Hell in the Pacific Blu-ray Review
Score: 61
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
"Hell in the Pacific" on Blu-ray offers a powerful character study with dual endings, best viewed with Boorman's alternate for thematic closure; highly recommended.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 53
Hell in the Pacific's Blu-ray presentation balances sporadic clarity and a heavy grainy texture inherent to its older master, with vibrant greenery and natural skin tones, despite some blockiness and visible reel changes. Rich and accurate colors persist without distracting digital artifacts.
Audio: 68
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix for 'Hell in the Pacific' offers crisp sound effects, atmospheric island life audio, and clean musical cues, effectively enhancing the minimalist dialogue and adding depth to the film's settings. Optional subtitles for Mifune's dialogue add an unexpected twist.
Extra: 56
Director John Boorman's candid 33-minute interview details the production struggles, Toshiro Mifune's challenging behavior, and the project's development, while a 10-minute segment with Art Director Anthony Pratt discusses daily production hardships and the film's ending; complemented by an engaging feature-length commentary from historians Travis Crawford and Bill Ackerman.
Movie: 71
Hell in the Pacific, directed by John Boorman and featuring powerhouse performances by Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune, delivers a riveting, nearly silent survival thriller that strips war down to pure physicality and human interaction against a breathtaking remote island backdrop. The Blu-ray from Kino Classics preserves its haunting cinematography and includes Boorman's preferred, more resonant ending.
Video: 53
The Blu-ray presentation of "Hell in the Pacific" offers a commendable video transfer, adhering to a 2.34:1 aspect ratio. The AVC encoded image retains much of the original grain and texture of the source material, providing a filmic experience. Colors are rich and accurate, with natural-looking skin tones and greenery displaying relative vibrancy. Detail and delineation are satisfactory, allowing viewers to appreciate setting depth and body language nuances. However, some facial particulars can blur due to the older master and softer cinematography. A persistent yet authentic grain structure is maintained, though it occasionally devolves into blockiness. Visible reel changes and sporadic speckling are also present but not notably distracting.
This release is further distinguished by its lack of DNR application or digital mosquito noise, which preserves the authenticity of the original material. Despite this, the image quality is somewhat restricted by its source. John Boorman's preference for very grainy 35mm film stock results in inconsistent grainy black levels throughout the film. This intrinsic grain can intensify during darker scenes, introducing minor inconsistencies. Nevertheless, the overall quality remains high, with ample detail and acceptable depth that contribute positively to the viewing experience. This Blu-ray transfer provides an authentic and largely satisfying visual presentation for a classic film, despite its inherent limitations.
Audio: 68
The audio presentation of "Hell in the Pacific" on Blu Ray employs a 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix, focusing primarily on atmospheric elements due to the film's sparse dialogue. This mix beautifully captures the essence of island life with crisply detailed sound effects, from distant wildlife to the immersive sounds of rolling waves. The film's environmental sounds and occasional violent encounters are rendered with precise fidelity, enhancing the viewing experience. The music, although used sparingly, fills the front speakers with excellent clarity and distinctive instrumentation, contributing effectively to the overall ambiance.
Dialogue, while minimal, is reproduced with great attention to detail; intentional muttering and grunting between characters remain clear and authentic. A notable aspect of the film is that Mifune’s dialogue is not supposed to be subtitled, preserving the communication barrier between the main characters. However, an optional subtitle track that translates Mifune's lines is included for those interested, though it does detract from the intended mystery. Overall, despite its age and modest production scale, the audio quality of this Blu Ray release is commendable, delivering a solid and realistic auditory experience.
Extras: 56
The extras on the Blu-ray release of "Hell in the Pacific" provide rich, informative insights into the movie's production and its significant challenges. Notably, the feature-length audio commentary by film historians Travis Crawford and Bill Ackerman engages in a lively, detailed discussion about the film's context, including pivotal moments in the stars' and director's careers. The disc includes a comprehensive 33-minute interview with director John Boorman, where he candidly recounts his experiences on set, detailing his conflicts with actor Toshiro Mifune and the interference with the film's ending, done without his consent. Additionally, a 10-minute interview with art director Anthony Pratt reveals his positive outlook on the movie despite the daily hardships posed by weather and touches upon his perspective on the altered ending.
Extras included in this disc:
- Commentary: Features film historians Travis Crawford and Bill Ackerman.
- Interview with John Boorman: Director shares production troubles and insights.
- Interview with Anthony Pratt: Art director discusses production details.
Movie: 71
John Boorman's "Hell in the Pacific" (1968) distills complex wartime themes into a powerful tale of survival and human connection. With minimal dialogue and a focus on physicality, the movie relies on the intense performances of cinema legends Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune. Set on an isolated, visually stunning Pacific island, their interaction becomes a microcosm of World War II, transforming from fierce antagonism into uneasily mutual dependence. Boorman skillfully lets the actors' raw and feral performances convey the primal struggle, making for mesmerizing and evocative viewing.
