Blu-ray Review #77: Lone Survivor

Lone Survivor - Blu-ray Review 4.8 Stars (out of 5) - Rated R

Synopsis

Based on the failed mission "Operation Red Wings" which tasked four members of SEAL Team 10 on June 28, 2005 to kill Taliban leader Ahmad Shah.

Starring:

Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch, Alexander Ludwig, Eric Bana

Director:

Peter Berg

Blu-ray Release Date:

June 3, 2014

Subtitles:

English, Spanish

Rating

Overall rating weighted as follows:

Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt

Audio 5.0 Stars (out of 5)

Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison

● Subwoofer - 5.0 Stars

● Dialog - 5.0 Stars

● Surround Effects - 5.0 Stars

● Dynamic Range - 5.0 Stars

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, DVS 2.0, Spanish: DTS Digital Surround 5.1

The surround effects are amazing, bullets whizz by your head, helicopter blades whip around the room, and debris fly in all directions. Sometimes they perform so well I couldn't tell if an airplane was flying outside or if it was the movie. Every once in a while it was hard to make out lines of dialog, especially if it was over the radio. The subwoofer gets a lot of action with sounds of gunshots, helicopter engines, and of course exploding grenades and RPGs.

Video 5.0 Stars (out of 5)

Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu-ray Edition used as basis for comparison

● Color Accuracy - 5.0 Stars

● Shadow detail - 5.0 Stars

● Clarity - 5.0 Stars

● Skin tones - 5.0 Stars

● Compression - 5.0 Stars

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC, Resolution: 1080p, Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1, Original Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Colors are warm but natural, and make features pop on the screen. Trees in the forest are lush and green, blood is deep red on faces and legs, the skies are a beautiful hue of blue, and balls of fire glow bright red. Dark scenes are handled perfectly and never loose any important details in the shadows and show no compression issues. The clarity is remarkable and make it easy to see individual beard whiskers, clothing textures, grime and cuts on skin, and flying debris.

Bonus Features 4.0 Stars (out of 5)

● Will of the Warrior: An in-depth look at Marcus Luttrell, the real-life Navy SEAL who received the Navy Cross and Purple Heart for his actions in Operation Red Wings.

● Recreating the Firefight: Reveals how Lone Survivor’s action-packed stunts were choreographed and shot. This featurette includes interviews with Director Peter Berg, Actors Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Foster and Emile Hirsch and stunt coordinator and 2nd unit director Kevin Scott.

● Learning the Basics: Watch as Mark Wahlberg, Emile Hirsch, Taylor Kitsch and Ben Foster go through rigorous SEAL training in weapons handling, communication/patrolling and simulated attack drills. Along with Marcus Luttrell, Peter Berg enlisted the help of active Navy SEALS to help the actors accurately portray the fallen soldiers of Operation Red Wings.

● Bringing the Story to Light: Marcus Luttrell’s story of survival under extremely dire circumstances is an inspiration to anyone who hears it. Director, producer and writer Peter Berg, Producer Sarah Aubrey, and the four lead actors (Mark Wahlberg, Emile Hirsch, Taylor Kitsch and Ben Foster) reveal their passion for the project and why it was so important to them to tell this story.

● The Fallen Heroes of Operation Red Wings: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Foster and Emile Hirsch profile the real-life heroes who inspired their characters: Marcus Luttrell, Michael Murphy, Daniel Dietz and Matthew Axelson. Family members provide intimate accounts of what these brave men were like in their private lives, as well as perspective on their decisions to join the military and make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Also included is a tribute to the team of Operation Red Wings, using personal photos.

● The Pashtun Code of Life: Learn why Marcus Luttrell’s rescuer, Mohammad Gulab, risked his life and the lives of everyone in his village in order to save Marcus.

Movie - 4.0 Stars (out of 5) Review

Lone Survivor is a gritty realistic movie based on real life action heroes in the Navy Seals. The movie does a great job of showing team brotherhood and the banter between them is entertaining and engaging. The tension and action feel real because you actually care about the characters and you know what you are seeing really happened. Just to prove how real the action is, several times during the movie my wife screamed, "No" at the TV. The movie has one of the best firefights I have ever scene on film. Not only did it sound amazing, but it was directed in a manner that made you feel like you were there. Overall, the movie is action packed and heartbreaking, but it’s a good monument to the tough men who fought in "Operation Red Wings".