The previous 1080p Blu-ray transfer of The Ten Commandments, which is included in this edition, is quite impressive (for a complete review of it, click here), but this 2160p/HEVC H.265 encode, which is struck from the same 2010 restoration, improves upon it just enough to make this 4K UHD release worthy of an upgrade. Once the disc is inserted into the player, the full-motion menu with music immediately pops up no previews or promos precede it.
A leaflet containing a code to access the digital copy is tucked inside the front cover of the case. The 4K UHD disc features a 2160p/HEVC H.265 encode in both Dolby Vision and HDR10, while a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 version of the film is spread across the two included Blu-ray discs. The 4K UHD edition of The Ten Commandments arrives packaged in a standard clear case inside a glossy sleeve. Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray This year, though, there are so many more vital gifts we'd rather receive instead.įor a more in-depth look at The Ten Commandments, check out my colleague Aaron Peck's review of the 2011 limited edition gift set. In years past, I might have tried to be clever and called the 4K release of The Ten Commandments a gift from God. Last year, I bemoaned the missed opportunity of releasing DeMille's signature film in the Ultra High-Def format, and though it's a shame so many fans purchased the 2020 digibook when this edition already must have been in the pipeline, its belated arrival is no less welcome. It's been a decade since we've gotten a new transfer of The Ten Commandments and high time this blockbuster received the 4K UHD treatment. "Though not as dazzling or emotionally affecting as Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments remains a monumental cinematic achievement and one of Hollywood's most iconic and beloved epics.For many, The Ten Commandments is an Easter tradition, but this year," and again in 2021, "DeMille's film resonates more strongly, and its sober yet hopeful message might provide some consolation during these tough, uncertain times."Īnd it certainly resonates more strongly in the splendor of Dolby Vision and HDR10.
Somehow, though, the overall magnitude of this elephantine production eclipses such deficiencies and inspires a sense of admiration and respect, if not for the film itself, then for the story it tells and the vital themes of perseverance, courage, solidarity, faith, love, and selflessness it so sincerely espouses. The stodgy, stilted script and DeMille's heavy-handed direction weigh the picture down and slow its pace. It dwells on trivial matters and zips through important, meaningful events. It's classy one moment and cheesy the next. Impressive, Oscar-winning special effects and sumptuous production values aside, the film flaunts a bombastic tone, features an array of shamelessly hammy performances, and frequently flirts with camp. "Say what you will about DeMille's treatment of this stirring and uplifting tale. And in this moment of fear and uncertainty, it's especially reassuring." And so it remains today.
The Ten Commandments certainly won't cure our ills, but as I wrote in March of 2020, "The inspirational story of Moses (famously played with strength and stoicism by Charlton Heston), who heroically fights to free an enslaved people and shows boundless courage and unshakable conviction in the face of oppression, persecution, and a devastating and insidious pestilence, never ceases to lift our collective spirits and renew our faith in humanity. COVID continues to impact our lives, and though the future seems brighter, we still have a long way to go before we permanently emerge from its massive shadow. DeMille's classic Biblical epic might also provide some much-needed comfort for a nation struggling to deal with an unexpected health crisis of monumental and frightening proportions." And sadly, little did I know such a statement would still ring true a very long 12 months later as we celebrate the long-awaited debut of The Ten Commandments in the 4K UHD format.
A year ago, I began my review of a brand new digibook edition of The Ten Commandments with these words: "When Paramount decided to re-release The Ten Commandments in a digibook edition just in time for Easter, little did the studio know Cecil B.