The Movie
Jacob (Robert Pattinson), an affable lad from a loving home, is just hours from realizing his dreams of earning his veterinary degree from Cornell and taking the world by storm, when fate cruelly intervenes and it all goes up in smoke. Lost and alone, he hits the road, jumps a train, runs off with the circus and learns the ropes. Hmm, did I miss any clichés there? If I did, trust me, they await you in Water for Elephants.
The circus boss (Christoph Waltz) is uniquely disturbing as he vacillates between charm and ruthlessness, struggling like the rest of America to stay afloat in the era of The Great Depression. His pretty, younger wife (Reese Witherspoon) is the star performer, quite loyal to her sometimes monstrous husband but also intrigued by the troupe's new vet, Jacob. Unfortunate circumstances go from bad to worse, but things look up when they take on a new bull elephant.
Just as Jacob is unprepared for the harshness of the real world, and of circus life, so was I caught off-guard by the darkness of this purported love story, and the pervasive violence. The results are less pleasant than audiences might well have expected from the dream-like images used to promote the film. And in trying to make a period picture about classic themes, director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Constantine) gives us well-rendered visual splendor certainly, but with a generous side of corn.
Something to drink with that? Try Karen Dahlstrom's review of Water for Elephants.
The Picture
Although shot on film, the 2.35:1 Water for Elephants exhibits here some occasional video streaking, surprisingly. The mostly natural, colorful, detailed image--note the traces of razor stubble, the unusual textures of the extensive wardrobe--is blessed with an agreeable kiss of film grain but virtually no noise. Exquisitely crafted digital effects recreate a bygone era down to the most convincing minutiae. Blacks are deep and inky but too often tend to overpower shots.
The Sound
The high-resolution DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel format is exploited deftly for this tale, from the aggressive, 360-degree buzzing of flies around manure or rotten meat to crowds both realistic and stylized. Trains not only approach with sharp directionality, but once we're aboard their many noises come at us from all around. We're outdoors amid quite a bit of activity, and distant sounds arrive generously and credibly. The new pachyderm flaunts her sonic power, and the track has its share of jolts.
The Extras
Director Francis Lawrence and screenwriter Richard LaGravenese share the audio commentary, providing a broader view than either man solo. From here it is a bunch of featurettes ranging from two-and-a-half to 22-and-and-a-half minutes, all in HD. "Raising the Tent" goes deepest on the movie, while "Secrets of the Big Top" provides background on the circus. "The Star Attraction" introduces us to elephant star Ty, while "The Traveling Show - Page to Screen" does the same for author Sara Gruen, with input from LaGravenese.
Stars Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon each receive his/her own video profile, although Team Edward might be disappointed that Rob is spoken about in the third person more than he is actually interviewed. Ms. Witherspoon discusses her arduous training, for which she deserves tremendous credit, the necessary work with the animals in particular.
"Working without a Net: The Visual Effects of Water for Elephants" serves up several slick montages of before/during/after sequences plus animatics and such, shots we wouldn't suspect were ever altered, full of tiny fixes that stagger the mind.
This Blu-ray also provides BD-Live connectivity with Live Extras (including exclusive content) and Live Lookup powered by imdb.com. Disc Two contains a Digital Copy for iTunes or Windows Media. The digital copy can also be transferred directly to a supported portable device via the pocket BLU application.
Final Thoughts
Water for Elephants on Blu-ray is a treat for the eyes and the ears, and while it contains the elements of a great love story, the romance is compromised by the film's abundant malice and banality. A strange and ill-fated combination, but depending upon your tastes it might make for an interesting rental.
Product Details
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