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Doctor Zhivago: 45th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Disc Review

DOCTOR ZHIVAGO: 45TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (1965, Blu-ray released May 4, 2010 – MSRP $35.99)

I watch a lot of movies. And these days, I seem to watch a lot of movies on Blu-ray. I’m not often left in awe by film anymore but man, does this new Blu-ray disc of David Lean‘s Doctor Zhivago ever take my breath away.

I’ll admit that Zhivago has never been my favourite of Lean’s films. I mean, what movie can honestly hold its own against the cinematic perfection that is Lawrence of Arabia or Great Expectations? Warner Home Video‘s new Blu-ray disc has, however, given me new appreciation for the film and, I dare say, allows it to stand among the best of Lean’s work, in my eyes.

This is an astonishing, subtle adaptation of Boris Pasternak’s nobel award winning novel of the same name – a very human story of a man, a poet caught up in the Russian revolution, whose love is torn between his adoring family and a passionate affair with his mistress. I make it sound so simple but there’s really nothing simple about this story. It’s as emotionally complex as a genuine human feeling. The audience may wince as Zhivago gives in to his passions with another woman, but they never hate him for it. He’s so real, up there on the screen, portrayed to utter perfection by Omar Sharif, that we can’t help but empathize with his plight. We feel for him. We feel his conflict as he struggles to make his way through bloody battlefields and harsh seasons, fighting to keep his family and hope alive all the while holding onto the glimmer of inspiration that might reignite his spirit and bare the artistic fruit that will transcend his time and condition. And that’s ultimately what this film is all about – the nature of the human condition and its ability to persevere. And in the hands of anyone less than Lean, Zhivago, as a film, might not have.

It’s not every director who has the power to realize a novel like Pasternak’s, able to illustrate subtle human drama against grand vistas – epic filmmaking at its finest! And Zhivago has it all – beautiful cinematography by Freddie Young (with some scenes shot by Nicolas Roeg,) stunning, grand production design by John Box and a very famous, moving score by Maurice Jarre. This is not only one of the best, most important films of the sixties, but of all time. Any self-respecting film buff or Blu-ray fan owes it to themselves to add this disc to their collection.

And what an incredible disc it is! Warner appears to have pulled out all the stops to restore and remaster Doctor Zhivago for Blu-ray. The results are quite breathtaking. The film has likely not looked this good since its premiere in 1965 (which was a cut of the film sadly not represented here or perhaps in existence anywhere, as the studio forced ongoing changes to Zhivago during its initial run.) Let me be clear, however – despite the restoration, this does not look anywhere near as clean and clear as modern film. So, those looking for the next Star Trek will be disappointed. Film buffs will weep and marvel and this discs clarity. The colour accuracy and the detail are remarkable! I did note a few anomalies in the image though. There were a couple of instances – one at around the 1:40 mark and the other in the last scene – where snow and water appeared to exhibit a strange circular banding. It won’t distract the casual viewer but it keeps the disc from being perfect in my mind.

There are enough extras in this Doctor Zhivago: 45th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Disc set to please even the most demanding fan, beginning with the beautiful 48-page hardcover digibook packaging. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I’m a sucker for these things. The Blu-ray disc housing the feature also includes an engaging commentary track with Sharif, the director’s widow, Sandra Lean and the late Rod Steiger, who portrayed the villain in the piece, Komarovsky. Disc one of the set also features a 40-minute doc, split in two called “Doctor Zhivago: A Celebration“, which gives us the chance to learn what other Hollywood creatives like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan writer/director Nicholas Meyer think of the film and how it influenced their work. Disc two is reserved for additional special features including the highlight of the set, the hour-long “Doctor Zhivago: The Making of a Russian Epic“, a 1995 retrospective doc hosted by Sharif. The rest of the disc is crammed full of vintage featurettes, screen tests, interviews and more. Also included is a nice little CD soundtrack sampler of Maurice Jarre’s wonderful score, featuring the popular track “Lara’s Theme“.

Most highly recommended!

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  1. [...] one of those sets that every film enthusiast should invest in. Much like their recently released Dr. Zhivago, Star is packaged in a 40-page digibook, with the feature on Disc one and the extras on Disc [...]

    Posted by A Star is Born Blu-ray Disc Review | The Blu-Ray Blog | June 21, 2010, 8:43 pm

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