|
|
|
|
|
|
Reviews
Release lists
Top lists
Search
By genre
(3132)
(1963)
(549)
(235)
(284)
(2113)
(1514)
(643)
(4013)
(827)
(1267)
(21)
(367)
(1116)
(1100)
(257)
(763)
(178)
(218)
(1334)
(1358)
(74)
(296)
(686)
(3091)
(476)
(142)
By studio
About
|
|
|
Defiance Blu-ray
Paramount Pictures | 2008 | 137 mins | Rated R | Jun 02, 2009
|
|
Video
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audio
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 French: Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (less)
Subtitles
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
English, English SDH, French, Spanish (less)
Discs
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
|
Price
List price: $29.99  Amazon: $18.49 (Save 38%)
Third party: $12.98 (Save 57%)
Usually ships in 24 hours
User rating
|
Movie
|
|
4.6 |
|
Video
|
|
4.8 |
|
Audio
|
|
4.4 |
|
Extras
|
|
4.3 |
|
Overall
|
|
4.6
|
Based on 16 user ratings
Playback
Region A (B, C untested)
|
nezff
-
Jun 03, 2009
|
 
|
Movie: 4
|
Video: 4.5
|
Audio: 4
|
Extras: 4
|
Overall: 4.5
|
good one
Very good movie. Not a ton of action, but enough |
|
rwojtalewicz
-
Jun 03, 2009
|
|
Movie: 4.5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 4
|
Extras: 4
|
Overall: 4.5
|
A second Exodus, well sort of...
How does a people survive while being hunted down like animals by the Nazis, having no one to turn to due to Nazi collaborators, and no one to trust like the Soviet army who were the enemy of their enemy (the Nazis)? That's the situation that be fronted the The Bielski partisans, four Jewish brothers in 1941 Eastern (Nazi occupied ) Poland. Tuvia (Daniel Craig) and his three brothers Zus (Liev Schreiber), Asael (Jamie Bell), and Aron (George MacKay) elluded the Nazis and their collaborators who confined the Jews to ghettos before sending them to the extermination camps. Tuvia, their leader, shelters a growing number of Jewish escapees from the ghettos whom they encounter in the forest. The forest was their only friend which provided the shelter and cover they needed. This is their story and how they along with 1200 other Jewish people survived. I saw it as sort of a retelling of the Exodus story on a smaller scale but having its obvious parallels, like building their shelters reminded me of Sukkot, and the marsh scene which echoed the crossing of the Reed Sea but with a much different twist. Instead of the desert wilderness of the Sinai, its the forest which in many ways can be just as inhospitable to those who've never taken to the forest. Thus, Tuvia became a sort of Moses figure who must not only deal with the Nazis, the Soviets (his questionable allies), and local antisemitic countrymen, but also the squabbling, bickering, and arguing amongst the very people he was trying to protect and rescue. Craig and Schreiber offer a fine performance in their roles as the two brothers who were at odds with each other but learn what it is to be human in an inhumane world.
The video transfer is pristine. It is full of subtle and fine details even in darker scenes. When Tuvia held the mezuzah in his palm, I could see the weather beaten intricate details still engraved upon it. The colors during the less dark scenes like in the forest during daylight were about as natural as can be captured on film. I commend Eduardo Serra for his excellent cinematography in every situation, indoors and outdoors that really enhance the mood of the scene.
The lossless TrueHD audio track delivered fairly good sound. I enjoyed hearing the quiet yet quite distinct enviromental sounds found in a forest, too numerous to list, but they're all there. At the other end of the scale loud sounds from the canon fire from German tanks or bombs dropped from German aircraft were mediocre and sounded a bit subdued. It was as though DRC was turned on. However that wasn't the case since both my BD player and receiver are never on Auto but always set to wide dynamic range. The dynamic impact of the explosions just weren't that realistic. The rest of the audio is quite good though. The dialogue is right on the mark, very clear and easy to follow. The music score and theme were absolutely delightful. The overall sound quality was very satisfactory, although not excellent and certainly not reference quality.
The extra features will acquaint the viewer with how the film was made, some of Zwick's insights, and how it compared historically to the actual events and lots more. It's true Zwick added some hollywood style embellishments to make it more thrilling like overdoing the combat scenes which perhaps was necessary to provide more funding.
History buffs will definitely want to add this BD to their collection. All others will want to give it a rent before buying. Defiance isn't a film which one watches for entertainment along with enjoying a tub of popcorn. The Holocaust isn't entertainment. It is a horrifyingly sad chapter in the history of humanity. It is a lesson and one that needs to be remembered. |
|
Zantetsuken
-
Jun 04, 2009
|
|
Movie: 4
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 5
|
Extras: n/a
|
Overall: 4
|
Surprisingly a good movie
I enjoyed this movie a lot. The pq was flawless..very nice and so was the aq
Definitely a renter |
|
mr.markster
-
Jun 03, 2009
|
|
Movie: 4.5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 4.5
|
Extras: 4.5
|
Overall: 4.5
|
History Buffs, Beware!
