9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
See individual titles for their synopses.
Adventure | 100% |
Action | 89% |
Epic | 66% |
Fantasy | 65% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
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: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 2.0
German: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
Blu-ray Disc
Thrity three-disc set (33 BDs)
Digital copy
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
So, do you have someone on your holiday buying list who has been especially good this year? If they're a Game of Thrones
fan,
you might want to consider this incredibly handsomely packaged but pretty pricey new set which aggregates all eight seasons of the landmark HBO
series, along
with
previously released supplemental material and two discs of new bonus features. But it's the packaging that may well be the real calling card here,
even for
those who have gone out and purchased each and every previous season of the series when it was initially released on Blu-ray (and maybe even
double dipped when the Dolby Atmos versions started appearing). This is simply one of the most sumptuous packages I've personally had the
pleasure to pore over, though it is one of those "sui generis" offerings that will need its own special storage site, as its size and bulk (not to
mention its weight, which is surprisingly hefty)
probably
will make it an odd fit for those who have their "normal" sized Blu-ray discs all on well organized and size appropriate shelves.
If you order this from Amazon, be prepared to unpack something akin to those old Russian nesting dolls. First there's an outer Amazon box, then
an
inner box with the HBO logo, and then another decorative cover box in which the actual box holding all the discs is
contained. The actual box is a rather stunning case that's advertised as being wood but which feels kinda like plastic to yours truly, with some nice
touches like a clasp and numbered pulls on each "panel" holding the discs. The clasp and pulls are some kind of leather (I'm not sure whether it's
real or
manufactured). It actually took me a minute to
discover that the touted "Hand of the King pin" is actually contained in a piece of styrofoam inside the decorative outer covering box, so don't panic
when
you see
the clasp has nothing in it. I will say I've had a devil of a time getting the clasp closed securely enough to stick the pin all the way through the
loop, but
perhaps things will stretch out over time.
The case is approximately 12" wide x 11 6/8" high x 3 3/4" deep and it contains nine so-called "panels" housed inside (see the photo in position
seven accompanying this review), eight of which hold the eight
individual seasons, and a ninth for the three bonus discs (see the Supplements section below for more details). When placed in their slots and
viewed through the window on the front of the case, a multidimensional diorama of sorts is offered, one with some season specific images on each
panel. (There are two clear plastic sheets as well, one in front of the first panel and another in back of the bonus disc panel, which some
accompanying text says are removable if you so choose.) It's a really stunning piece of design, and if there's some kind of Blu-ray packaging
award that's being given out somewhere, this release
certainly deserves some recognition.
Video quality for each season is assessed in the above linked reviews. I've uploaded five screenshots from the Reunion special, followed by five pictures of the packaging for this particular review.
Audio quality of each season is assessed in the above linked reviews. That said, the early seasons here all feature the Atmos audio that were part of
the re-releases, and so for my thoughts on the audio presentation, additional comments can be found by clicking on the following links:
Game of Thrones: The
Complete First Season 4K Blu-ray review
Game of Thrones: The Complete
Third Season Blu-ray review
Game of Thrones: The
Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray review
Unfortunately, unless I've missed something, it doesn't look like the Atmos re-release of the second season was ever officially reviewed.