The film eschews traditional war movie tropes, focusing instead on character-driven storytelling that explores the gradual erosion of ideological enmity. Stranded with limited resources, the two characters must navigate their ingrained distrust and animosity to negate the threat of mutual destruction. The cinematography, capturing the raw beauty of the remote island setting, juxtaposes this brutality with serene natural backdrops, adding layers of visual poetry to the narrative. Boorman's minimalist use of music amplifies dramatic moments without overshadowing the film’s inherent tension and poignancy.
Boorman's visual storytelling is particularly effective in this almost silent film, where Marvin and Mifune's limited but impactful vocal exchanges enhance the visceral nature of their interaction. The Blu-ray release provides an alternate ending that aligns more closely with Boorman's original vision, augmenting the thematic depth. This meticulously crafted war drama remains a stark exploration of human resilience and the possibility of compassion amid conflict, making it a highly relevant piece for contemporary audiences.
Total: 61
The 1968 war drama, "Hell in the Pacific," directed by John Boorman and starring cinematic titans Lee Marvin and Toshirô Mifune, has been given fresh scrutiny with its Blu-ray release. This film is a masterful study of human resilience and primal connection, unfolding largely in wordless sequences that emphasize the evolving relationship between two adversaries stranded on a deserted island during World War II. Boorman’s minimalist dialogue approach intensifies the dramatic tension, building a gripping narrative that relies heavily on visual storytelling and the powerful performances of its leads.
One of the stark points of discussion surrounding this Blu-ray release is the presence of two different endings. The original theatrical ending, which was edited without Boorman's involvement, is noted for its abruptness and unintended comedic effect—a jarring finale that detracts from the film's overarching thematic gravity. Conversely, the alternate ending included in this release is more in line with Boorman’s vision, providing a more satisfying and thematically coherent conclusion. This enhances the film's narrative integrity, offering a nuanced and thoughtful close to an introspective tale.
The impressive high-definition transfer of "Hell in the Pacific" elevates its status as an essential piece of cinema history. With pristine picture quality and attention to visual detail, the Blu-ray version does justice to the film's stark and often haunting imagery. The enhanced resolution allows viewers to fully appreciate the artistic nuances of Boorman’s direction and the meticulous craft of Marvin and Mifune’s performances. "Hell in the Pacific" on Blu-ray not only preserves but also amplifies the film's emotional and visual impact, making it a must-see for both fans of classic cinema and new audiences alike.
Blu-ray.com review by Brian OrndorfRead review here
Video: 70
Detail is important to the overall effort, allowing viewers to grasp the setting and survey body language, and some facial particulars remain, along with periodic depth to the island setting....
Audio: 80
"Hell in the Pacific" isn't loaded with conversations, making the 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix mostly down to atmospherics, which provide a sense of island life, from distant wildlife to rolling waves....
Extras: 80
Interview (10:46, HD) with art director Anthony Pratt doesn't reveal much, highlighting his hiring, his positive feelings for the movie, the daily trial of weather conditions, and his understanding of...
Movie: 70
Boorman ditches dialogue and throttles incident with "Hell in the Pacific," wisely investing in pure physicality to communicate ideas both large and small, allowing Marvin and co-star Toshiro Mifune to...
Total: 70
Go with the latter when sitting down to watch "Hell in the Pacific," because if you remain with the former, this sincere study of primal connection is going to turn into a comedy....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 60
Hell in the Pacific arrives on Blu-ray with a largely gorgeous transfer in its original 2.35:1 ratio....
Audio: 80
...
Extras: 40
The two engage in a lively discussion about the film, and a good deal of history surrounding the stars and director....
Movie: 80
Hell in the Pacific is almost a silent movie, Mufune and Marvin never share dialog beyond yelling at each other....
Total: 80
It's a highly engaging character piece starring two screen giants at the height of their abilities, I cannot recommend it enough....
Director: John Boorman
Actors: Lee Marvin, Toshirô Mifune
PlotDuring World War II, a stranded American pilot and a Japanese naval officer find themselves marooned on a deserted Pacific island. Initially, the two soldiers are hostile to each other, driven by their patriotism and survival instincts. They engage in a series of confrontations, each attempting to gain the upper hand while struggling to secure limited resources such as fresh water and food. The tension between them is palpable, as neither is willing to trust the other, believing the enemy to be ruthless. Their isolation and relentless conflict lead to numerous attempts at sabotage and aggressive defensiveness in an environment that offers no escape.
As time progresses, the dire circumstances compel the adversaries to reconsider their approach for sheer survival. Slowly, an uneasy truce forms as they recognize each other's humanity beyond the uniform. The hostile acts give way to reluctant cooperation: sharing food, shelter, and working together to improve their prospects of being rescued. This gradual shift forms the basis of a strained but necessary partnership. However, their differing cultures and deep-seated wartime prejudices continue to challenge their developing bond, threatening to collapse the fragile peace they have achieved so far.
Writers: Alexander Jacobs, Eric Bercovici, Reuben Bercovitch
Release Date: 18 Dec 1968
Runtime: 103 min
Rating: G
Country: United States
Language: English, Japanese