I really enjoy the movies of Edward Zwick ("Glory," "Last Samurai," "Blood Diamond")- and this movie is also highly enjoyable. Once again, I believe the critics are crazy for bashing "Defiance." I personally enjoyed it much better than I did some of the Oscar- contenders that were over- hyped by the critics (like "Revolutionary Road" and "The Reader").
Like his other movies, I classify "Defiance" as dramatic- action. There's never a dull moment and you become emotionally invested with the characters. While Daniel Craig is definitely excellent in the lead role, I think the movie belongs to Liev Schreiber, who brings an incredible range of emotion to his role.
The PQ is absolutely wonderful: This isn't a "colorful" movie by any means- colors do not explode from the screen and are actually rather drab. However, blacks are very deep which enhance the primary colors (blues, browns and greens) The colors of the forest "pop" from the screen, and the winter scenes with falling snow are simply incredible. Since nearly the entire film takes place in the wild, the landscapes are filmed beautifully.
Good acting... Good action... beautiful PQ... what's not to like?
Well, apparently the so- called "history buffs" are crawling out of the woodwork and panning the movie for not being historically accurate (read some of the ridiculous posts for "Defiance" at IMDB.com and you'll see what I mean). So, History Buffs, Beware: this movie, which is a FICTIONAL take on real- life events, is NOT a documentary on the History Channel. If you want to hate on this movie because it is historically innacurate, then why bother watching historical movies at all? 99.9% of them aren't historically accurate, either. (I think the most historically accurate movie I've seen was "Gettysburg," which I consider a classic and is far superior to its mediocre sequel "Gods & Generals")
That being said, there are some good suppliments on the BD discussing the history behind the movie. If you like Zwick's previous movies, this one is a no- brainer. However, if you an... ulp... history professor wannabe, then probably stick to renting this one. |
|
Nick VanMeter
-
Jun 02, 2009
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 5
|
Extras: 4
|
Overall: 5
|
Defiance
Craig does it again, he puts out an outstanding acting performance. I first saw him in Layer Cake Munich , Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace ( all are available on BluRay ) and he is outstanding in each role. He is becoming my favorite actor, now Im going back and see some of his old films like Kiss and Tell, Archangle, Road to Perdition, and Enduring Love.
Defiance has great acting, story line, and keeps you at the edge of your seat.
PQ- is amazing poping out of my tv.
AQ- I can still hear the explosions and the gun fire
I recom. to anybody that like war/history movies or who likes the acting of Daniel Craig. |
|
bdsoft
-
Jun 02, 2009
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 5
|
Extras: 5
|
Overall: 5
|
Defiance is a best movie this year
I recom. to anybody that like war/history movies or who likes the acting of Daniel Craig.
Agree |
|
Odysseyz92
-
Jun 04, 2009
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 4
|
Extras: 4
|
Overall: 4.5
|
Great True Story!
This movie was great! I can't believe this actually happened in real life! I really enjoyed the journey the movie took you on. It showed the struggles and hard-ships of the jews' lifes. Daniel Craig did an amazing job playing the lead role! He looks bad-ass with a gun! Glad I saw this movie! You'll enjoy it too!
PQ: The Video was amazingly good! The picture was crystal clear and super sharp. This a movie with one of the best picture qualities! Paramount Pictures did a great job with the movie! It is Blu-ray quality!!!
AQ: The Audio was good. I really enjoyed the great sounds of the guns and explosions! I'm glad it was Dolby TrueHD 5.1, and all Blu-ray movies should be at least Dolby TrueHD 5.1 or DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, or even higher. |
|
jk1138
-
Jun 09, 2009
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 4.5
|
Extras: n/a
|
Overall: 5
|
Amazing story!
I was blown away by this story. Another awesome WWII movie. I rented it, but now I must buy it for my collection. A MUST see for any WWII buff or WWII movie enthusiast! |
|
GRILLSMASHER
-
Aug 19, 2009
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 5
|
Extras: n/a
|
Overall: 5
|
buy it!!
Great drama -true to life-great pq and aq |
|
BluPat
-
Feb 04, 2010
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 4.5
|
Extras: 4.5
|
Overall: 5
|
Superb transfer for a superb film.
'Defiance' is one of those movies that has such a strong impact on you emotionally. The story being based on true events is heart-wrenching. What it must have been like for the real Jewish people in 1940's Europe is unimaginable.
Daniel Craig gives an amazing performance as the eldest Bielski brother. Liev Schreiber.....honestly he has never been a favorite actor of mine (even though being in 'Scream' and 'The Omen' (2006))....but I must say his performance in 'Defiance' changed my outlook on him. Jamie Bell is amazing as well. All 3 give the best performances you could ask for.
The PQ of 'Defiance' holds nothing back. It is spot on crystal clear with amazing color depth and detail clarity. The forests are so amazingly lifelike and you feel as you are actually there. The AQ is great as well.
