BLU-RAY REVIEW

Winter's Tale

Featured In Issue 189, September 2014

Picture4.5
Sound4.5
WSR Score4
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):
Warner Home Video
(Catalog Number):
3000057505
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Violence and some sexuality
(Retail Price):
$35.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
118
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2014
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
06/24/14
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Akiva Goldsman
(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):
Dolby Digital 5.1, 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):

Based on the novel by Mark Helprin, Winter's Tale is set in a mythic New York City. The story of miracles spans more than a century and depicts crossed destinies and the age-old battle between good and evil. Peter Lake (Farrell) is a master thief who never expected to have his own heart stolen by the beautiful Beverly Penn (Findlay). But their love is star-crossed: she burns with a deadly form of consumption, and Peter has been marked for a much more violent death by his one-time mentor, the demonic Pearly Soames (Crowe). Peter desperately tries to save his one true love, across time, against the forces of darkness, even as Pearly does everything in his power to take him down—winner take all and loser be dammed. What Peter needs is a miracle, but only time will tell if he can find one. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurettes Winter's Tale: A Timeless Love (HD 06:08) and Characters Of Good & Evil (HD 09:14), additional scenes (HD 12:08), upfront previews, and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture is a mixed-period visual experience that exhibits a warm, smooth appearance throughout. The movie was photographed with the Arri Alexa Plus digital camera system, which is respected for its filmic qualities. The stylish treatment exhibits a slightly dark presence, with excellent resolution, well-balanced contrast that exhibits deep blacks, and revealing shadow delineation. Depending on the scene and the period, hues reveal warm browns and golden tones, bold reds, bright highlights, and solid blacks. Fleshtones are naturally hued and well saturated. This is a visually engaging palette that is satisfying throughout, with stylistic cinematography. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is a quiet endeavor, with a beautifully recorded orchestral score, with a wide and deep soundstage presence that provides the limited surround envelopment. The solo piano sounds wonderful, with a subtle surround presence. Otherwise, the focus is monaural dialogue that sounds natural and generally well integrated spatially. The sonics that accompany the light bursts also provide surround energy and nuanced atmospherics that subtly enhance the sense of dimension. Deep bass is present in the .1 LFE channel during the boiler scene and the movie's final scene, which provides a dynamic burst. Overall, this is a nuanced, dialogue-driven sonic experience that perfectly suits the storytelling. (Gary Reber)