| Reviews & Columns |
|
Reviews DVD TV on DVD Blu-ray 4K UHD International DVDs In Theaters Reviews by Studio Video Games Features Collector Series DVDs Easter Egg Database Interviews DVD Talk Radio Feature Articles Columns Anime Talk DVD Savant Horror DVDs The M.O.D. Squad Art House HD Talk Silent DVD
|
 DVD Talk Forum |
|
|
| Resources |
|
DVD Price Search Customer Service #'s RCE Info Links |
|
Columns
  
 
|
|
|
Wicker Man: Theatrical Version, The
Starz / Anchor Bay // R // August 21, 2001
List Price: $19.98 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
Sergeant Howie (The Equilizer himself, Edward Woodward) has received a letter detailing the disappearance of a young girl named Rowan Morrison from the remote island of Summerisle. The devoutly religious Howie flies over to investigate, but finds that the pagans that populate the island claim to know nothing of the girl and spare no effort in hindering his discovery of the truth. I'm intentionally being vague with this plot summary, since great efforts were made in The Wicker Man to keep the audience as in the dark as Howie himself. The conclusion of the film is incredible, if a bit predictable, and it certainly differs from the pap endings of the Hollywood films I was weaned on. That said, do your best to go in blind and avoid reading or seeing anything else (other than this largely spoiler-free review, of course) about The Wicker Man until you've had a chance to watch the film in its entirety.
I've yet to see a disparaging review of The Wicker Man, and perhaps if you're in the middle of deciding whether or not to buy a copy this week, you've noticed the same thing. Though I'm probably flaunting a complete lack of taste by saying this, I didn't feel that The Wicker Man lived up to the extremely positive buzz surrounding it. There aren't any really likeable characters, for one. Howie starts off seeming pleasant enough, but he spends the majority of the film doing little else but screaming at the islanders and harping endlessly about Christianity. The islanders, whose belief structure apparently requires them to be ambiguous and irritating, are hard to sympathize with, and since we're not introduced to Rowan beforehand, it's hard to care that she's gone or to have any interest whatsoever in her return. I found The Wicker Man to be a plodding, unengaging film. Perhaps my near-total lack of interest in religion and mysteries stood in the way, or maybe this isn't a film I can fully appreciate with a single viewing. Seeing Josie and the Pussycats (which I adore, if you'd like a point of comparison) three times may have gotten in the way of keeping those synapses from firing, or maybe The Wicker Man just wasn't the right way to wrap up a marathon of seven movies this weekend. Whatever the case may be, I'll have to stick to my guns and go against the crowd.
Video: For the most part, the 1.85:1 anamorphic image is up to Anchor Bay's usual high standards, with bold, vibrant colors, minimal grain, and a clear, crisp appearance. Some shots here and there are excessively grainy, while others seem overly soft and washed-out. One portion, when Sgt. Howie peeks through a window in Lord Summerisle's estate and gazes upon a group of nude young girls hopping over a bonfire, seems strangely out of place, bouncing back and forth from a crisp image to an unwatchably grainy mess. Colors also seem to subtly shift from shot to shot, but this could be the result of a transfer culling from several different sources or perhaps inconsistent lighting during filming. Print damage and assorted specks are both relatively minor and rarely seem distracting. It's not Anchor Bay's best work, but given the likely poor condition of the original film elements, I have little trouble believe that this is the best that could possibly be done.
Audio: The Dolby Digital 5.1 remix from Chace Digital probably doesn't differ greatly from the original mono track. Surrounds and subwoofer activity appear so infrequently as to scarcely warrant a mention, and there's not much separation to speak of between the front channels. There isn't any hiss or distortion though, and the range of the audio belies its age.
Supplements: The most notable extra is an excellent 35 minute documentary entitled "The Wicker Man Enigma", featuring interviews with nearly everyone involved in any capacity with the film. Virtually every possible aspect is covered, from the genesis of the project to difficulties encountered during to the course of filming to its religious implications. Nearly as long is a dated but informative 24-minute interview with Christopher Lee and Robin Hardy from an episode of "Critic's Choice", conducted by Sterling Smith. This second interview is "hidden", but it doesn't exactly require an extensive amount of time or effort to uncover. The other supplements are promotional materials -- a trailer and spots from television and radio.
