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Raging Bull Blu-ray
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | 1980 | 129 mins | Rated R | Feb 10, 2009
Raging Bull(1980)Biography | Drama | Sport     The story of Jake LaMotta, a former middlweight boxing champion, whose reputation for tenacity and success in the ring was offset by his troubled domestic life: full of rage, jealousy, and suspicion--particulary towards his wife and manager/brother--which, in the end, left him destitute, alone, and seeking redemption. For more details about Raging Bull on Blu-ray, see the Raging Bull Blu-ray Review Starring: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci Director: Martin Scorsese Raging Bull Blu-ray, Video Quality  For years, many have debated why Scorsese shot Raging Bull in black and white. As he explains in the bonus content, when first screening the 8-mm test footage of De Niro sparring in a ring, the director did not like the image. At first, he was unable to figure out why. Michael Powell, an older director who had become a mentor and good friend to Scorsese in the 1970s, suggested that the color of the gloves was throwing off the picture, drawing attention away from the fighters' faces and creating imbalance. The rest is history. Raging Bull is the third black-and-white Blu-ray I've reviewed (after Casablanca and Persepolis) and its AVC encode at 28 mbps is the most film-like of the three. The larger bits of noise, such as dust specs have been meticulously removed, but a consistent sheen of film grain--most notably in light areas of the image--is visible throughout. Some telltale signs of digital cleanup are apparent but they are not obtrusive. Overall, the picture packs a powerful punch. It is by far the best edition of Raging Bull to hit home video. The definition is not the wow-factor, although it offers many details that were previously lacking. The picture can best be described as organic with vibrant gradients from bright to dark and a lush analog quality as opposed to harsh or digital. Watch La Motta's fight taking place in Florida early in the film. Scorsese and director of photography Michael Chapman literally bend the light of the scene. The visuals seem supernatural and impressionistic, like waves of heat wafting up from asphalt or a bar-b-q. In 1080p, the effect is extraordinary. More conventional images like facial expressions, upholstery and clothing patterns appear well defined, if a touch soft. Often Scorsese opts for a noirish quality as a throwback to an earlier era of cinematography. Watch the scene where Vickie convinces Jack to phone Joey in the arena hallway after a victory. The low lighting and dark backdrop set the mood of the scene. Another classic from the same era that I recently reviewed, Gandhi showed gentle strobing throughout, as did The Pink Panther, from 1964, but Raging Bull cleans up more evenly, with no signs of flickering. Raging Bull Blu-ray, Audio Quality  The first thing you will notice about the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is that MGM mastered it for Blu-ray at a very low level. The center channel is especially receeded, but once the volume is brought to an appropriate level and the center level is increased relative to the other channels, the audio track shines. Orchestral score, dialog and sound effects are nearly as commanding as the video excellence. Raging Bull is the first Scorsese film that made use of his trademark frenzy of flashing bulbs of the cameras, and freeze-frame of the glow generated by the flash. While it makes for an interesting visual effect, the audio has far greater impact. Each pop of the vintage camera light bulbs yields a succinct blast, as if the photos and public eye is physically hitting La Motta. The sound is of a much higher frequency than the actual boxing blows, but the overall impression of the popping bulbs is not unlike La Motta being hit by a fist. A more general note: the 5.1 mix is heavily anchored up front with little or no content assigned to the surrounds, which is the proper way to mix the track. While dialog sounds crisp and the actors' timbres are meaty with good presence, the music steals the show--particularly in classic shots like the Copacabana scene where Jake follows Vickie out of the night club with Gene Krupa's Drum Boogie setting the mood. Always immensely conscious of the music track, Scorsese chose segments of more than 30 musical pieces to deliver the color that was absent from the black-and-white film. Mascagni's Intermezzos are the brilliant glue that seems to hold it all together, featured during the opening and closing credits, color sequences meant to mimic home movies and stills showing fight scenes. Through all of this, the liquid midrange is dominant, with treble and bass a bit shelved. Raging Bull Blu-ray, News and Updates• Today on Blu-ray - February 10th - February 10, 2009 In a time when a musicians' popularity rises and falls more often than the tides, it is somewhat difficult to imagine that a single person could be regarded as "the best", and that people could hold that sentiment over 200 years after his death. I of course speak ... • Fox Details Raging Bull Blu-ray Release - December 11, 2008 MGM Home Entertainment in conjunction with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment have revealed the technical specs and special features for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Raging Bull', which is due to hit store shelves on February 10th. For this release, video ... • Fox Unleashes the Motherload for 2009 - October 30, 2008 In an early announcement to retailers, Fox Home Entertainment has revealed that they will bring 11 of their best selling catalog titles to Blu-ray early next year. As these are unofficial announcements, technical specs and special features have yet to be confirmed, ... Raging Bull Blu-ray, Forum Discussions
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