The Inglorious Bastards Blu-ray Review

The Inglorious Bastards arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer utilizing the AVC codec and framed within a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, presenting a visual experience that stands out amid low-budget, late-70s Italian filmmaking. The transfer is region-free and surprisingly clean, showcasing minimal print damage—a notable achievement given the age and likely poor storage conditions of the original film materials. The level of detail varies; while some scenes demonstrate impressive sharpness and clarity, others suffer from inherent softness. This inconsistency appears to stem from the source material rather than any issues during the transfer process.

Color reproduction on this Blu-ray release is naturalistic yet subdued compared to the previous standard-definition offerings. Primary colors such as reds and greens maintain their vibrancy but show occasional signs of artificiality. Skin tones have a pinkish, sometimes ruddy hue, while other hues appear somewhat washed out. Black levels and contrast filter offer sufficient separation to add depth but lack the richness typically expected in contemporary high-definition transfers. One distinct advantage is the minimal grain presence without noticeable DNR application, keeping specks and scratches unobtrusive.

Sharpness and shadow detail have improved from prior editions, revealing more within the frame, but these enhancements also expose the limitations of the original material. Some scenes exhibit a lack of depth with sporadic digital noise. Although efforts to maintain muted tones free from intrusive processing are commendable, the overall visual result might feel inconsistent, balancing a clean presentation against elements that highlight the film's lo-fi origins. Despite these observations, die-hard fans of The Inglorious Bastards will likely appreciate this upgraded release for its increased resolution and careful preservation work.

The audio presentation on the Blu-ray disc of "The Inglorious Bastards" is, unfortunately, underwhelming. Offering both English Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby 2.0 tracks, it dramatically falls short of delivering the immersive sound experience expected from a war film rich in gunfire and explosions. Regrettably, neither track employs lossless formatting, leading to a significantly muted mix. The Dolby Digital 5.1 track, in particular, lacks the expected dynamic range and dimensionality. The soundscape is disappointingly shallow, with a striking absence of low-end bass and negligible surround sound engagement. Consequently, the audio often feels more akin to a mono television broadcast than a robust cinematic experience.

Furthermore, dialogue clarity suffers severely, with muffled and sometimes hollow-sounding voices that detract from the viewing experience. The lack of synchrony with lip movements, a common issue in low-budget Italian films, is somewhat expected but still unforgivable here. Within this poor audio setup, the Dolby 2.0 track manages to deliver a marginally better experience. It comes across as somewhat crisper and more coherent but still falls short of excellence, particularly in low-end grunt necessary for an explosive war narrative. Overall, the Blu-ray's audio offerings are unlikely to impress audiophiles or film enthusiasts seeking a multi-dimensional auditory escapade.

The extras on the Blu-ray for "The Inglorious Bastards" provide a comprehensive and engaging look into the making of this cult classic. The audio commentary with Enzo G. Castellari, guided by Severin's David Gregory, offers rich insights despite Enzo's imperfect English. Key highlights include "Train Kept A-Rollin'," an expansive feature with cast and crew that leaves no stone unturned, enriching our understanding of Italian filmmaking in the '70s. Other notable extras include a candid but somewhat unfocused conversation between Castellari and Quentin Tarantino, and an intimate celebration of Castellari's 70th birthday, showcasing the camaraderie between him, Bo Svenson, and Fred Williamson. The disc also includes an amusing Q&A session from a screening at The New Beverley and two high definition trailers.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Enzo G. Castellari: Enzo discusses various aspects of the film with prompts from David Gregory.
• Back to the War Zone: Location revisit with Castellari.
• Train Kept A-Rollin': Extensive retrospective on the film.
• A Conversation with Enzo Castellari and Quentin Tarantino: Discussion between Castellari and Tarantino.
• Enzo's 70th Birthday in Los Angeles: Celebration footage with cast interviews.
• Inglorious Bastards at The New Beverley: Screening footage and Q&A.
• Trailers: High-definition trailers for The Inglorious Bastards and Eagles Over London.

