No stones in slingshots. No skirmishes too late in the day. They are the rules of war for the youngsters of two neighboring Irish villages. And here’s another rule: if you spit shake on something you better follow through. Kids will be kids. But sometimes they, in their own fanciful ways, will be adults. What’s unique and marvelous here Oscar®-winning Chariots of Fire screenwriter Colin Welland says “is that it’s not an adult view of childhood at all, but a child’s view of adulthood” Welland joins fellow Chariots of Fire Academy Award® winner David Putnam for a winning tale in which buttons are the gods of a would-be war. The rival teens are screen newcomers, but you wouldn’t know it from their seasoned performances. And if you don’t know why Ireland is the Emerald Isle, this scenic charmer is breathtaking proof.

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Video Quality

War of the Buttons gets a comely upgrade on Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a new 1080p master from an undetermined source. The transfer maintains the lovely natural film grain free of any compression artifacts or other such digital anomalies. Skin tones appear to be consistent, natural, and detailed across the ensemble. The film’s colors stand out with the lush Irish landscapes impeccably saturated along with some of the clothing and production design such as the new tractor. Black levels are comfortably deep in shadowy areas of the screen, and highlights never succumb to blooming. There are elements in the environment that now make a grand impression at home. Warner Archive has provided a more-than-capable transfer for this overlooked drama.

Audio Quality

Warner Archive brings this new Blu-Ray to audiences with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that offers a great representation of the soundscape. Dialogue comes through clearly in terms of accuracy to the source, but some may need to activate the optional English SDH subtitles to catch some of the exchanges due to some of the strong dialects. Nothing ever gets overshadowed by the music in the film or other environmental flourishes. The soothing score from Rachel Portman complements the film throughout with perfect fidelity. The environmental effects during the scuffles allow the narrative to feel more genuine. This track is a great sonic experience thanks to the efforts of Warner Archive.

Special Features

Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

War of the Buttons is a charming story of childhood adventure and the discovery of interpersonal dynamics between opposing groups. The class divides are handled delicately with no group ever becoming caricatures of themselves. The narrative feels a bit exaggerated in terms of some of the set pieces that develop, but it feels honest to the world that is created throughout this perfectly paced outing. The young performers do a really nice job anchoring this story along with some help from more experienced actors to aid a few key moments. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a favorable A/V presentation, but not much in the way of special features. If you need something entertaining for the whole family, this should treat you well. Recommended

War of the Buttons 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.