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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Machine Gun Preacher

    Featured In Issue 169, September 2012

    Picture4
    Sound4
    WSR Score5
    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):
    20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    2277654
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    Violent content including disturbing images, language, some drug use and a scene of sexuality
    (Retail Price):
    $39.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    129
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    2011
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    06/05/12
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Marc Forster
    (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):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    DTS HD Lossless 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    Machine Gun Preacher is the inspirational true story of Sam Childers (Butler), a former drug-dealing criminal who undergoes an astonishing transformation and finds an unexpected calling as the savior of hundreds of kidnapped and orphaned children in East Africa. This is the explosive, real-life tale of a man who has rescued over a thousand orphans from starvation, disease, and enslavement. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include a discussion with Producer/Director Marc Forster (HD 18:36), "The Keeper" music video by Chris Cornell (HD 03:46), the theatrical trailer, up-front previews, and a digital copy.

    The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture exhibits a gritty visual quality due to the 16 mm prime photography. While some segments were shot on 35 mm film stock, there appears to be an intended grainy visual quality throughout. As intended, the film communicates well the stark reality depicted in the storytelling. The overall look is cinematic, with a natural visual character. Hues are never exaggerated, with generally warm, natural fleshtones. Overall, resolution is soft, though, at times detail is nicely rendered. Black levels are at times crushed, especially during night scenes, but shadow delineation is generally revealing. This is a realistic visual experience that works well to support the storytelling. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic sounding, with effectively potent and immersive atmospherics and sound effects. Machine gun sonics are dramatically real in sound nuance and impact during the firefights with LRA militiamen. Surround envelopment is aggressively directionalized during such segments. Quiet scenes deliver a realistic sense of atmospherics and Foley effects. The .1 LFE effects enhance the tension during the firefight segments. The music score is thematic and nicely recorded with effective surround immersion. Dialogue is always intelligible and natural sounding, with good spatial integration. Overall, this is an effective sonic experience that heightens the emotional impact of the storytelling. (Gary Reber)

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