Pathfinder Blu-ray Review
Unrated
Score: 58
from 3 reviewers
Review Date:
Disappointing films with great A/V quality, suited for fans of intense action.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 63
'Pathfinder' on Blu-ray captivates with its dark, detailed 1080p visuals, strong black levels, and a moodily monochromatic palette, despite occasional detail loss in shadows and directorial stylings.
Audio: 66
'Pathfinder's DTS-HD MA 5.1 track dazzles with deep bass, clear dialogue, and immersive echoes, offering a vivid, aggressive sonic experience perfect for demo material.
Extra: 43
Pathfinder's Blu-ray extras feature director Nispel discussing his filmmaking process and choices, with standard featurettes and deleted scenes providing some insight yet lacking in depth or new revelations, reflecting a mix of satisfaction and missed potential.
Movie: 43
Pathfinder disappoints with its lack of engaging story and characters, offering only standard action and violence without depth or originality.
Video: 63
"Pathfinder" makes its mark in the Blu-ray format with a presentation that is as divisive as it is impressive. Encoded in 1080p using the MPEG-2 codec on a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, this release showcases a deliberate visual style characterized by a largely monochromatic palette with spurts of color that manage to pop against the gloomy backdrop. The artistic choice to leech color from the film, favoring sepia tones and an almost relentless use of ice blues and grays, does not hamper the visual depth and detail captured in high definition. Particularly, the intricate textures of Viking armor and Native clothing are vivid, and scenes set in brighter environments, like the Indian village, showcase the potential for depth despite a slight lack of three-dimensional pop expected in premium releases.
The transition from excessively grainy and almost pitch-dark beginnings to a clearer and somewhat brighter presentation mirrors the film's narrative arc, enhancing the visual experience without sacrificing director Marcus Nispel’s intended somber atmosphere. Black levels are exceptional throughout, maintaining clarity in shadows without resorting to over-brightening, thus preserving the film's stark aesthetic choices. Scenes set in caves or at night particularly benefit from this, with Chapter 14 standing out for its depth and clarity. However, the decision to overlay artificial grain and maintain a rather dark image occasionally leads to detail loss in the shadows and a minor level of black crush, though these moments do not significantly detract from the overall visual fidelity.
As a video presentation on Blu-ray, "Pathfinder" straddles the fine line between aesthetic purposefulness and technical limitation. While some may find the heavy reliance on dark scenes and artificial grain a hindrance, it's apparent that such choices are deliberate to enhance the narrative's bleak and frigid setting. The Blu-ray significantly outperforms its DVD counterpart in showcasing fine details and textures, making it a visually striking, though stylistically specific, high-definition experience. Despite its occasional struggles with shadow detail and grain management, this release is a testament to how effectively dark and monochromatic visuals can be rendered on home media without losing the essence of their intended impact.
Audio: 66
The audio presentation of "Pathfinder" on its Blu-ray release, featuring a Lossless DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio track, stands out as a forceful tour de force that expertly marries the viscerally epic visual content with a sonic boom capable of immersing the viewer straight into the heart of its exhilarating and ferocious landscape. Despite only accessing the core of this auditory marvel, it's clear that the mix prioritizes an encompassing soundstage where the dynamic range from the deep, rumbling LFE to the crisp and clear highs craft an auditory experience as grand as the film's sprawling battles. Scenes laden with thunderous clashes and environmental immersion showcase a meticulously designed soundscape, with dialogue remaining crystal clear amid the cacophony, ensuring every sword clash, echo off the mountains, and even the subtler sounds of wind and wildlife are captured with impressive clarity and positioning within the surround field.
The aggressive use of LFE is particularly noteworthy, providing a powerful bass foundation that grants every scene, from the thunderous footfalls of warriors to the growling confrontations with beasts, a weighty realism. Such implementation ensures scenes such as a confrontation in a bear cave become standout moments for their intense auditory delivery. The careful balancing act between loud, bombastic sequences and quieter moments filled with ambient sound contribute to an overall immersive experience. The surround channels are actively engaged throughout, drawing the listener into the center of action and environment with skillful use of directional audio that matches on-screen events flawlessly.
However, "Pathfinder's" audio track does display some nuances in its treatment of quieter scenes which, while not detracting significantly from the overall experience, could benefit from a more detailed acoustic portrayal to match the vibrancy of its action sequences. Still, for those seeking a film that fully leverages their home theater system for a resoundingly immersive auditory experience, "Pathfinder's" Blu-ray offering proves itself as an auditory feast that excels in dynamism, depth, and detail, making it an essential benchmark for enthusiasts looking to test their setup's mettle against a backdrop of Norse adventure and warfare.
