Alexander Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Alexander" revisited leaves an indelible mark on the format, boasting a remarkable 1080p VC-1 transfer that is sure to captivate even the most discerning of viewers. The transfer shines with a pristine clarity, showcasing a spectrum of vibrant and accurately rendered colors that breathe life into every frame. Scenes rich in detail, from the sprawling desert battlefields to the dimly lit interiors, are presented with an unprecedented depth of field and fine detail that highlights textures and nuances previously unseen in SD editions. The generous 2:40:1 aspect ratio complements the visual feast, making it a significant upgrade over previous versions, and placing it in the ranks of reference-quality Blu-ray transfers.

Noteworthy is the film's handling of contrast and black levels, achieving perfect balances that enhance the visual dynamic range without succumbing to crush or loss of shadow detail. This precision ensures that even in the darkest scenes, details are richly preserved, contributing to a sense of depth that can at times give a nearly three-dimensional appearance. The occasional presence of film grain preserves the cinematic quality without detracting from the overall clarity of the transfer. Despite minor nicks and a few instances of pixelation and color fluctuations, these imperfections are brief and do not detract from what is an otherwise stellar visual experience.

The Blu-ray’s meticulous attention to detail, from the individual frays on Alexander’s cloak to the subtle hues in skin tones and landscapes, elevates "Alexander" to showcase the potential of high definition. It maintains a delicate balance between preserving the filmic essence through a modest layer of grain and delivering sharp, detailed visuals that highlight the painstaking craftsmanship of the film’s production. While not without its minor flaws, such as brief bursts of pixelation and slight undersaturation in a handful of shots, these are but fleeting distractions in what is an otherwise outstanding transfer. Fans of the film and Blu-ray enthusiasts alike will find this release a compelling demonstration of visual excellence, making it an essential addition to their collections.

The Blu-ray release of "Alexander" offers a commendable Dolby Digital 5.1 audio mix, which astoundingly manages to hold its own despite not reaching the pinnacle potential of lossless audio options like PCM or TrueHD. Praised for its meticulous blend of dialogue clarity and ambient soundscapes, the mix excels in delivering voices with precision directly from the center channel while judiciously using the surrounds to create a convincing environmental acoustics throughout. The directional control is especially notable during the film's numerous battle sequences, where the soundfield is used to its full extent to orchestrate the chaos of war, from the thunderous footfalls of elephants in battle to the immersive swarming of armies and the menacing flight of arrows across the soundscape.

Technical aspects, such as dynamic range and LFE handling, showcase the mix's strengths and its ability to captivate with natural bass rumbles and well-defined treble tones, ensuring a stable and immersive listening experience. Yet, it is the mix's utilization of all six speakers, creating an engulfing sound experience that does well to underline the visual spectacle of the movie without overshadowing critical elements like dialogue. Despite this, there's a unified sentiment towards the limitation posed by its Dolby Digital encoding, which, while offering a solid foundation at 640kbps, understandably leaves audiophiles yearning for the pristine clarity that could have been achieved with a high-definition audio format.

In analyzing Warner's approach to this release, it's clear that the choice to forgo a higher bitrate or a lossless audio track is a missed opportunity to fully showcase the film's auditory potential. The soundstage, while broad and dynamic, occasionally feels constrained during denser segments of simultaneous effects, music, and dialogue. However, the precision in sound effects rendering—from ambient noises that heighten realism to the well-pitched voices across varying scenes—underscores a highly skilled mixing effort. Despite its minor drawbacks and the ongoing debate regarding optimal audio codecs for home cinema, this Dolby Digital 5.1 mix stands as a testament to what can be achieved within its limitations, providing a thoroughly engaging and immersive auditory experience for viewers of "Alexander."

The Blu-ray release of "Alexander" is a comprehensive showcase that represents a monumental effort in home cinema presentation, particularly for enthusiasts of the epic genre. The extras package is especially remarkable, featuring nearly ten hours of additional content that spans the gamut from documentaries meticulously crafted by Sean Stone, Oliver Stone's son, to the introspective and candid Introduction by Oliver Stone himself. These additions are not mere afterthoughts; they provide a deep dive into the creative and historical process behind the film, enhanced by high-definition exclusives such as Oliver Stone's enlightening Commentary and the slightly less captivating Historical Commentary. Despite the overwhelming volume of content, each extra enhances the viewing experience, with highlights including the in-depth three-part documentary by Sean Stone and the somewhat brief yet intriguing Vangelis Scores Alexander piece. The commitment to presenting this final cut, alongside its supplementary materials, firmly positions this release as a pinnacle in HD disc capacity utilization, despite the exclusion of prior commentaries related to theatrical and director's cuts, which feels inconsequential given the breadth and depth of what is offered.

