Roar Blu-ray Review

Olive Films presents "Roar" on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, meticulously encoded using MPEG-4 AVC. The presentation, lensed by Jan de Bont, captures the exotic allure of the African and Californian locales with its vivid palette. Despite minor age-related wear and tear, the transfer generally holds up well, showcasing richly saturated hues and notable detail. The outdoor vistas, particularly the vivid blue skies and deep greens, maintain a fresh look, while black levels are impressively deep with no crushing observed. Skin tones appear natural, although close-ups are marred by excessive filtering that imparts a waxy quality with diminished pore visibility.

In terms of clarity and detail, the transfer is quite clean but features an overly processed aesthetic, particularly evident in close-ups where fine detail like downy hair survives the DNR (Digital Noise Reduction) filtering. Wood grain in interior shots reveals impressive detail, but fur and clothing textures remain relatively average. Depth is well rendered, with cinematic-like movements and pronounced spacing between objects, lending a sense of dimensionality to the environment. However, there is minimal film grain and slight aliasing detected, which detracts from an authentic filmic look. Despite these aspects, "Roar" offers a solid visual experience with incremental detail and balanced color reproduction.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "Roar" features a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mix, which excels in delivering an immersive and engaging soundtrack. The music and sound effects are crisp and clear, effectively supporting the film’s dramatic and playful moments, particularly through the deep, resonant roars of the lions. The soundscape is generally faithful to the original audio, with good fidelity overall. However, there are occasional instances where the high-end sounds slightly boxed in or muffled, affecting the clarity of some elements.

Dialogue reproduction in "Roar" presents a mixed experience. While parts of the dialogue come across as clear and natural, there are noticeable shifts where it sounds muffled and indistinct, akin to being heard through a barrier. This inconsistency sometimes hampers the listening experience but does not significantly detract from the overall quality of the audio track. Despite these minor setbacks, the dynamic range remains impressive, providing a robust auditory backdrop to the visual narrative. The absence of any surround sound presentation and low-frequency extension is noted, but the 2.0 mix sufficiently captures the intended acoustics of the film.

The Blu-ray extras of "Roar" provide an in-depth and engaging look into the film's tumultuous production. "The Making of Roar," hosted by Tippi Hedren, delves into the numerous hardships and successes encountered during the shoot, enriched with archival interviews. The Q&A from The Cinefamily in Los Angeles offers firsthand insights, with John Marshall and key production crew discussing various aspects of the film’s creation. Tim League's essay, "The Grandeur of Roar," presents a humorous yet affectionate chronicle of the movie's history. Additional features like a photo gallery, the 2015 trailer, and an audio commentary with Marshall and League, focusing on behind-the-scenes stories and production challenges, round out the content. The compilation of these extras effectively enhances the viewer's appreciation of this unique cinematic endeavor.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Making of Roar: Retrospective hosted by Tippi Hedren.
• Q&A with the Cast and Crew: Discussion from The Cinefamily event.
• The Grandeur of Roar: An essay by Tim League.
• Photo Gallery: On-set and promotional stills.
• Trailer (2015): Promotional trailer.
• Audio Commentary: Insights from John Marshall and Tim League.

"Roar" is a film that not only stirs curiosity but also raises eyebrows due to its extraordinary production backstory. Directed by Noel Marshall, the movie is a chaotic yet entirely captivating depiction of wild animal encounters, with a cast made up of Marshall’s family, including his then-wife Tippi Hedren and daughter Melanie Griffith. The entire narrative revolves around Hank (played by Marshall) living in peaceful coexistence with numerous untrained lions, tigers, and other big cats, only for the serenity to erupt into bedlam when his family arrives unexpectedly and is terrorized by the felines. The singular goal of the film appears to be encapsulating raw, untamed animal behavior—so much so that real-life injuries among the cast and crew became an alarming routine during its years-long production.

From a technical perspective, "Roar" lacks conventional cinematic merits typical of structured films. The storyline is porous, acting performances are subpar, and direction seems almost nonexistent at times. The narrative often strays into a loop of repetitive scenes and dialogue, making it feel remarkably monotonous. However, this very spontaneity and chaos contribute to an unfiltered realism that becomes unsettlingly riveting. It's not merely the plot but the sheer audacity and danger of capturing unpredictable wildlife on film that becomes the magnetic pull for viewers. The palpable fear and real danger faced by the actors, particularly the sight of them interacting with untrained animals, bestow the movie with an exhilarating yet disturbing factor that makes it necessary viewing for those interested in cinematic history and unconventional filmmaking.

Despite its glaring flaws in traditional storytelling, "Roar" stands as an inadvertent testament to the sheer will of its creators to deliver an envelope-pushing piece centred on animal rights. Hedren and Marshall’s evident passion for wildlife conservation shines through the madness. Ultimately, it’s a profoundly unique viewing experience: part car-crash attraction, part earnest advocacy—one where knowing the perilous production background adds significant heft to its appreciation.

"Roar" possesses an intriguing backstory that, in many ways, overshadows the actual cinematic experience. The creation of the film is fraught with tales of near-insurmountable challenges and borderline reckless decisions that culminated in a truly unique piece of cinema. While the film's narrative may not hold up to close scrutiny, it succeeds significantly in one aspect: sheer audacity. This Blu-ray release by Drafthouse Films ensures that viewers receive an in-depth understanding of the film's tumultuous production through a plethora of comprehensive extras, which are arguably the main draw of this edition.

Technically, the Blu-ray presentation is a mixed bag. The video quality does show signs of aging and limitations inherent to the original source material. Colors can appear muted and the level of detail tends to fluctuate. Similarly, the audio quality, while serviceable, doesn’t enhance the film experience in any significant way. However, these shortcomings are mitigated by the substantial and meticulously curated supplemental features. Interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and commentary tracks enrich the viewers' appreciation of "Roar" and its chaotic journey from conception to completion.

In conclusion, "Roar"'s backstory is probably a good deal more compelling than the actual finished film. Because of this fact, this is the rare release where the content of the film and less than stellar video presentation ultimately don't sink the final scoring status. If for no other reason, get this one for some of the supplements. Recommended.