The Men Who Stare at Goats Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "The Men Who Stare at Goats" offers a generally high-quality viewing experience with some notable strengths and minor weaknesses. Presented in 1080p/AVC-MPEG-4, with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, the transfer delivers vibrant colors and impressive texture, especially in the exterior scenes set in diverse locales like the Middle Eastern desert and Vietnam. The outdoor sequences are richly saturated and detailed, capturing the lushness of green vegetation and the complexity of sandy terrains. However, the interior scenes appear slightly darker and can sometimes lack depth and detail, with occasional edge softness. Flesh tones vary, looking completely natural in some instances but unnaturally smooth in others.

Black levels are robust but exhibit slight imperfections, such as video noise and minimal resolution loss in the darkest areas. Despite these minor shortcomings, the fine details are often remarkable, with textures on clothing and caked mud beautifully rendered. The transfer is free from grain and debris, offering a clean, film-like texture that enhances the viewing experience. The overall solidity of this Blu-ray transfer ensures a satisfying visual presentation that maintains a professional standard, although it does not reach the upper echelons of video quality.

Additionally, the inclusion of a PCM 5.1 audio track complements the video nicely. While not overwhelmingly dynamic with low-frequency effects or aggressive surround usage, the audio remains clear and well-balanced, contributing to an immersive experience. Anchor Bay has delivered a solid Blu-ray presentation for "The Men Who Stare at Goats," impressive in many respects but not without its few perceptible flaws.

Audio Review for "The Men Who Stare at Goats" Blu-ray

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "The Men Who Stare at Goats" proves to be solid, though not especially groundbreaking. Primarily utilizing a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack, the mix is well-balanced and a pleasure to experience. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and well-prioritized, enhancing the film's primarily dialogue-driven nature. During scenes of war and action, the sound field opens up to provide a more immersive experience, featuring well-executed surround support. Elements like buzzing insects and distant gunfire in Vietnam flashbacks create robust environmental structures, and rock music punctuations are vibrant with a potent low end.

This track does a commendable job in delivering an engaging sonic atmosphere throughout the film. While LFE (Low-Frequency Effects) and dynamic surround activity are not omnipresent, they perform adequately when summoned. Explosive moments, such as roadside bombs and firefights in Iraq, envelop the listener, with tactile M-16 bursts and bullets zipping through the soundstage. The integration of vehicles moving seamlessly through the physical soundscape adds a layer of authenticity to the action sequences. The musical score by Rolfe Kent, along with a variety of hippie tunes, is rendered exceptionally well without any noticeable audio artifacts like pops or hisses.

In conclusion, while the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix may not elevate "The Men Who Stare at Goats" into audio esotericism, it delivers a quality, immersive listening experience. It lacks the extraordinary dynamism characteristic of top-tier releases but stands firmly above substandard offerings. True to Anchor Bay’s tradition, it offers listeners a satisfactory blend of clarity and environmental engagement, making it a strong audio presentation that complements the film effectively.

The Blu-ray of "The Men Who Stare at Goats" offers an extensive range of extras, which enhance the overall viewing experience, particularly for fans of the film. Notably, it includes two audio commentaries—one by director Grant Heslov and another by author Jon Ronson. Heslov's commentary is affable yet detailed, though at times lacks engagement. Ronson, on the other hand, delivers a focused and energetic track, providing rich insights into how the film parallels and diverges from his book. Complementing these commentaries are featurettes like "Goats Declassified," which dives into the real-life inspirations behind the story, and "Project Hollywood," detailing the filmmaking process. Despite a few underwhelming inclusions, the extras contribute significantly to understanding both the film and its unique background.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Director Grant Heslov: Insightful but sometimes lacks engagement.
• Audio Commentary with Author John Ronson: Focused, rich commentary with plenty of insights.
• Goats Declassified: The Real Men of the First Earth Battalion: Exploration of real-life inspirations.
• Project Hollywood: Behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process.
• Character Bios: Extended trailers focusing on individual characters.
• Deleted Scenes: Brief and mostly inconsequential scenes.
• Theatrical Trailer: Presents a misleadingly funnier view of the movie.
• Digital Copy: Available for Windows.

"The Men Who Stare at Goats," directed by Grant Heslov, offers an intriguing, if peculiar, journey into the surreal world of military paranormal activity. The film, based on Jon Ronson's non-fiction book, follows reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) as he dives into the U.S. military's New Earth Army, a covert unit aiming to harness psychic powers to revolutionize modern warfare. George Clooney stars as Lyn Cassady, a prominent and enigmatic figure of the unit, with supporting roles from Jeff Bridges as the hippie-like founder Bill Django and Kevin Spacey as the darkly rivalrous Larry Hooper. Marshall Fine of the Huffington Post commends the film as a "delicious and funny trip through the powers of the mind – and the powers of suggestion."

The character-driven narrative successfully balances both comedic charm and a sober look at absurd New Age military experiments. However, some critics note that it occasionally stumbles due to pacing issues and McGregor's somewhat stilted performance. Nevertheless, this is offset by strong performances from Clooney, whose blend of comic zeal and seriousness is reminiscent of his work in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," and Bridges' natural fit into his quirky role. The film’s strengths lie in its engaging portrayal of these surreal events, keeping viewers hooked with its unique take on psychological warfare embellished with comedic undertones.

That said, while it captures the essence of Ronson's book, the film lacks the depth and darker thematic elements related to post-9/11 military practices, which provided a more sobering context in the original text. Some viewers may find this disappointing if expecting an insightful commentary on historical events. Instead, the movie leans more toward lighthearted entertainment, driving its narrative with humor interspersed with moments of bizarre and surreal action. This Blu-ray edition from Starz/Anchor Bay enhances the viewing experience with its quality release, but viewers may need to approach the film with tempered expectations regarding its faithfulness to Ronson’s deeper themes.

"The Men Who Stare at Goats" presents a whimsical yet insightful take on military conspiracies, carried effectively by engaging performances and an idiosyncratic narrative. The film balances humor and thematic depth, offering a somewhat unique viewing experience that avoids extremes of darkness or high comedy. While its quirky nature may not appeal to all audiences, fans of Cohen Brothers-style comedies and military satire are likely to appreciate what it has to offer.

The Blu-ray release from Starz/Anchor Bay delivers exceptional A/V quality, enhancing the overall viewing experience. Video and audio presentations are top-notch, ensuring high fidelity and immersion. The supplementary features are robust, including two comprehensive audio commentaries and a short but insightful documentary on the real-life 'First Earth Battalion'. Particularly notable is Jon Ronson's commentary track, which adds significant context and value to the film.

In conclusion, "The Men Who Stare at Goats" is far from a movie for everyone. If you dig the Cohen Brothers comedies, military conspiracies, and great acting, it's definitely worth a viewing. Anchor Bay's release has above average A/V quality, two audio commentaries, and an insightful but too short documentary on the real-life 'First Earth Battalion'. Some people might get some mileage out of this release but I would not run out for a blind buy unless you are up for an adventure.