The King's Daughter Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "The King's Daughter" presents a 2.39:1 framed transfer that, while adequate, leaves room for improvement. The film's stylized aesthetics are evident through its overly saturated and bright color palette, particularly at the French court and in the ocean scenes with vivid blues. However, image detail is inconsistent; some scenes are sharply defined and clean, while others appear smeared or softly rendered, which can be jarring from one shot to the next. The darker sequences exhibit a touch of crushed blacks alongside notable digital noise. A peculiar aspect is the visibility of the makeup’s amber/bronze tones on actors' faces, which can distract from the overall viewing experience.

In terms of technical clarity, the 1080p transfer manages to deliver a generally acceptable level of detail and color rendition. That said, it falls short of achieving the high-definition precision one might hope for, particularly in showcasing the opulent settings of Versailles or the intricate designs of period costumes. The color depth is satisfactory, offering enough vibrancy in natural greens and costume colors, but lacks the explosions of color and lifelike brilliance that distinguish extraordinary period film transfers. Black levels are decent, though perhaps slightly murky, and skin tones possess a pasty quality that detracts somewhat from naturalism. Additionally, light banding and moderate noise are present, further hindering the potential for a truly striking visual presentation.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track of "The King's Daughter" offers a highly engaging auditory experience, characterized by its robust bass presence and dynamic musical score. While it leans predominantly towards a front-heavy mix during its more dramatic sequences, the audio engineering ensures that scenes involving interactions between Marie and the mermaid are significantly enlivened with spatial depth and energy. Despite not reaching the pinnacle of demo quality, this track capably delivers an enjoyable and fulfilling auditory journey that caters to a broad range of listeners.

Technically speaking, the soundtrack encapsulates the requirements of contemporary audio presentations, with clear music articulation and expansive front-stage distribution. The surround channels effectively augment the audio to foster an immersive environment, skillfully balancing ambient elements like wind, waves, and underwater reverberations for a coherent spatial effect. Dialogue remains a central component, conspicuously clear and positioned reliably at the front-center, maintaining precise prioritization throughout the film's duration. This meticulous attention to detail in mixing ensures a well-rounded aural atmosphere that complements the film's narrative and visual elements.

The Blu-ray extras for "The King's Daughter" offer insightful additions that embellish the main feature. Key highlights include a short deleted scene presented in high-definition, which showcases a somewhat tone-deaf dance sequence, adding a humorous touch to the viewing experience. Furthermore, an engaging featurette titled "Cast Reflections" offers viewers a closer look into the thoughts and experiences of the cast. Through this, audiences gain deeper context into the film’s development, including story crafting, cast interaction, and character dynamics. The inclusion of a digital copy ensures easy accessibility across different viewing platforms, although the absence of a DVD copy might disappoint some collectors. The release is completed with a sleek non-embossed slipcover packaging.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scene: A tone-deaf dance scene presented in 1080p.
• Cast Reflections on The King's Daughter: Key cast insights on story development, camaraderie, and character details.

"The King’s Daughter" is a film adaptation of Vonda N. McIntyre's 1997 novel "The Moon and the Sun," but its journey from page to screen was fraught with difficulties. Initially glimpsed by Disney and later bounced around various studios, the film took over two decades to finally release via Gravitas Ventures and Universal. Despite a substantial $40 million budget, it earned a mere $1.8 million at the box office, a financial disappointment that mirrors its troubled production history. The film's storyline features King Louis XIV (Pierce Brosnan) pursuing immortality through the capture of a powerful mermaid—a narrative entwined with strained familial relationships and mystical elements, all undercut by a muddled, overly complex script.

Visually, "The King’s Daughter" does little to redeem itself. While parts of the film were captured on-location at Versailles, lending nominal authenticity, the overall production design feels lackluster and underwhelming for its period setting. Costumes and set pieces appear superficial rather than grandiose, failing to fully embrace the opulence typically associated with Louis XIV's reign. Accompanied by uninspired visual effects and an indistinct score, the film's aesthetic elements reflect the broader issues of careless execution and budget misallocation evident throughout the project.

Acting performances are another detriment, plagued by a lack of engagement among the cast. Notably, even established actors like William Hurt and Kaya Scodelario offer performances devoid of emotional depth or conviction. The incoherent script, punctuated by poorly edited scenes, leaves little room for character development or dramatic tension. Consequently, "The King’s Daughter" remains a jumble of high concept ideas never actualized into compelling on-screen storytelling, ultimately reinforcing its position as one of Hollywood's more notable box office failures.

"The King's Daughter" on Blu-ray falls short on numerous fronts, offering a lackluster experience both in its cinematic quality and home media presentation. The film, helmed by director Sean McNamara, features an odd blend of uninspiring CGI, mediocre dialog, and underwhelming performances, with an ensemble that includes Pierce Brosnan and Kaya Scodelario. While the narrative unfolds with the potential to explore themes of love, life, and mortality threaded with a mythical touch of mermaids, it ultimately fails to resonate or deliver these message effectively.

Technically, Universal's Blu-ray release delivers a passable visual experience with its 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio. The image quality is acceptable but uninspiring, lacking the refined clarity and edge one might expect from a high-definition presentation. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track bolsters the multimedia package slightly, presenting clear audio dynamics that satisfactorily cover the film's dialogue and musical score. However, it's unfortunate that the extras on this disc are notably limited, offering little beyond the standard behind-the-scenes content to engage viewers further.

In conclusion, while "The King's Daughter" might aim to serve as unobtrusive family entertainment, it suffers from an absence of compelling storytelling and technical flair. The movie's unassuming nature might appeal to viewers seeking simple, non-offensive cinema, yet for those looking for substance, this is a title better left unattended. Despite the fair audio quality, the combination of insipid video and limited supplementary materials reinforces the consensus: this Blu-ray is best skipped.