"The Inglorious Bastards," directed by Enzo G. Castellari, emerges as a cult classic amidst the pantheon of exploitation cinema, offering a robust blend of action, comedy, and heroism. This 1978 film stands out not as a historically accurate portrayal of World War II, but rather as a stage for Castellari to orchestrate an array of thrilling action sequences that include dueling machine guns and spectacular explosions. Although lacking the finesse of mainstream war films, it strikes a balance between gritty realism and over-the-top escapism, placing a strong emphasis on action and attitude. Bo Svenson and Fred Williamson lead the cast with their macho performances, while Peter Hooten and Michael Pergolani bring notable depth to the supporting roles.

From a technical perspective, "The Inglorious Bastards" is notably hit or miss. The low-budget production is evident in its dubbed audio that often mismatches with spoken dialogue, yet it adds to the film’s cult charm rather than detracting from it. The action sequences are the true heroes here—well-choreographed despite budget constraints, offering continuous excitement with each encounter between the misfit soldiers and German forces. The final armored train sequence is particularly impressive, despite the tame violence by today’s standards. Castellari's infusion of spaghetti-western pacing with elements of blaxploitation elevates the film, making it a precursor to Tarantino's trademark style of genre-blending. While not appealing to everyone, those who appreciate style over substance will find this a guilty pleasure worth their time.

The Blu Ray of "The Inglorious Bastards" is a commendable effort to revisit a cult classic from the 1970s, targeting aficionados of low-budget action cinema. The picture quality on this disc reflects a significant effort to resurrect the film's original aesthetic, with a focus on delivering subtler and more realistic color palettes, although they are somewhat muted. This meticulous restoration work allows viewers to appreciate the visual intricacies that characterize the genre. Additionally, the care taken in preserving the film's grain structure maintains its authentic grindhouse feel.

However, the audio quality is where the release shows some limitations. The disc offers a 2.0 stereo mix that, despite attempts to expand it into a 5.1 surround sound format, remains the more coherent and satisfactory option. The 5.1 mix appears stretched and lacks the dynamic range needed to leverage a multi-speaker setup effectively. Notable is the absence of an Italian dub, which might disappoint purists, but the American version retains its quirky charm, poor lip-synching notwithstanding.

Extras included in this edition vary in quality but provide meaningful insights, particularly the retrospective features that enrich understanding of both the film's production and the personalities involved. While it's not a universally acclaimed title, its appeal lies in its ability to evoke nostalgia for 70s exploitation films, complete with all their idiosyncrasies.

For those already bewitched by the styling of such Italian fare, the treatment for this disc will be of great interest. The picture is one that can be argued over to a certain extent but what is clear is the sheer amount of effort that has gone into bringing an element of subtlety into the image with more realistic, if muted colors. The sound however, is 2.0 all the way, even though they tried to stretch it to 5.1, the mix never handled the multitude of speakers with any degree of vigour. The two channel option to my ear was the tighter and less distracting of the two choices. Purists might have wished for the Italian dub but I was more than happy with the poor lip-synching of the American version. The extras are a little inconsistent but when they hit their mark, as is the case with the wonderful retrospective, they bring out not only information but also a good amount of the personalities that combined to create the atmosphere of the film. This won't be to everyone's tastes, but if you have a soft spot for cheaply made flicks from the 1970s, be they action, blaxploitation, kung-fu or grindhouse, then I can certainly recommend you give this title further investigation. I can't rate it highly, as by all rational standards it isn't a great film, but the charm and ridiculousness of such pieces are what sell them to fans and this has it in spades.

"The Inglorious Bastards" isn't the type of film that everyone will appreciate, so my recommendation is restricted to those of you with an appreciation for low-budget action cinema of the 1970s. If you're not sure you fall into that limited category, I'd recommend you consider a rental prior to a purchase since your expectations could exceed the realistic achievements of the film. There's a reason this film hasn't earned greater recognition over the years, but it certainly isn't due to a lack of entertainment value.