Field of Dreams Blu-ray - Kevin Costner Burt Lancaster

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Shoeless Joe" )

directed by Phil Alden Robinson
USA 1989

The movie sensibly never tries to make the slightest explanation for the strange events that happen after the diamond is constructed. There is, of course, the usual business about how the bank thinks the farmer has gone haywire and wants to foreclose on his mortgage (the Capra and Stewart movies always had evil bankers in them). But there is not a corny, stupid payoff at the end. Instead, the movie depends on a poetic vision to make its point.

The director, Phil Alden Robinson, and the writer, W.P. Kinsella, are dealing with stuff that's close to the heart (it can't be a coincidence that the author and the hero have the same last name). They love baseball, and they think it stands for an earlier, simpler time when professional sports were still games and not industries. There is a speech in this movie about baseball that is so simple and true that it is heartbreaking. And the whole attitude toward the players reflects that attitude. Why do they come back from the great beyond and play in this cornfield? Not to make any kind of vast, earth-shattering statement, but simply to hit a few and field a few, and remind us of a good and innocent time.

Excerpt from Roger Ebert's Review in the Chicago Sun-Times found HERE

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Theatrical Release: April 21st, 1989 - USA

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Comparison:

Universal - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal (2 disc 15th Anniversary) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Universal (2 disc - 15th anniversary) - Region 1- NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region Free - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers
Distribution	Universal Region 1 - NTSC	Universal (15th Anniversary) Region 1 - NTSC	Universal Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:45:28	1:45:28	1:45:38.123
Video	1.80:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.7 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.54 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 41,483,809,136 bytes Feature: 29,356,068,864 bytes Codec: VC-1 Video Total Bitrate: 37.05 Mbps
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Universal
Bitrate: Universal (15th Anniversary)
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (5.1 DTS ES), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 3816 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3816 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround
Subtitles	English (captions), Spanish, and none	Spanish, French, English (captions), and none	Spanish, French, English (captions), and none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Universal Studios Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterbox - 1.80:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by director Phil Alden Robinson and cinematographer John Lindley • Production notes • A "Field of Dreams" video scrapbook featuring new interviews with director Phil Alden Robinson, actors James Earl Jones and Timothy Busfield, production designer Dennis Gassner, composer James Horner and head baseball coach Rod Dedeaux with additional information and momorable images • Behind-the-scenes footage • The entire screenplay by writer/director Phil Alden Robinson, based on the novel "Shoeless Joe" by W.P. Kinsella DVD Release Date: September 2, 2003 Keep Case Chapters 34	Release Information: Studio: Universal Studios Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by director Phil Alden Robinson and director of photography John Lindley • Remastered picture and 5.1 sound • "From Father to Son: Passing Along the Pastime" - father and son baseball moments as discussed by the director, star, and baseball players • Newly Discovered Deleted Scenes • "The Diamond in the Husks" - a look at the baseball set that still exists • "Galena, Illinois" Pinch Hits for Chisholm, Minnesota" - a walk through Moonlight Graham's home town • Bravo's "From Page to Screen: Field of Dreams" • "Field of Dreams Roundtable" - Kevin Costner and former baseball players talk about baseball and the film • America's Stadium Trivia • Widescreen anamorphic format • Number of discs: 2 DVD Release Date: June 8, 2004 Keep Case in cardboard sleeve Chapters: 34	Release Information: Studio: Universal Studios 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 41,483,809,136 bytes Feature: 29,356,068,864 bytes Codec: VC-1 Video Total Bitrate: 37.05 Mbps Edition Details: • Commentary by director Phil Alden Robinson and director of photography John Lindley • "From Father to Son: Passing Along the Pastime" - father and son baseball moments as discussed by the director, star, and baseball players • Deleted Scenes with Introduction by director Phil Alden Robinson • "The Diamond in the Husks" - a look at the baseball set that still exists • "Galena, Illinois" Pinch Hits for Chisholm, Minnesota" - a walk through Moonlight Graham's home town • "A Look Inside Field of Dreams - a new 90-minute documentary on the film • Bravo's "From Page to Screen: Field of Dreams" • "Field of Dreams Roundtable" - Kevin Costner and former baseball players talk about baseball and the film Blu-ray Release Date: May 26th, 2009 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters: 34

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Universal - Region FREE Blu-ray - May 09': This is Region FREE as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player. I don't know that detail benefits as much as we hoped in the move to hi-def. Fleshtones have gotten even warmer. Although I saw this theatrically I can't remember the image quality - but suspect that it was never as pristine and glossy as is more common place for film of today. More grain is visible and the hi-def visuals definitely export a texture that is not present in the DVD releases. The earlier, non-anamorphic one especially shows prevalent artifacts. The VC-1 encode on a dual-layered disc with a healthy bitrate probably looks as faithful as we are likely to get. Colors are fairly eye-popping without succumbing to an artificial look.

***

The DTS-HD track is a quite a bit improved beyond the DTS 5.1 of the Anniversary DVD. James Horner's subtle score is received warmly and the minor effects sounds (baseball hitting bat) are buoyant and crisp. I had no complaints with the audio.

Supplements duplicate most of the last 2-disc DVD but the DVD doesn't have the A Look Inside Field of Dreams - a new 90-minute documentary on the film - which must be exclusive to the Blu-ray. Everything is also comfortably on one Blu-ray including the commentary and all the featurettes. Director P.A. Robinson gives intro's to the deleted scenes in addition to his commentary. There is also a 'Field of Dreams' scrapbook. They are all quite good for those keen on the film - baseball, Kinsella and the project's production.

This film holds up very well after so many years. Since first seeing 'Field of Dreams' I've read much of Kinsella - enjoying his fiction thoroughly. I was always hoping they would bring his "The Iowa Baseball Confederacy" to the big screen. While the Blu-ray doesn't blow you out of the water - if you temper your expectations - it gives superior presentation outside another theatrical run. I do believe this is well worth the indulgence especially with the inclusion of the 90 minute documentary absent on the DVDs. The 1080P really carries the film's human warmth and baseball's intrinsic appeal to a very high level.