Spartacus - 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital [4K UHD]

When Universal released "Spartacus"(1960) on Blu-ray for the first time for it's 50th Anniversary in 2010, there was a universal(no pun intended) outcry because of it's less than stellar presentation. Complaints by fans, customers and reviewers were so numerous that many thought they'd never see a true representation of the film in their lifetime. What a difference five years makes. Universal's new 2015 restored version of "Spartacus" should put all that to rest once and for all. This new restored version is simply stunning and Universal deserves credit for finally giving one of their most famous(and valuable) films from it's library the respect it deserves. According to the information that appears on screen at the end of the film "a 2015 4K digital restoration from a 6K scan of the 1991 reconstructed version supervised by Robert A. Harris" was used for this new Blu-ray presentation. I saw the 1991 reconstructed version in 70 mm when it played at one of the Cinerama theaters in San Diego and remember being very impressed when I walked out of the theater. When Criterion released the standard DVD some years ago I immediately bought it and this has been my go to copy for years. That's all changed now with this new 2015 Blu-ray. One thing that viewers will notice right away is how Russell Metty's Oscar winning cinematography dazzles the eye. Colors are sharp and vivid with even the smallest details very prominent. This is very apparent in the art direction, set decorations and costumes all of which won Oscars that year. Metty, who photographed "Touch of Evil" and "The Misfits" during his long career with Universal, had disagreements with director Stanley Kubrick during filming and his insistence on using natural lighting during nighttime scenes(campfires, torches, etc.) conflicted with Kubrick opinions on how the film should be photographed. The results are very apparent now in this restored version with the faces of the actors taking on a more natural glow(mainly yellow) from the flames of the torches inside tents that make the whole scene more authentic than using the studio lighting that Kubrick preferred. Daylight scenes are another wonder and just pop off the screen. Greens, reds, blues, yellows are not only striking but vivid in every scene((Bitrate: 23.49). Since the 1991 reconstruction was used for this new restoration there are still some soft scenes where close-ups are not as crystal clear as other portions but these scenes are few and do not detract from the overall presentation. The story of a slave rebellion(under the leadership of Spartacus) against their Roman masters in 73 B.C. is engrossing from beginning to end. Director Kubrick wisely keeps the whole film focused on the love story between Spartacus(Kirk Douglas) and Varinia(Jean Simmons) and the love they have for each other despite all the events that surround them. The final battle between the slaves and the Roman legions is heartbreaking but leads to a very satisfying ending that proves that love and hope can bring about change no matter what. Douglas and Simmons get great support from Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Tony Curtis and Peter Ustinov(who won an Oscar). "Spartacus" is 197 minutes(Aspect ratio: 2.20:1) and contains the following subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish. The Audio(DTS-HD MA 7.1 English and DTS French 5.1) is another highlight and free of any noise artifacts(hiss, pop, crackle, etc.) with Alex North's music being especially prominent. Special features include: I am Spartacus(9:39) a 2015 interview with Kirk Douglas; Restoring Spartacus(9:00); Four deleted scenes(7:41); Archival Interviews with Peter Ustinov and Jean Simmons(6:00); Behind the Scenes footage(5:10); Five vintage newsreels(4:59); an Image gallery and the original theatrical trailer. The Blu-ray disc itself is housed in a standard and solid Blu-ray case(not an eco-cutout) and comes inside a cardboard slipcase for added protection. Universal's restored version of "Spartacus" is long overdue and is a must own for any home film library. It comes highly recommended.

Well, I finally watched it. My first time ever seeing this film. Why did it take forever to do it? I am not particularly a fan of Gladiator movies, though that certainly changed with the Russell Crowe film.Really loved this film. It's as epic as everyone had promised it would be. I think things really hit home in the film's final 40 minutes right up to the final fade.Have not seen many Kirk Douglas films and really admire his acting chops. Charles Laughton....always a formidable presence. One of the true greats! Of course, Laurence Olivier -- perhaps one of the greatest actors of our time. Kind of thought Harold J. Stone was an interesting casting choice. I know him from Jerry Lewis films. The only real oddity here was Tony Curtis. Not quite sure what his character was all about -- especially when bathing Laurence Olivier.My favorite character? Who else, but Peter Ustinov. Very entertaining.Now, I went out of my way to scrutinize every frame of this film knowing that Robert Harris was responsible for its restoration. My findings? There isn't a single flaw to be found here. Absolutely no signs of scratches, abrasions or other age related elements. I was floored by how much detail could be found in the closeups of Kirk Douglas. I mean, this transfer looks beautiful. I would say it ranks as one of the best restorations I have ever seen. You're off the hook, Mr. Harris!Flaws in the film itself? Only the choice to go from these epic outdoor shots to a quite obvious closed indoor soundstage, dressed up to look like outdoors. Kind of took me out of the film from time to time. However, that's just my nitpicking.

Well, call me a romantic but I still love this picture. Yes, it's a bit dated in technique, and it was restrained in its depictions of sex and violence and adult themes by the Hays office (the official Hollywood censor board). And it has a bit of Hollywoodness in its love story and presentation (music etc.), but it also had heart and it strived to evoke a spirit of rebellion and defiance of oppression that moved me way back when and still does today.And I don't give a tinker's damn what Howard Fast's, Dalton Trumbo's, or Kirk Douglas's for that matter, politics were...it's a helluva an entertaining movie!Stanley Kubrick replaced Anthony Mann after production began. He had decried the film and script because it wasn't the one he would have written, but I think he did a good job just bringing this effort off and he was able to tone down or eliminate much of the Hollywoodisms. The matter-of-factness of Varinia's having to offer herself, the icily calm and detached way Olivier dispatches Woody Strode like an animal, though he is unnerved by the meaning of the attack. These are Kubrickian touches.In the extra goodies in this Criterion effort, we discover that it was a very difficult shoot with everyone fighting with everyone. You had 4 major egos at battle: Kubrick, Douglas, Olivier & Laughton...each with his own ideas about what was or wasn't important. Would have been nice to have Stanley's comments, but we do get Douglas, Fast, & (most amusingly) Peter Ustinov's recollections.All that is interesting, but beside the point. Why I love Spartacus is: the great Gladiator school sequence; the genuine warmth and relaxed sexiness of Douglas & Jean Simmons (lovely & luscious)together; the depiction of Rome at its height of power and the nice interplay between the corrupt but true democrat Laughton and the haughty and superior Olivier, whose lust for order and power is a far more sinister corruption; the wonderfully flawed & human Ustinov and the affection and warmth of his scenes with Laughton (much of which he wrote and they worked out together); great battles; and finally, the haunting image of the road to Rome decorated with the crucified remnants of Spartacus's slave army.This last is why I return to this movie again and again. When the slaves lose, as they had to lose fighting against the awsome power of Rome, and the defeated remaining men standup and claim they are Spartacus knowing crucifixion will follow their gesture; and, Spartacus too goes to the cross but swears to Crassus over the dead body of Antoninus (Tony Curtis) "he'll be back and he'll be thousands"....well, it gets the blood moving. I love defiance in defeat.And the last scene, with Varinia holding up his son to the silently dieing Spartacus saying "he's free" may be Hollywood corn to some, but it was just that small note of hope that makes movies emotional experiences rather than academic exercises to me. You can have the razzle dazzle of Gladiator, I will take the emotional heart of Spartacus any day. There is still something thrilling & uplifting in watching someone go down to defeat with chin raised (cleft and all) in defiance. Probably 4 to 4-1/2 stars, but will always be 5 to me for sheer entertainment.