BLU-RAY REVIEW

Valley Of The Gods

Picture5
Sound5
WSR Score4.5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Well Go USA
(Catalog Number):
WGU03206B
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$29.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
127
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
No
(Direct-To-Video Release):
Yes
(Disc Release Date):
8/11/2020
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Lech Majewski
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

"Valley Of The Gods" juxtaposes abundance and poverty through the eyes of an anguished writer (Hartnett), a bizarre trillionaire (Malkovich), and a struggling Navajo community armed with only a now-imminent ancient legend. The movie contrasts abundance and poverty through three separate story lines. Post-divorce, copywriter John Ecas undertakes the biography of the richest man on earth, who is dead-set on mining sacred lands for uranium. When modern advance runs afoul of long-dormant guardians from ancient legend, even the most unimaginable wealth may soon meet its match. (Gary Reber0

Special features include a making-of featurette (HD 19:15), the trailer, and upfront previews.

The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, upconverted to 2160p with greater resolution and luminance, was photographed digitally in anamorphic Panavision® with Panavision camera systems and sourced from a 2K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture is gorgeous with a beautifully warm and rich color palette that is nicely saturated. The imagery is very varied and visually engaging, from the Navajo Indian reservation lands to the urban settings. This imagery is absolutely captivating. Earth tones are perfectly natural as exhibited in the red rock formations of Utah. Fleshtones retain perfect naturalness. Contrast is excellent with deep, natural blacks and brilliant highlights, as well as revealing shadow delineation. Resolution is revealing. Fine detail is exhibited in every frame, whether in facial features, clothing or the object textures in the urban architecture and the rock formations and desert.This is a stunningly beautiful picture with reference-quality imagery throughout. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is extremely dyanamic with tremendous sub-25 Hz bass extension, even below 8 Hz., requiring tremendous bass reproduction capability. The bass can be felt throughout but is particularly energized in a powerful thunder and rain storm and the breaking apart of rock formations. Atmospherics are perfectly realistic. The bass energy is among the deepest and most powerful ever reviewed. Sound effects further enhance the realism of the environments and proceedings. Foley sound effects are perfectly synchronized with the imagery. The orchestral and pop score is impressively enveloping, filling the entire soundfield. The soundstage is wide and deep and extends to the surrounds to envelop. The sound is very dimensional. Dialogue is intelligible throughout but at times ADR produced and wanting in spatial integration, but nevertheless effective. This is a well-produced and haunting holosonic® experience that will be appreciated for its sonic variations and captivating energy. (Gary Reber).