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The English Patient [1996] [Blu-ray]

Ralph Fiennes , Julian Wadham , Anthony Minghella    Suitable for 15 years and over   Blu-ray
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
Price: £12.47 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

The English Patient [1996] [Blu-ray] + The Talented Mr. Ripley [1999] [Blu-ray] + The Last of the Mohicans [Blu-ray] [1992] [Region Free]
Price For All Three: £35.46

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Product details

  • Actors: Ralph Fiennes, Julian Wadham, Juliette Binoche, Kristin Scott Thomas, Willem Dafoe
  • Directors: Anthony Minghella
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region B/2 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Optimum Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 19 Sep 2011
  • Run Time: 155 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B005EKHEI2
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 16,085 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

Product Description

During World War Two a badly-burned pilot, known only as 'the English patient' (Ralph Fiennes), is cared for in a Canadian military medical unit by nurse Hana (Juliette Binoche). As the dying patient's memory returns, he tells Hana his story - of how he embarked on a passionate affair with Katherine (Kristin Scott Thomas), the wife of one of his colleagues. Meanwhile, intelligence agent Caravaggio (Willem Dafoe) tells Hana that he suspects the English patient of being a spy for the Germans. This film won nine Oscars, including Best Picture.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars English Patient on Blu-Ray 13 Feb 2012
By Philbee
Amazon Verified Purchase
This movie was widely misunderstood on its' release - some found it's fractured story telling confusing, some found it difficult to sympathize with the central couple. Some thought it middle-class and smug - or worse, worthy. Perhaps its' success at the Oscars worked against it by creating false expectations in audiences. Many imagined it was going to be 'Gone With The Wind' crossed with 'Laurence of Arabia', and left the cinema perplexed by it. If that describes your reaction back in 1996, now might be a good time to reacquaint yourself with it - now that the weight of 9 Oscars has dissipated in the intervening years.

But if you loved it from the beginning - as I did - you will greet this release with great enthusiasm. I have no doubt that fans of the movie will relish owning Anthony Minghella's (and cinematographer John Seale's) vision of this wonderful, rich and emotionally resonant story on Blu-Ray. That said, I think buyers should initially temper their expectations as regards the picture quality on this particular Blu-Ray release.

That is not to say it is bad - it is not. It faithfully reproduces the images as originally shot. But many equate film grain as being something that Blu-Ray magically removes - and that all movies should be rendered crystal clear by the new format. Don't make that mistake here - the gritty 'look' of the film in the desert sequences was very deliberately crafted by the director. Conversely, when the story cuts to a different time and location - such as the scenes at the monastery - the gorgeous photography takes on a different texture, capturing the lush greens and golden sunlight of northern Italy, near the end of the second world war.

The Blu-Ray format also offers superior quality audio compared with the DVD. It seems obvious to say it, but this is vital in a dialogue-rich film where words and imagery have equal weight. If you are watching it on a surround system, be warned that the soundtrack is punctuated with anti-aircraft guns, sandstorms, plane crashes, the chink-chink of glass viles, not to mention the heart-breakingly evocative music. I often use the first ten minutes of this disc as a demonstrator, such is the strength of it's imagery and audio mix.

The English Patient has probably found it's most natural home on Blu-Ray, because it is a film that truly rewards repeated viewings - yielding subtle plot points, character traits and grace notes every time it's viewed. Its' main protagonists may not be immediately likeable - but the tragic decisions they make (and the consequences of those decisions on others' lives) create a haunting wartime love story undercut by mistaken national identity. A story that David Lean might have wanted to make, had he been around.

As it was, we were lucky to have the hugely gifted - and greatly missed - Anthony Minghella to adapt the novel and commit it to celluloid. He went on to make three more feature films before he died (Talented Mr Riply, Cold Mountain and Breaking & Entering), but - as good as they were - 'Patient' is his greatest and most enduring film.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Flawed but redeemed 25 Oct 2011
Whilst the picture quality isn't up there with the best blu-ray can offer (the re-mastered Gladiator or Taxi Driver), direct comparison with the UK PAL 2-disc dvd shows that this has always been a grainy/noisy film. It also reveals that the blu-ray has been nicely spruced up with none of the print flaws evident in the dvd presentation.

But if the visuals underwhelm, the lossless sound is wonderful, and almost worth the purchase price alone.

Until someone does a thorough remaster this'll do. Buy cheap with confidence.
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16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing picture 4 Oct 2011
By Batey
I have owned the standard DVD version of this great film for many years, so was very pleased to see it was being released on Blu-ray. The DTS sound track is a big improvement but the dull and grainy picture is frankly very disappointing, how this can be called high definition is unbelievable.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars The Blu-ray version excells
A great movie, beautifully directed and performed. It's not necessary to distinguish between acting performance. All the cast played their parts with great sensitivity.
Published 1 month ago by David Haslett
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow wonderful film
The acting was superb and the story line quite unusual. A very thought provoking film which although long was very enjoyable
Published 1 month ago by dragonett
5.0 out of 5 stars A Truly Majestic, Emotional and Beautiful Love Film Presented...
Despite massive critical acclaim and Oscar success (it won 9 of them !), 'The English Patient' doesn't seem to provoke that much interest for Amazon customers if the review-count... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Laurence Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Film.
This is one of those films where being male you have to swallow hard towards the end as its very sad, having said that the story is one that keeps you engross from the very start... Read more
Published 4 months ago by colhole
5.0 out of 5 stars English Patient [DVD}
I don't know what all the fuss is about. This is just brilliant 5 Stars, the story is great, the actors are great and the locations are very good. Read more
Published 8 months ago by trevor
1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible Transfer Onto BLU RAY...
I'm not really sure why anyone would give the 'BLU RAY' of "The English Patient" 4 stars - let's be blunt about this - it's a dog. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mark Barry, Reckless Records, London
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