Here are some other products you might consider...
Mature Audience
Suitable for mature audiences 16 years and over.
NOTE: Contains violence and offensive language
| 5 star |
|
(77) |
| 4 star |
|
(25) |
| 3 star |
|
(5) |
| 2 star |
|
(3) |
| 1 star |
|
(2) |
No fault of the Ape; but the local distributor is yet to signal its intention to release the remastered version of Gladiator. An intensely visual film, you really need the best PQ you can get; and the version quietly released this year in most regions – but not here in NZ – is magnificent in this respect.
Do the local industry a favour and do not buy this release; instead, ask the Ape to pass your feedback to the distributor, so they know that local consumers are not willing to be shortchanged.
Gladiator is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated Blu Ray releases since the launch of the format. It is therefore terribly disappointing that Universal/Paramount have done such an awful job with the transfer of this classic film.
To cut a long story short, there are major issues with edge enhancement (manifested by white “halos” surrounding people/objects) and the studio has haphazardly used a “scratch removal” tool that has removed certain key details from the film – the worst examples being flaming arrows and fireballs in the opening battle and lightning bolts during Maximus' journey home. There are also instances where soldiers' spears look like they have had entire sections scrubbed out.
To add insult to injury, the new extended scenes that are included in this Blu Ray release HAVE NOT been subjected to the same butchery and only serve to highlight what a negligent job the studio has done with the rest of the film.
All of these issues have been well documented in numerous internet reviews and the consensus appears to be that the picture quality (particularly in the opening scenes of the film) is not acceptable for such an eagerly anticipated Blu Ray release.
There will nevertheless be many who will enjoy Gladiator on Blu Ray despite it's clear failings, but those with larger screens (42" and above) and a sound understanding of the various nuances of picture quality will be distracted by the edge enhancement and (in certain scenes) the loss of detail. It really is criminal that flaming arrows that are visible in the DVD version are not visible in the Blu Ray!
I expect Blu Ray to provide the best possible picture – and it so often delivers – but sadly Gladiator falls well short. Oh, apparently the audio is fantastic so that's some small consolation.
Re: Mark, "Gladiator on Blu Ray a disappointment… "
Universal Studios have offered replacement discs, which have no Edge Enhancement, or Digital Noise Reduction, for a while now. You can get your replacement disc by contacting Universal NZ (check Whitepages or Yellowpages). They accepted their mistake and did the right thing. The ones you buy off the shelve now though, will already be the corrected discs (look for the Pocket Blu logo on the back).
Gladiator
Roman general Maximus (Russell Crowe) goes from hero to zero, then fights back to win the heart of an Empire in this action-packed and emotionally charged blockbuster. Stunning special effects and superb performances from Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix as the deadly enemies Maximus and Commodus make Ridley Scott's Gladiator an experience to be savoured again and again…
Winner of 5 Academy Awards (incl Best Picture) and 4 BAFTAs (incl Best Film).
Special Features:
Awards
Critic Reviews:
There are no Marketplace listings available for this product currently.
Already own it? Create a free listing and pay just 9% commission when it sells!
