Dick
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- May 22, 1999
- Messages
- 9,937
- Real Name
- Rick
This review is made possible with the help of www.DaaVeeDee.com
Notes on my reviews: I do not offer plot summaries in most cases, as these can be found on a million other sites, but rather focus instead on what people want to know: the image and sound presentation, default playback settings, subtitles, audio choices, etc. My equipment: Panasonic TC-P55UT50 Plasma monitor (3-D capable); Panasonic DMP-BDT220 3-D Blu-ray player; LG BD-360 all-region Blu-ray player; Denon AVE-E200 5.1 Surround receiver. All aspect ratios are physically measured on the Panasonic screen, which has been set to eliminate overscan.
I first discovered this movie because I was collecting film scores by Australian composer Bruce Rowland (THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER, etc.). I love the music for PHAR LAP, and when this title turned up as an Australian Blu-ray, I ordered it right away.
This is a very fine film, on par with SECRETARIAT and SEABISCUIT, perhaps a little better than either of those because it is not an over-slick Hollywood production. As true of almost every horse and boy/man/woman story, the important race is won after a lot of grueling training and emotional devotion. In this case, though, there is the added factor of the horse's mysterious death, thought to have been murder.
The Blu-ray, also from Australia, is Region B locked. If you have the capability to play it, I recommend it without hesitation. Superb 2.33:1 picture, with healthy grain structure, great color and contrast. The sound is 5.1. English subtitles are available, even though the language on the soundtrack is English.
The bonus materials make this a truly special edition. There is a commentary, making-of featurette, trailer and photo gallery.
This review was made possible with the help of www.DaaVeeDee.com
Notes on my reviews: I do not offer plot summaries in most cases, as these can be found on a million other sites, but rather focus instead on what people want to know: the image and sound presentation, default playback settings, subtitles, audio choices, etc. My equipment: Panasonic TC-P55UT50 Plasma monitor (3-D capable); Panasonic DMP-BDT220 3-D Blu-ray player; LG BD-360 all-region Blu-ray player; Denon AVE-E200 5.1 Surround receiver. All aspect ratios are physically measured on the Panasonic screen, which has been set to eliminate overscan.
I first discovered this movie because I was collecting film scores by Australian composer Bruce Rowland (THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER, etc.). I love the music for PHAR LAP, and when this title turned up as an Australian Blu-ray, I ordered it right away.
This is a very fine film, on par with SECRETARIAT and SEABISCUIT, perhaps a little better than either of those because it is not an over-slick Hollywood production. As true of almost every horse and boy/man/woman story, the important race is won after a lot of grueling training and emotional devotion. In this case, though, there is the added factor of the horse's mysterious death, thought to have been murder.
The Blu-ray, also from Australia, is Region B locked. If you have the capability to play it, I recommend it without hesitation. Superb 2.33:1 picture, with healthy grain structure, great color and contrast. The sound is 5.1. English subtitles are available, even though the language on the soundtrack is English.
The bonus materials make this a truly special edition. There is a commentary, making-of featurette, trailer and photo gallery.
This review was made possible with the help of www.DaaVeeDee.com
