8.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
Ruthless and cunning, Congressman Francis Underwood and his wife Claire stop at nothing to conquer everything. This wicked political drama penetrates the shadowy world of greed, sex, and corruption in modern D.C. Kate Mara and Corey Stoll costar in the first original series from David Fincher and Beau Willimon
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly (V), Derek Cecil, Nathan DarrowDrama | 100% |
Dark humor | 74% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.00:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.00:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Four-disc set (4 BDs)
UV digital copy
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Welcome to Washington.
Modern adult-oriented television drama seems to have embraced dark tales of revenge, manipulation, a lust for power, and all kinds of evil conniving,
the entire character roster made up of a bunch of no good, hateful, spiteful, self-centered, win-at-all-costs personalities. The drama yield is undeniably
tense and relentless, and studios and filmmakers have been turning back the clock to explore these sorts of qualities. Programs like Spartacus and The Borgias are earning huge ratings and gaining significant followings
by detailing
the sordid lives of the morally corrupt from centuries past. But why go that far back in time when the modern American political landscape can do it
just as well, just as deviously, just as devilishly, just as dramatically deliciously? House of Cards, a Netflix original Drama, tells the story of a
wronged U.S. Congressman who will stop at nothing to work the system, hurt his enemies, and only help those who can help him. It's not quite so
scandalous, sexy, or violent as those other programs, but it does beautifully cover similar ground and does a fine job of diving into the cesspool that is
modern American politics.
It's working.
House of Cards: The Complete First Season's digital shoot translates well to Blu-ray, though viewers who dislike the smooth, glossy sheen of HD photography won't be pleased. Sony's high definition presentation takes on that inorganic and very flat digital appearance. It's a rather dark and drab image on the whole, appearing regularly washed out and with muted colors. Only the occasional splash of bolder shades mix into an otherwise deliberately dreary and sterile palette. The image is quite stable, however, and naturally sharp all around. Details are excellent, with close-ups commanding the attention of even the most demanding videophiles with a natural complexity and ease of delivery that proves rather striking with every glance. Backgrounds and foregrounds alike enjoy nearly faultless precision, though some light banding is scattered around the season. Black levels are generally strong, with only the occasional hint of crush or push towards a purple-tinted shade. Additionally, sporadic noise appears across some darker backdrops. Flesh tones range from somewhat warm to very cold, largely depending on the surrounding light sources and styles. It's certainly not as attractive as film but it looks quite good for a sterile and unwelcoming digital production.
House of Cards: The Complete First Season arrives on Blu-ray with a rock-solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. It's surprisingly active and rich, with plenty of sonically interesting and intense moments that give an otherwise talk-heavy Drama some excitement. Dialogue plays firmly and accurately from the center, and for all the surrounding elements it never becomes lost or jumbled in the occasional mayhem. There's a very nice full-on power display with the opening title music. It plays with some very strong bass and fantastic spacing all around, including a robust surround support. The track incorporates some quality environmental effects, mostly in the form of hectic D.C. background sounds but also some more natural country atmosphere heard when Underwood returns to his home district in South Carolina. The track really springs to life with crowds; an outdoor party in chapter five features a very lively, very enveloping environment that's so alive with sound it practically places the listener in the middle of the excitement. Likewise, blaring protests on the other side of the street enjoy just as much activity and clarity. These and other more heavily charged elements give a nice shape to the presentation and ensure the listening audience is always right there in the middle of the action. All around, a fine track from Sony.
House of Cards: The Complete First Season contains no supplemental content.
House of Cards: The Complete First Season doesn't represent the pinnacle of the dark, morally bankrupt dealings and the people who engage in them sort of modern Drama that's all the rage, but it's a sound, balanced, smartly scripted, wonderfully acted, and fully addictive program about the dirty dealings in the nation's capital. Political junkies and ardent news and opinion absorbers who live and die by the headline, the candidate, the rally, the speech, and on election night will find it most appealing, but casual audiences might be turned off by the very real sense of being on the inside and the depth of the politics portrayed in the show. Sony's Blu-ray release of House of Cards: The Complete First Season features fine video and audio. However, no extras are included. Nevertheless, the release earns a recommendation for those who closely follow the world of politics.
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2011
1964
2001
2007
Includes Beanie
2014
House of Cards / To Play the King / The Final Cut
1990-1995
2007-2015
1999
1999-2006
2012
2006
2002-2008
Ultimate Collector's Edition
1975
2005
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
2014
2006
1970
The Convincer
2011
1939
1990