7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
This epic adventure follows a young Marco Polo, who finds himself in the court of the great Kublai Khan and must navigate a world of greed, betrayal and sexual intrigue as the Mongol leader wages a bloody campaign to become Emperor of the World.
Starring: Lorenzo Richelmy, Benedict Wong, Olivia Cheng (II), Joan Chen, Zhu Zhu (II)History | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
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
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The adult television market is flooded almost to the point of gross over saturation. With the expansion of satellite television to countless channels and the quick growth of on-demand outlets that are no longer content to regurgitate everyone else's programming, there are more airways, and digital streams, to fill than ever before. Add in the wild success of programs like The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad or, more apropos to Marco Polo, Rome, Spartacus, and Game of Thrones and suddenly everyone has their own next can't miss, sprawling show that's equal parts reimagined history, intrigue, violence, and nudity. Yet for every smash success there's a deluge of decent-to-forgettable would-be favorites that span everything from ancient history to brainy Sci-Fi. Marco Polo is a Netflix (House of Cards) original that falls into that second-class category. Its subject is not an obscure historical figure but one who is better known for a swimming pool game than he is for his historically important exploits in the Far East. Netflix's program attempts to tell his story, with the obligatory sprawl of dark politics, unsavory characters, epic violence, and rampant sex, but it never much distinguishes itself and feels manufactured to fit a style and regurgitate genre trope rather than tell a story of any value that will enrich audiences and leave them satisfied beyond feasting on television scraps.
The king and I.
Explore Marco Polo: Season One on Blu-ray via an oftentimes striking 1080p and somewhat unique and wide(r) 2.00:1-framed transfer (as opposed to the more standardized 1.78:1 modern TV ratio). Image clarity is excellent thanks to a tight, well defined digitally sourced picture that's impeccably clean and endlessly revealing. Terrain looks amazing. Sandy and rock floors, heavily textures rock faces, grasses, and trees appear as complexly defined as the format allows. Ornate clothing textures are the standout. Every stitch and seam and adornment are revealingly complex and tactile. The transfer reveals every bit of gruff stubble on Polo's face with amazing definition. Pores, lines, scars, makeup, and other facial details are likewise superbly presented across the character roster. Even lower light locations, like Khan's throne room, show amazingly intricate details. Scuffs and wear on the tile floor, for example, are endlessly revealing. Colors are excellent, again both in bright exterior light and dimmer interiors lit, usually, by slits of sunlight or some scattered candles and small flames. Primaries pop and earthy support elements, like sand and rocks, are terrific. Black levels are deep, shadow details are excellent, and flesh tones are not problematic. Trace amounts of noise and banding are present but hardly warrant more than a passing mention. Overall, this is another top quality image from Anchor Bay that approaches the reference excellence of Black Sails.
Marco Polo: Season One travels onto Blu-ray with an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Music is big and spacious, presenting with terrific clarity across a nice array of styles. The low end is deep, surrounds are engaged with balance, and definition is excellent at the top and the midrange. There's no shortage of exciting and well defined support elements. A blustery cold wind pushes through the stage, for example, all but frosting the speakers and chilling the listener. Booming thunder is deep and rolls accurately throughout the stage to create a natural sensation. Galloping horses, immersive combat, and other more action-oriented elements are terrific, particularly at the bottom where LFE is well defined and powerful. Gentler atmospherics, such as light natural exterior details and reverberating dialogue in Khan's throne room, are accurate and make natural use of every speaker in the five-channel configuration. Basic dialogue is strong with center focus and consistent verbal clarity. Prioritization is never an issue.
Marco Polo: Season One contains several bonuses on disc three, more than the average Anchor Bay-released TV show Blu-ray.
Marco Polo brings with it fresh scenery and oftentimes soaring technical attributes but little more to the overcrowded TV landscape. Character definition never soars and the dramatic elements -- both overt and those that lurk below the surface -- can't escape a sense of repetitiveness that leaves it feeling like a Johnny (or Marco, in this case) come lately looking to capitalize on a thriving market rather than bring anything new to it. It's a perfectly serviceable show, but it doesn't go out of its way to distinguish itself beyond the façade. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Marco Polo: Season One features excellent video and audio. Supplements are a little more in-depth than the average Anchor Bay-released TV Blu-ray package. Fans should have no qualms about adding it to their collections, particularly considering the uptick in quality and collectible value over the general Netflix stream.
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