Extras: 43
The Blu-ray release of "Pathfinder" encompasses an array of extras that, while not groundbreaking, offer a solid insight into the making of the film. Director Marcus Nispel's commentary reveals his journey from conception to screen, touching on initial ideas, the adaptation from graphic novel to film, and his collaboration with the novelist. Though Nispel's reflections range from earnest to somewhat self-congratulatory, they provide an interesting glimpse into his vision and compromises made during production. The featurettes and deleted scenes offer additional perspective, though they tread familiar ground with a mix of standard behind-the-scenes fare and some mildly amusing outtakes. The strength of the supplemental materials lies in their technical details and candid discussions from cast and crew, though the overall package may leave enthusiasts craving more depth and less fluff. The theatrical trailer and on-screen trivia round out the extras, making it a decent compilation for fans but unlikely to convert skeptics.
Extras included in this disc:
- Commentary with Director Marcus Nispel: Insights into the film's creation, adaptation processes, and Nispel's personal reflections.
- The Path Revealed: Secrets on Screen: An on-screen trivia feature providing additional facts and film details.
- Deleted Scenes: Seven scenes with optional director's commentary, showcasing cut content for various reasons.
- Featurettes: A collection of six segments including 'The Beginning', 'The Design', 'The Build', 'The Shoot', 'The Stunts', and 'Clancy Brown: Cult Hero', offering a look at the film's production stages and key contributions.
- Trailer: The original high-definition movie trailer.
Movie: 43
"Pathfinder" on Blu-ray presents a visually appealing but ultimately underwhelming cinematic experience, based heavily on established sword-fighting epics yet failing to carve its own niche. The film narrates the saga of Ghost (Karl Urban), a Viking child abandoned in North America and raised among Native Americans, who rises as a lone warrior against recurring Viking invaders. Despite its rich premise and potentially engaging clash of cultures, "Pathfinder" struggles with a lackluster script, recycled plotlines, and shallow character development, all of which hinder its ability to resonate deeply with its audience.
Director Marcus Nispel, known for his visually striking work in the horror genre, delivers a film teeming with stylized violence and gore that falls somewhere between an action-packed epic and a horror flick. While the movie benefits from its high production values, particularly in sound design and the recreation of a dreary North American wilderness, these strengths are overshadowed by its deficiencies. The dialogue often lacks authenticity, the characters fail to elicit emotional investment from the viewer, and the narrative is riddled with historical inaccuracies and plot inconsistencies. Remarkably, the added unrated content in the Blu-ray edition does little to enhance the story, offering only minor extensions rather than meaningful depth.
At its core, "Pathfinder" is a visually captivating but ultimately unsatisfying entry into the genre of historical action films. It borrows heavily from the conventions of sword-and-sandal movies but misses the mark on delivering the nuanced storytelling or compelling character arcs found in more successful cinematic counterparts. The film's reliance on graphic violence and special effects over character complexity and narrative coherence results in a forgettable portrayal of a could-have-been gripping tale of cultural clash and individual identity.
Total: 58
"Pathfinder" on Blu-ray delivers a presentation that, while visually striking and audibly impressive, is coupled with a film that fails to fully captivate or innovate within its genre. The story—a tale of Vikings landing on American shores—carries the potential for epic narrative yet falls short due to thinly drawn characters and a plot that leans heavily into gratuitous violence without substantial depth. Despite the disappointing narrative and lackluster character development, the Blu-ray edition shines in its technical aspects. The video quality is deemed good, albeit with a tendency towards darker visuals, which may detract from the overall clarity but contributes to the atmospheric setting of the movie. The DTS HD MA audio track excels, offering a compelling auditory experience that enhances the immersion into the film's brutal and tumultuous world.
The Blu-ray disc itself is noted for its robust array of special features and exceptional audio-visual presentation, making it a worthy consideration for those seeking to showcase the capabilities of their home entertainment systems. The special features, while not groundbreaking, provide sufficient interest for fans or completist collectors of Blu-ray editions. However, for viewers prioritizing compelling storytelling and character development alongside technical quality, "Pathfinder" may not fulfill all expectations. It finds its niche audience among those with a preference for high visual fidelity and sound quality in their movie-watching experience, as well as aficionados of action-packed, historically inspired narratives despite their narrative shortcomings.