Supplementary material included with each season is detailed in the above linked reviews. Additionally, this Collector's Edition includes the following
Bonus Blu-ray discs:
Bonus Disc One
- Season Four - Planning a Royal Wedding (1080p; 22:50)
- Season Five - The Massacre at Hardhome (1080p; 28:03)
- Season Six - Inside the Fight for Meereen (1080p; 23:59)
- Season Seven - Ice, Fire and Dragons: Creating the Frozen Lake (1080p; 27:23)
- Season 1: Houses of the Seven Kingdoms (1080i; 15:27)
- Season 2: Westeros at War with George R.R. Martin (1080i; 18:44)
- Season 4: Silk, Leather and Chain Mail: The Costumes of Season 4 (1080p; 19:14)
- Season 5: The Final Step (1080p; 25:54)
- Season 1 (1080i; 17:49)
- Season 2 (1080p; 20:53)
- Season 3 (1080p; 25:03)
- Season 4 (1080p; 24:36)
- Season 5 (1080p; 25:37)
- Season 6 (1080p; 21:43)
- Season 7 (1080p; 29:37)
- Extended Sam & Gilly (1080p; 2:21)
- Daenerys and Tyrion Corridor Talk (1080p; 1:43)
- Varys and Trella in King's Landing (1080p; 1:04)
While this set is a bit on the pricey side, you do get some really incredible looking packaging for your money. Some folks thrive on this kind of specialty item, and my hunch is those with a liking for deluxe design will love the look of this release. The new supplements aren't especially revelatory in any way, but at least are a bit of a value add as well. The show itself is obviously one of the milestones of recent series television (despite what some perceived as a pretty major letdown in its final season). For those with a little extra scratch to spend this holiday season, this release comes Highly recommended.
Sampler
2011
Creating the Visual Effects Bonus Disc
2011
Discontinued
2011
Targaryen Edition
2011
Houses of the Seven Kingdoms Bonus Disc
2011
Stark Edition
2011
2011
Collector's Edition
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
Robert Ball Exclusive Art
2011
Exclusive w/ bonus disc
2011
Sampler
2012
2012
Lannister Packaging
2012
Greyjoy Packaging
2012
w/ 72-page Booklet
2012
Bonus Disc
2012
Bonus disc
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
Robert Ball Exclusive Art
2012
2012
2012
2013
Limited Edition
2013
Targaryen Packaging
2013
Lannister Packaging
2013
Stark Packaging
2013
w/ "Visual Effects" Bonus Disc
2013
2013
2013
2013
2013
Robert Ball Exclusive Art
2013
2013
2013
2014
w/ "Silk, Leather, & Chain Mail: The Costumes of Season 4" Featurette & "Beautiful Death" Photo Book
2014
Lannister Packaging
2014
Targaryen Packaging
2014
Stark Packaging
2014
Martell Packaging
2014
Tyrell Packaging
2014
With Exclusive "Royal Wedding" Joffrey Mini
2014
2014
2014
Robert Ball Exclusive Art
2014
2014
2015
Targaryen Packaging
2015
Bolton Packaging
2015
Martell Packaging
2015
Exclusive Post-Production Bonus Disc
2015
with bonus content
2015
Exclusive Visual Effects Bonus Disc
2015
Exclusive Visual Effects Bonus Disc
2015
2015
2015
Robert Ball Exclusive Art
2015
ELITE/DISCT19
2015
2015
2016
2016
2016
with Collectible Sigil Magnet
2016
Daenerys USB Exclusive
2016
Tyrion USB
2016
Jon Snow USB
2016
with "Inside The Fight for Meereen" bonus disc
2016
Walmart Exclusive bonus disc
2016
Faith of the Seven Edition
2016
Robert Ball Exclusive Art
2016
Elite/Deep Discount 19
2016
2016
Includes "Conquest & Rebellion"
2017
Includes "Conquest & Rebellion"
2017
2017
Dragonstone Red
2017
Dragonstone Cream
2017
with bonus disc
2017
Sigil / Includes Conquest & Rebellion
2017
Walmart exclusive bonus disc
2017
Robert Ball Exclusive Art
2017
2017
2018
2019
2019
2019
2019
2019
w/ bonus disc
2019
2019
2019
2024
Extended Edition
2012
2002
2003
Theatrical Edition
2001
Extended Edition
2012
Director's Cut
2007
2005
2017
Extended Edition
2013
Extended Edition
2014
2014
Extended Edition
2016
2002
1999
2016
ᑐ ᑌ ᑎ ᕮ ²
2024
2007
2012
2010