7.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Captain Flint and his pirates, twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic "Treasure Island".
Starring: Toby Stephens, Hannah New, Zach McGowan, Luke Arnold, Jessica Parker KennedyAdventure | 100% |
Period | 37% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
UV digital copy
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
If any show has proven capable of sticking to its guns while expanding its horizons, it's Black Sails. The show, from Creators Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine, seems eager to capitalize and pounce on its core blend of history recreated meets epic violence, deep intrigue, betrayal, and darkness, the latter of which is as much inside the characters as it is seeping through the world around them. But there's also a goodness, in some of them, anyway, a quest for a better world and change, and it's the clash between two fundamental views, which often necessitate a betrayal of one's own core, that makes the show tick. Exploring well-known historical characters is the broader allure, but it's the show's willingness and ability to deglamorize the world and show it for its ugliness -- while that occasional sliver of goodness seeps through -- is what makes Black Sails stand as one of the finer programs going on TV today. Newcomers are encouraged to go back and start with seasons one and two before diving into season three.
Black Sails has always been a looker on Blu-ray, and season three is no exception. Dynamically punchy colors and refined details are the chief highlights of the digitally sourced show, one of the rare few that manage to present the multitude of gritty, worn, sweaty, and grimy textures with remarkable clarity and tactile definition, even through the otherwise clean digital photography. Unlike many other digital sources, the picture never runs smooth or glossy, only clean, with noise only really an issue in lower light shots. Otherwise, the 1080p presentation excels by revealing the finest pores, beads of sweat, dollops of blood, hairs, and other natural elements with about as much definition as the format allows. Clothing is resplendent, whether lacy garments or heavier, more densely constructed fabrics. Every stitch, fray, and bit of caked-on grime is clearly visible in close-up and, usually, in medium distance shots as well. Woods on ships, sands on beaches, grass, brickwork, practically everything on shore and ship alike spring to life with terrific definition near and far alike. Colors are very well saturated and remarkably vibrant, particularly British army red, but natural greens, blood red, bronzed skin tones, and resplendently colored fabrics all look amazing. Nothing escapes the transfer's might. Black levels are wonderfully deep with only a mild push to crush. Beyond the light crush and noise in darker shots, this is practically a perfect transfer that's right in-line with the series' rich history of visual dazzle on Blu-ray.
Black Sails: Season Three features a healthy, hefty, and fully charged Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless soundtrack. The track makes use of every foot of real estate in the stage and every inch of speaker at its disposal. It's wonderfully dynamic, from the most whisper-quiet dialogue exchanges to the most intensive action extravaganzas. The second and final episodes serve as sonic highlight reels, true reference-worthy stuff in every regard. Clarity of action is fantastic even through, in episode two, a powerful storm and, in the season's finale, a beachside battle between dug-in defenders and landing soldiers. The former is a glorious example of rainstorm done right. Beyond the ship's creaking and the crew's frantic work around it, the howling winds, driving rain, splashing waves, and other bits of mayhem converge into a cyclone of sound that's impeccably defined through the chaos and that effortlessly saturates the stage, transforming the listening area into a ship's deck under natural siege. The battle in the final episode is terrific, too, with mortar fire hurling overhead, explosions rocking hard, screaming combatants all around, and small arms fire crackling from every position. It's a symphony of violence that immerses the listener into combat in a way that's rare, if not otherwise nonexistent, in a TV show. Lighter ambient effects -- creaking wood on ships at sea, rolling waves in calmer waters, city atmospherics in town -- are realistically presented and precisely positioned around the stage. Dialogue is clear and focused with natural front-center placement. This is an extravagant, high energy, and reference worthy soundtrack from Starz/Anchor Bay.
Black Sails: Season Three contains all of its supplemental content on disc three. Note that the review of one supplement contains a major
spoiler for the season, and is marked. Proceed with caution.
Starz recently revealed that Black Sails would be sailing to its conclusion in season four. That's depressing news, but better the show fly its flag high into the sunset than to limp out of the way after overextending its welcome. As for season three, it's another winner. Great new characters, dramatic twists and turns, and the hallmark high end action and production values keep it in-line with previous seasons and continue to mold the show into one of the best of the past few years. Black Sails: Season Three features a decent allotment of bonus content on disc three. As with the first two seasons, video and audio presentations are practically above reproach. Highly recommended.
2014
w/ Pirate Bandana
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DVD Packaging
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Ultimate Edition
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