Gladiator Blu-ray sneak review preview....

[Clare Newsome]

We've just had advanced copy of the Gladiator Blu-ray in (on sale 7th September). Full review to follow [EDIT - longer review now posted further down this page], but initial impressions:

1) The DTA-MA HD soundtrack is sofa-shakingly good. The DTS soundtrack on the DVD was good, but this is a big step up - from action to the soaring score, it sounds awesome.

2) The picture is a clear step up from the DVD (eg detail in the costumes/on faces etc), though not that hyper-real experience some Blu-rays can offer. Very filmic, though.

3) The Blu-ray offers both the theatrical version and a new, extended edition. The latter - with an oddly lacklustre intro from Ridley Scott, explaining that this version offers more than a Director's Cut - adds both some totally new scenes plus some longer versions of existing scenes. The film feels both fresher and fuller for them, IMO.

4) The CGI has fared well in the transition to HD, though some poorer moments - notably the tigers - haven't improved much (if at all) since the unconvincing original!

5) They haven't used the Blu-ray transfer as a reason to erase one of the film's infamous bloopers - a clearly visible crew member in blue jeans walking out of shot in one of the early army-camp scenes (when Maximus is in the stables - pictured here). Sure they could have taken him out - if Lowry could get rid of the classic snake-reflection in Raiders of the Lost Ark....

Haven't watched the second-disc extras yet, but so far i'm considering this an essential addition to my BD collection.

 

[professorhat]

Very much looking forward to this - glad to hear they haven't messed around with the picture too much for point 2 - this is a film which should look like a film in my opinion.

 

[Big Chris]

Is it 7.1 or plain ol' 5.1?

Got mine pre-ordered at Play regardless.

 

[Clare Newsome]

5.1 - but nothing 'plain' about it

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the heads up on this one, i too consider this an essential purchase like the dark knight. Great to hear the soundtrack is improved even though the original was pretty darn good in my books, and also that the picture is a good enough improvement over the dvd. I really can't wait now, laterz.

 

[Anonymous]

I got my copy from DVD world USA today. I noticed the sound on the Theatrical version seemed better than the Extended version. Thought it was just me but the wife noticed it as well.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Clare,

It's interesting to hear what you think about this disc, there has been such a lot of bad press on various internet forums about this release. Considering the age of the film, I'm not surprised that it doesn't look 100%, I'm more confident about purchasing it now.

Does it look enhanced as some say or is it just the fact that the super35 neg looks how it should? The film has always looked a little over cooked.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Si22:I got my copy from DVD world USA today. I noticed the sound on the Theatrical version seemed better than the Extended version. Thought it was just me but the wife noticed it as well.

We've done an A/B comparison on the same scene from different editions, and the soundtrack is certainly the same (high!) bit-rate - it's possibly just a slightly different, more 'raw' mix on some extended scenes (ie not fully polished like the theatrical version).But nothing to write home about in terms of radically worse/better, IMO.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Lambechop:
Hi Clare,

It's interesting to hear what you think about this disc, there has been such a lot of bad press on various internet forums about this release. Considering the age of the film, I'm not surprised that it doesn't look 100%, I'm more confident about purchasing it now.

Does it look enhanced as some say or is it just the fact that the super35 neg looks how it should? The film has always looked a little over cooked.

To me - and i've seen the original DVD many, many times as a test disc - it looks like it should. And yes, the colours (and indeed the soundtrack) have always been slightly over-egged in places. All part of the 'epic' feel and all that....

I've written a full review for the Playlist pages of our next issue (with subscribers from Friday 11th); i'll see if I can post it up here before that.

 

[Sliced Bread]

Am I the only person who thinks that this is a plop film?

I bought it on DVD many years back as it was the first DTS dvd released in the UK, but despite being a good 'demo' disk the film itself is simply plop. Am I alone?

 

[Anonymous]

You may be alone.

I'm wondering why so few films carry 7.1 soundtracks? Is there any point in me running 7.1 when almost everything I own is 5.1 It seems such a shame after having gone to so much trouble.

For me the soundtrack is where the real pleasure lies. I just love the enveloping richness and quality of BluRay sound. Gladiatior on BR may be one of the very few discs I'd consider buying again even though I already own the DVD.

 

[roger06]

Can't wait!! Have high hopes for this as Blu Ray really hasn't impressed me that much so far.

Scott's Kingdom of Heaven on BD was truly awesome though...

