Riot Blu-ray - Gene Hackman

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

Directed by Buzz Kulik
USA 1969

While the warden (real-life warden Frank A. Eyman) of a state prison is away, the isolation block erupts and 35 of the most violent criminals (led by Gene Hackman) stage a riot and take over their portion of the prison. Cully Briston (Jim Brown), in for five years and awaiting his eventual parole, wants no part of the riot. He impulsively gets involved, defending a prison guard and protecting him from the maniacs in the block. This tense drama is based on a Frank Elli’s novel, which chronicled an actual riot that took place in a Minnesota prison. A prison break is planned as knives slash, fists fly and blood is spilled. Directed by Buzz Kulik (Brian’s Song).

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Theatrical Release: January 15th, 1969

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Olive Films - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) Olive Film - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Covers
Distribution	Olive Films - Region 1 - NTSC	Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:36:45	1:36:52.389
Video	1.78:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.29 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,560,695,195 bytes Feature: 21,342,001,152 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 26.97 Mbps
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 930 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 930 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles	None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Olive Films Aspect Ratio: Aspect Ratio 1.78:1 Edition Details: • none DVD Release Date: February 8th, 2011 Keep Case Chapters: 8	Release Information: Studio: Olive Films Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.78:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,560,695,195 bytes Feature: 21,342,001,152 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 26.97 Mbps Edition Details: • none Blu-ray Release Date: September 17th, 2013 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters: 8

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - September 13': I've gained a begrudging respect for this film - it has really grown on me. I think it represents a strong example of its genre and era. The 1080P pushes the visuals to another level with abundant depth, still a shade of noise but the image has a real film-like presence now. It is brighter, superior contrast and looks great in-motion. Same source, still 1.78:1 with no subtitles nor extras but a film with enough genre appeal to give a purchase validity. Recommended!

***

ON THE DVD: Hey - who doesn't like a prison picture? Especially one of the 'escape' variety - and this has Hackman and Jim Brown. Other than that it doesn't distinguish itself much - but there is enough here for some viable entertainment. 'Riot' is a bit of a leading title although the film isn't particularly exploitive or violent. Conflicts are more with each other than the guards.

It has what we have come to expect from Olive Films - a Paramount movie - not yet released on DVD - in a dual-layered, anamorphic + progressive transfer that looks about as good as the format can produce for a 40-year old film. It's clean - maybe a shade saturated but produces a decent presentation. Audio is unremarkable but close, I'll wager, to the way it was produced. There are no subtitle nor supplements of any kind.

Jim Brown is the central character - and, along with Hackman, the most reasonable of the group of bad apples. I was in the mood for this genre of film and I liked it well enough. I believe this is 'Riot's DVD debut and fans of Hackman may wish to indulge. It's no masterpiece but a decent ride.