The Film
You don't need to be a fan of the sport to appreciate this fictional tale of would-be baseball superstar Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford), who on the verge of making it to the big leagues is struck down by a mysterious woman - only to make it as a rookie at an age when most men think of retiring. With his homemade bat, and against all the odds Hobbs steps up to the mound for a rousing story. The Natural is thus a natural as it combines the best elements of a sports film with a period costume drama and a true tale of an underdog. This one is truly a homerun.
The Picture
Arriving in time (or thereabouts) for baseball's opening day, this one offers to take you out to the ball game while traveling back in time in the process. The 1080p 1.85:1 presentation really brings out the colors of the field, with vivid greens while still letting you see individual blades of grass and of course the dirt and dust on the player's uniforms. There is some graininess in some sequences, notably in the film's nighttime scenes, but this is in part because this 1984 film is showing its age. Instead of detracting from the experience, as a period film it actually helps set the tone, even that wasn't the intent of the director.
With a baseball flick you'd expect to hear the roar of the crowd, and the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack provides this, but alas you'll get the feeling that you're way out in left field when it comes to the discrete channel separation. The sound is good and clear, and the dialog comes through very well. But unfortunately this one lacks the baseball sounds we've been accustomed to hearing - such as the crack of the bat! It isn't so much that the audio strikes out, but is more akin to a ground-rule double. We'd just expect the former, so it is a bit of a let down.
The Extras
Think of the bonus features as being like extra innings. The single disc is loaded with multiple featurettes including a making of piece and a look at creating the movie's team, as well as additional bonus pieces on the real-life Eddie Waitkus, a major league player who was also mysteriously shot by an obsessed fan and was one of the inspirations for the novel upon which the film was based.
Final Thoughts
Baseball films can tend to often be very hit or miss, but The Natural is a true homerun, with an uplifting story that is filled with plenty of mythology about the game and the characters. Robert Redford connects in this one, and with a stunning picture and plenty of bonus materials, this disc is truly a natural for any sports fan.
Product Details
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