THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS [2019] [Blu-ray] [USA Release]
A Masterpiece Work of Art! Entertaining and Imaginative!
Based on John Bunyan’s epic masterpiece, ‘THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS’ is one of the most popular books of all time, and one of the most important stories of our faith! Second to the Bible in total copies and translations, the story was written by John Bunyan a pastor, Imprisoned for sharing his faith.
This powerful allegory helps families understand the spiritual journey is the most important journey in life, as well as the importance of sticking to the path, even when the journey gets difficult.
‘THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS’ was written over 340 years ago by John Bunyan when he was in prison. The story has been smuggled to the underground church during communism, banned for a time in China, and has sold more copies than any other book other than the Bible. The journey of this remarkable work continues as Revelation Media brings the story to a new generation using state-of-the-art CGI animation.
Voice Cast: David Thorpe (Christian Pilgrim), John Rhys-Davies (Evangelist), Kristyn Getty (The Interpreter), Tristan Beint (Pliable), Justin Butcher (Hopeful), Stephen Daltry (The Gatekeeper), Andy Harrison (Obstinate), Jasmine Jones (Piety), Jonathan Keeble (Faithful Pathfinder), Rachel Marquez (Prudence), Chris Pavlo (Worldy Wiseman), Alison Pettit (Cristiana), Ben Price (Vanity Fair Chief / Judge Hategood), Lisa Ronaghan (Prudence) and Andrew Wyncott (Prince Apollyon)
Director: Robert Fernandez
Producers: Charles Raines, Chris Jung, Larry Zielke, Robert Fernandez, Steve Cleary, Tim Wildmon and William Curtis
Screenplay: John Bunyan (Novel) and Robert Fernandez (screenplay)
Composer: Michael Dooley
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audio: English: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 117 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Vision Video
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: Before you read the following Blu-ray Review, I want to comment about the first 4 minutes and 26 seconds before the animated film starts, we get this stupid brain dead Christian propaganda crap foisted upon us and should have been as an extra, and it is only in America you get this crap foisted upon us and Vision Video should be thoroughly ashamed of adding this short intro before the animated film starts, especially this thick ignorant silly cow spouting such religious crap, that is pure fantasy and not at all true, as I did not buy this Blu-ray disc to hear such utter garbage foisted upon us.
‘THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS’ [2019] is an animated version of the beloved best-selling John Bunyan's same-named 17th-century novel, “The Pilgrim's Progress” and is about a Christian Pilgrim [David Thorpe] heading to the Celestial City where Jesus is the King and about how he overcomes the demonic powers and principalities trying to stop him. ‘THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS’ is the best, most entertaining, and most imaginative animated film translation of the classic book that’s sold more copies than almost any other book except the Bible. It is a stunning work of art and is great entertainment.
Christian Pilgrim and his wife live in a depressing “Noitcurtsed” [Not Cursed] city or City of Destruction as a grim factory town replete with rickety tenements, sooty chimneys, clanking machines that are never seen to produce anything useful, and gloomy-faced workers perpetually driven by the clock and is governed by a demonic Supervisor who works for Lux. The City of Destruction is a place of work, drudgery, slavery, and almost everything that creates bondage for human beings.
One day, they discover that one citizen named Faithful Pathfinder [Jonathan Keeble] has escaped beyond the city’s borders. Christian Pilgrim and a few others are ordered to clean out the apartment of Faithful Pathfinder and destroy everything in it. Christian Pilgrim, however, becomes interested in the art and drawings of Faithful Pathfinder, which portray the divine Celestial City. Christian Pilgrim also finds a book that is the map to the Celestial City and soon learns that no one finds the book, the book finds them. Christian Pilgrim becomes captivated about reading the Book and tries to convince his wife and children to flee the city with him. They refuse, so he leaves without them.
Outside the borders, Christian Pilgrim meets Evangelist [John Rhys-Davies], who tells him to keep the light of the gate in his eyes and to follow the light. Obstinate [Andy Harrison] and his cohort are sent to bring Christian Pilgrim back and convinces one of them, Pliable [Tristan Beint], to go with him until they fall into the Swamp of Despondency filled with Fear, Doubt and Discouragement. Christian Pilgrim makes it to the other side and cries out for Help. Help tells him Help is always there if he calls. The other citizens turn back in disgust from the Swamp of Despondency.
Meanwhile, the Supervisor is called to meet with Prince Apollyon [Andrew Wyncott] and flies up to him, changing from a military-looking mortal to an ugly demon. Apollyon blasts and singes the Supervisor before sending him back to dissuade Christian Pilgrim from continuing by filling him with Doubt, Fear and Pride.
Therefore, Christian Pilgrim must face obstacle after obstacle, such as Worldly Wisdom [Chris Pavlo], Legality, Giant Despair, and many other visualizations of the trials and tribulations every Christian Pilgrim faces. In the process, Christian Pilgrim wrestles with demons and crafty fools such as the people of Vanity Fair. For those who haven’t read the 17th-century novel “The Pilgrim's Progress,” and the question is can Christian Pilgrim’s journey make it finally to the Celestial City?
Blu-ray Image Quality – Vision Video presents us with the animated film ‘THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS’ with a stunning beautiful colourful 1080p image and enhanced with a wonderful 2.35:1 aspect ratio that really shows off the stunning animated film and I can honestly say that this is among one of the best image presentation I have ever seen. There are no moments where the image becomes anything less than jaw-droopingly good. There is some wonderful detail and the sharpness are both perfect, as is the use of colour in many of the daylight scenes. The black levels are done really well and with no grain at all, and there were no instances of shimmering or pixilation. This is truly one of the best image transfers I have ever seen in a very long time and a great professional effort by the Vision Video team definitely gets a five star image rating.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Vision Video brings us the animated film ‘THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS’ with one standard, but equally impressive 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio experience. Of course the animated film is primarily dialogue and is well situated via the three front speakers and is crystal-clear and precise amid the loudest segments throughout the animated film and you can also hear every word spoken by the voice cast, but the animated film is also music driven which is really wonderfully done by the composed music score by Michael Dooley and helps to set the tone of the animated film. Sounds effects are utilised really well and shows off the audio effects really well, especially with the very dramatic scenes throughout in the film. So all in all, the Vision Video team definitely gets a five star audio rating.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Trailer [2019] [1080p] [2.35:1] [1:54] This is the Original Trailer for the animated film ‘THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.’ This is a really spectacular trailer and gives you a good flavour of what the animated film is all about and seeing bits of the very scary scenes in the animated film makes for a truly adventurous animated film.
Finally, John Bunyan's same-named 17th-century novel, “The Pilgrim's Progress” is a great book, but previous attempts to turn it into a film have been very lacking at best. This 2019 animated film ‘THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS’ rendition and interpretation of the works of John Bunyan's 17th-century novel works really well, because it does a wonderful job of creating jeopardy, characters, conflict, and the premise, which drives the story forward. The viewer will be keen to see the end of the animated film from the moment the animated film starts and its long intriguing adventurous and at time dangerous journey. That said, because the animated film is faithful to the book, to some critics have said that the animated film tends to drag somewhat slightly in the middle and felt it could have been trimmed slightly, but then again, it is a blessing that it wasn’t trimmed as I enjoyed the whole animated film and the success of these filmmakers has been in making a very entertaining animated film. Together, Vision Video brings you the highest image quality, of the animated version of one of the most important and influential the 17th-century novel “The Pilgrim's Progress” stories in history, to life have been. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
