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About
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How the West Was Won Blu-ray
Warner Bros. | 1962 | 162 mins | Rated G | Sep 09, 2008
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Video
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.89:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.59:1
Audio
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spain)... (more)
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English: Dolby Digital 5.1 French: Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spain) German: Dolby Digital 5.1 Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish: Dolby Digital Mono (less)
Subtitles
English SDH, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish... (more)
English SDH, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish (less)
Discs
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
DigiBook
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Price
List price: $34.99  Amazon: $20.99 (Save 40%)
Third party: $19.99 (Save 43%)
Usually ships in 24 hours
User rating
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Movie
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4.4 |
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Video
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4.9 |
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Audio
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4.6 |
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Extras
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4.5 |
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Overall
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4.7
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Based on 28 user ratings
Playback
Region free
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PhilRx
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Sep 09, 2008
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Movie: 5
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Video: 5
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Audio: 5
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Extras: 5
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Overall: 5
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Phenominal Restoration and Novel Smilebox Presentation
For those of us who may have attended an actual Cinerama presentation, this Blu-Ray, containing the restored HTWWW, is an AWESOME reminder of how wonderful this process was. For those who may have only experienced previous iterations of the SD-DVD format, this presentation will be literally "eye-opening". What a thoroughly wonderful viewing experience! The audio (actually, Dolby TrueHD!) will also please beyond expectations!! WOW! What is particularly interesting in this boxed set is the 2nd disc on which the viewer can watch a "SmileBox" version of the entire film (including the Dolby TrueHD soundtrack) with the upper and lower edges of the "screen" curved to give the impression of being "part of" the Cinerama experience! Additionally, great care was taken to "digitally" smooth the "blend zone" where the 3 film panels came together, and the result is a visually seemless widescreen presentation. Warner Bros. has hit one way out on this one!! BRAVO!
I would hope that if a restoration is possible for The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (the Cinerama version), that they will consider Smilebox again! |
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Iceman_II
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Sep 09, 2008
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Movie: 5
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Video: 5
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Audio: 5
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Extras: 4
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Overall: 5
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A restoration that even outdoes "The Searchers"
OMG... I thought Warner set the bar for restoration incredibly high with "The Searchers"
Well, they have exceeded it!
I was a bit apprehensive about the "SmileBox" but after just 10 minutes of watching it, I whole heartedly agree with all the comments of "I couldn't imagine watching it any other way."
If you like westerns, a definite must buy... hell, even if you don't like westerns! |
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lrcutler99
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Sep 10, 2008
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Movie: 5
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Video: 5
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Audio: 5
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Extras: 5
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Overall: 5
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Fantastic
This is without a doubt the best Blu-ray movie I've seen to date. I saw the original theater realease of this movie in the 3 screen projection and the "Smilebox" version included with the Blu-ray release is so much better then the original you honestly have to see it to believe it. Other releases of other movies in Blu-ray should use this movie as a standard. I've been disappointed but other movies I've purchased in Blu-ray simply because they weren't really that much better then the regular DVD version. This is NOT the case with "How the West Was Won". Simply a must have for any Blu-ray collection. |
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Blu Ray McHone
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Sep 09, 2008
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Movie: 5
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Video: 5
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Audio: 5
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Extras: 5
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Overall: 5
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Wow... Possibly one of the best Blu Ray transfers to date.....
Ladies and gentlemen, this is exactly how a classic film should look on blu. The picture and audio quality seriously make the film look as if it were made yesterday. Featuring an all star cast and nominated for best picture, this is truly a must buy! Highly Recommended. |
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MeE
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Sep 11, 2008
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Movie: 4.5
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Video: 5
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Audio: 5
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Extras: 4
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Overall: 4.5
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In the best interest of the users
Regarding the last commentor. Why is it that the main site reviewers are less than current in their reviews of releases. They just reviewed The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen on September 8th. What took so long? Where are the reviews for The Adventures of Robin Hood? Rio Bravo? the Cowboys? Not to mention How the West was Won? Why is the time and energy that could be used reviewing these releases being spent reviewing Dude Where's my Car? |
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Jim L
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Sep 14, 2008
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Movie: 4
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Video: 5
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Audio: 4.5
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Extras: 3.5
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Overall: 4.5
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A unique classic film on a great format!
I just watched this last night and it was the first time I was able to really enjoy the film on a home
video format.
