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kal
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| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 2:30 am Post subject: Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Second Season [Blu-ray] |
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Another reference disc!
Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Second Season (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) (2011)
(Hover over link for price, click to purchase and support our forum at no extra cost to you)
| Quote: | I liked season one just a little bit more, but season two does introduce a ton of new interesting twists. Watching Nucky really struggle to regain his power is fascinating simply because he seemed so invulnerable in the first season. The backdoor political bargaining is amped up and provides for some great face-to-face scenes as characters do much more backstabbing than actual stabbing. This is a great show with a wonderful presentation in both the audio and visual departments. 'Boardwalk Empire: Season Two' comes highly recommended.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
Was there any doubt that HBO would provide the demo-quality goods again? Season one featured a stellar visual presentation and season two is no different. This show has some of the most beautiful visuals in all of television. The striking period sets of a 1920s Atlantic City boardwalk are crisply done. No expense was spared on the show's attention to detail, and believe me high definition captures every detail there is to be had.
Fine detail is always recognizable here. Textures, everything from the lady-like lace of Margaret's fine dresses to Nucky's finely tailored pin-striped suits, appear as tangible things. Like you could reach out and run your fingers across them. Faces are replete with details like scars, age-lines, facial hair, small pores, bruises, and shiny tears (of which there are many). With this type of fine detail it's easy to focus on the subtle performances by many of the actors in the show. The way they purse their lips, watching the tears well up in their blood-shot eyes, everything has a lifelike quality to it. Edges have a crispness to them. Contrast is perfectly balanced.
Colors are bright and bold. Whenever Nucky and his entourage wander into their favorite restaurant on the boardwalk our eyes are greeted with all manner of colors. The women's colorful dresses – pinks, greens, blues, and purples – shine under the lights while the dark suits of the men are all very well defined. Speaking of darker colors, blacks here are as deep and inky as they can get. They never appear flat or tinged with grey. As such the dark blacks provide ample shadows that are never crushing. I didn't notice any technical anomalies that should worry anyone. Aliasing, shimmering, and banding are all kept away. This is another flawless HBO presentation. Just sit back and enjoy.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Like the first season, the second season's audio prowess is, in a word, fantastic. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is a full-bodied work of art. Sure, the show is quite talkative, but it still has its action-inspired moments where it shines. Most of all though, the show's audio mix provides a lifelike, genuine feel that engulfs anyone watching it.
The rear speakers are always alive with ambient commotion. Restaurants are humming with patron chatter, speakeasies are boisterous places where men hoot and holler, and even a burlesque party in Nucky's suite that leads to a bunch of men laughing and women giggling as the rear speakers pick up every ambient sound with perfect pitch and detail. When Nucky gives a speech on Memorial Day his voice, projected by a microphone, can be heard echoing throughout the sound stage.
The show features a lot or 20s music and it's really given a chance to shine. What's great is the way the mix handles music played from an old-time record player compared to music that takes over the soundtrack usually during the show's many character montages. The record music is light, with very little bass, and comes from the front speakers only. The soundtrack music fills each channel and adds much more low-end sound. Its small details like these that make this a great soundtrack. On top of that dialogue is always clear, even when people whisper. You won't be disappointed with this demo-quality track. |
Kal
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CIR Engineering
Joined: 25 Aug 2008
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| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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It is a very interesting show. My wife and I have enjoyed both seasons.
Buy it!
craigr
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kal
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CIR Engineering
Joined: 25 Aug 2008
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Location: Chicago USA & Berlin Germany
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| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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Beware Kal, season 2 gets really... I don't know... rough. It is hard to watch at times on many levels. However, that is part of what makes it good. The writing goes places that you really won't expect.
We watched the first episode of season 3 last night. It sure looks MUCH better on BD than when broadcast on DTV.
craigr
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JETI 1501-HiRes 2nm Spectroradiometer
JETI 1211 Spectroradiometer
Photo Research PR-650 Spectroradiometer
Klein K10-A Colorimeter
Murideo Fresco SIX-G HDMI 2.x Multimedia Generator
Murideo Fresco SIX-A HDMI 2.x Analyzer
Light Illusion ColourSpace XPT Color Calibration Software
Light Illusion LightSpace XPT Pro Version 10.x Color Calibration Software
OMARDRIS JVC Software Patch to use K10-A and Jeti with JVC OEM AutoCal Software!
Sencore CR7000 CRT Tube Analyzer / Rejuvenater
Authorized Dealer for Lumagen & just about everything worth buying
www.CIR-Engineering.com - craigr@cir-engineering.com
Phone: 865-405-6892
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kal
Forum Administrator
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Posts: 18114
Location: Ottawa, Canada
TV/Projector: JVC DLA-NZ7
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CIR Engineering
Joined: 25 Aug 2008
Posts: 4269
Location: Chicago USA & Berlin Germany
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| Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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| kal wrote: | Thanks for the heads up! I'm a big fan of mob movies (Goodfellas/Casino) so I should be good...
Kal |
Just you wait Kal... some things are not what you will expect...
craigr
_________________
JETI 1501-HiRes 2nm Spectroradiometer
JETI 1211 Spectroradiometer
Photo Research PR-650 Spectroradiometer
Klein K10-A Colorimeter
Murideo Fresco SIX-G HDMI 2.x Multimedia Generator
Murideo Fresco SIX-A HDMI 2.x Analyzer
Light Illusion ColourSpace XPT Color Calibration Software
Light Illusion LightSpace XPT Pro Version 10.x Color Calibration Software
OMARDRIS JVC Software Patch to use K10-A and Jeti with JVC OEM AutoCal Software!
Sencore CR7000 CRT Tube Analyzer / Rejuvenater
Authorized Dealer for Lumagen & just about everything worth buying
www.CIR-Engineering.com - craigr@cir-engineering.com
Phone: 865-405-6892
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