Heaven & Earth Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Heaven & Earth" offers an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, delivering a mixed but predominantly impressive visual experience. The film showcases stunning panoramic shots of Vietnam, with vibrant greens and impressive depth of field, especially in wide shots. Oliver Stone's collaboration with cinematographer Robert Richardson results in a beautiful, at times gauzy ambiance that translates well to high definition, despite some instances where the fields of grass appear congealed rather than distinct blades. Close-ups in brightly lit environments provide exceptional fine detail, though some darker sequences lack shadow detail. Black-and-white cutaways with minimal visual effects maintain reasonable crispness and clarity, albeit with minor banding in lighter gradients and occasional edge anomalies. Grain resolves naturally, with no intrusive digital tweaking.

However, the visual fidelity is marred by significant technical flaws, suggesting the source material derives from a subpar master likely not remastered for Blu-ray. Aliasing artifacts and jagged edges are pervasive throughout, detracting from the overall video quality and destroying fine object detail and texture. This issue, reminiscent of earlier problematic Warner Blu-rays, indicates the transfer may have originated from an interlaced 1080i scan poorly deinterlaced to 1080p24. The persistent jaggies make the film appear virtually unwatchable on larger screens, coupled with a generally soft picture and frequent speckling over the film elements. These issues significantly undercut Richardson’s originally excellent cinematography, posing a disservice to the visual potential of the film. Despite its visual allure in certain aspects, the technical shortcomings considerably impede a consistently high-quality viewing experience.

The audio presentation of "Heaven & Earth" on Blu-ray boasts a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that captures the essence of Kitaro's rich and evocative score. The soundtrack is consistently excellent, providing a substantial amount of immersive surround activity. This includes both discrete directional effects and robust ambient sounds in the rear channels. Unlike traditional war films packed with booming gunfire and omnipresent explosions, this film offers a subtler form of immersion. The ambient environmental effects, such as the rustling of leaves, gurgling water, and the distinct sounds of a quasi-urban Vietnamese backdrop, enhance the viewing experience. Dialogue clarity is superb, remaining clean and well-prioritized throughout.

For viewers utilizing advanced home theater systems, the track scales impressively. The Dolby Surround Upmixer feature, when applied, brings an added dimension to the audio by gracefully elevating sounds like wind, planes, and helicopters to enhance vertical soundscapes. The soundtrack does contain moments with satisfying bass presence, particularly during intense sequences involving battle sounds such as guns, bombs, jets, and helicopters. However, it's worth noting that these moments are somewhat sporadic, given the film's overall tone. Nevertheless, the meticulous placement of sound elements creates an engaging auditory environment that's problem-free and notably balanced.

The Blu-ray release of "Heaven & Earth" by Twilight Time delivers a commendable array of extra features that offer insightful depths into the film’s production and narrative construction. Director Oliver Stone provides an engaging audio commentary, rich with context about the film within his career and production anecdotes, such as using American rice to appear greener on camera. Notably, the disc also includes deleted scenes, mostly from Le Ly's life in America, accompanied by optional commentary from Stone. These scenes, though presented in subpar quality, reveal fascinating details about the film's original non-linear screenplay structure. An extensive alternate opening delves deeper into Le Ly's childhood and village life, though its length and meandering nature justify its exclusion from the final cut. Additionally, the disc retains the original theatrical trailer, which presents the film's story succinctly yet comprehensively.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Director Oliver Stone: Insightful commentary placing the film in the context of Stone’s career and production insights.
• Deleted Scenes with Optional Director Commentary: A handful of deleted scenes revealing aspects of the original screenplay.
• Alternate Opening with Score from Kitaro: Extensive alternate opening focusing on childhood and village life.
• Original Theatrical Trailer: Comprehensive trailer summarizing the film.

Oliver Stone’s "Heaven & Earth," the third film in his Vietnam War trilogy, adopts a refreshing yet stark viewpoint by focusing on the war’s impact from the perspective of a Vietnamese woman, Le Ly (played effectively by Hiep Thi Le). Despite being a notable departure from typically American-centric narratives, the film faced significant criticism upon its release. Stone's semi-autobiographical ethos is noticeable as he integrates experiential authenticity into the film, inspired by Le Ly Hayslip’s memoirs, depicting her arduous journey from an innocent agrarian life to the complex roles of Viet Cong fighter and war bride.

Through the lens of cinematographer Robert Richardson, Stone captures Vietnam's raw beauty with almost surreal scenic vistas that eventually get marred by the brutalities of war. Early scenes present a vivid portrayal of Vietnam's pastoral serenity, a stark contrast to the ensuing chaos as foreign and internal forces upend Le Ly's life. The narrative’s progression becomes somewhat scattered as it traverses Le Ly’s traumatic trials, detailing her brutal victimization by both South Vietnamese operatives and Viet Cong, culminating in her relocation to America with the psychologically troubled American marine, Steve Butler (Tommy Lee Jones). The depiction of culture shock in America is framed with Stone's usual blend of satire and cynicism.

While "Heaven & Earth" succeeds in presenting a unique narrative about the psychological toll of war on non-combatants, it struggles under the weight of its melodramatic tone and simplistic characterizations. Stone's focus on thematic elements like trauma over redemption makes the film feel depressingly ponderous at times. Despite this, the movie is underscored by striking imagery and intense, emotionally-laden sequences, offering a testament to Stone’s consistent craftsmanship and storytelling ambition. Though it does not reach the same heights as "Platoon" or "Born on the Fourth of July," “Heaven & Earth” remains an important part of Stone’s Vietnam oeuvre, highlighting his perpetual quest to comprehend and expose the multifaceted trauma wrought by war.

"Heaven & Earth" seeks to deliver a profound narrative, exploring the harrowing effects of war through the eyes of a Vietnamese woman, Le Ly, played movingly by Hiep Thi Le. Oliver Stone's direction is emblematic of his passion in recounting the trauma of conflict, though his tendencies toward overt message-making can at times overshadow the storytelling. Tommy Lee Jones brings a strong performance to the film, adding depth to a project that intermittently wavers in its clarity but remains visually striking and emotionally compelling.

However, the Blu-ray presentation from Twilight Time leaves much to be desired. While the audio quality is commendable, offering crisp and immersive soundscapes, the video transfer is problematic, marred by significant inconsistencies that undermine the cinematic experience. The image quality fails to capture the visual splendor of the landscapes and the nuanced details of the film’s setting, leading to a disparity between the film's intended grandeur and its home media realization.

In conclusion, "Heaven & Earth" stands as an earnest effort by Stone, bolstered by powerful performances and a poignant story. Despite its inherent flaws, it is a worthwhile exploration of war's emotional toll. Nonetheless, the Blu-ray release's subpar visual quality detracts significantly from the overall experience, leaving this edition recommended primarily for die-hard Oliver Stone aficionados who can overlook its technical shortcomings.