BLU-RAY REVIEW

Cesar Chavez

Featured In Issue 191, November 2014

Picture3.5
Sound3
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):
45744
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Some violence and language
(Retail Price):
$19.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
102
(Color Type):
Color With B/W Sequences
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
2014
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
07/22/14
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Diego Luna
(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):

This is the inspirational story of "Cesar Chavez" (Pena), a man who inspired millions of Americans from all walks of life to fight for social and economic justice. His triumphant journey began in Delano, California, and led him across the United States and to Europe where he tirelessly fought for reform. The movie chronicles this incredible story and is a remarkable testament to the power of one individual's ability to change the world. (Gary Reber)

Special features include a making-of documentary (HD 19:05), upfront previews, and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 1080p AVC picture exhibits a grungy, heavily saturated color palette that is characteristically documentary in tone. The framing of images is tight during forefront segments. Contrast is decent, but blacks and shadow delineation appear crushed. The black-and-white segments are grainy and blotchy, which accents the documentary style and historical perspective. Fleshtones are generally natural in appearance. Resolution is decent as well but generally softly focused. This is a filmic visual experience that effectually documents the man and the movement. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is dialogue focused and conventionally produced with limited directionalized atmospherics, sound effects, and surround. Much of the dialogue is Spanish language with subtitles, and generally intelligible. The music score is limited but effective and provides what surround presence there is, with deep bass dynamics. Overall, this is a serviceable but undistinguished sonic experience. (Gary Reber)