BLU-RAY REVIEW

Northmen: A Viking Saga

Featured In Issue 199, September 2015

Picture	5
Sound	5
WSR Score	4

Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.

(Studio/Distributor):

Anchor Bay Entertainment

(Catalog Number):

ZBD62876

(MPAA Rating):

R

(Rating Reason):

(Retail Price):

$$26.99

(Disc Type):

BD-25

(Widescreen Edition):

Yes

(Full Screen Edition):

(Running Time In Minutes):

97

(Color Type):

Color

(Chaptered/Scene Access):

Yes

(Closed Captioned):

Yes

(Regional Coding):

(Theatrical Year):

(Theatrical Release):

(Direct-To-Video Release):

(Disc Release Date):

8/11/2015

(THX® Digitally Mastered):

(Director):

Claudio Fah

(Screenplay/Written By):

(Story):

(Music):

(Director Of Photography):

(Production Designer):

(Visual Effects):

(Costume Designer):

(Editor):

(Supervising Sound Editors):

(Re-Recording Mixers):

(Executive Producers):

(Co-Producers):

(Producers):

(Academy Awards):

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(Principal Photography):

(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):

(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):

(Disc Soundtrack):

(Theatrical Sound):

(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):

(DTS Bit Rate):

(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):

(Additional Languages):

(Subtitles):

In Northmen: A Viking Saga, a Viking longship capsizes in a storm off the rocky coast of Scotland, and the handful of surviving raiders realize that they are trapped deep behind enemy lines. When they take the King's daughter as a hostage, the monarchy unleashes its most savage mercenaries to rescue the princess and slaughter the Norse warriors. Now the hunters have become the hunted�and the battle for Valhalla will explode with fury, treachery, and merciless ferocity. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurette Northmen: Look Inside A Viking Saga (HD 11:57) and upfront previews.

The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture is effectively dramatic and spectacular�from the rocky, rough coastal landscape to the intense combat. The imagery is captivating throughout. The color palette is darkly hued, with an emphasis on brown and gray tones. Highlights, such as torches, armor, and swords provide contrast. Overall contrast is excellent, with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Fleshtones appear generally sweaty and dirty, but realistic in the varying lighting palette. Resolution is all quite good, with fine detail exhibited in facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture, both in landscapes and armament. This is a compelling and engaging picture that perfectly depicts the imagined period. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1-channel soundtrack is quite dynamic, with strong energy supported by intense .1 LFE in the sub-25 Hz region. Foley effects are impressive, given the extent of horses, swords, and battle mayhem. Atmospherics and sound effects are aggressively characterized and extend to the surrounds to holosonically envelop the soundfield. The orchestral/choral music score is quite prevalent, with a percussive emphasis. The music extends wide and deep within the soundstage and extends aggressively to the surrounds. Dialogue remains intelligible throughout the proceedings. This is a well-crafted soundtrack that is intensely dynamic and exciting, one that will test the metal of a home theatre sound system. (Gary Reber)

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