The only other time I had tried to watch this was on Laserdisc years ago. That version had the
annoying problem of the 3 panels that did not blend together well and of course much lower video
resolution and lossy sound only.
This restoration and presentation on Blu-ray makes it a very worthwhile viewing and title to collect
in your library.
Here's what I found impressive about the transfer:
* Sparkling images, virtually dirt-free, with rich natural color
* The smilebox format helps you to make sense of the cinerama format somewhat better than a
standard letterbox version
*The lossless Dolby TrueHD is very impressive at times, especially for an older film. The musical
choruses and ambient sound in scenes like the ride through the rapids and the Indian attack come
across very well.
Here's what I like about the film itself:
* The story is a documentary of a fascinating period in American history - the settling of the west.
It covers a lot of what went on in that time frame: western explorers, the gold rush, the railroad,
pony express, telegraph, Civil War, cattle ranching, etc.
* The film is one of the biggest compendiums of great actors at that time: Jimmy Stewart, Gregory
Peck, Karl Malden, John Wayne, Debbie Reynolds, Thelma Ritter, Lee J. Cobb and Carrol Baker.
* Beautiful landscape vistas present throughout help tell the story
Very enjoyable. The extras add to the appreciation of this film/format. A must-own for film fans. |
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Kirsty_Mc
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Oct 02, 2008
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Movie: 5
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Video: 5
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Audio: 4.5
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Extras: 4.5
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Overall: 5
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Must Buy
If you have Blu-ray... Buy this!!! |
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ambientcafe
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Oct 02, 2008
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Movie: 3
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Video: 5
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Audio: 4.5
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Extras: 5
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Overall: 4.5
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More Cinerama (Smilebox) titles please!
Agree with all the other posters about PQ & AQ....however, I also agree with Greg Maltz's summation regarding his mixed feelings about Warner's decision to give HTWWW this sterling restoration. Because of the use of multiple directors, I found the story disjointed and certainly not as compelling as 'The Searchers', which BTW, if had been lensed in the scope format, would've given it more of an epic feel. Nonetheless, viewing this restored version of HTWWW has imminently made it more watchable. Side note: owners of CIH scope screens will prefer the flat, 2.89 AR SuperScope version (disc 1) over the 2.59 AR Smilebox presentation. |
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bluskies
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Oct 02, 2008
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Movie: 4
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Video: 5
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Audio: 4.5
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Extras: 5
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Overall: 5
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How the West as Won wins me over!
Is Blu-ray.com's reviewer crazy? 4.0 for video??? This is one of the very best Blus I have ever owned, and I think it, along with the Godfather set, ranks as the best of 2008. |
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David Craig
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Sep 15, 2008
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Movie: 4
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Video: 5
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Audio: 5
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Extras: 5
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Overall: 4.5
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WOW!
Kudos Warner Brothers!
I agree 100% with the first user review.
The image is so crisp and clear it looks like the film was made this year.
And the SMILEBOX is not a gimmick. It does take 10 or 15 minutes to get used to but it is the only way to watch this film. For example, after watching the SMILEBOX version, I popped in the other normal widescreen version. It is also very sharp and technically perfect but I could not image watching it that way now. |
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Blu-junkie
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Sep 16, 2008
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Movie: 5
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Video: 5
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Audio: 4
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Extras: 5
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Overall: 4.5
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Great!!
My parents took me to see this in a Cinerama theater when I was a kid. I still love this movie to this
day. This blu-ray is a must have for fans of the movie like me. My only small grip was the 5.1
separation of audio. The musical soundtrack was awesome, but I was left wanting more channel
separation of effects. Still, well worth the money spent and the time spent awaiting it's release. |
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johnsmeets
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Sep 19, 2008
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Movie: 5
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Video: 5
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Audio: 5
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Extras: 5
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Overall: 5
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WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
stunning how they make a movie as old as this one looking like it has been shot this year
Superbe
The Audio just perfect as well(no fancy tricky 2008 audio, most part trough the front speakers)
Loved this movie!!! |
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CLee0507
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Sep 26, 2008
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Movie: 4
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Video: 5
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Audio: 5
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Extras: 5
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Overall: 5
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I'd hate to be the cause of your death
I can't believe the quality is so high. It blew me away. The image is pristine for being a 1962 film shot in Cinerama. WOW!!! Audio was crisp and clear also. Why can't all transfers of this era look this good? |
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mikeyk1964
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Nov 01, 2008
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Movie: 4.5
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Video: 5
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Audio: 5
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Extras: 4.5
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Overall: 4.5
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WAY TO GO, WB!
