7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A mighty warrior and a young boy search for enlightenment in a ruthless territory controlled by feudal barons.
Starring: Daniel Wu, Orla Brady, Sarah Bolger, Aramis Knight, Emily BeechamMartial arts | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Into the Badlands' first season almost feels like an extended trial run, a test to gauge interest. At six episodes in length, it's certainly shorter than most any television season out there. But considering its ten episode sophomore outing and a 16-episode-strong third season on the way, consider that test passed. Aced? Eh, probably not, but definitely passed. Into the Badlands takes the post-apocolptic genre down some new and interesting paths, essentially turning back the clock and turning up some fictionalized bits and pieces to give the show a unique flavor and a setting quite unlike anything anyone has seen before. A blend of future-set apocalyptic grim, medieval feudalism, steampunk, and samurai, all the while absent firearms, the show certainly gives viewers an interesting glimpse at its manufactured but unquestionably distinctive setting for a future that's familiarly structured and ever-violent. It's certainly not going to be everyone's proverbial cup of tea, and it does make fairly standard modern TV drama a core part of its narrative ebbs and flows, but all of the new and unusual support elements and environment definition counterbalance any stale dramatic angles and make the show well worth a look-see.
Into the Badlands: The Complete First Season was shot digitally, and Anchor Bay's 1080p transfer will certainly remind viewers with every shot. It's very smooth and flat and delivers dense noise of various intensities that is visible even during bright daytime exteriors, which are often showcases for blown-out highlights across the sky. Colors are pushed very hard. Contrast is over pumped, often to near comic levels, resulting in a seriously hot, hard-pushing, and heavily oversaturated image. Some color bleeding is to be expected as well. Detailing is fairly strong, though, even with the image's somewhat pasty façade. Facial textures are richly complex in close-up. Sunny's leatherette coat shows tangible wear and material density. Facial hair is complex by-the-strand. Environments are very sharp and refined. Old cars, motorcycles, and other weathered mechanical equipment shine. Black levels are fair, affected by the overcooked contrast, ditto flesh tones. Beyond the extreme noise, no serious source or compression issues are apparent. All of that said, though, things appear to be in working order as the filmmakers intended.
Into the Badlands: The Complete First Season features a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Anchor Bay's presentation doesn't do much to distinguish itself. It's not all that extreme, not working particularly hard to push and offer a full-throttled sort of listen. Music often sounds as if held back a bit in reserve, offering good extension to the sides but not offering the sort of high energy aggression one might expect, particularly with its more sharp-edged score. Still, width pleases, and the track finds a satisfying extension to action scenes where swooshes, hits, falls, screams, clanks, and other non-firearm battles engage with all the proper detail, precision spacing, elemental distinction, and sound placement one would expect. Atmospherics are frequently pleasing, offering quality supportive immersion that draws the listener into a number of locations, whether serene exteriors or the training grounds inside the Baron's complex. Dialogue delivers strong clarity, prioritization, and proper front-side placement.
Into the Badlands: The Complete First Season contains all of its supplemental content on disc two. A UV digital copy code is included with
purchase.
Into the Badlands has it all. It's a trailblazer of a show that features Barons who are essentially kings, Clippers who are essentially warriors, a few mavericks, a lot of dramatic heat, certainly some magic and arguably a few wizards, even steam-powered pistons. Shoot, there might be a few pelicans and hawks. But there are definitely no Raptors or Knicks. In all seriousness, the show is well put together. It does dabble in some dramatic cliché, but it's a very visceral and largely unique show that turns the post-apocalyptic style on its head and puts together a construct of different pieces that are, together, uniquely singular. It's a quality show that won't appeal to all but that will speak loudly to many who give it a fair shake. Into the Badlands: The Complete First Season features solid video and audio along with a healthy allotment of extra content. Recommended.
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