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Kundun [Blu-ray]
(Martin Scorsese, 1997)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: Touchstone Pictures Video: Studio Canal
Disc: Region: 'B' (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player) Runtime: :14:24.514 Disc Size: 43,304,239,998 bytes Feature Size: 37,489,195,008 bytes Video Bitrate: 27.69 Mbps Chapters: 33 Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: May 10th, 2010
Video: Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1783 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1783 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio German 2120 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2120 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio French 1001 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1001 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio German 888 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 888 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio Spanish 1120 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1120 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles: French, German, Spanish, none
Extras: • Searching For Kundun (1:27:26 in 576i) • Trailer (2:26 in 576i) • Video and Audio configuration tests
Bitrate:
Description: Martin Scorsese's magical mystery mandala on the life of the Dalai Lama is a visually exhilarating, spiritually ambitious... film that goes where Scorsese has never gone before. *** Praised as one of the best films of the year, KUNDUN is a motion picture masterpiece directed by five-time Academy Award(R)-nominated director Martin Scorsese. It's the incredible true story of one of the world's most fascinating leaders -- Tibet's Dali Lama and his daring struggle to rule a nation at one of the most challenging times in its history. Powerfully told and set against a backdrop of world politics -- the film's release created an international uproar! Featuring a striking Oscar(R)-nominated score by renowned composer Philip Glass, this extraordinary motion picture has been greeted with both controversy and worldwide acclaim -- experience it for yourself!
The Film:
The thirteenth Dalai Lama passed away in 1933. In 1935, the Regent of
Tibet had a vision to guide the search for the next incarnation of the
spiritual leader of Tibet. In 1937, that incarnation was found in the
person of a two-year-old child, Tenzin Gyatso. With this film, composed of dazzling, beautifully framed imagery, billowing waves of music and few words, Martin Scorsese has come the closest he ever has to making a work of pure cinema. The movie is a triumph for the cinematographer Roger Deakins, who has given it the look of an illuminated manuscript. As its imagery becomes more surreal and mystically abstract, Mr. Glass's ethereal electronic score, which suggests a Himalyan music of the spheres, gathers force and energy and the music and pictures achieve a sublime synergy. Excerpt from Stephen Holden at the NY Times located HERE
Image : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. Kundun has a strong negative issue on Blu-ray out of Germany. It's quite odd. The frequency of edge-enhancement and DNR seem to have been applied with an extremely wide swath - unevenly throughout the film. These are represented by black-lined halos. Even looking at the below screen captures - characters can appear like, waxy, flat, cardboard cutouts. Aside from that - it looks quite impressive. The colors are rich and lustrous. Detail in close-ups is strong. In fact, if you can bypass the varying degrees to EE / DNR - you may be able to settle in for a rewarding viewing presentation. There is even a bit of grain and texture. This Blu-ray is notably imperfect and I'd love to see it without the digital manipulation. It's a shame to be distracted when you are watching such an interesting film.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :When putting the disc in - you get to select a country and the English (choose 'Australia' as opposed to Germany, Spain or France) has a DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 1783 kbps in the English language. There are also foreign language DUBs in HD and subtitle options. The Philip Glass score sounds pretty good but I felt it could have exported a more robust depth at times. It slightly under achieved. My Momitsu has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked.
Extras : The 1.5 hour 'making of' documentary 'Searching For Kundun' is part of the disc supplements - presented in SD PAL. It is described as "The making of Martin Scorseses Oscar-nominated film Kundun was an historic event, the first feature film treatment of the life of the 14th Dalai Lama. Michael H. Wilson documented this emotion-filled encounter of Scorsese and his Italian and American team with the Tibetans who portrayed the key figures in the tumultuous recent history of Tibet. Featuring compelling interviews with Scorsese, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, screenwriter Melissa Mathison, and production designer Dante Ferreti." Aside from that is a trailer and some audio and video configuration tests.
BOTTOM LINE: Gary Tooze November 30th, 2011
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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 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 3500 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
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find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction. 60-Inch Class (59.58” Diagonal) 1080p Pioneer KURO Plasma Flat Panel HDTV PDP6020-FD
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