The Man Who Invented Christmas Blu-ray Review

"The Man Who Invented Christmas" offers a remarkably polished 1080p Blu-ray transfer, evident from its clear digital enhancement that vividly captures the essence of 1800s London. The overall image is smooth and clean, featuring a light blue/green tinge that enhances the historical atmosphere. Colors, while often dim to reflect the era, maintain solid saturation levels, and provide a rich texture to London's environments. The visual details are commendable, with sharp clarity seen in intimate facial features and intricate designs in clothing and backdrops. However, occasional washed-out scenes and gray-black levels can detract slightly from an otherwise sharp and shiny visual presentation.

Moreover, the transfer highlights an impressive range of textures and intricate details within both exterior and interior London scenes. The dense cityscapes—comprising streets, storefronts, and complex brick and stone surfaces—are revealed with exceptional clarity. Interior scenes brimming with books, furnishings, and period-specific decorations further enhance the viewer's immersion into Dickens’ world. Colors remain richly saturated, with warm wood tones, musty book hues, and intricate fabric colors standing out. Shadow detail and black depth are notably strong, contributing to the overall high-quality visual experience, despite minor source noise which is selectively visible but non-intrusive. Universal has delivered a visually compelling 1080p presentation that efficiently utilizes digital enhancements to bring Charles Dickens' world to life.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack on "The Man Who Invented Christmas" offers an immersive auditory experience. The audio presentation begins energetically with robust crowd chants and stomps, establishing a dynamic stage presence. The mix features prominent stage width and depth, effectively creating a textured and lively soundscape. Surround effects enrich scenes where Dickens' imagination is highlighted, such as the entrance of Jacob Marley accompanied by impactful low-end engagement. The film’s environmental ambience is particularly captivating, with rolling water and ringing buoys delivering an authentic auditory experience. Noteworthy is the almost overhead effect created during the chandelier fall at the 35:40 mark, which skillfully balances crashing chaos and low-end weight.

Throughout the film, the surround channels are frequently used to carry music and auxiliary effects, providing a continually engaging backdrop. Street noise in bustling London scenes and reverberation during a key flashback sequence enhance realism and improve immersion. The subtle nuances such as these contribute significantly to the overall atmosphere of the audio presentation. Dialogue remains clear and meticulously detailed, consistently maintaining priority within the mix while being precisely positioned within the sound stage. These elements collectively create a well-rounded auditory experience that complements the film's visual storytelling effectively.

"The Man Who Invented Christmas" Blu-ray extras provide engaging, insightful content that enhances the movie-watching experience. The sole featurette, "The Story Behind The Man Who Invented Christmas," offers a concise yet informative look into the film's narrative, characters, and the lasting impact of the original story. Although brevity limits its depth, the featurette complements the main feature by providing context and enriching the viewer's understanding. Additionally, the Blu-ray package includes a DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code, ensuring convenience and accessibility for different viewing preferences.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Story Behind The Man Who Invented Christmas: A featurette covering the story, characters, and legacy of the original book.

"The Man Who Invented Christmas" offers a fresh perspective on Charles Dickens' creation of "A Christmas Carol," blending historical fact with fantasy. The film features Dan Stevens portraying a talented yet struggling Dickens as he grapples with writer's block and financial woes, colliding with his past and his demanding father, played by Jonathan Pryce. Amid this turmoil, Dickens’ encounters with real-life inspirations blur the lines between reality and imagination, as characters like Ebeneezer Scrooge (Christopher Plummer) and Tiny Tim take on lives of their own in front of him. The narrative skillfully intertwines the struggles of the author and the frailties of the man, culminating in a tale of self-discovery and redemption.

While not revolutionary, the movie captivates with its playful and enthusiastic style. Stevens’ energetic portrayal captures the emotional highs and lows of a writer’s creative process. Director Bharat Nalluri succeeds in conveying Dickens' fervor and despair, underscoring how his personal battles fueled his literary genius. The screenplay’s clever use of dramatic and comedic elements manages to keep the story engaging even when venturing into well-trodden territory. Despite its dramatic liberties for effect, the film’s keen sense of adventure and historical context resonates well.

Technically, the film does justice to its period setting, featuring impressive production design and costuming that evoke early industrial England's spirit. Stevens' interactions with Scrooge provide some of the film's most delightful moments, illustrating how art can hold a mirror to life, prompting both self-reflection and societal commentary. Although some moments may feel familiar given the countless adaptations of "A Christmas Carol," "The Man Who Invented Christmas" successfully marries the charm of Dickens’ world with an inventive storytelling approach, rendering it a worthwhile experience for fans of the classic tale.

"The Man Who Invented Christmas" is a well-crafted blend of historical drama and whimsical storytelling, brought vividly to life by the strong performances of Dan Stevens and Christopher Plummer. Directed by Bharat Nalluri and written by Susan Coyne, this film offers a charming take on the creative process behind Charles Dickens' classic, "A Christmas Carol". The Blu-ray from Universal delivers impressive technical specifications; the 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio presents a sharp, vibrant visual experience, while the DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track ensures an immersive soundscape.

Although the Blu-ray release skimps on special features, the quality of the 1080p picture and crisp 5.1 lossless sound more than compensate for this shortfall. The film's detailed period setting and atmospheric soundtrack are enhanced, making the viewing experience highly enjoyable. Subtitles in English SDH and Spanish are also available, adding accessibility for a wider audience. Critics have noted that Stevens and Plummer excel in their roles, bringing depth and nuance to their characters which significantly enhances the storytelling.

In conclusion, "The Man Who Invented Christmas" is nothing new; in fact, it’s downright derivative at times, but that doesn’t keep it from being a sweet little complimentary story to the traditional Dickens lore. The film is deftly acted and directed, and all involved seem to truly be enjoying their work. The Blu-ray from Universal is quite well done, with decent extras and very nice audio and video scores to boot. While it’s not a “must own” Christmas movie, I really had an enjoyable time with the flick and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for a good watch to those who like period piece Christmas tales.

Technical Specifications: Starring: Dan Stevens, Jonathon Pryce, Christopher Plummer Directed by: Bharat Nalluri Written by: Susan Coyne (Screenplay), Les Standford (Book) Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 AVC Audio: English: DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish Studio: Universal Rated: PG Runtime: 104 minutes Blu-Ray Release Date: March 6th, 2018

Recommendation: Solid Watch