The Film
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, and one part of this history that is largely forgotten is that Nazi Germany truly went down fighting. Movies such as Downfall remind us that for many of the true believers it was a fight to the bitter end - and moreover it should also be remembered that more Americans died in the final months of the war than in the previous summer. As far as Europe was concerned, World War II went out with a bang
This aspect of the last days of the war is used as the backdrop for Fury, which chronicles a single day in the life of a tank crew in April, 1945. Students of history may know these are the final weeks of the war in Europe, but for the characters played by Brad Pitt, Shia LeBeouf, Logan Lerman and Jon Bernthal there is no end in sight. Just trying to make it down the road is rife with danger.
In this regard Fury scores a direct hit, as it does in technical accuracy. The equipment looks the part and the tanks look simply stunning - in fact this is the first film to actually use a real German Tiger (those in past films such as Kelly's Heroes and Saving Private Ryan were mere mock-ups built to look like a Tiger). The problem is that the story bogs down like a tank stuck in deep mud at the midpoint, while the climactic battle is as believable as a Haunted Tank comic book tale from the 1960s. Throw in some overused stereotypes including the green newbie assigned to Pitt's tank, the overly religious killer and caricature "Nazis" and this one is really far more graphic novel than historical drama.
The Picture
Where the film misses in story it makes up for in picture. While Hollywood has been all too keen to jump on the digital bandwagon, Fury was actually shot on film and this helps bring out those small details that history buffs (such as this reviewer) appreciate. The movie is true eye candy for the military buff given that these are real tanks with little CGI. The Blu-ray is "Mastered in 4K" 1080p and this brings out the rust, the blood, the grim and every other imperfection that you'd expect to see on a battle worn tank and its crew - while the picture is free of any notable digital imperfection.
That said this isn't exactly a "colorful" looking Blu-ray. It is springtime in Germany (if not for Hitler) and this means mud, dirt and that aforementioned grim. The few women characters in bright and somewhat surprising dresses at the movie's midpoint are as close as this gets to a Technicolor experience save for the all-too-intense looking tracers that seem simply overstated almost to the point of looking like laser blasts. Overall however Fury appears somewhat muted (though not nearly so much as Saving Private Ryan), but it is hardly noticeable given the somewhat earth tone-heavy color palette.
The Sound
If you've ever wondered what it might sound like to be inside a tank during the height of battle, Fury provides the answer. This film is loud in those action scenes from the blasting of the tank's 76mm cannon to the rapid fire of the various machineguns.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack will deliver the war to your theater at home, yet it still handles the more delicate ambient sounds of wind, radio chatter and background noises very well. There is the sound of gunfire in the distance reminding the viewer that the war is pervasive, but it is the thundering sounds of shells hitting armor and bullets (or worse) hitting flesh that truly make this one excellent sounding Blu-ray.
The Extras
Included on the Blu-ray are several deleted and extended scenes and these are worth taking a peak at, but it is safe to say that none truly adds much to the story. The other bonus material includes several short pieces that look at the making of the film, including the cast meeting with actual veterans; a combat journal with director David Ayer; a segment with WWII veterans talking about the war; and a very compelling piece on what went into acquiring genuine restored tanks for use in the film. The latter one - "Taming the Beasts: How to Drive, Fire & Shoot Inside a 30 Ton Tank" is truly worth checking out by anyone who finds tanks to be the least bit fascinating.
Final Thoughts
This Blu-ray is full of "sound and fury" but the movie is dumb when it could have been smart. The story's poor pacing and over-the-top climax ruin what could have been for "tankers" what Band of Brothers was for the paratroopers. While this one looks great and sounds even better it is a misfire as a movie, and only slightly redeemed by the extras.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
