The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/3D Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
87
Studio and Year: 20th Century Fox - 2011
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 110 minutes
Genre: Action/Adventure
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: MVC
Video Aspect: 1.85:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Luke Evans, Frieda Pinto, Isabel Lucas, Mickey Rourke, John Hurt
Directed by: Tarsem Singh Dhandwar
Music by: Trevor Morris
Written by: Charles Parlapandies & Vlas Parlapandies
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: March 6, 2012
"The Gods need a hero"
Film Synopsis:
In this epic tale of vengeance and destiny, power-mad King Hyperion (Rourke) threatens to destroy all of humanity on his maniacal quest to obtain the ultimate weapon - the legendary Epirus Bow that gives the power to unleash war on both Heaven and Earth. But Theseus (Cavill), a heroic young villager chosen by the gods, rises up to stop Hyperion's brutal rampage. With supernatural help from the beautiful oracle Phaedra (Pinto), Theseus embraces his destiny and leads a fierce band of warriors in a desperate fight for the future of mankind.
My Take:
I have been a fan of Tarsem since reviewing The Fall on Blu-ray back in 2008. His penchant for visual storytelling is superb and in that regard Immortals has something to offer. The screenplay consists of a contemporary Greek Mythology tale spun against elements of love, hate, retribution and destiny. Neither the characters or story are developed enough to be substantial but what keeps interest going is the invigorating visuals and moderately diverting action. In the end I enjoyed Immortals for what it is but those looking for an engaging balance of action drama and visceral storytelling will be disappointed. My advice is to go in with low expectations, sit back and enjoy Tarsem's visually arresting artistry.
Parental Guide:
The rating is for sequences of strong bloody violence, brief nudity and a scene of sexuality.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 94
3D Presentation: 80
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Immortals 3D comes to Blu-ray Disc from 20th Century Fox HE featuring 1080p MVC encoded video and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 4.1 Mbps.
This film wasn't shot natively in 3D but was converted in post production. The film was largely shot against green screens and the reproduction of the digital effects and wide angle background elements translates positively here. Depth is appreciable as evidenced by separation of objects and/or people layered in the foreground/background which creates a visual sense of virtual space. High definition dimensionality and apparent resolution is rarely questionable in close ups and brightly lit exterior sequences (of which there are few) but it varies some in the limited lighting that comprises much of the film. Comparing white/black levels, color and skin tone reproduction to the 2D presentation I found them to essentially be identical. There is a distinct lack of 3D effects that transcend the boundaries of the screen which makes for a somewhat less involving experience especially during the action based segments. I will say that I didn't find that this detracted from my enjoyment of the overall presentation which like the 2D version looks terrific on Blu-ray. I didn't notice any distracting instances of crosstalk or other video related anomalies. The end result is a satisfying but unremarkable 3D video presentation.
This 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is fairly aggressive and features an active surround mix that has extended dynamic range that positively renders the bombastic nature of the elements in the recording. The action based sequences transform the listening area into a three dimensional sound field filled via immersive surround activity that mates perfectly with the events unfolding onscreen. Low frequency effects produce deep bass that rumbles with tactile authority as it pressurizes the room. Dialogue is reproduced with lucid expression and exacting clarity that produced just the slightest hint of sibilance in the upper registers. This is a wonderfully involving and dynamically rewarding sound design that features high level sonic detail, superb directional correlation and rhythmically charged bass extension. My advice is to crank this one up, sit back and enjoy.
2D Video Quality:
** Refer to my review of the standard Blu-ray version. You can view it here: Immortals 2D Review
Bonus Features:
Final Thoughts:
Immortals is a contemporary Greek Mythology tale spun against elements of love, hate, retribution and destiny. I didn't find much depth in its characters or story but found its beautifully crafted visuals and slick production to be worthwhile. It comes to Blu-ray Disc from 20th Century Fox in this three disc 3D offering that offers a satisfying but unremarkable 3D viewing experience that retains the terrific elements found in its excellent 2D high definition video (and audio) presentation. The supplemental material offers a glimpse behind the scenes as well as the inclusion of several alternate takes and a graphic novel that are worth a look if you like the film. This isn't great cinema but has found its way into my collection based strictly on the merit of its high quality presentation. Give it a rent and see for yourself.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS55 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100 16x9 Screen
Onkyo PR-SC5508 THX Ultra 2 Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Furman SPR-20i Stable Power Regulator
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package
The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/3D Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
87
Studio and Year: 20th Century Fox - 2011
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 110 minutes
Genre: Action/Adventure
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: MVC
Video Aspect: 1.85:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Luke Evans, Frieda Pinto, Isabel Lucas, Mickey Rourke, John Hurt
Directed by: Tarsem Singh Dhandwar
Music by: Trevor Morris
Written by: Charles Parlapandies & Vlas Parlapandies
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: March 6, 2012
"The Gods need a hero"
Film Synopsis:
In this epic tale of vengeance and destiny, power-mad King Hyperion (Rourke) threatens to destroy all of humanity on his maniacal quest to obtain the ultimate weapon - the legendary Epirus Bow that gives the power to unleash war on both Heaven and Earth. But Theseus (Cavill), a heroic young villager chosen by the gods, rises up to stop Hyperion's brutal rampage. With supernatural help from the beautiful oracle Phaedra (Pinto), Theseus embraces his destiny and leads a fierce band of warriors in a desperate fight for the future of mankind.