In conclusion, "Pathfinder" on Blu-ray stands out more for its technical merits than its storytelling prowess. It is a mixed bag that offers exceptional video and audio quality, ensuring a visually and sonically impressive experience but is let down by a generic plot and superficial character development. This Blu-ray release is recommended for enthusiasts of the action genre and collectors seeking to enhance their high-definition library, but it might require a preview through rental before making a purchase decision for the broader audience.
avforums review by AVForumsRead review here
Video: 70
Depth is more than apparent in some of the brighter daylit scenes, of the Indian village with lake in the background for instance; but somehow it still doesn't quite achieve that 3-dimensionality that...
Audio: 90
Surround use is used to great effect in some of the quieter moments, of which there are not too many, in the forest with wind and animals clearly apparent....
Extras: 50
A standard commentary which at times becomes a little shallow to wade through, standard featurettes which really don't add anything to the mix and deleted scenes which are in the bin for a reason....
Movie: 50
Sure there's some nice battle scenes but ones which we've see all too often before and certainly seen presented on film to better effect....
Total: 60
I feel that the story of the Vikings hitting the American shores is still out there for someone to take by the horns, it certainly has all the potential elements to make a great feature; this alas though...
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 100
As the film moves along, the excessive grain and almost completely dark scenes give way to a still gloomy and frigid yet somewhat brighter world and it is from this point forward that the image truly shines...
Audio: 90
Overall, this is a loud and boisterous presentation that manages to remain clear and clean despite the extremely aggressive nature of the sound design....
Extras: 50
Six featurettes (1080p, 30:42 total runtime) examine the origins of the film as well as the original 1987 version, the dark look of the film, creating the set pieces and costumes, the physical taxation...
Movie: 50
I find I can stomach an abundance of violence much easier when there is at least a reason for it, such as in Pathfinder, rather than the senseless violence depicted in films like Nispel's retelling of...
Total: 70
This movie is worth a rental if you are into swords and violence, and is only recommended as a purchase for die hard, completist Blu-ray fans....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
Compared to the standard DVD, the Blu-ray edition offers an enormous visual improvement -- I could make out the finest strands of hair, the slightest bristle of fur in the wind, and the tiniest droplets...
Audio: 80
For a sample, skip to the end of the film and listen as Ghost leads the Viking horde along a snowy mountain path -- take note of the rear channels as they create a convincing series of echoes, wailing...
Extras: 40
Filmmaker Marcus Nispel provides a decent, breezy commentary, sharing his strong feelings about the adaptation, the changes made from the graphic novel, the casting, and the end result....
Movie: 40
(Note that this Blu-ray edition of 'Pathfinder' features the "Unrated" cut of the film, but while eight additional minutes may sound like a lot, the inserted material is ultimately inconsequential to the...
Total: 60
Although the film itself didn't impress me in the least, this Blu-ray edition of 'Pathfinder' makes for a surprisingly strong disc, thanks to a striking video transfer, a robust DTS HD MA audio track,...
Director: Marcus Nispel
Actors: Karl Urban, Clancy Brown, Moon Bloodgood
PlotIn an untamed North American landscape, a young Viking boy is left behind after his clan battles the Native American tribes. Struggling to survive in a foreign land, the boy is rescued and raised by a kind Native American woman. As he grows into a man, his past with the Vikings becomes a distant memory, replaced by the ways of his new people and a deep respect for their culture. He is given the name Ghost, reflecting his mysterious origins and his ability to move silently and unseen. Despite his efforts to fit in, Ghost stands out due to his distinct physical appearance and the skills he brought from his Norse heritage, marking him as an outsider within the tribe.
Years later, when a band of Viking marauders returns to unleash a new wave of terror upon the native tribes, Ghost finds himself caught between two worlds. His loyalty to his adoptive people is put to the test as he uses his knowledge of Viking tactics against them. As the Vikings' brutal assault threatens to annihilate the tribes, Ghost steps forward as an unlikely hero, utilizing his unique skills in warfare to lead a desperate fight for survival. His struggle is not just about physical combat but also an internal battle to reconcile his past with his present, defining his identity and the path he must take.
Writers: Laeta Kalogridis, Nils Gaup
Release Date: 13 Apr 2007
Runtime: 99 min
Rating: R
Country: United States, Canada
Language: English, Icelandic