The Film
Far from the definitive Civil War epic, Glory tells just one part of one unique story of the war that pitted brother against brother. This time the tale is about the raising of the first black regiment to fight for the Northern cause, highlighting the unit's struggles to overcome bigotry within the ranks of the army, as well as their baptism of fire. Unfortunately as the supplements reveal, just one part of the story is told. And it suffers because, other than the role of Robert Gould Shaw, the supporting characters are fictional and thus far too stereotypical at times. Likewise, this film lacks the grand scope of the subsequent Civil War epics to follow, notably Gettysburg, yet still relies on re-enactors to fill the ranks in the background. Thus instead of a timeless classic, this Glory is somewhat faded.
The Picture
The 1080p 1.85:1 transfer is a step up from the DVD, but only a step up. The colors are generally realistic with the proper flesh tones throughout, while the black levels are deep and rich. But the film suffers from a hazy quality from the beginning to end, and the result is a film that looks somewhat dated, and faded much like the story. The key bonus features, which were carried over from the DVD, also have a solidly "standard definition" quality.
The Sound
The sound is however a noticeable improvement from the DVD, and the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, available in English, French and Portuguese, will make you feel almost as if you've stepped onto a Civil War battlefield. This includes not just the realism of the battle sequences, but the subtle sounds of the aftermath as the cries of the wounded permeate the background. And while the soundtrack by James Horner is not the most memorable, the balance of music to the story blends perfectly, as does the use of period music played throughout. The sound provides a nice punch to the film from beginning to end.
The Extras
The bonus features are a mixed bag. Many of the featurettes, including "The True Story Continues" and "The Voices of Glory" were on the DVD release, and thus provide nothing new to current DVD owners. But the addition to the Virtual Civil War Battlefield Map (a Blu-ray exclusive) will appeal to hardcore film and history buffs. The good news is that Sony included everything from the DVD version with a little extra, which should satisfy Civil War aficionados. Notably "The True Story Continues" tells you what happens after the film ends, and thus provides added closure.
Final Thoughts
While Denzel Washington won a Best Supporting Actor for his performance in this movie, some of the other performances come off as near caricatures. Glory is not a bad film, nor is this a bad Blu-ray package. It provides everything the DVD version had and a bit more, but unless you're a Civil War buff or really have a desire to learn about part of a very fascinating tale from the conflict, this is one that might not be worth the HD upgrade if you already own the DVD.
Where to Buy
Product Details
- Actors: Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman
- Director: Edward Zwick
- Audio Languages: English, French, Portuguese Dolby TrueHD 5.1, and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
- Subtitles: English SDH; French, Portuguese, Spanish
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Number of Discs: 1
- Rating: R
- Studio: Tri Star Pictures
- Release Date: June 2, 2009
- Run Time: 122 minutes
- List Price: $28.95
- Extras:
- Virtual Civil War Battlefield Interactive Map (Blu-ray Exclusive)
- "The Voice of Glory" Featurette
- "The True Story Continues" Documentary
- The Making of Glory
- Director's Commentary
- Deleted Scenes