I can't say enough about how impressed I am with this disc, and I won't repeat the kudos already bestowed by previous posters. I only want to give Warners a tip of the hat for setting the bar with their blue ray video releases. I encourage the other video companies to follow their lead. |
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jaimedelacruz
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Dec 25, 2008
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Movie: 3
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Video: 5
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Audio: 4.5
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Extras: 4
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Overall: 4.5
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La conquista del oeste
El trabajo de remasterización (al parecer ha durado 6 largos años) ha dado sus frutos y la imagen es
impresionante. El formato Cinerama (tres cámaras rodando al unísono para proyectar la película en
grandes y curvadas plataformas) presenta complicaciones a la hora de encajarla en un formato para
televisión, pero Warner ha hecho un trabajo magnífico
El sonido multicanal es bueno y claro no podemos compararlo con producciones de
cuatro décadas más recientes.
Espero que Sony coja el testigo y se curre el lanzamiento de de los filmes de David Lean como
Lawrence de Arabia y La hija de Ryan. |
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Camera Guy
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Feb 06, 2009
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Movie: 5
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Video: 5
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Audio: 5
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Extras: 4.5
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Overall: 5
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How The West Was Won
I'm Just new here and these posts are what nudged me to buy along with actually seeing it at the Detroit Cinerama Music Hall as it was called while in high school. Bought the hard cover book as I did with El Cid. Have a neice in town here in Waikiki and our Blockbuster plan just about keeping us busy. Have a Sanyo PLVZ5 and in this 2 br condo manage a 120" picture w/ 7 channel surround. Been in video since 1985 so front projectors are normal since 1990. I digress....WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!!! to be lifted as close as can be expected to the original art that it was and still is. Part of my extras is not performing but thats showbiz I suppose. No complaints at all. I felt myself smiling and wiping a tear now and then at the masterfull work these people have done.....and look ma, no lines..... Can't fault this work. America was a different world back in the early 60s and this brings back more pleasent thoughts. In the tourist wedding business, it helps to remain centered and films like this help us. |
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jpaul
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Feb 16, 2009
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Movie: 4.5
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Video: 5
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Audio: 5
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Extras: 5
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Overall: 5
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A Piece of History
Others have commented on the video and audio. I agree with all that. In addition, the bonus "Cinerama Adventure" is a great extra giving historical and highly entertaining information regarding the development of Cinerama. Owning this blu-ray is like owning a piece of history! |
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africarlos
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Mar 02, 2009
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Movie: 4
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Video: 4.5
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Audio: 4.5
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Extras: 4.5
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Overall: 4.5
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How The Bluray Was Won !
i love the cinerama version, i saw this movie in South Africa in 1969 in cinerama, what a impression for me in that time and the casting are great, all great actores from the westerns movies , it was a nostalgic release to me with all my thanks ! |
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Moyango
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Mar 29, 2009
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Movie: 4.5
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Video: 5
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Audio: 4.5
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Extras: 3.5
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Overall: 4
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That's Why blu-ray was invented
If you love westerns buy it NOW!! |
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Jip3
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May 02, 2009
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Movie: 4
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Video: 5
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Audio: 4.5
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Extras: 3.5
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Overall: 5
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Epic, ambitious, wow
The PQ has unavoidable source flaws - sometimes the seams are visible (as this was shot with 3 cameras side-by-side to give a really wide image), and there is the occasional moment of slight strobing and slightly different colours per camera, unconvincing rear projection, and other small issues attributed to the way it was shot. I was half tempted to give the PQ a 4.5 because of such flaws, but I can't, really, as other than these really small, not terribly distracting, issues, this is the most stunning image of a non-documentary Bluray I've come across. It's on par with Baraka in clarity (both shot with 70mm cameras), though, because of it's ginormous scope - 3 70mm cameras! - and unique smile-box display (which mimics a person's perspective), I'd say it's even more visually stunning than Baraka.
The image and scope of the project is so grand, that the actual narrative is besides the point, really - the story is more of a summation of the western time and western films, and a tribute to them, than anything else. An historical document that would be great to show in schools to say, "this was the west, the beginning of North American civilization, what life was like back then".
This is one of those must have films for collectors and cinema enthusiasts. An enormous amount of effort, shooting the film and producing this Bluray, was involved. |
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