Academy Award and Golden Globe-winner Sean Connery (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Finding Forrester) and Academy Award-nominee and Emmy and Golden Globe-winner Candice Bergen (TV’s Boston Legal, The In-Laws) star in this Middle East romantic adventure about a Moroccan chief who triggers an international incident when he kidnaps an American widow and her children. Loosely based on a true event, the film co-stars John Huston (Chinatown) and Brian Keith (Young Guns, Hooper).
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Video Quality
Warner Archive released The Wind and The Lion on Blu-Ray in 2014 with a 1080p master transfer from an unknown source. This release was from the initial years after the label started releasing their films on Blu-Ray, and it still holds up quite pleasantly. The restoration efforts of the time were executed well with little in the way of dirt, nicks, or scratches. Similarly, the encoding is first-rate with no unwanted digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such issues. The degree of detail and clarity is impressive with the ideal amount of natural film grain intact. The film visits an array of sumptuous locales, and each one has textural elements that light up the screen. Black levels are nice and deep with forthright stability throughout, and highlights are in good shape. The label showed up with a good effort early in their run.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive has delivered a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio presentation that translates this one with its full might. One of the first things you will note is the resplendent score from the amazing Jerry Goldsmith that fills up the room with memorable compositions. The music flows without signs of strain in the upper registers for nearly flawless fidelity. The dialogue comes through clearly throughout (dubious accents and all). The track balances vocals with a plethora of environmental noises with clarity. Even in thrilling moments such as the opening raid on the compound, there are no moments where the track falters in its stability. Warner Archive has provided a standout audio presentation. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Writer/Director John Milius provides a very informative commentary track in which he recalls the production in great detail including the shooting locations, the storytelling of John Huston, the real-life inspiration for the film, working with the performers, and more.
- Behind The Scenes: A ten-minute vintage piece that gives you a look at the production of the film, the creative process, and more.
- Theatrical Trailer: The three-and-a-half-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
The Wind and The Lion feels in line with old-school Hollywood epics, but director John Milius brings an almost satirical edge to the material that keeps you guessing as to the intention. The set pieces are impressively scaled with thrilling stunts and rich cinematography. The story is less to our liking, as the proposed relationship between the kidnapper and his victim never feels quite earned, romantic or not. There is also the issue of having Sean Connery in the role of a Moroccan chief, which is obviously the wrong choice outside of providing star power. Despite some shortcomings, the production delivers some thrilling adventure that will keep you locked into the screen. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a very good A/V presentation and some cool special features. Recommended
The Wind and The Lion can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
