | 100% |
War | 82% |
History | 76% |
Period | 46% |
Biography | 37% |
Drama | 12% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Hungarian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Russian: DTS 5.1
Ukrainian: Dolby Digital 5.1
The Russian DTS 5.1 dub is 48kHz/768kbps/24-bit; the Dolby Digital 5.1 dubs are 48kHz/448kbps; an optional English Audio Descriptive Dolby Digital 5.1 track is also available (48kHz/448kbps).
English SDH, Danish, Estonian, Finnish, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Russian, Swedish, Ukrainian
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (on disc)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region B, C (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Brian Singer’s period thriller “Valkyrie” (2008) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 20th Century Fox-UK. The disc boasts an excellent AVC-encoded transfer as well as a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The British distributors have also provided an abundance of informative supplemental features, including Kevin Burns’ near two-hour documentary “The Valkyrie Legacy” (2008). Region B/C “locked”.
Attacked
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Brian Singer's Valkyrie arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 20th Century Fox-UK.
I like this transfer. Contrast and detail are very pleasing, clarity terrific, and edge-enhancement hardly an issue of concern. The color-scheme is also notably strong – yellows, blues, reds, greens, whites and blacks are all lush and well saturated (the panoramic vistas from the African desert for instance look excellent). This said, I noticed a minor dose of digital noise during a few indoor scenes – take a look at the scene where Stauffenberg, his wife and his kids head to the basement of their house after they hear the bomb sirens – but nothing that will seriously detract from your viewing experience. Furthermore, I did not notice any heavy noise reduction to report in this review. On the contrary, Valkyrie looks quite natural. Finally, the actual transfer is notably healthy – I did not spot any debris, scratches, dust, or stains. To sum it all up, I like what 20th Century Fox have done and have absolutely no problem recommending this Blu-ray disc to you. (Note: This is a Region B/C "locked" release. Therefore, unless you have a native Region-B or Region-Free player, you won't be able to access its content).
There are a number of different audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English Descriptive Audio 5.1, Hungarian Dolby Digital 5.1, Russian DTS 5.1 and Ukrainian: Dolby Digital 5.1. 20th Century Fox have also provided the following subtitling options - English HOH, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Hungarian, Hungarian HOH, Russian, Russian HOH, Ukrainian, Ukrainian HOH, Estonian, Lithuanian, and Latvian.
The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is very convincing. The rear channels are quite active, the bass full-bodied and punchy, and the high frequencies not overdone. Furthermore, there are a couple of scenes that are likely to test the muscles of your audio equipment (the air attack in the very beginning of Valkyrie), so be careful when you watch the film. This being said, the dialog is crisp, crystal clear and very easy to follow. There are no balance issues to report either. Additionally, I did not detect any pops, cracks, or hissings. To sum it all up, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is as rich, active, and persuasive as I expected it to be.
Commentary by Tom Cruise, Bryan Singer and Christopher McQuarrie – I listened to the entire commentary and I must say that it is very informative. At times, I even felt that it was far more entertaining that the actual film. There is some great historic data, particularly during the second half of the film/commentary, in regard to the actual locations where Valkyrie was shot etc. (For the record, the commentary is subtitled in English, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian).
Commentary by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander – The second commentary is slightly more technical. The duo focuses on the history of the project as well as how certain scenes from it were shot. (For the record, the commentary is subtitled in English, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian).
The Journey to Valkyrie – this featurette contains a number of different interviews with cast and crew members where they address the history of Valkyrie. Philipp von Schulthess, Stauffenberg's grandson, also shares his thoughts on the film. (Subtitled in English, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian, 1080i, 16 min).
The Road to Resistance: A Visual Guide – Philipp von Schulthess takes us back to Berlin of 1944 and talks about the German Resistance movement. (Subtitled in English, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian, 1080i, 9 min).
The African Front Sequence – A short featurette focusing on the technical preparation and execution of the opening sequence from the film. (Subtitled in English, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian, 1080i, 7 min).
Taking to the Air – Aerial coordinators, cast and crew members discuss the aircrafts used in Valkyrie. (Subtitled in English, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian, 1080i, 8 min).
Recreating Berlin – Another short featurette taking a look at the original locations used in the film. (Subtitled in English, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian, 1080i, 7 min).
92nd Street Y: Reel Pieces with Tom Cruise and Bryan Singer – Film scholar Annette Insdorff conducts a rather long interview with Tom Cruise and Bryan Singer where they discuss Valkyrie and its history. (Subtitled in English, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian, 480p, 39 min).
The Valkyrie Legacy – A nearly two-hour film by Kevin Burns about the rise and fall of Adolph Hitler, the Third Reich, and the German Resistance. Director Burns provides a terrific summation of the history of Germany, from its darkest moments to its current role as a leader within the European Union. (Subtitled in English, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian, 1080p, 115 min).
Less than a month after its North American premiere, Brian Singer's "Valkyrie" arrives on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom via 20th Century Fox. For their release, the British distributors have provided a better selection of audio tracks as well as subtitle options. We like how this Blu-ray disc looks and sounds – RECOMMENDED.
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