BLU-RAY REVIEW

Minari

Featured In Issue 255, May/June 2021

Picture4.5
Sound4
WSR Score5
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):
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
59044
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Some thematic elements and rude gesture
(Retail Price):
$21.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
115
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
5/18/2021
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Lee Isaac Chung
(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):

A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, "Minari" follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother (Youn). Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks,the movie shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home. (Gary Reber)

Special features include deleted scenes, the featurette "Sowing Seeds," upfront previews and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

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® using the Arri Alexa Mini camera system and sourced from a 2K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture is wonderfully natural with a setting on a farm in Arkansas. The greens and browns of the farm's foliage and ground cover are perfectly realistic. The interior of the manufactured trailer on wheels exhibits warm and rich colors. A fire toward the end exhibits brilliant shades of blazing orange. Fleshtones appear accurate. Contrast exhibits natural black levels, revealing shadow delineation and satisfying white levels. Resolution is generally well defined and sharp but on occasion appears a bit soft. This is a wonderful visual experience in a setting depicting rural America that is compelling throughout. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel Korean/English soundtrack is dialogue focused, though, the atmospherics on the farm are totally realistic and enveloping. A tornado watch and thunderstorm near the front end of the movie sound powerful with deep bass extension. A fire towards the end sounds as a blazing fire does with realistic crackling sounds. The string orchestra is enveloping across the soundstage with strong surround energy. Dialogue is clear with good spatial integration, and the English subtitles are easily readable. This is a wonderfully simple soundtrack that is a perfect complement to the storytelling. (Gary Reber)