The Patriot

"The Patriot" makes an impressive leap to Blu-ray with a 1080p High Definition upgrade that's hard to fault. Its original theatrically broad aspect ratio of 2.4:1 widescreen is preserved, showcasing fantastic detail that brings the movie to life, from the sweat on Mel Gibson's face during intense scenes to the intricate stitches on period-specific costumes. The AVC MPEG-4 codec does wonders here, facilitating a presentation where the vivid palette and deep, solid blacks enhance the visual experience, ensuring both nighttime and low-light sequences are as captivating as high-action daytime scenes. Notably, the film’s naturalistic visuals are accented with a rich array of colors, particularly the earthy tones that dominate its landscapes, alongside bright, striking reds and blues that make uniforms pop off the screen.

Sony's consistency with their Blu-ray releases shines through in "The Patriot," where attention to detail in both the extended and theatrical cuts is meticulous. From the rendering of fine object detail allowing viewers to see individual stalks of grain in fields, to the natural textures of skin, hair, and stubble, the film feels more vibrant and realistic. The enhancement in shadow detail and contrast also deserves mention, adding depth to the image that mirrors the quality of a theatrical experience.

Despite its numerous strengths, the transfer isn't without minor flaws—occasional noise in evening sky shots, some print flecks, and a slight oversaturation of colors that may affect skin tones. However, these issues barely detract from an otherwise stellar video presentation. Fans of "The Patriot" and home theater aficionados alike will find much to admire in this Blu-ray rendition, from the sumptuously rendered landscapes and battle sequences to the diligently crafted close-ups that showcase an array of details previously unseen in earlier DVD incarnations.

"The Patriot" on Blu-ray shines exceptionally in its audio presentation, primarily through its Uncompressed PCM 5.1 mix. This track illuminates the film's rich sound landscape, capturing every facet from the reverberating bass of cannon and musket fire to the subtle rustling of leaves, bringing an immersive war experience into the living room. The clarity of dialogue stands out, ensuring that every word is distinguishable amidst the chaos of battle, a significant enhancement over standard Dolby Digital tracks. This crispness in speech, coupled with well-distributed sounds that utilize the surround setup effectively, makes for a deeply engaging auditory experience. The dynamic range is broad, from the high trebles of swords clashing to the low booms of explosions, maintaining excellent fidelity throughout.

John Williams' score is another highlight, adding an emotional and patriotic undertone that enhances both the tension and drama of the narrative. The music fills the soundscape, leveraging the superior uncompressed mix to deliver a more striking and charismatic presence. The score and effects together create a sound field that is nothing short of enveloping, with precise directional effects that convincingly place the listener amidst the battlefield, as bullets and debris fly by in astonishingly accurate movement across channels.

While the audio presentation is indeed laudable for its clarity, realism, and depth, particularly with the uncompressed PCM 5.1 mix's superior handling of both dialogue and effects placement, a slight longing for an even broader surround setup like 6.1 or 7.1 can be felt, especially given the expansive nature of the film’s battles. Nonetheless, this minor point does not detract from what is undoubtedly a top-tier audio experience on Blu-ray, making "The Patriot: Extended Cut" a showcase piece for what high-quality home theater systems can achieve.

The Blu-ray release of "The Patriot" significantly disappoints in its extras section, a step back especially when compared to its DVD counterparts which were rich in content. Notably, it lacks in high-definition exclusive materials and features such as the much-appreciated Director's Commentary, Visual Effects Featurettes, and a Photo Gallery, which were present in previous editions. The extras are limited to just two short featurettes: True Patriots and The Art of War, both offering a superficial glimpse into the making of this epic, with minimal behind-the-scenes insights or in-depth exploration of historical accuracies related to weapons, costumes, and battle strategies. This scant provision, along with a standard definition trailer for "Legends of the Fall," fails to satisfy those looking for enriched content or a comprehensive look at the film's production and historical context. The inclusion of multiple foreign language tracks and subtitle options further underlines the missed opportunity to utilize disc space for more engaging and informative extras.

Extras included in this disc:

• True Patriots: A brief behind-the-scenes featurette focusing on weapon, costume, and set authenticity.
• The Art of War: Explores the accuracy of the film’s depiction of battle tactics and strategies.

Roland Emmerich's endeavor with "The Patriot" starkly contrasts his typically fantastical narrative style, evident in films like "Independence Day" and "Godzilla," by offering a more grounded historical epic, albeit with a generous dose of creative liberty. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the American Revolution, the film thrusts Mel Gibson's character, Benjamin Martin—a composite figure inspired by real-life personas—into the heart of the struggle, igniting a personal vendetta against the British forces led by the brutal Colonel Tavington, portrayed compellingly by Jason Isaacs. Despite the film's ambitious scope and meticulous battle choreography, it falters with historical inaccuracies and portrays a somewhat black-and-white moral universe, sidelining the nuanced complexities of such a significant period.

The Blu-ray presentation augments the visual and auditory impact of "The Patriot," showcasing the grim realities of war in high definition, accompanied by an immersive audio track. However, fans might find the release lacking due to the absence of comprehensive extras found in previous DVD versions, raising questions about potential superior editions in the future. Furthermore, while Gibson and Isaacs deliver standout performances, bringing depth to their respective roles, other characters are not as well-developed, resulting in a film experience that occasionally veers into melodrama. The extended cut on the Blu-ray does offer some solace, adding layers to the narrative, yet, the film could have benefited from a tighter edit, particularly by reducing its indulgence in overwrought emotional scenes.

In essence, "The Patriot" navigates the thin line between historical epic and action-drama with mixed results. While it excels in depicting the visceral essence of battle and features commendable lead performances, its historical deviations and underutilized guerrilla warfare tactics detract from its ambition to be a definitive account of the American Revolution. Viewers seeking an accurate historical recount may be disappointed; however, those able to view it as a work of fiction with historical underpinnings will find much to appreciate in its cinematic execution and narrative drive.

The Blu-ray release of "The Patriot," starring Mel Gibson and Jason Isaacs, presents a paradox of technical excellence offset by a lack of additional content that might have enriched the viewing experience. The film itself, a visually stunning representation of a tumultuous period, is brought to life with an almost flawless video transfer that showcases every minute detail and vibrant color of the historical setting. Accompanying this visual feast is the uncompressed sound track, which envelops the viewer in the immersive sounds of battle and drama, ensuring that the emotional weight of the story is both heard and felt deeply. Despite these strengths, the Blu-ray falls short in providing a comprehensive package, lacking any form of extras or behind-the-scenes insights that have become standard in many home video releases today.

Critically, while the performances of Gibson and Isaacs are noteworthy, contributing significantly to the film's impact, there exist elements within the storyline and character interactions that veer towards melodrama. These moments occasionally detract from the film's attempts at historical immersion and authenticity, leaving viewers divided over its narrative execution. Fans of "The Patriot" will appreciate the technical brilliance of this release—the pristine audio and visual presentation serves as a testament to what Blu-ray technology can achieve. However, those familiar with the Special Edition DVD may find the lack of supplementary material in this Blu-ray edition to be a glaring omission, rendering it an incomplete upgrade.

In conclusion, the Blu-ray release of "The Patriot" stands out for its exceptional audio-visual quality, which significantly enhances the viewing experience of this historical drama. While it succeeds in delivering a technically superior version of the film, it ultimately falls short in offering a holistic package, leaving fans longing for more. This release will attract those prioritizing picture and sound quality but might disappoint those seeking a deeper dive into the making and essence of the film.