Buy this Blu-ray. You will not be dissapointed. |
|
ribbed19
-
Jun 11, 2009
|
|
Movie: 5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 3.5
|
Extras: n/a
|
Overall: 4.5
|
GREAT war movie, looks great too
I won't type long, but need to say that this is one of the best WWII movies i've seen in a really long time
I thought it was much better than the bluray.com reviewer thought...it was just an awesome story that captivated both me and my gf fully from start to finish...I can't complain about anything story/directing wise, I just thought it was great
the PQ is outstanding, very detailed and there's alot to see, it's a very good looker
AQ is good, but the surround channels are not used nearly enough, it almost sounded like I was listening to a 2.1 soundtrack...this was a little disappointing to me
Overall I recommend this...probably for a rental more than a buy, but nevertheless, watch it |
|
Wood16
-
Jun 11, 2009
|
|
Movie: 4.5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 5
|
Extras: n/a
|
Overall: 4.5
|
WOW Amazing transfer
The picture quality of the trees, forest and nature is some of the best I've ever seen. The clarity of this movie is top notch, I wish they all looked this good.
Flesh tones are perfect, the snow that falls in some shots is nothing short of amazing, it looks like it is right in front of you.
The clarity does not take away from that WWII feeling, just because its so clear doesn't make it feel too modern.
Dialogue is clear with a great mix of SFX.
It makes the movie that much more enjoyable, great story followed by a great Blu-Ray. |
|
BluMood
-
Jul 09, 2009
|
|
Movie: 4.5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 4
|
Extras: n/a
|
Overall: 4.5
|
Great Film
I blindly rented this one without reading a review. That usually gets me in trouble but not this time. SOLID entertainment with great acting and story. I can't say enough about the GREAT video quality of this film. EVERY snowflake detailed around forest settings captured the desperate situation and I was emersed in the story. Great Film! |
|
Nathan Arizona
-
Sep 02, 2009
|
|
Movie: 4
|
Video: 4
|
Audio: 4.5
|
Extras: n/a
|
Overall: 4
|
Another solid WWII Film
There are no shortages of WWII films of late. I've seen three in the past week: Inglorious Bastards, Valkyrie and Defiance. Like Valkyrie Defiance does delivery another fascinating chapter of the war many may not know, but it's a far more personal film and the audience gets to know these characters. It's a solid film with good performances, my only criticism is the language issue; like Valkyrie -- English speaking, but at least they attempted accents. However; unlike Valkyrie I don’t necessary think this film would have been any better had it been a production of its native country.
The video quality was very nice, great colours and contrast. Snow was beautify shot, reminded me of Tarkovsky, but I disagree on reference quality; looked soft in a few places when projected on a screen. Audio was great, but I didn't watch any of the extras.
It's better than Valkyrie but, and appropriately so, no where near as fun as Inglorious Bastards. |
|
Cinemalord86
-
Nov 29, 2009
|
|
Movie: 4.5
|
Video: 5
|
Audio: 4
|
Extras: 4
|
Overall: 4.5
|
Excellent film, flawless PQ and really good AQ
An excellent film that has a life like PQ. Bravo Paramount!!!! |
|
El Cucuy
-
Jun 22, 2009
|
|
Movie: 4
|
Video: 4
|
Audio: 4.5
|
Extras: n/a
|
Overall: 4
|
"Welcom to are community"
movie - I LOVE LOVE HISTORY MOVIES! Defiance is on my list of Favorites. great casting, great story and great scenery. The charters were felt threw the directing and story. yea maybe not enough action for a war movie. But this film didn't need it. it always kept me captivated. great work and other great story reveled in that time period.
Video - great looking quality. Show casing if I might add. From the battle scenes to the claim and naturists scenes. Frame rate was great. very smooth. great color.
Audio - very loud. great mix from the dialog to the bomb's exploding. never had to adjust the volume.
Overall - This other great movie from this time-line. a most rent with out a doubt. it has replay value and I wouldn't mind watching it again. |
|
Post a review
Please login to post a review.
|
|
Top 10 Bargains
|
|
1.
|
The Wizard of Oz (3-Disc Emerald Edition)
$16.99, Save 66%
|
|
2.
|
Up
$17.99, Save 61%
|
|
3.
|
The Men Who Stare at Goats
$16.99, Save 58%
|
|
4.
|
Inglourious Basterds (Special Edition)
$19.99, Save 50%
|
|
5.
|
Star Trek
$19.49, Save 51%
|
|
6.
|
Serenity
$11.99, Save 56%
|
|
7.
|
Up in the Air
$21.99, Save 45%
|
|
8.
|
Planet Earth
$49.99, Save 50%
|
|
9.
|
Iron Man (Ultimate Edition)
$19.99, Save 50%
|
|
10.
|
The Dark Knight
$17.99, Save 50%
|
» See more bargains
|
|
