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Midnight Express [Blu-ray]
(Alan Parker, 1978)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: Columbia Tri-Star Video: Sony Pictures
Disc: Region: FREE! (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player) Runtime: 2:00:59.252 Disc Size: 48,463,030,697 bytes Feature Size: 32,486,025,216 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.96 Mbps Chapters: 16 Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: July 21st, 2009
Video: Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Resolution: 1080p Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio: Dolby TrueHD Audio English 1260 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1260 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps) Dolby TrueHD Audio French 1363 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1363 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps) Dolby TrueHD Audio Portuguese 1406 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1406 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps) Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, English (SDH), French, Portuguese, Spanish, none
Extras: • C ommentary track with Director Alan Parker• Featurette: The Producers (25:54 in HD!) • Featurette: The Production (24:28 in HD!) • Featurette: The Finished Film (23:48 in HD!) • Featurette: The Making of 'Midnight Express' (7:28) • Photo gallery • Digibook packaging with essay
Bitrate:
Description: Forever embroiled in controversy, Midnight Express divides viewers into opposing camps: those who think it's one of the most intense real-life dramas ever made, and those who abhor its manipulative tactics and alteration of facts for the exploitative purpose of achieving a desired effect. That effect is powerfully achieved, regardless of how you may feel about director Alan Parker and Oscar®-winning screenwriter Oliver Stone's interpretation of the story of Billy Hayes. It was the American Hayes--played by the late Brad Davis in an unforgettable performance--who was caught smuggling two kilograms of hashish while attempting to board a flight from Istanbul, Turkey, in 1970. He was sentenced to four years in a hellish Turkish prison on a drug possession charge, but his sentence was later extended (though not by 30 years, as the film suggests), and Hayes endured unthinkable brutality and torture before his escape in 1975.
The Film: Alan Parker's 1978 Midnight Express serves as an effective public service message to naïve young Americans entertaining thoughts of smuggling drugs from foreign countries. Based on a novel by Billy Hayes, who spent five years in an Istanbul prison, the frightening and convincing movie shows just how much trouble a foolish kid from the states can get into. The impression given is that Turkey is a country of barbaric savages -- nobody forgets the image of hulking Hamidou (Paul Smith), a depraved brute given full license to abuse his prisoners. Turkey protested the film's portrayal of their country almost immediately, and in the years after the release of Midnight Express Billy Hayes admitted that his book exaggerated conditions in the prison where he was held. Midnight Express now stands as a handsomely-filmed exploitation film that preys upon Western prejudices and xenophobia. Excerpt from TCM located HERE
Midnight Express looks about as good as it can on Blu-ray from Sony. Dusty locales in Turkey and Greece seem fittingly gritty with a brownish aura claustrophobically circumventing many scenes even beyond the 'prison'. While the visuals benefit from the move to HD - it may not reach the expectations of some adopters of this new format. Detail is never apparent in crystal clarity and close-ups often seem overwhelmed by the deep grain. Color never expands to brilliance but this, too, seems an intentional appearance. Comparing to an existing SD-DVD may have been more revealing but I don't own one at this time. Daylight scenes are more impressive but darkness and shadows are a constant within most scenes. This Blu-ray has a nice realistic feel with the only black-mark being the grain which can look so intense in monochromatic blackness that it appears more like digital noise. By modern standards this is fairly tame visually but as a representation of the original - I doubt much more could be done.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :W e are offered a 5.1 TrueHD track at only 1260 Kbps. There are a few moments of notable separation but overall the film has a reasonably tame track without substantial buoyancy. Giorgio Moroder's original score sounds quite strong and impacting. There are optional subtitles and my Momitsu tells me this is region FREE playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.
Extras :There is a compelling commentary from director Parker, plus well over an hour's worth of HD featurettes - mostly dealing with production - and a blasé Photo gallery. Included are an older 'making off' without any surprising content. The commentary and featurettes are definitely worth the time invested though - they are educational and informative - passion for the project still seems intact for many of the filmmakers and participants.
BOTTOM LINE: Gary Tooze July 17th, 2009
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About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 7500 DVDs and have reviewed over 3000 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.
Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who
focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I
find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction. So be
it, but film will always be my first love and I list my
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HERE.
Samsung HPR4272 42" Plasma HDTV Gary W. Tooze
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