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The Duke (Blu-ray) review

Re: The Duke (Blu-ray) review
« Reply #15 on: July 20, 2022, 11:25:08 AM »
No pm here :(
That's weird...I hit the little mail icon and sent you a message. Oh well...it was about poker :)
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Former writer for Sound & Vision Magazine

Re: The Duke (Blu-ray) review
« Reply #16 on: July 20, 2022, 03:25:13 PM »
Greetings,

We are definitely on the same page on this one Dave. We loved it...


Regards,

bmoney

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Re: The Duke (Blu-ray) review
« Reply #17 on: July 20, 2022, 03:56:20 PM »
That's weird...I hit the little mail icon and sent you a message. Oh well...it was about poker :).
Haha I figured it was 
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Re: The Duke (Blu-ray) review
« Reply #18 on: September 24, 2022, 11:03:23 PM »
Finally got this from Netflix this weekend, and liked it, but can't say I loved it.

I will say that while all of the acting was solid, Helen Mirren's performance was outstanding; it wasn't even until the end credits that I realized it was her.  The period feel was there, the music fitting and enjoyable, script was well-written, with just the right pacing.  It never got bogged down in the courtroom procedures, and there was a fitting balance between the character parts of the film and those driving the plot.  And the relationship shown between Kempton and Dorothy was both realistic and instantly relatable.

The problem I had was with the theme of the movie, and the whole Robin Hood style message.  And every time I heard the phrase, "The greater good," I had flashbacks to the way it was used in a completely different way in Hot Fuzz.  By the closing arguments my sympathies fell away from Kempton and toward the perspective of the Judge.  The movie can't really be faulted for that, since it is based on a true story, but it definitely kept it from resonating with me.

The other thing that didn't work for me was the mixture of the duller, archival-looking footage from the time and the crisp-looking parts in the rest of the film.  It worked great for the TV coverage, but during the transitional montages it was distracting to see them side-by-side.  This is, admittedly, a bit nit-picky and my wife commented on how much she liked those scenes.

Still, it was worth watching, and a welcome change of pace from the most recent releases out there.

Glad to see it reviewed and get some attention here, since the title by itself wouldn't have led me to adding it to our queue.

Scott
My Room:  26’-1” X 17’-4” X 10’
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Re: The Duke (Blu-ray) review
« Reply #19 on: September 25, 2022, 12:56:16 PM »
Finally got this from Netflix this weekend, and liked it, but can't say I loved it.

I will say that while all of the acting was solid, Helen Mirren's performance was outstanding; it wasn't even until the end credits that I realized it was her.  The period feel was there, the music fitting and enjoyable, script was well-written, with just the right pacing.  It never got bogged down in the courtroom procedures, and there was a fitting balance between the character parts of the film and those driving the plot.  And the relationship shown between Kempton and Dorothy was both realistic and instantly relatable.

The problem I had was with the theme of the movie, and the whole Robin Hood style message.  And every time I heard the phrase, "The greater good," I had flashbacks to the way it was used in a completely different way in Hot Fuzz.  By the closing arguments my sympathies fell away from Kempton and toward the perspective of the Judge.  The movie can't really be faulted for that, since it is based on a true story, but it definitely kept it from resonating with me.

The other thing that didn't work for me was the mixture of the duller, archival-looking footage from the time and the crisp-looking parts in the rest of the film.  It worked great for the TV coverage, but during the transitional montages it was distracting to see them side-by-side.  This is, admittedly, a bit nit-picky and my wife commented on how much she liked those scenes.

Still, it was worth watching, and a welcome change of pace from the most recent releases out there.

Glad to see it reviewed and get some attention here, since the title by itself wouldn't have led me to adding it to our queue.

Scott
Scott,

I don't disagree with your points, but I "try" and look past those types of comments in movies and just enjoy them for what they are. I really liked the courtroom scene and found it funny. Kempton was somewhat of a simpleton (black and white outlook on the world), which added to the enjoyment because he was a bit "off," but we all probably know people just like him. I know I do. 
Blu-ray Reviewer / Technical Writer
Former writer for Sound & Vision Magazine

bmoney

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Re: The Duke (Blu-ray) review
« Reply #20 on: September 26, 2022, 09:07:22 AM »
im curious how close to the "real events" this film stayed
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Nad t758v3 
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Volt 6 (8 ) 
18" SI subs (4) 
diy 130" 2.40 spandex screen
minidsp 2x4HD
JVC rs600
Lumagen radiance pro 4242
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SRW1000

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Re: The Duke (Blu-ray) review
« Reply #21 on: September 26, 2022, 08:10:51 PM »
im curious how close to the "real events" this film stayed
David posted a link to the article that gives some details on the "truthiness" of the film that's worth a read if you're curious.  
My Room:  26’-1” X 17’-4” X 10’
Equipment:  Monolith HTP-1 feeding X7 and X9 amps, JVC RS3100, Elite Screens 135"", JBL Studio 590 for L, C, R, W, R, 580s for sides and four SCS8 for tops, JTR Captivator 1400 x 4, Panny DP-UB420K, Toshiba HD-A35. Nvidia Shield, Sonos Connect, MX-780 remote

See Youthman's actual tour of my room here: https://youtu.be/PHEaG2xKVhg

bmoney

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Re: The Duke (Blu-ray) review
« Reply #22 on: September 27, 2022, 07:14:38 AM »
David posted a link to the article that gives some details on the "truthiness" of the film that's worth a read if you're curious. 
I did read it. Thanks :) 
SadieMax 2,0 Build thread

Nad t758v3 
7.4.4 diysoundgroup 1099's (3) 
Volt 6 (8 ) 
18" SI subs (4) 
diy 130" 2.40 spandex screen
minidsp 2x4HD
JVC rs600
Lumagen radiance pro 4242
Nvidia shield pro
Emby NAS media player

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