8.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Set in the 1860s, the series centers on a former Confederate soldier, Cullen Bohannan, whose quest for vengeance leads him to the Union Pacific Railroad's westward construction of the first Transcontinental Railroad.
Starring: Anson Mount, Colm Meaney, Common, Christopher Heyerdahl, Tom NoonanWestern | 100% |
Period | 19% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
If, as both the slipcover and keepcase insert of this new release allege, “all roads lead to hell,” there’s still perhaps a detour or two delaying that
ultimate
destination, if for no other reason than Hell on Wheels’ final season has indulged in the same bifurcated broadcast and release strategy
as
some
other notable series like The Sopranos: Season
Six,
Part
I and The Sopranos: Season Six, Part
II
and Mad Men: The Final Season, Part
1
and Mad Men: The Final Season, Part
2
. There are other detours as well, with Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) traveling to the supposedly sunnier climes of California as well as
matriculating to the Central Pacific Railroad. Tasked with conquering the Sierra Nevada mountains, Cullen has a new slew of workers to corral,
including
a large population of Chinese, something that allows the series to populate itself with a coterie of new supporting players (some of the show's
most
iconic characters in fact don't really show up until later in this first half of the final season). Hell on Wheels continues to be a gritty
and at
least occasionally complex character study, but
there are some signs that this journey is encountering a bit of lethargy even as it wends its way toward its endgame.
For those wanting to catch up on the story thus far, our review of previous seasons of Hell on Wheels can be accessed by clicking on the
following links:
Hell on Wheels: The Complete
First
Season Blu-ray review
Hell on Wheels: The
Complete
Second Season Blu-ray review
Hell on Wheels: The Complete
Third Season Blu-ray review
Hell on Wheels: The
Complete
Fourth Season Blu-ray review
Hell On Wheels: Season 5 Volume 1 is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Entertainment One with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. The series continues to be an eyeful, and in fact this season is arguably one of the most scenic due to some of the new locations employed. Incredible depth of field is on display in some of the awesome mountain scenes, and generally this first half of season five tends to be a little less drab, dusty and dirty than some earlier years. As with previous seasons, occasion color grading comes into play, but by and large things look natural, if occasionally not especially vivid, with a lifelike if sometimes rather cool palette and consistently good detail levels. There are some long sequences in various episodes that take place either at night or in dimly lit environments, but detail levels are typically only minimally affected. Contrast and black levels are both strong and consistent and fans of the series should continue to be well pleased with the look of the show on Blu-ray.
Hell On Wheels: Season 5 Volume 1 continues the series' good attention to sonics with a nice sounding DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix. Surround activity is utilized fairly consistently in every episode, especially when action heavy sequences provide opportunities for things like crowds of workers struggling to complete the line or some of the physical interchanges that accrue at various points. Dialogue is always rendered cleanly and is generally well prioritized. A number of foreign languages are employed in various episodes with forced subtitles on occasion.
- 1. China Town (1080p; 5:31)
- 2. Mei Mei (1080p; 4:58)
- 3. White Justice (1080p; 5:03)
- 4. Struck (1080p; 5:08)
- 5. Elixir of Life (1080p; 3:45)
- 6. Hungry Ghosts (1080p; 4:40)
- 7. False Prophets (1080p; 4:33)
Hell On Wheels: Season 5 Volume 1 can't quite hide the fact that it's struggling at times to set all the pieces in place for what may be a rather calamitous endgame. I personally found the reemergence of the Swede to be among the less effective gambits of this set of episodes, though it provides Mount and Heyerdahl a lot of great opportunities for vicious interchanges. The subplot with "Fong" and Cullen is rather sweet, giving the series a nice emotional tether that it sometimes lacks despite a hero who certainly is the very definition of angst-y. Technical merits continue to be strong, and Hell on Wheels: Season 5 Volume 1 comes Recommended.
2011-2012
2012
2013
with Character Cards
2013
2014
2015
2014
1939
Per un Pugno di Dollari
1964
1966
2015
1971
1950
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo
1966
1972
1930
1965
2014
C'era una volta il West / Paramount Presents #44
1968
1962
1956
1969
2001
1976
2010
50th Anniversary
1961