Your favorite historical epics on blu

[benbess]

Not sure exactly how to define "historical epic," but here's my example:

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, starring Russel Crowe and directed by the great Peter Weir. This is a film (as most of you know) about an extended battle during the Napoleonic wars between two ships with unusual attention to realistic period detail. It's filled not just with action, adventure, and more that a bit of things blowing up, but also has a sense of wonder to it. I've just started watching it on blu with my son (he was too young to see it in the theaters when it came out) and it looks great. You really feel a little like you are on the HMS Surprise with the widescreen, clear picture, and the surround sound.

Anyone else with an example? (and please say a little about PQ on blu and about the film--without giving any spoilers, of course)

[HRC]

Braveheart.


Master and Commander is an excellent film also. I thought I had heard years ago that they were going to do a sequel. I wish that were true but it doesn't look like it. Anyone hear anything?

[BluBrown]

GLADIATOR

...what can I say about the blu that hasn't already been said?

[YodasFootPowder]

Braveheart, Patriot

[benbess]

Originally Posted by HRC

Braveheart.


Master and Commander is an excellent film also. I thought I had heard years ago that they were going to do a sequel. I wish that were true but it doesn't look like it. Anyone hear anything?

HRC: Yes, Braveheart's a good example. And I'm sure on blu it looks a lot better than the vhs copy I saw ten years ago!

Master and Commander was a very expensive film. It ended up costing something like $150 million dollars. Box office worldwide (according to box office mojo) was $212. But, of course, some of that $212 goes to the theaters, not the studio. And the studio has the additional expenses of advertising and making the prints, which may have added c.$50 million to the cost world wide. Of course the studio makes some more money from home video and tv, but I've heard that the bottom line was that even though it was a moderate hit they lost some money on it in the end because it was so expensive.

Apparently Weir swore off ever making another film on the water because it was so bloody difficult. In a recent (2009, I think) interview, however, Crowe said he'd like to make another movie in the series.

I really liked Crowe's last movie, State of Play, which is also on blu, but it was not a big hit. In other words, not clear if he has the box office clout now to make it happen.

Russell Crowe is currently filming Robin Hood directed by the great Ridley Scott, due to come out in May of 2010. I think that combo might be a in terms of historical epics!

[MaCruz]

Gladiator so far. If can think of any more, I'll add to my post.

[SillyMammo]

Kingdom of Heaven

I just wish that they had added all the extra features from the Director's Cut DVD on to a 2nd BR disc.

[benbess]

Originally Posted by SillyMammo

Kingdom of Heaven

I just wish that they had added all the extra features from the Director's Cut DVD on to a 2nd BR disc.

SillyM: I saw this is the theater and liked it, but I've heard the director's cut is a lot better. Is the whole director's cut out on blu? How's the PQ? And do you think it's a better film in that version?

[SillyMammo]

Originally Posted by benbess

SillyM: I saw this is the theater and liked it, but I've heard the director's cut is a lot better. Is the whole director's cut out on blu? How's the PQ? And do you think it's a better film in that version?

The Director's Cut is far superior to the theaterical version. It adds more depth to the characters and has story threads that weren't even touched on in the 1st release. It is the version Ridley Scott wanted to make before the studio got into the mix.

As far as the PQ it excellent and the movie is on one disc. Though I thought it was kind of cool that there was an intermission when switching discs. Sorta classy.

[Kynch]

Does 300 count?

[Drexyl666]

Glory

[Psychonaut]

Troy, Kingdom of Heaven, and The Patriot are up there for me.

[Freekman]

300
Braveheart (not on Blu)
Kingdom of Heaven (not on Blu)

EDIT: Just re-read the first post. I have only actually seen 300 on Blu. PQ is amazing and I actually appreciate the grain throughout the film. The TrueHD track shakes the house and everytime Leonidas stabs his spear into the ground, it echoes.

[benbess]

Originally Posted by Kynch

Does 300 count?

Yes! Haven't seen it though. How does it look on blu?

[benbess]

Originally Posted by Drexyl666

Glory

Love that film. How does it look on blu?

[benbess]

Originally Posted by SillyMammo

The Director's Cut is far superior to the theaterical version. It adds more depth to the characters and has story threads that weren't even touched on in the 1st release. It is the version Ridley Scott wanted to make before the studio got into the mix.

As far as the PQ it excellent and the movie is on one disc. Though I thought it was kind of cool that there was an intermission when switching discs. Sorta classy.

Thanks for this review. I'll put it on my netflix queue. Had a feeling in the theater that there was a really good film trying to get out, but somehow it just didn't really come together all the way in the theatrical version.

[Freekman]

Maybe I'll rent the KoH Blu. I liked the DVD release, but didn't like the story enough to double-dip on Blu. However, if the DC is a more filling representation of the film, I'll give it a try.

[Roonil Wazlib]

Band of Brothers
Kingdom of Heaven
Cinderella Man
Blackhawk Down

... All of these look great, and are all classics IMO

[Jimbo976]

Meet The Spartans?

[lobo81865]

An enthusiac thumbs up for Master & Commander. It's my favorite blu ray that I own, and I have several of Patrick O' Brien's novels.

Some good ones were already listed, but I would add Mongol.