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Category:    Home > Reviews > Biography > Drama > Boxing > Raging Bull (1980/MGM Blu-ray)

Raging Bull (1980/MGM Blu-ray)

 

Picture: B     Sound: B-     Extras: A-     Film: A-

 

 

Martin Scorsese’s classic Raging Bull is hitting Blu-ray and after many disappointing versions in low-def formats all the way to DVD, has arrived in a pretty good transfer worthy of its complex look and editing.  You can read more about the film in our DVD coverage at this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1946/Scorsese+-+The+Martin+Scorsese

 

 

As DeNiro has become a big star and done more commercial films in recent years, the film stands as one of his most stunning triumphs and many do not know that Joe Pesci played his brother in the picture.  It has all aged extremely well and if you did not know the stars and their history, you would swear you were watching a documentary.  A classic always offers something new when you watch it and this is no exception.  If anything, I think I enjoy the film, more than ever and also shows Scorsese as one of the all-time filmmaking masters.

 

The 1080p 1.85 X 1 AVC @ 28 MBPS image is black and white most of the time and is one of the last black and white films made that used real monochrome footage with silver content.  Save a few brief color stills, it is various shades of black & white.  The grain is intentional and there are some shots that may seem detail challenged, but the majority of the shots are amazing and some offer the best detail in a black and white film we have seen to date, and not just because it is one of the latter ones made.  Now you can see the nuanced detail Michael Chapman, A.S.C., caught here that DVD could not show on its best day.  If anything, the best moments and shots here will give viewers a new appreciation of monochrome and those who only want to watch color films and videos will be converted.

 

The DTS HD Master Audio (MA) 5.1 mix is interesting because it shows the age of the film’s audio, but Scorsese intended the film to sound older and of its time except for the music score and other non-diegetic sound elements.  A Dolby analog A-type Stereo theatrical release, the film has sometimes been issued on home video in monophonic sound mistakenly many assume it is to this say.  This is about the best this is ever going to sound.  This also has the same extras as the previous DVD we covered, making this a great back catalog Blu-ray.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


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