7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Survivors of a devastating flu pandemic try to rebuild their lives after losing everything.
Starring: Joe Pingue, Mackenzie Davis, Danielle Deadwyler, Himesh Patel, Jenny YoungDrama | 100% |
Mystery | 57% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.00:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.00:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 0.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Love it, like it, or really not care for it, one must at least appreciate Station Eleven for approaching what is becoming a fairly well-worn genre from a different perspective. The HBO MAX miniseries, which premiered in December 2021, is sourced from Emily St. John Mandel's novel of the same name. The program follows the story of a young girl's life through the trials and efforts at rediscovering normalcy in the decades following a deadly pandemic with an exceedingly high mortality rate. But rather than a The Last of Us-style journey through physical terror, this show is more concerned with picking up the pieces in the aftermath, though with much of the pain, destruction, and emotional upheaval still lingering freshly on the surface. It's rock-solid content and it is translated exceedingly well to the miniseries medium.
The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.
The menu screen doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, but the improvements to resolution and color grading are evident even at this
juncture, offering hope that actually watching the show at the 2160p resolution and with Dolby Vision color grading applied will result in an image better
than even the well-regarded Blu-ray. Upon beginning the show, this transfer's wares are evident right out of
the gate. Look at the overgrown auditorium. A shot at the 50-second mark is particularly noteworthy as an early example that shows the sharper
resolution's benefits to more exactingly clear and robust foliage while the Dolby Vision grading reveals superior greens illuminated by random points of
overhead sunlight, contrasted with superior shadow details and black level depth in the image's darker corners. It's a beautiful shot and fine example of
the UHD's improvements over the Blu-ray. Similar gains for the UHD are in evidence throughout. The picture thrives on this format, offering
super-sharp definition across the full spectrum of elements, including the well-worn odds and ends that have been weathered and not well maintained
over the years, allowing the audience a very real, tangible sense of how the world has changed through the precisely crafted production design
elements. Of course, facial features and basic clothing elements are a wonder and well beyond the Blu-ray for razor sharpness and textural precision.
Colors remain energized for vividness and fullness but also depth and accuracy through both low-light interiors and sunbaked exteriors as well. Black
level depth, which was one of the main drawbacks from the Blu-ray, is much better here. Source and encode artifacts are practically zero. This is a very
positive step forward and assuredly worth the small upcharge from the Blu-ray.
Paramount seems to be inching away from Dolby Atmos with some of its new releases (Devotion being another recent example) but this more traditionally oriented DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is nevertheless every bit the delight one would expect. The track offers some significantly impactful audio cues throughout the ten episodes. Listeners will be frequently impressed by depth and subwoofer's usage and management, the ability for the surrounds to carry a significant load without overpowering the fronts, and the overall balance with which the track presents its wares. Enviornmental supports are delightful as well, including dense sounds on a subway in the first episode and various exteriors throughout the show, whether in calm moments, during stage productions, and through some action in other spots. Surround engagement is always welcome and balanced here and overall elemental priority is in good working order, including with dialogue, which is always clear and center positioned.
No supplemental content is included. No Blu-ray or digital copies are included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover. Beyond a basic menu screen, it's as bare bones they come.
Station Eleven takes the favorite post-apocalyptic genre and weaves together a tale that is at once both familiar and novel. It looks at how the world moves on, even in devastation, and how important past normalcy is to forward progress in the wake of disaster. Of course, nothing is normal, even within the appearance of normal -- theater, in this case -- and the show's lifeblood is in that contrast between the familiar and the unfamiliar. Character depth, production values, acting, and visuals are all also top-of-the-line, making this one of the better shows of the year, and of its kind. The UHD is featureless, sadly, but the video is fantastic and the audio presentation is also very good. Recommended.
10th Anniversary Edition
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The George Lucas Director's Cut
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2nd Corrected BD Pressing UPC Sticker 715515270212
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Arrow Academy
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