BLU-RAY REVIEW

Hatfields & McCoys

Featured In Issue 169, September 2012

Picture5
Sound5
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):
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
40489
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$55.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
290
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
2012
(Theatrical Release):
No
(Direct-To-Video Release):
Yes
(Disc Release Date):
07/31/12
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Kevin Reynolds
(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):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

The History Channel Hatfields & McCoys chronicles the epic, true tale of close friends turned enemies, both bonded by their oath to the same Confederate flag. The infamous back country feud that became an American legend begins with "Devil" Anse Hatfield (Costner) and Randall McCoy (Paxton), close friends and comrades until near the end of the Civil War, when they return to their neighboring homes—Hatfield in West Virginia, McCoy just across the Tug River border in Kentucky—to increasing tensions, misunderstandings, and resentments that soon explode into all-out warfare between the families as an illicit love affair triggers warfare between the two former comrades and their clans. As hostilities grow, friends, neighbors, and outside forces join the fight, bringing the two states to the brink of another Civil War. (Gary Reber)

Special features include a making-of featurette (HD 30:50), "I Know These Hills" music video featuring Kevin Costner and Modern West with Sara Beck (HD 03:21), and previews.

The 1.78:1 1080p AVC picture was shot digitally with the Red One camera system. The image quality is superb, as is the cinematography. The imagery is perfectly natural, with unexaggerated hues that heighten the realism. Hues convey a warm visual effect, with natural fleshtones and perfectly balanced tones. Contrast is excellent as well, with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Resolution is razor sharp and revealing of fine detail, especially during close-ups of facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture. This is a wonderful visual experience that perfectly conveys a sense of late 19th century southern life. Well done. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is naturally realistic, with effective dynamics and atmospherics. Foley effects are nicely descriptive and supportive. Gun shots are real sounding throughout, often accentuated with .1 LFE low-frequency energy for effect. The music score is nicely recorded, with a wide and deep soundstage presence that extends aggressively to the surrounds. Surround envelopment often sounds holosonic® in spatial dimension. Dialogue consistently sounds intelligible and natural with good spatial integration. This is a terrific soundtrack experience that will not disappoint and perfectly supports the historic American storytelling. (Gary Reber)