My Take:
I have been a fan of Tarsem since reviewing The Fall on Blu-ray back in 2008. His penchant for visual storytelling is superb and in that regard Immortals has something to offer. The screenplay consists of a contemporary Greek Mythology tale spun against elements of love, hate, retribution and destiny. Neither the characters or story are developed enough to be substantial but what keeps interest going is the invigorating visuals and moderately diverting action. In the end I enjoyed Immortals for what it is but those looking for an engaging balance of action drama and visceral storytelling will be disappointed. My advice is to go in with low expectations, sit back and enjoy Tarsem's visually arresting artistry.
Parental Guide:
The rating is for sequences of strong bloody violence, brief nudity and a scene of sexuality.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 94
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
3D Presentation: 80
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Depth (Onscreen):
- Dimension (Beyond the screen):
- Realism:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Color reproduction:
Immortals 3D comes to Blu-ray Disc from 20th Century Fox HE featuring 1080p MVC encoded video and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 4.1 Mbps.
This film wasn't shot natively in 3D but was converted in post production. The film was largely shot against green screens and the reproduction of the digital effects and wide angle background elements translates positively here. Depth is appreciable as evidenced by separation of objects and/or people layered in the foreground/background which creates a visual sense of virtual space. High definition dimensionality and apparent resolution is rarely questionable in close ups and brightly lit exterior sequences (of which there are few) but it varies some in the limited lighting that comprises much of the film. Comparing white/black levels, color and skin tone reproduction to the 2D presentation I found them to essentially be identical. There is a distinct lack of 3D effects that transcend the boundaries of the screen which makes for a somewhat less involving experience especially during the action based segments. I will say that I didn't find that this detracted from my enjoyment of the overall presentation which like the 2D version looks terrific on Blu-ray. I didn't notice any distracting instances of crosstalk or other video related anomalies. The end result is a satisfying but unremarkable 3D video presentation.
This 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is fairly aggressive and features an active surround mix that has extended dynamic range that positively renders the bombastic nature of the elements in the recording. The action based sequences transform the listening area into a three dimensional sound field filled via immersive surround activity that mates perfectly with the events unfolding onscreen. Low frequency effects produce deep bass that rumbles with tactile authority as it pressurizes the room. Dialogue is reproduced with lucid expression and exacting clarity that produced just the slightest hint of sibilance in the upper registers. This is a wonderfully involving and dynamically rewarding sound design that features high level sonic detail, superb directional correlation and rhythmically charged bass extension. My advice is to crank this one up, sit back and enjoy.
2D Video Quality:
** Refer to my review of the standard Blu-ray version. You can view it here: Immortals 2D Review
Bonus Features:
Disc 1:
- Immortals 3D Blu-ray
Disc 2:
- Immortals 2D Blu-ray (which includes the following bonus features):
- (HD) Alternate opening - Young Theseus
- (HD) Two alternate endings - This is our last embrace, Theseus kills Hyperion
- (HD) Featurettes:
- It's no myth - 5 minutes
- Caravaggio meets fight club: (4 segments)
- Tarsem's vision - 5 minutes
- Visual effects - 5 minutes
- Stunts - 4 minutes
- Creating the score - 4 minutes
- (HD) 8 deleted scenes
- (HD) Immortals: Gods & Heroes (graphic novel)
Disc 3:
- Digital Copy Bonus Disc
Final Thoughts:
Immortals is a contemporary Greek Mythology tale spun against elements of love, hate, retribution and destiny. I didn't find much depth in its characters or story but found its beautifully crafted visuals and slick production to be worthwhile. It comes to Blu-ray Disc from 20th Century Fox in this three disc 3D offering that offers a satisfying but unremarkable 3D viewing experience that retains the terrific elements found in its excellent 2D high definition video (and audio) presentation. The supplemental material offers a glimpse behind the scenes as well as the inclusion of several alternate takes and a graphic novel that are worth a look if you like the film. This isn't great cinema but has found its way into my collection based strictly on the merit of its high quality presentation. Give it a rent and see for yourself.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS55 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100 16x9 Screen
Onkyo PR-SC5508 THX Ultra 2 Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Furman SPR-20i Stable Power Regulator
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package