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Django Unchained (Blu-ray) Official AVSForum Review

10K views 48 replies 33 participants last post by  kkirsche 
#1 ·


The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )

Film:


Extras:


Audio/Video total rating:

( Max score: 100 )
88





Studio and Year: The Weinstein Company- 2012
MPAA Rating: R
Feature running time: 165 minutes
Genre: Drama, Action, Western

Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 1080p/24


Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French & Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Written by: Quentin Tarantino
Music by: Luis Enriquez Bacalov (Theme)
Region Code: A

Blu-ray Disc release Date: April 16, 2013
"The 'D' is Silent. Payback Won't Be."


Film Synopsis:


With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.


My Take:

Django Unchained is Quentin Tarentino’s first film since the 2010 passing of his editor Sally Menke at the age of 56. She had edited all of his films from 1992's Reservoir Dogs to 2009's Inglorious Basterds . I was very curious to see how much of the pacing and control of Tarentino’s non-traditional structure she had. Luckily Menke’s assistant editor for Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2, Fred Raskin, stepped in and did a superb job honoring her talents doing a great job assembling the pieces of this film.


The films plot is a simple one. It is the story of the titular Django (Jamie Foxx), who after getting separated from his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), gets freed by dentist turned bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). After becoming quite the gunslinger under Schultz’s tutelage, Django and Shultz set out to rescue Broomhilda from Mississippi plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).


As in all Tarentino stories it’s not just the main characters and their story arcs that bring the world to life, it is also a thickly built layer of secondary characters and sub-plots that make his close to 3 hour films so engaging. Django Unchained is one of my favorite Tarantino films, possibly his most mature, and sits at number three behind Pulp Fiction & Inglorious Basterds .

Django Unchained has all the Tarantino requisites like witty banter (actually there are some of his best lines in this one), unrelenting violence and characters so different to what we are used to they just beg to be watched and suck you in as much as his amazingly fresh and well fleshed-out stories. Django opened to and up some controversy surrounding historical inaccuracies as well as criticism on its take on slavery, almost like he wasn’t paying proper respect to the time and the peoples plight. To them I say CHILL OUT and look up the definition of the word Fiction and enjoy this 3 hour escape…you need it.





Parental Guide:


Rated R for strong graphic violence throughout, language and some nudity



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.**


Audio: 86

(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)

  • Dynamics:

  • Low frequency extension:

  • Surround Sound presentation:

  • Clarity/Detail:

  • Dialogue Reproduction:



Video: 88

(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)

  • Resolution/Clarity:

  • Black level/Shadow detail:

  • Color reproduction:

  • Fleshtones:

  • Compression:


Django Unchained comes to Blu-ray from Anchor Bay featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 22.5 mbps and DTS HD-MA 5.1 sound that has an average bitrate of 3.8 mbps


Anchor Bay delivers yet another high quality new release transfer with its Blu-ray of Django Unchained. The 1080p 2.40:1 image had a fun color palette that was often pushed a bit far, from cold to warm, however it all worked well and the films copious blood spill popped impressively. Great shadow detail and reference black levels coupled with impressive delineation on even the finest details helped enhance the films depth of field, which at times rendered foreground from background with a three dimensional feel. There are moments of intentional softness, which is an artistic choice, as the film does play with many different looks and moods.


The Lossless DTS-HD MA audio track was justifiably aggressive, with noticeable dynamic peaks and some, at times, booty shaking LFE. The surround channels were used heavily, enhancing the world on screen, however, I did notice a few times they seemed to pull me away with too much focus. Dialogue was consistent and the front sound-stage seemed pin-point accurate. This is all-in-all a pleasing track, but not a complete reference experience.



