kal
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Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18114
Location: Ottawa, Canada
TV/Projector: JVC DLA-NZ7
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 2:47 pm Post subject: Strike Back: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] |
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Another reference disc!
Strike Back: The Complete First Season (Cinemax) (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) (2010)
(Hover over link for price, click to purchase and support our forum at no extra cost to you)
| Quote: | I wasn't expecting much from an action show on Cinemax, but you don't want to miss this British-produced program. It's fun, inventive, and tense. There were a number of times I found myself wondering how they'd get out of this predicament. It never felt like you could pin down the show's fast-movie plot and call it out for being predictable. Also, they aren't afraid to kill off main and well-known characters, so anyone on the show really is fair game for getting blown up or have their brains shot out. It makes for an exciting show to watch. With HBO giving it top-notch treatment in the audio and video departments, this one comes recommended for sure.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
'Strike Back's 1080p presentation looks rather spectacular, especially as far as TV shows are considered. It may be too heightened in contrast for some, but that seems to be the look they were going for (particularly when contrast is boosted in places like remote African desert villages).
Clarity is top-notch and even though it was filmed digitally, the show does appear to retain a rather cinematic feel. It's cinematic feel actually reminded me somewhat of HBO's recent release of 'Game of Thrones' on Blu-ray. 'Strike Back' takes on more of an modern action palette (heightened colors and so forth) but the detail is just as striking. Facial features easily stand out. Stubble, age lines, lip creases, and individual beads of sweat are all visible. Shadows accentuate the picture here. There are quite a few darker and nighttime scenes, but blacks are so well rendered that nothing is lost when the lights are turned down. All those facial details spoken of above, are still evident in low-light situations with the well-delineated shadows offering great accents for them.
Colors are overly saturated, because of that skintones do take on a rather unnaturally tan look. Whites can burn a bit hot at times, especially during explosions (of which there are many). However, this is the look of the modern action movie, and 'Strike Back' is an action TV show. I didn't notice any banding, aliasing, or terrible artifacting of any kind. Crushing is kept at bay, and what we're left with is a great looking TV show on Blu-ray. Another winner from HBO.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
'Strike Back' has been afforded a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that reminds me of the gun-battling, explosion-happy mix on '24: Season 7.' This is a no-holds-barred action-centric mix that captures every gunshot with preciseness. Bullets whiz by traveling from the front to rear speakers in seemingly seamless transitions. Explosions rock the room with boisterous LFE that never seems to let up. Either there is an explosion on screen or the heart-pounding score needs it for low-end accompaniment.
Panning effects are always silky-smooth, whether that means bands of African warlords speeding across the desert in a killer convoy, or helicopters swooping in over-head – from rear to front, and then back again – to extract Scott and Stonebridge from a firefight. Dialogue is always clear and has been prioritized well seeing that there is indeed a lot of other stuff going on at the same time people are talking. I was very impressed at the way 'Strike Back' handled itself in the audio department. It's a great sounding TV show and it does a great job playing to its strengths. |
Kal
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