Overview: 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is an enthralling celebration of Queen, their music, and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury, who defied stereotypes and convention to become one of history’s most beloved entertainers.

Blu-ray Verdict: Whether you love Queen, or have absolutely no taste in music, Bohemian Rhapsody is a wonderfully well-written, produced, directed, and acted look at Freddie Mercury and the band; from their start in the 1970's through their performance at the Live Aid benefit concert at Wembley Stadium in 1985.

Directed by Bryan Singer, who is now going through his own disassociation with the film and the actors involved (due to certain allegations), the film beautifully captures the brilliance of the band's music as well as providing insight into the story of band that gave us Bohemian Rhapsody.

I actually went, as a young teen, on a crowded coach from Watford to Paris back around the time of their Works tour and saw them play live. I was blown away by the entire set, music and actual physical stage set up both.

Ergo, it was an event that has stayed with me now for some 30+ years and anyone who also saw Freddie and Queen play live have obviously also experienced first hand the master at work.

In truth, I'm usually disappointed watching a film (biopic) about a band I love, however from the very beginning, before the actual film begins and you suddenly realize the 20th Century Fox Studio Bumper's backing music (a film studio's opening logo intro) has either been played by Brian May or has been channeled through a Brian May filter ie: it sounds like him playing the music on his signature Hamer guitar, you know you're in for something very special.

Rami Malek does an incredibly-outstanding job of bringing Freddie Mercury back to life, if only for a mesmerizing 134 minutes. Not only in his uncanny physical appearance, but invoking his mannerisms, and reincarnating his essence. He became Freddie Mercury for this film.

The other three actors playing his bandmates were equally amazing. The fact that all of the music in the film is by Queen, and being produced by Jim Beach (former Queen Manager) and Graham King, with band members Brian May and Roger Taylor as musical consultants, injects the same genius that gave us Queen, the band, into Bohemian Rhapsody, the film.

In short, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is the best film about a rock band I've ever seen. The quality of the screenplay, acting, camerawork, sets, research are all superb. It is a masterpiece of a musical biography that captures the essence of Freddie Mercury while enlightening the audience about the actual story of Queen.

All those taking part were totally credible and of course, the music is brilliant. None of which comes across as "covers" and despite all the lip syncing, obviously, it doesn't deter from the finished article, trust me.

As for the special features, well, both the quite brilliant The Complete Live Aid Movie Performance (1080p; 21:55) and stunning Recreating Live Aid (1080p; 19:55) are wondrous looks into how they recreated one of the most iconic live performances ever performed.

Offering up the film's full recreation of the iconic concert by Queen, the idea to let the actors run through the five song Live Aid set was genius. Much like some of the other supplements included on this disc, the second feature of this ilk offers interviews with the real life May and Taylor who reminisce about the concert.

Along with other interviews and behind the scenes footage, they explain that everyone was set to just film two of the songs from that set, but then the heads came together and suggested that as everyone was there, why not do the entire five song set (for the Blu-ray extras).

In what has turned out to be one of the best executive decisions I think that has ever been made, they did - and it's simply glorious to behold. This is a Widescreen Presentation (2.39:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs via 1080p and comes with the Special Features of:

The Complete LIVE AID Movie Performance
Rami Malek: Becoming Freddie
The Look and Sound of Queen
Recreating Live Aid

Official Trailer

Official Website