Bonus Features:



  • (HD) Remembering J. Michael Riva: The Production Design of Django Unchained

  • (HD) Reimagining the Spaghetti Western: The Horses and Stunts of Django Unchained

  • (HD) The Costume Designs of Sharen Davis

  • (HD) Tarantino XX Blu-ray Collection Promo

  • (HD) Django Unchained Soundtrack Promo

  • DVD Copy

  • Digital Copy

  • UV Copy



Final Thoughts:

Django Unchained was an impressive ride that solidified (if we even needed that) Tarantino’s unrelenting love for exploitation cinema and his knack of taking any genre and throwing it in his own exploitation blender. DeCaprio and Waltz, the latter whom won Best Actor for his role, are amazing here, as are all the performances Mr. Tarantino channels from his actors. My only gripe is the skimpy bit of extras, I wanted more, and of course, wanted a directors commentary. Fans must have seen this by now, and probably have it on Blu-ray, but if you had any question in your mind, go for it…it’s worth it.









Lee Weber
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews





Reference Review Systems:


JVC DLA-RS4810 3D 1080p 3D High Definition Front Projector

Screen Innovations Solar HD 1.3 120" 2.40:1 CinemaScope Screen

Onkyo PR-SC5509 Pre/Pro

Sunfire Theater Grand 7201 Amplifier

Sony BDP-S790 Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)

Triad InRoom Gold LCR's

Triad OnWall Silver Surrounds

2 Triad Silver OmniSubs



Panasonic TC-P65VT30 3D 1080p Plasma

Marantz NR1603 Receiver

Sony PS3 (HDMI Audio/Video)

MKSound MP-7 LCR's

MKSound SUR-55T Surrounds

MKSound SB-8 Subwoofer
 
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14
#2 ·
Thanks for the review, Lee!



I enjoyed this one as well and look forward to some repeat viewings. It started off a bit slow for me, but kept picking up in pace all the way through and was moving like a freight train by the time the climax arrived. I was very happy with the way the story ended and I'm very glad to have this in my collection.


Note: it's likely to be too violent and bloody for some viewers.
 
#3 ·
...just wanted to quickly add that my wife was in another room when I watched this and she said it sounded far too violent for her to watch!
 
#5 ·
Something I've found with pretty much all of Tarentino's films is that they don't appear interesting to me if I see only a trailer for the movie, or just a bit of the film, but if I sit down and watch his movies from beginning to end, they are great. This caused me to miss all of his early work until much later, but once I figured this out with Inglourious Basterds, I've gone back and watched his older stuff and enjoyed them very much. The same thing happened with Django Unchained... the trailers didn't interest me, but I felt completely different after seeing the entire film.

Quote:
Originally Posted by RLBURNSIDE  /t/1470414/django-unchained-blu-ray-official-avsforum-review#post_23256735


I just bought it this week and watched it, disappointed it was only in 5.1 and not 7.1 !! The sound (and movie) was great though.

Yeah, I've got to agree that 7.1 audio would have been really nice in this film.
 
#9 ·
The first half of Django is brilliant, the second half is crap. Tarantino's first 3 films - Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and Jackie Brown - were all great, with powerful, unforgettable endings. Django, just like Kill Bill and Inglorious Basterds, is a mess. Overlong, suffering from a ridiculous and predictable ending, self-indulgent to the extreme, it continues the gradual infantilization of the most talented of American directors.


R
 
#10 ·
I don't care for over the top violence or language. Yet, somehow, I always like QT. Django was no exception. I loved everything about it until I read Raz's comments above, and do have to agree with the self indulgence comments. Regardless, the acting from DiCaprio and Waltz would both be my nominations for best actor last year (yes, over Danial Day Lewis). Some of Samual Jackson's best work too!
 
#12 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by IfixitBIG  /t/1470414/django-unchained-blu-ray-official-avsforum-review/0_100#post_23256871


Quentin's movies really do use the whole sound field. Noticed it on this movie, then heard it again today on "Kill Bill".



Hi, the audio being a little "off" so to speak, appears to be one of his traits to match the style of movies he makes. So yes I've noticed this in his other movies also. Rather than it being bad audio I believe it's done purposely. Is that the way you see it?
 