Conclusion: I'd imagine that The Wicker Man is a love-it-or-hate-it sort of movie with few opinions falling anywhere in between. Though I didn't really care for the film at all, there's no denying its massive appeal in many circles, and my opinion very well may change upon future viewings. Die-hard fans would probably be better off buying the immaculately-packaged limited edition set, which offers an extended cut of the film. I would recommend this single disc version for casual fans of The Wicker Man, but I'm not sure there's such an animal. For this particular release, a rental might be a best option, and if you like it, pick up the limited edition. At the low list price of $19.98, a sight-unseen purchase won't break the bank if the $40 2-disc edition seems a little too daunting.
As a complete aside, what interested me more about The Wicker Man than the plot itself were all the bits of British lore that had made their way into the titles of songs of XTC, such as King For A Day, The Greenman, and from their latest album, The Wheel And The Maypole.
I've yet to see a disparaging review of The Wicker Man, and perhaps if you're in the middle of deciding whether or not to buy a copy this week, you've noticed the same thing. Though I'm probably flaunting a complete lack of taste by saying this, I didn't feel that The Wicker Man lived up to the extremely positive buzz surrounding it. There aren't any really likeable characters, for one. Howie starts off seeming pleasant enough, but he spends the majority of the film doing little else but screaming at the islanders and harping endlessly about Christianity. The islanders, whose belief structure apparently requires them to be ambiguous and irritating, are hard to sympathize with, and since we're not introduced to Rowan beforehand, it's hard to care that she's gone or to have any interest whatsoever in her return. I found The Wicker Man to be a plodding, unengaging film. Perhaps my near-total lack of interest in religion and mysteries stood in the way, or maybe this isn't a film I can fully appreciate with a single viewing. Seeing Josie and the Pussycats (which I adore, if you'd like a point of comparison) three times may have gotten in the way of keeping those synapses from firing, or maybe The Wicker Man just wasn't the right way to wrap up a marathon of seven movies this weekend. Whatever the case may be, I'll have to stick to my guns and go against the crowd.
Video: For the most part, the 1.85:1 anamorphic image is up to Anchor Bay's usual high standards, with bold, vibrant colors, minimal grain, and a clear, crisp appearance. Some shots here and there are excessively grainy, while others seem overly soft and washed-out. One portion, when Sgt. Howie peeks through a window in Lord Summerisle's estate and gazes upon a group of nude young girls hopping over a bonfire, seems strangely out of place, bouncing back and forth from a crisp image to an unwatchably grainy mess. Colors also seem to subtly shift from shot to shot, but this could be the result of a transfer culling from several different sources or perhaps inconsistent lighting during filming. Print damage and assorted specks are both relatively minor and rarely seem distracting. It's not Anchor Bay's best work, but given the likely poor condition of the original film elements, I have little trouble believe that this is the best that could possibly be done.
Audio: The Dolby Digital 5.1 remix from Chace Digital probably doesn't differ greatly from the original mono track. Surrounds and subwoofer activity appear so infrequently as to scarcely warrant a mention, and there's not much separation to speak of between the front channels. There isn't any hiss or distortion though, and the range of the audio belies its age.
Supplements: The most notable extra is an excellent 35 minute documentary entitled "The Wicker Man Enigma", featuring interviews with nearly everyone involved in any capacity with the film. Virtually every possible aspect is covered, from the genesis of the project to difficulties encountered during to the course of filming to its religious implications. Nearly as long is a dated but informative 24-minute interview with Christopher Lee and Robin Hardy from an episode of "Critic's Choice", conducted by Sterling Smith. This second interview is "hidden", but it doesn't exactly require an extensive amount of time or effort to uncover. The other supplements are promotional materials -- a trailer and spots from television and radio.
Conclusion: I'd imagine that The Wicker Man is a love-it-or-hate-it sort of movie with few opinions falling anywhere in between. Though I didn't really care for the film at all, there's no denying its massive appeal in many circles, and my opinion very well may change upon future viewings. Die-hard fans would probably be better off buying the immaculately-packaged limited edition set, which offers an extended cut of the film. I would recommend this single disc version for casual fans of The Wicker Man, but I'm not sure there's such an animal. For this particular release, a rental might be a best option, and if you like it, pick up the limited edition. At the low list price of $19.98, a sight-unseen purchase won't break the bank if the $40 2-disc edition seems a little too daunting.
As a complete aside, what interested me more about The Wicker Man than the plot itself were all the bits of British lore that had made their way into the titles of songs of XTC, such as King For A Day, The Greenman, and from their latest album, The Wheel And The Maypole.
|
| Popular Reviews |
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Release List | Reviews | Shop | Newsletter | Forum | DVD Giveaways | Blu-Ray | Advertise |
|
Copyright 2024 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use,
Manage Preferences,
Your Privacy Choices 
| |||||||