The Huntsman: Winter's War Blu-ray Review

The Huntsman: Winter's War delivers a standout video presentation, showcasing a stunning 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode that ranks as reference quality. Shot with a combination of Arri Alexa XT and Alexa 65 cameras, the result is a marvelously revealing image equivalent to 5-perf 65mm film. The digital shoot remains incredibly clean without appearing overly flat, offering textural robustness. Details pop throughout the film: leather armor reveals intricate creases and wear, queenly attire exhibits precision, and skin textures showcase fine facial stubble and grime. The cool, blue and gray dominant color scheme is saturated and well-separated, while lush, natural greens offer striking contrast. Black levels are superb, maintaining dimensionality without compromising shadow detail, and flesh tones appear lifelike and appropriate to the climate.

The freshly-minted transfer excels in definition and clarity, capturing fine lines with resolute accuracy across diverse scenes. The meticulous design of costumes, facial complexions, and environmental elements such as icy walls brimming with cracks and imperfections stand out prominently. Phedon Papamichael's cinematography enhances this visual fidelity, using a 2.40:1 aspect ratio to favor a cooler palette that aligns with the film's bleak, frigid themes. Vibrant secondary hues and richly-saturated primaries further elevate the presentation. The contrast and brightness are finely balanced, offering superlative visibility and sparkling whites on glacial structures. Shadows remain detailed and rich, enhancing the cinematic appeal of this impressive transfer from Universal.

The Blu-ray release of "The Huntsman: Winter's War" boasts a highly immersive and expertly crafted DTS:X sound mix, which also defaults to a robust 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio for those not equipped with the latest codec. Utilizing a 7.1.4 configuration, the audio presentation ensures an enveloping soundstage with impeccable distribution. While the top channels do not heavily lean on discrete details, their subtle presence enhances the overall 360-degree experience. Key atmospheric elements such as woodland ambience, falling rain, and rolling thunder are superbly rendered, giving listeners a seamless sense of location and stage immersion.

Action sequences are particularly noteworthy for their lifelike execution. Arrows swoosh through the sonic space, and the clash of swords comes across with palpable accuracy. The bass is profoundly deep and supportive, especially during pivotal moments like ice cracking scenes. Moreover, dialogue is anchored firmly at the center, maintaining clarity and focus even during the story's loudest instances. The sound design shines best in the front channels, creating a welcoming half-dome effect that enhances the film's dramatic score and generates a pleasing sense of off-screen activity.

In conclusion, while the overhead channels are not dominantly featured, their integration contributes to a more holistic and immersive sonic sensation. The overall DTS:X track excels in delivering a rich, atmospheric experience with distinguished layering across the hearing spectrum. Though it might not fully exploit object-based sound format capabilities, the high-resolution track remains predominantly satisfying for home theater enthusiasts.

The Blu-ray release of "The Huntsman: Winter's War" is packed with extensive and well-curated extras, providing fans with a deeper dive into the filmmaking process and additional content. The deleted scenes offer brief but intriguing glimpses into moments that didn't make the final cut, with optional commentary from the director for added context. The gag reel, filled with humorous outtakes, gives a light-hearted look behind the scenes. The centerpiece is "Winter’s Vistas: The Making of The Huntsman: Winter's War," a detailed and segmented documentary that covers various aspects of the production, from character development and special effects to costume design. Completing the extras is an insightful audio commentary by Director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, discussing scene-specific details and broader themes, making it an invaluable addition for fans and aspiring filmmakers alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Brief scenes not included in the final film, with optional director commentary.
• Gag Reel: Humorous slip-ups and laughs from the shoot.
• Two Queens and Two Warriors: Insights from a first-time director and the all-star cast.
• Meet the Dwarfs: Focuses on the dwarf characters and actor interviews.
• Magic All Around: Examination of practical and digital effects.
• Dressed to Kill: Exploration of costume design with Colleen Atwood.
• Love Conquers All: Behind-the-scenes camaraderie and director praise.
• Audio Commentary: Director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan's detailed scene-by-scene insights.

"The Huntsman: Winter's War," released on both 1080p Blu-ray and 4K UHD by Universal, simultaneously serves as a prequel and a sequel to the previously released "Snow White and the Huntsman." It covers an expansive timeline, moving between the Huntsman's childhood and events following the first film, though notably absent are Kristen Stewart and Rupert Sanders. The movie brings back Chris Hemsworth as the Huntsman and Charlize Theron as Ravenna, with new additions such as Emily Blunt's Ice Queen Freya. Despite its narrative ambitions, the storyline remains a simplistic exploration of love, loss, and war, with characters exhibiting minimal depth beyond their core motivations.

Critics have noted that the screenplay by Craig Mazin and Evan Spiliotopoulos feels derivative, with overtones reminiscent of Disney's "Frozen," "The Lord of the Rings," and even elements of "Game of Thrones" fan fiction. Freya's arc, in particular, evokes Elsa’s journey, while the sibling rivalry closely mirrors common epic film tropes. She becomes the Ice Queen after a tragic loss, raising an army of Huntsmen in her icy kingdom. Meanwhile, forbidden love blossoms between Eric (Hemsworth) and Sara (Jessica Chastain), though their romance and subsequent quest feel formulaic, often bordering on melodramatic with occasionally unconvincing Scottish accents.

Despite its narrative shortcomings, "The Huntsman: Winter's War" showcases a high level of craftsmanship in its technical aspects. Cedric Nicolas-Troyan's direction ensures captivating digital effects and meticulous production design. The action sequences are more simplistic but are complemented by light humor from supporting characters like dwarves Nion (Nick Frost) and Gryff (Rob Brydon). Overall, while the story may lack originality and complexity, the film stands out for its visual splendor and enjoyable albeit conventional fantasy adventure. Viewers can appreciate it even without prior exposure to the series, benefiting from the clear storytelling and appealing standalone format.

"The Huntsman: Winter's War" is a visually appealing Fantasy/Adventure film that, while not groundbreaking, offers enough to hold the viewer's interest through its action sequences, moments of humor, and elements of romance. The plot navigates the typical hero's journey with a predictable storyline about the trials of true love, lacking originality and emotional depth. Despite the familiar and somewhat formulaic narrative, the film manages to carve out its own space, separate from its predecessor, "Snow White and the Huntsman."

The 1080p Blu-ray release by Universal impresses with its stunning picture quality and expert sound design, all of which enhance the viewing experience significantly. The demo-worthy visual presentation is accompanied by an excellent lossless audio track that delivers an immersive atmospheric experience. Though the supplemental materials are modest, they include a commentary track and a five-part making-of featurette, which are intriguing enough to add value to the package.

In conclusion, "The Huntsman: Winter's War" is a perfectly serviceable Fantasy/Adventure film. It doesn't do anything unique with its wares or characters, and the story doesn't really impress, but it's good enough to carry it on through its action scenes, larger moments of perilous journey, light humor, and moments of romance. The film stands on its own well enough, away from both the story of and hoopla surrounding "Snow White and the Huntsman." Universal's 1080p Blu-ray release features gorgeous picture, expert lossless/atmospheric sound, and a decent allotment of extra content, including a commentary track and a five-part making-of. Recommended.