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5.35% of people buy Gladiator - 2 Disc Definitive Edition and Iron Man ~ Blu-ray.
Customer reviews
"Price great - but look offshore for a good transfer"
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.
"Remastered and Corrected"
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).
"Classic film - and I *think* it's the remastered version"
At $12 for the 2 disc definitive blu-ray, I couldn't resist picking this up. Having read the controversy about the terrible 2009 transfer, I was hoping that the cheap Mighty Ape price wasn't a bad sign that we were getting dumped old, non-remastered stock. After much deliberation and research, I think the version I got was the non-remastered one.
It's not clear from the packaging which version this is. Of course the packaging can be changed at a whim) but on the copy I received from Mighty Ape, the UPC code is white, and there is no Pocket Blu logo. The disc numbers are not helpful – they are not in keeping with those mentioned at Amazon, AVS forums etc. As being either the remaster or original blu release. My number end in “…R1L1” – no “B” in there anywhere.
So – I popped the disc in and started watching. Picture quality seems OK. The Gladiator logo is black and stays black (which is of uncertain significance from what I have read – could be remastered or not). Two scenes lead me to believe this is probably the remaster:
- The fireballs and arrows in the opening battle scene do not ‘disappear’ at any stage.
- My picture looks the same as the remastered screenshots in this thread post (http://www.avsforum.com/…p-p=18918642#…).
Oh – and the movie itself- Just as good as you remember it :) This set comes with tons of extras to keep you watching for a whole weekend, plus the theatrical and extended editions. Lots of commentaries too. Enjoy!
"A good transfer but not great."
This is not the redone Blu-ray transfer. However, it is still very watchable and a sight to behold beyond the DVD version. The extended version adds detail and dimention to the original-making a good thing even better. As for extras, this would have to be one of the most comprehensive extra features list for any DVD movie I own. I got this from about 12 bucks so I'm not complaining too much about the Blu-ray transfer quality and I should say that the sound is magnificent. Worth getting at a discounted price, so I will give it 3.5 out of 5.
Details
- 2.35 : 1
- DTS Digital Surround 5.1
- DTS-HD Master Audio
Description
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:
- Cardboard Slipcase packaging
- Theatrical & Extended versions of the film
- Feature Commentary (Theatrical) with director Ridley Scott, editor Pietro * Scalia & cinematographer John Mathieson
- Feature Commentary (Extended) with director Ridley Scott & actor Russell Crowe
- Deleted Scenes Index w/optional commentary by Ridley Scott (Battle Aftermath, Looking for Strength, The Scribe, Dye Market, Stage Direction, A Meeting at Gracchus' House, Father and Son, The Execution, Grain Reserves, Spies Close in, Another Enemy, Fighting with Fire, Quintus Obeys)
- Intro by Ridley Scott
- The Scrolls of Knowledge: Are You Not Entertained w/Behind the Scenes Historical PODS
- Visions From Elysium: Topic Marker (a new U-Control feature that will allow viewers to tag moments of interest throughout the film and create a ‘shopping list’ of topics to learn about in the supplements on disc 2)
- BD-Live
- Strength and Honour: Creating the World of Gladiator
- Image & Design
- Multi-Angle Comparisons w/opt commentary by Sylvain Despretz
- Storyboard Archive (stills)
- Costume Design Gallery (stills)
- Photo Galleries I & II (stills)
- Weapons Primer: Simon Atherton
- Abandoned Sequences & Deleted Scenes
- The Aurelian Archives: The Making of Gladiator
- Gladiator Games: Roman Bloodsport
- Hans Zimmer: Scoring Gladiator
- An Evening with Russell Crowe
- Maximus Uncut: Between the Takes with Russell Crowe
- My Gladiator Journal by Spencer Treat Clark (stills)
- VFX Explorations: Germania & Rome
- Trailers
- 20 TV Spots
Awards
2001 Won – Oscar / Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading
Role Russell Crowe, Best Costume Design, Best Effects, Best Sound
2001 Won – BAFTA – Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best
Production Design
2001 Won – Critics Choice Award – Best Picture, Best Actor Russell Crowe,
Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Score, Best Supporting Actor
Joaquin Phoenix
2001 Won – Empire Award – Best Film, Best Actor Russell Crowe, Best
Actress Connie Nielsen
2001 Won – Golden Globe – Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Original
Score – Motion Picture
2001 Nominated – DGA Award, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion
Pictures Ridley Scott
Review
"…Ridley Scott's Gladiator is a rousing, grisly, action-packed epic that takes moviemaking back to the Roman Empire via computer-generated visual effects. While not as fluid as the computer work done for, say, Titanic, it's an impressive achievement that will leave you marveling at the glory that was Rome, when you're not marveling at the glory that is Russell Crowe.
Starring as the heroic general Maximus, Crowe firmly cements his star status both in terms of screen presence and acting chops, carrying the film on his decidedly non-computer-generated shoulders as he goes from brave general to wounded fugitive to stoic slave to gladiator hero. Gladiator's plot is a whirlwind of faux-Shakespearean machinations of death, betrayal, power plays, and secret identities (with lots of faux-Shakespearean dialogue ladled on to keep the proceedings appropriately “classical”), but it's all briskly shot, edited, and paced with a contemporary sensibility. Even the action scenes, somewhat muted but graphic in terms of implied violence and liberal bloodletting, are shot with a veracity that brings to mind–believe it or not–Saving Private Ryan, even if everyone is wearing a toga.
As Crowe's nemesis, the evil emperor Commodus, Joaquin Phoenix chews scenery with authority, whether he's damning Maximus's popularity with the Roman mobs or lusting after his sister Lucilla (beautiful but distant Connie Nielsen); Oliver Reed, in his last role, hits the perfect notes of camp and gravitas as the slave owner who rescues Maximus from death and turns him into a coliseum star. Director Scott's visual flair is abundantly in evidence, with breathtaking shots and beautiful (albeit digital) landscapes, but it's Crowe's star power that will keep you in thrall–he's a true gladiator, worthy of his legendary status. Hail the conquering hero!" –Mark Englehart
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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.