 

[Sliced Bread]

Will Harris:You may be alone.

Damn it!!!!!

Will Harris: I just love the enveloping richness and quality of BluRay sound. Gladiator on BR may be one of the very few discs I'd consider buying again even though I already own the DVD.

I agree with that (although not the gladiator part

)

I've already bought, The Dark Night, Casino Royal, Wall-e, Monsters Inc and The Order Of The Phoenix again for that very reason.

Gladiator is still poo though

 

[Tom Moreno]

Will Harris:You may be alone.I'm wondering why so few films carry 7.1 soundtracks? Is there any point in me running 7.1 when almost everything I own is 5.1 It seems such a shame after having gone to so much trouble.For me the soundtrack is where the real pleasure lies. I just love the enveloping richness and quality of BluRay sound. Gladiatior on BR may be one of the very few discs I'd consider buying again even though I already own the DVD.

I was looking forward to this release out of curiosity as the DVD release was famous for including a discreet 6.1 DTS-ES track (as this film was mixed in 6.1) and I was hoping that the 6.1 discreet track would make the hop to blu-ray. Unfortunately, like some other films that were originally mixed in 6.1, this one's been downmixed to 5.1 for the Blu-ray release. I understand there being very little 7.1 material as there are currently very few film mixing stages that are capable of mixing in 7.1*, but almost all of them are capable of mixing in 6.1.

*- Actually all are capable of 7.1 but not with 4 rear channels, the 7.1 format that is supported by Pro Tools (the defacto standard in post) is the SDDS configuration for large widescreen presentation with L, LC, C, RC, and R channels across the screen, and the standard LS, RS at the back.

 

[Clare Newsome]

OK, here you go with a slightly longer Gladiator Blu-ray review:

When Gladiator was released on DVD - complete with amazing DTS soundtrack - it became a test disc essential here at What Hi-fi? Sound and Vision towers. Hans Zimmer's stirring score still gets regular review use in our hi-fi rooms, but it's been a while since Crowe and co. have had a cinematic spin. This BD's arrival has changed that...

Ignore early US previews berating a poor visual transfer (did they expect Disney animation?) - you get Gladiator as Ridley Scott intended: filmic and epic. For every touch of (authentic) grain you get a dollop of fresh HD detail - from facial expressions to costume frippery, there's more to see and enjoy.

The Blu-ray offers both the 155-minute standard version of the film and an extended, 172-minute edition (which Scott, in a special intro, explains is more than a director's cut). Those 16 additional minutes consist of a few well-chosen deleted scenes that give further insight into characters great and small (remember the slave that has pre-fight bladder issues? We find out why he's not go-to gladiatorial material), plus longer cuts of existing scenes.

Some of the extension isn't essential - yes, Joaquin, we get it; Commodus is a seriously twisted Caesar geezer - but in balance it makes the movie a fresher, more thorough watch.

Meanwhile, the CGI stands up well in the HD world - some bloopers and poorer effects haven't been cleaned up, though: those tigers still suck...

So, the picture's a worthy upgrade from DVD - if not the hyper-real, eye-popping variety boasted by some Blu-rays - but Gladiator deservedly won one of its five Oscars for sound, and it's here that the high-definition advantage is most apparent.

It may 'only' be a 5.1 mix, but the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is a room-filling spectacular. From the opening battle scenes ("unleash hell!") to the gladiatorial contests, action sequences will provide your subwoofer and surround steering with a workout (and your face with a grin), while dialogue is clear and Zimmer's music dynamic.

Finally, a mention for this double-disc's 11 hours of extras. Lavish attention has been paid to just about every detail - whether that's having separate audio commentaries for the different movie edits, or the U-Control feature that allows you to 'tag' scenes of interest when watching the film on disc one; then go behind the scenes of just those moments on disc two.

So, buy this disc, fire up your cinema system and unleash the high-definition might and majesty of Rome at home. Hail Ridley!

 

[Tom Moreno]

Totally agree with this review. I haven't read the stateside reviews that Claire refers to, but I have seen a preview copy of this Blu-ray on a reference system and my jaw was permanently dropped. Sound was spectacular (even without the extra channel) with amazing detail, especially in the busy scenes, and the transfer was brilliant. It looked like the film it is and I'd prefer that anyday to something that's been scrubbed to try and give an extra "sharp" look.

