Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Doctor/poet Zhivago (Omar Sharif) is married to Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin), an aristocratic girl with whom he raises a family. The good doctor is also in love with Lara (Julie Christie) and over a span of many years he's brought together and separated from each of the woman. While he deeply loves Tonya, his poetic side longs for Lara.

Like a lot of films from the 1960s, the pacing is a tad slow but the love story overcomes this minor complaint. Director David Lean does his usual bang-up job and the epic production translates well to high-definition.

Video Highlights

• VC-1/1080p encode on a BD-50 disc
• Solid restoration
• Bold primaries
• Adequate black level
• Occasional soft scene
• Surprisingly clean print

Audio Highlights

• DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack
• Decent surround envelopment
• Limited dynamics
• Intelligible dialog, but is occasionally tinny and hollow

The video restoration is another feather to hang in Warner's cap, but the audio track shows its age. Granted, the film is 45 years old and isn't meant to look and sound like Avatar.

Bonus Materials

• Commentary by Omar Sharif, Rod Steiger, and Lady Sandra Lean
• Introduction by Omar Sharif
• Doctor Zhivago: The Making of a Russian Epic
• 11 vintage featurettes
• Digi-book packaging with 44 page book
• 8-song CD soundtrack sampler

Many consider this David Lean's best picture, but I still prefer The Bridge over the River Kwai. Frankly, both are excellent films and you can't go wrong with either. I'm glad Warner is opening its vast library of classic catalog titles for release on Blu-ray and the results here are outstanding. Recommended.

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Release Date: May 4, 2010
Studio: Warner

Movie: 8/10
Picture: 8/10
Sound: 7/10

Review System

Source
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player

Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Onkyo Pro PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 power amplifier
Panamax M5400PM power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector

Acoustical treatments from GIK Acoustics