8.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS. Along with a series of companions, he faces a variety of foes while working to save civilizations, help people and right wrongs.
Starring: David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker, Christopher EcclestonAdventure | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 88% |
Fantasy | 82% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Dark Water and Death in Heaven were the season (and/or "series", depending on your national vernacular) endings for Doctor Who: The Complete Eighth Series , and were generally regarded at the time as being among the better episodes from that year. BBC has aggregated both episodes together on a 3D disc with both 3D and 2D presentations, along with a few supplemental features.
Doctor Who: Dark Water / Death in Heaven is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of BBC with AVC (2D) and MVC (3D) encoded transfers in 1.78:1. Ken Brown gave top marks to the overall video presentation of Series Eight, including these two series, and I substantially agree with Ken's approval of the clarity and general detail levels these two episodes offer, and especially Ken's positive assessment of a really lustrously suffused palette. However, I noticed just a bit of background noise that tends to creep into things in low light situations in particular (if you parse the screenshots I've uploaded to accompany this review, you can make out a bit of splotchiness against darker walls in particular). Some of the CGI is frankly not very convincing, though the added depth of the 3D presentation may actually help in that regard. The 3D presentation is rather nicely done from a depth standpoint, though I'd argue that the few overt "in your face" moments, like a volcano spewing forth a rock supposedly directly into the viewer, don't really offer much dimensionality.
Doctor Who: Dark Water / Death in Heaven features a nicely immersive Dolby Atmos track. The track understandably comes most fully alive in some of the effects sequences, as in the early moment featuring that aforementioned volcano, where sounds of bubbling lava can waft through the side and rear channels, and overall hellish maelstrom of the environment penetrates the Atmos speakers quite winningly. Once the Cybermen enter the fray, there's also some fun clamor engaging the side and rear channels as hordes spread out through London. Occasional bursts of LFE can bring the subwoofer into focus, but this is perhaps not quite as bombastic as some other contemporary Doctor Who episodes from that standpoint. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
The 3D rendering of these two episodes is often quite nicely done from a depth perspective if not from a "pop up" standpoint. The story is unabashedly melancholy at times, despite the series' penchant for sly humor. Technical merits are generally solid and the two supplements very enjoyable. For devoted Whovians at least, Recommended.
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