 

[Anonymous]

I have seen the US version and it does not look film like.No grain and very heavy on the Dnr and EE.So have you viewed the uk version which i am hoping as a different transfer or comes from a different master, because if both the UK and the US version are the same there is no way this is what Ridley Scott intended for Gladiator to look like on Blu ray.

God i hope you have reviewed a diffrent transfer so i can trade in my rubbish US copy and get Gladiator with no filtering waxy faces and halo's arround Crowe's body.

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:

OK, here you go with a slightly longer Gladiator Blu-ray review:

When Gladiator was released on DVD - complete with amazing DTS soundtrack - it became a test disc essential here at What Hi-fi? Sound and Vision towers. Hans Zimmer's stirring score still gets regular review use in our hi-fi rooms, but it's been a while since Crowe and co. have had a cinematic spin. This BD's arrival has changed that...

Ignore early US previews berating a poor visual transfer (did they expect Disney animation?) - you get Gladiator as Ridley Scott intended: filmic and epic. For every touch of (authentic) grain you get a dollop of fresh HD detail - from facial expressions to costume frippery, there's more to see and enjoy.

The Blu-ray offers both the 155-minute standard version of the film and an extended, 172-minute edition (which Scott, in a special intro, explains is more than a director's cut). Those 16 additional minutes consist of a few well-chosen deleted scenes that give further insight into characters great and small (remember the slave that has pre-fight bladder issues? We find out why he's not go-to gladiatorial material), plus longer cuts of existing scenes.

Some of the extension isn't essential - yes, Joaquin, we get it; Commodus is a seriously twisted Caesar geezer - but in balance it makes the movie a fresher, more thorough watch.

Meanwhile, the CGI stands up well in the HD world - some bloopers and poorer effects haven't been cleaned up, though: those tigers still suck...

So, the picture's a worthy upgrade from DVD - if not the hyper-real, eye-popping variety boasted by some Blu-rays - but Gladiator deservedly won one of its five Oscars for sound, and it's here that the high-definition advantage is most apparent.

It may 'only' be a 5.1 mix, but the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is a room-filling spectacular. From the opening battle scenes ("unleash hell!") to the gladiatorial contests, action sequences will provide your subwoofer and surround steering with a workout (and your face with a grin), while dialogue is clear and Zimmer's music dynamic.

Finally, a mention for this double-disc's 11 hours of extras. Lavish attention has been paid to just about every detail - whether that's having separate audio commentaries for the different movie edits, or the U-Control feature that allows you to 'tag' scenes of interest when watching the film on disc one; then go behind the scenes of just those moments on disc two.

So, buy this disc, fire up your cinema system and unleash the high-definition might and majesty of Rome at home. Hail Ridley!

You do realise that all the complaints stateside is because the version if the same as ours looks nothing like film.Grain as been removed with dnr and detail has been lost.The extended scenes only have shown how this film is suppose to look with no EE or dnr and the detail in the faces on these few scenes is the only portions which show Gladiator to look like film.

So my question is uk version the same as the US version because if it is then i must need a lesson in film grain because you mention film grain in your review ,yet all i could see was dnr and no grain to give it that video look instead of film.

 

[professorhat]

Well, it's just been dispatched by Amazon and, being a Prime man, I should get it tomorrow so I'll let you know how it looks.

I'm also excited that there is now a forum member called jack burton allowing me the possibilty of saying "You leave Jack Burton alone!" if someone ever has a go at you...

Yes, it's another dull day at work

 

[roger06]

Just got my Amazon shipping notification ... if only I could change my weekend 'family duty' plans...

 

[Anonymous]

This has already been flamed for the video quality on uk amazon site, which is ridiculous if it's different to the US version!

 

[professorhat]

Agreed, as a few people have attempted to point out on the Amazon site. I still don't understand why Amazon allow people to post reviews for items that haven't yet been released in that country.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah and i reckon they should only let people who have purchased an item actually review it.

 

[roger06]

So do these awful reviews only apply to the US version ? (I hope so)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B001XCW6W4/ref=cm_cr_pr_hist_1?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addOneStar

 

[professorhat]

Yes, these people are basing their reviews on the US version which, as a few people in the comments section have said, is not really on. What's worse is, a lot of people who have reviewed on Amazon with awful ratings don't seem to have even seen the US version, let alone the UK version, but are just repeating what other people have written.

Will probably be leaving work soon (tis a Friday after all

) and hopefully it's lying on my doormat as we speak so will have a quick look before going out tonight and update my thoughts.