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http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/kubrick.htm
USA 1960

 

Stanley Kubrick directed a cast of screen legends – including Kirk Douglas as the indomitable gladiator that led a Roman slave revolt – in the sweeping epic that defined a genre and ushered in a new Hollywood era. The assured acting, lush Technicolor cinematography, bold costumes and visceral fight sequences won Spartacus four Oscars; the blend of politics and sexual suggestion scandalized audiences. Today Kubrick’s controversial classic, the first film to openly defy Hollywood’s blacklist, remains a landmark of cinematic artistry and history.

***

The rebellious Thracian Spartacus, born and raised a slave, is sold to Gladiator trainer Batiatus. After weeks of being trained to kill for the arena, Spartacus turns on his owners and leads the other slaves in rebellion. As the rebels move from town to town, their numbers swell as escaped slaves join their ranks. Under the leadership of Spartacus, they make their way to southern Italy, where they will cross the sea and return to their homes.

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 6th, 1960

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Review: Universal - Region FREE - 4K UHD

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Universal - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD
Runtime 3:16:38.036        
Video 2.20:1 2060P 4K Ultra HD
Disc Size: 91,891,361,139 bytes
Feature: 82,615,542,144 bytes
Video Bitrate: 39.73 Mbps
Codec:
HEVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate 4K Ultra HD:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 5965 kbps 7.1 / 48 kHz / 5965 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DUBs:

DTS Audio Spanish 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Japanese 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Japanese 448 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Portuguese 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit

Subtitles English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese , None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Universal

 

2.20:1 2060P 4K Ultra HD
Disc Size: 91,891,361,139 bytes
Feature: 82,615,542,144 bytes
Video Bitrate: 39.73 Mbps
Codec:
HEVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• I Am Spartacus: A Conversation with Kirk Douglas (9:39)
• Restoring Spartacus (9:00)
• 4 Deleted Scenes (7:41)
• Archival Interviews (Ustinov - 2:57) Simmons (3:49)
• Behind-The-Scenes Footage (5:12)
• 5 Vintage Newsreels (4:59)
• Theatrical Trailer (2:45)

Second disc Blu-ray

Digital Copy


4K Ultra HD
Release Date:
July 21st, 2020
Black 4K Ultra HD Case inside slipcase

Chapters 16

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective discs.

ADDITION: Universal 4K UHD (July 2020): Universal transferred Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus to 4K UHD. It features HDR. This utilizes the same 2015 digital restoration 6k Scan From Original Large Format Technirama Film Elements 4k Color Correction and Digital Restoration 7.1 Channel Audio by NBC Universal Studio Post, as per the 2015 Blu-ray reviewed HERE. Spartacus always looked impressive but it really shines here in the 4K UHD format. It follows the colors scheme of the 2015 BD but with more intensity - richer deeper colors plus there are tighter lines in the higher resolution - incredibly impressive detail in close-ups where you frequently see Kirk's skin pores. Fabulous contrast and grain support. On my system it looks frequently stunning.    

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

NOTE: 82 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE.

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages to date: Jaws (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Invisible Man, (software uniformly simulated HDR), Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds (software uniformly simulated HDR), Lucio Fulci's 1979 Zombie  (software uniformly simulated HDR),, 2004's Van Helsining (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Shallows (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Bridge on the River Kwai (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Deer Hunter (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Elephant Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), A Quiet Place (software uniformly simulated HDR), Easy Rider (software uniformly simulated HDR), Suspiria (software uniformly simulated HDR), Pan's Labyrinth (software uniformly simulated HDR) The Wizard of Oz, (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Shining, (software uniformly simulated HDR), Batman Returns (software uniformly simulated HDR), Don't Look Now (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Man Who Killed Killed and then The Bigfoot  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Bram Stoker's Dracula (software uniformly simulated HDR), Lucy (software uniformly simulated HDR), They Live (software uniformly simulated HDR),  Shutter Island (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Matrix (software uniformly simulated HDR), Alien (software uniformly simulated HDR), Toy Story (software uniformly simulated HDR),  A Few Good Men (software uniformly simulated HDR),  2001: A Space Odyssey (HDR caps udated), Schindler's List (simulated HDR), The Neon Demon (No HDR), Dawn of the Dead (No HDR), Saving Private Ryan (simulated HDR and 'raw' captures), Suspiria (No HDR), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (No HDR), The Big Lebowski, and I Am Legend (simulated and 'raw' HDR captures).

Universal's 4K UHD offers only a very robust DTS 7.1 channel track (24-bit) similar to the 2015 BD (as well as some foreign language DUBs). Gladiatorial and battle audio effects fill the room beautifully and the, iconic, sore by accomplished composer Alex North (Under the Volcano, Viva Zapata, Man With the Gun, Man With the Gun, A Streetcar Named Desire and more) with heart-wrenching violins strings is beautifully realized here. There are subtitle options including English and as with all 4K UHD discs, this Universal package is Region 'Free' (included Blu-ray too!) playable worldwide. 

NOTE: This also has the Opening, Entr'acte, Intermission score interludes.

Universal's 4K UHD disc has the same supplements as seen on most of the past digital discs and the last Blu-ray (see our comparison HERE.) Notable are Deleted Scenes, Archival Interviews with Ustinov and Simmons, Behind-The-Scenes Footage, 5 Vintage Newsreels, and I Am Spartacus: A Conversation with Kirk Douglas spends 10 touching minutes with the actor about Spartacus plus 9-minutes on Restoring Spartacus which will fill in some technical details of the 2015 process. The package includes a Blu-ray. These extras are on both the 4K UHD and the included Blu-ray disc. There is a digital copy code (leaflet).

Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus is an unequivocal masterpiece and seeing it in 4K UHD seems essential for serious cinephiles. The major theme of personal freedom will always remain universal. It's a must-own and will make it's way to our Desert Island selection in the next update. This is one package I hold tightly with two hands. It has our highest recommendation! 

Gary Tooze

 


Universal - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY and 4K UHD CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Sample - Universal - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD

 

 


 

1) Criterion Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Universal (Restored) - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Universal - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD BOTTOM

 

 


 

1) Criterion Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Universal (Restored) - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Universal - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD BOTTOM

 

 


 

1) Criterion Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Universal (Restored) - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Universal - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD BOTTOM

 

 

More full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K Ultra HD Captures for Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

 

 
Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Universal - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD


 


 

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