Extras included in this disc:

• Introduction by Oliver Stone: A frank setup to the disc’s content.
• Two Feature-Length Commentaries: With insights from Oliver Stone and historian Robin Lane Fox.
• Fight Against Time: Oliver Stone's Alexander (SD): Comprehensive documentary on the film’s production.
• Behind the Scenes with Sean Stone: A three-part featurette diving deep into various aspects of making the film.
  • Resurrecting Alexander
  • Perfect Is the Enemy of Good
  • The Death of Alexander
• Vangelis Scores Alexander (SD): Brief overview of the scoring process.
• Teaser Trailer and Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailers for the film.

Oliver Stone's "Alexander," with its multiple reincarnations including the final 214-minute cut, epitomizes the challenges and intriguing aspects of retelling historical epics in contemporary cinema. Despite the director's valiant efforts to refine the narrative through successive edits - from the original 175-minute theatrical release to a shorter director's cut and finally to the exhaustive "Alexander Revisited" version - clarity and coherence remain elusive. Stone's ambitious approach, intertwining Alexander's youth with his later life in a non-linear exploration of causality and influence, ambitions to enhance narrative depth but instead paradoxically obfuscates the storyline further. This structural choice, while intellectually appealing for its attempt to mirror the complexity of historical causality and personality formation, struggles under its own weight, leaving audiences bewildered rather than enlightened.

From a technical perspective, "Alexander" is a spectacle, squeezing every drop of its substantial $155 million budget into visually arresting scenes that stand in sharp contrast to its narrative shortcomings. Stone's cinematic canvas is vast, encompassing grandiose battle sequences that captivate with their choreographic prowess and historical extravagant set designs that recreate ancient worlds with meticulous care. However, the ambition of these aesthetic achievements cannot mask the foundational cracks - notably in casting and performance. Colin Farrell's portrayal of Alexander swings between convincing military leadership and less convincing personal turmoil, overshadowed by Angelina Jolie's younger-than-expected Olympias and an array of inconsistent accents that further detach viewers from the immersive experience Stone presumably intended.

Despite these criticisms, "Alexander" is not without merit. It is a film that dares greatly, aiming to capture the essence of one of history’s most enigmatic figures against the canvas of his monumental achievements and personal complexities. The film's portrayal of Alexander’s strategic genius, his reshaping of the known world, and his deeply human flaws is commendable. Where it falters in narrative clarity and character development, it at least partially compensates with its audacious visual scale and a certain raw passion for its subject matter. The "Revisited" version attempts to add depth to characters like Ptolemy and Olympias and address controversial aspects more boldly, striving for a more comprehensive understanding of Alexander’s legacy. Yet, even as Stone’s efforts to refine his vision culminate in this ultimate cut, the film exemplifies the notion that more can sometimes be less, leaving audiences to navigate a labyrinthine plot that, despite its moments of brilliance, often feels as vast and unconquerable as Alexander’s own empire.

Oliver Stone's 'Alexander', while admittedly flawed, represents a compelling cinematic exploration into the life and times of Alexander the Great. This film, across its various edits and versions, may not capture all historical nuances accurately but it does offer an engaging story highlighted by breathtaking battle sequences and rich narrative depth. The Blu-ray release elevates the viewing experience considerably, boasting a high-definition transfer that can only be described as majestic. The audio mix complements this visual feast well, immersing viewers in the thick of ancient battles and political intrigue. Furthermore, the inclusion of over ten hours of extras, much of which is exclusive to this HD release, provides an in-depth look at the filmmaking process and the director's vision, making it a substantial package for aficionados and newcomers alike.

Despite its efforts, the film cannot entirely shake off its criticisms related to casting and performances, which might deter some viewers. The reworks and director's cuts indicate Stone’s commitment to refining his vision, yet they also underscore inherent shortcomings that editing alone cannot rectify. This dichotomy is important to consider for potential buyers; renting before purchasing might be advisable to gauge personal tolerance for these contentious aspects. Nonetheless, for those able to overlook its flaws, 'Alexander' offers a rich tapestry of storytelling, enhanced significantly by its Blu-ray presentation.

In conclusion, 'Alexander' on Blu-ray presents an opportunity to witness Oliver Stone's ambitious project in its best form. While not without its detractors, the film's stunning visual and audio quality, combined with extensive bonus material, makes it a noteworthy addition for collectors and history buffs. It serves not just as entertainment but also as a discussion piece on the challenges of historical adaptation in cinema. Whether revisiting or discovering anew, viewers will find value in this edition—provided they are prepared for a film that is as monumental as it is imperfect.