BLU-RAY REVIEW

Flags Of Our Fathers

Featured In Issue 122, July/August 2007

Picture4
SoundNR
WSR Score4
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):
DreamWorks Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
12352
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
For sequences of graphic war violence and carnage, and for language
(Retail Price):
$39.99
(Disc Type):
Two-Disc Set: BD 25 & BD 50
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
132
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2006
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
05/22/07
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Clint Eastwood
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
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(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(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):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
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(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

During World War II, thousands of Marines rushed the small island of Iwo Jima, and what ensued was a battle of horrific carnage, death, and destruction. But in the aftermath, an American Flag was raised and photographed, and that image became an inspiration for the American people in a time when inspiration was desperately needed. "Flags Of Our Fathers" is based on the book by James Bradley with Ron Powers. (Jack Kelley)

Previews, which are also shown up front, are the only supplements on Disc One. Disc Two's supplements are all in high-definition and are the same as on the DVD: a five-minute introduction from Director/Producer Clint Eastwood, and six featurettes: "Words On A Page" (17 minutes), "Six Brave Men" (20 minutes), "The Making Of An Epic" (30 minutes), "Raising The Flag" (three minutes), "Visual Effect" (15 minutes), and "Looking Into The Past" (nine minutes). Plus the theatrical trailer.

The VC-1-encoded HD DVD and H.264 AVC-encoded Blu-ray Disc look identical, with well-captured details and consistently desaturated colors. Contrast is well balanced, shadow delineation is good, and black levels are deep, making for a very dimensional-looking picture. (Danny Richelieu)

The HD DVD's Dolby Digital Plus 5.1-channel encoding is a very slight improvement over the Blu-ray Disc's Dolby Digital encoding, which provides slightly better localization of effects around the soundstage. Dynamic range is good in both instances, helping create a very detailed, dimensional soundfield. (Danny Richelieu)