#13 ·
I also totally disagree with a comment made above about this movie being predictable. Don't forget there have been a gazzilion westerns made and

most of them were predictable. The way he put his spin on yet another western just goes to show how brilliant Tarantino is. It is and has been for a couple of weeks already on IMDB's top 50 highest rated films list.
 
#15 ·

Django unchained is definitely one of the best flicks I've seen recently. The final battle scenes, the surround sound in those is great. Lots of directional bullet ricochet sounds, footsteps, and even some psychedelic slomo sound effects.
 
#16 ·
I really enjoyed this movie from start to finish, but then again I enjoy Quentin Tarantino's work.


imo this movie was a big budget modern day Trinity series movie with Tarantino's style , the two Italian western spoof movies from the early 70's with Terence Hill and Bud Spencer.

If you have ever seen the two Trinity series movie's you will understand better why the sound track is the way it is, only this time around the sound track is made in DTS HD-MA 5.1..

If there is any doubt just hear the music from this movie and compare.


ss
 
#17 ·
Interestingly Tarantino really annoys me, he always overdoes something that irks me. However this movie was great and certainly my favorite film by him.
 
#18 ·
Tarantino somehow melds an homage to the Westerns of the 1960's and mixes it in with the deep South in the early 1800's .. brilliant .. and as in most of his films, the casting is spot on ..
 
#19 ·
I really did not care for it much. The movie is too long, over the top violence and oh yeah, the movies is supposed to take place in MS. Really! Could not tell from the scenery.


The first 30 min were OK, rest just dreadful. Good to rent just to see what the hoopla is all about, would never buy it.


IMO, Tarantino is one of the most overrated directors out there. Period.
 
#21 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by sillysally  /t/1470414/django-unchained-blu-ray-official-avsforum-review#post_23260308


I really enjoyed this movie from start to finish, but then again I enjoy Quentin Tarantino's work.


imo this movie was a big budget modern day Trinity series movie with Tarantino's style , the two Italian western spoof movies from the early 70's with Terence Hill and Bud Spencer.

If you have ever seen the two Trinity series movie's you will understand better why the sound track is the way it is, only this time around the sound track is made in DTS HD-MA 5.1..

If there is any doubt just hear the music from this movie and compare.


ss

I loved the "nobody" movies, starting with My name is nobody with Hill and Henry Fonda, then the more spoof movies you mentioned, classics!
 
#23 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by ozar  /t/1470414/django-unchained-blu-ray-official-avsforum-review#post_23256791


Something I've found with pretty much all of Tarentino's films is that they don't appear interesting to me if I see only a trailer for the movie, or just a bit of the film, but if I sit down and watch his movies from beginning to end, they are great. This caused me to miss all of his early work until much later, but once I figured this out with Inglourious Basterds, I've gone back and watched his older stuff and enjoyed them very much. The same thing happened with Django Unchained... the trailers didn't interest me, but I felt completely different after seeing the entire film.

That's because his films don't fit the typical marketing mold. Fortunately, as he's been a household name since Pulp Fiction, his films don't depend too much on marketing for their success. Their merit speaks for itself.


Also, to be fair to the marketers, there's so much of his films that cannot be included in the advertising due to the explicit content.
 
#24 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by straca  /t/1470414/django-unchained-blu-ray-official-avsforum-review#post_23263486


I really did not care for it much. The movie is too long, over the top violence and oh yeah, the movies is supposed to take place in MS. Really! Could not tell from the scenery.


The first 30 min were OK, rest just dreadful. Good to rent just to see what the hoopla is all about, would never buy it.


IMO, Tarantino is one of the most overrated directors out there. Period.

Just goes to show we all see things differently.


I really liked Django Unchained and rank it behind Pulp Fiction and Inglorious Basterds.


I've only passed thru MS so I dont know what scenery is specific to the area.
 
#26 ·
I have been to Mississippi many times and the locale in DU could definitely be Mississippi
 
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