The Great Magician Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "The Great Magician" by Well Go USA features an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, offering a visually rich and detailed experience. The high-definition transfer is characterized by sharp fine object detail, which enhances the intricate elements of both costumes and sets. The film benefits from lush, deeply saturated, and varied colors, with solid black levels and strong contrast throughout, showcasing the meticulous color grading. Subtle amber tints grace the more glamorous locales, while a slight blue edge adds clarity to grittier street scenes. Both practical and CGI special effects are seamlessly blended, making the magical elements appear highly realistic and convincing.

The 1080p AVC/MPEG-4 transfer captures the essence of the film format's warmth without any noticeable grain in the final product. Fine detail is consistently present, bringing out the ornate costumes of Bully Lei, which stand out vibrantly on screen. Facial features are clean and lifelike, enhancing the overall viewing experience. Background elements are clear and distinct, contributing to the remarkable depth of the picture. The contrast remains superb, with blacks that are deep and uncompromised by crush, highlighting the eloquent textures and rich warm colors.

However, there is a minor caveat; the otherwise natural warmth occasionally runs too hot, causing faces to appear more flushed than intended and anything with a red hue to seem excessively vivid. This slight over-saturation can be distracting but does not significantly diminish the overall image quality. Despite this occasional excess in warmth, the picture maintains excellent detail and depth, providing a captivating visual journey.

"The Great Magician" provides viewers with robust audio options, featuring lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 mixes in both Mandarin and English. The original Mandarin 5.1 track is notably immersive, enhanced by meticulously crafted foley effects that seamlessly envelop the audience through the surround channels. The audio mix excellently renders expansive and detailed environments, creating a vivid sense of space, especially in bustling scenes. While the film includes an 8-bit video game-like score that some may find questionable, the overall fidelity is top-notch, characterized by impressive dynamic range and clarity.

Both the Mandarin and English DTS-HD 5.1 mixes present dialogue with exceptional clarity, ensuring it remains focal amidst the complex soundscape. The use of surround effects during martial arts sequences is particularly effective, utilizing all channels to generate an engaging, all-encompassing audio experience. LFE effects are consistently present, adding impactful depth without overwhelming the mix. Dialogue predominates through the center speaker, with occasional yet effective utilization of the rear channels during crowd scenes, further enhancing immersion. The film's score undoubtedly shines in this mix; when activated, it envelops the room with rich, deep tones that significantly enhance the overall viewing experience.

The extras on the Blu Ray of "The Great Magician" provide a comprehensive and engaging look into the film’s production, offering valuable insights through a blend of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the principal cast and crew. The featurettes are well-crafted, adding significant depth and context to the movie-watching experience. The content is professionally assembled, ensuring that viewers receive a thorough understanding of the creative processes involved. Whether you are interested in the technical aspects of filmmaking or the personal perspectives of the actors and filmmakers, these extras cater to a broad range of interests.

Extras included on this disc:

• Making The Magic: A detailed behind-the-scenes featurette with cast and crew interviews.
• Trailer: A brief promotional clip highlighting key aspects of the film.

"The Great Magician" is an ambitious Chinese period piece that attempts to blend various themes and plotlines with a surface-level ambience reminiscent of "The Illusionist." Tony Leung stars as Chang Hsien, a magician in 1920s China aiming to reunite with his former fiancée Yin, now forcibly wed to the warlord Bully Lei. Directed by Derek Yee and adapted from a novel by Zhang Haifan, the film is situated in a tumultuous post-revolutionary era marked by feuding warlords and shifting power dynamics.

From its onset, the film introduces an array of plot elements. We witness early 20th-century China grappling with the fall of the Qing Dynasty and subsequent chaos. This backdrop sets the stage for an overly convoluted narrative that spans lacking subplots, including a blustering warlord wooing his seventh wife and magicians engaging in fierce rivalries. Multiple concurrent plotlines challenge audience comprehension, leading to a sense of disarray rather than intrigue. Unfortunately, "The Great Magician" doesn't fully capitalize on these complexities, resulting in a superficial engagement with its myriad themes.

Visually, the film is sumptuous; its opulent costumes and sets underscore a high production value. However, technical merits aside, the screenplay suffers from an overabundance of ideas that dilute its impact. Key themes such as revolution, honor, and the nature of illusion are only superficially explored. Character motivations lack depth, reducing them to mere plot devices and rendering the narrative ultimately unfulfilling. Despite competent performances by the cast, notably Leung's skilled portrayal of Chang, "The Great Magician" is bogged down by excess narrative threads and fails to deliver a coherent or emotionally compelling story. The film's lofty aspirations are undercut by its failure to weave its elements into a unified and engaging whole.

The Great Magician" on Blu Ray is a visually arresting piece that boasts exceptional picture quality and immersive sound. The film leverages its high-definition format to present lush landscapes and opulent settings that are nothing short of breathtaking. These technical triumphs create an audio-visual experience that engages viewers' senses, pushing the Blu Ray format to its potential. However, the narrative does not match the grandeur of its presentation. The story meanders through a series of tangential subplots, which detracts from the central theme of magic and intrigue.

Despite the stunning visuals, the film falters in developing its core ideas with sufficient depth. There’s an overabundance of whimsical elements and luxurious imagery, but these fail to coalesce into a compelling story. Characters and their interactions remain underexplored, leading to a superficial examination that leaves emotional and intellectual engagement wanting. The moments when Chang Hsien's magic takes center stage hint at what could have been a more captivating narrative but ultimately fall short due to lackluster execution.

In conclusion, "The Great Magician" dazzles with its sumptuous beauty and technical excellence but leaves much to be desired in terms of storytelling. While it may suffice as a visual treat for those seeking high-quality eye candy, it doesn’t offer substantial content to engage the mind or heart. For a more fulfilling experience with thematic depth centered around magic, audiences would do well to revisit "The Prestige.