8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Action | 100% |
War | 47% |
Drama | 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
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 2.0
English SDH, French, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
It can get downright confusing when discussing British television series due to that very word — series, which in British parlance can refer
to
what we dunderheaded Americans typically call a “season”. In that regard, some may wonder about Strike Back: Cinemax Season Six
(as
it’s been branded on this release), since may online data keepers actually refer to this set of episodes as the seventh “series” (in British
terminology) of the show. While I “inherited” Strike Back as a review item starting with its fourth season (i.e., of Blu-ray releases in the
United States) and therefore can't authoritatively discuss what was included on the domestic Blu-ray releases of the previous three seasons, it
appears that the discrepancy is
due to the fact that there was an initial series that aired in the United Kingdom before Cinemax got involved with the show starting with its second
season (and/or series), a series (and/or season) which made it to the United States as
Strike Back: Season One (is everything becoming as clear as mud now?). Compounding the confusion with this particular show is the
fact that the UK series (meaning
seasons, of course) all had subtitles to differentiate them, so that the second series (which became the first season on this side of the
pond)
was also known as Project Dawn, and all subsequent years (see what I did there?) also having descriptive subtitles. In that regard, this
sixth
or seventh season (depending on who’s counting) was branded as Strike Back: Silent War in the UK, but because things can never be
simple, was apparently marketed as Strike Back: Revolution in the United States, though the discs in this set carry no such sobriquet.
Our reviews of the previous whatever you want to call them of Strike Back can be accessed by clicking on the following links:
Strike Back: Season One Blu-ray review
Strike Back: Season Two Blu-ray review
Strike Back: Season Three Blu-ray review
Strike Back: Season Four Blu-ray review
Strike Back: Season Five Blu-ray review
Strike Back: Season Six is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of HBO Home Entertainment and Cinemax with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. This year follows in the same excellent tradition of the previous Blu-ray releases of this show I've covered, with typically very sharp and well detailed imagery, especially in some of the really nicely realized outdoor location shots. Some of the urban cityscapes in some episodes are vertiginous but breathtaking, and the subtle palette highlights in pinks and violets can be very evocative. This season (and/or series) tends to feature almost jaundiced looking yellows and even yellow-greens a lot of the time, something that can inherently make things look unnatural (especially in terms of some of the fleshtones), but which perhaps subliminally suggests a fetid jungle atmosphere. There are a few passing deficits in shadow detail in some nighttime or dimly lit interior scenes.
Strike Back: Season Six has a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that, like the video element mentioned above, follows a tradition of excellence fostered by its Blu-ray predecessors. This is a consistently energetic and effects filled track courtesy of the show's frequent set pieces. I'd argue that some of the hand to hand combat effects are at least as expressive as the showier explosions that also dot many (most? all?) episodes, and there's both great directionality as well as sufficient low end when, for example, one of our heroes (or heroines) is thrown headlong into various objects, resulting in the destruction of said object (I reference Alin Sumarata's memorable quote about such aspects, above). With everything from careening seaplanes to zooming military vehicles, there is plenty of surround activity in this very enjoyable track. Dialogue, effects and score are all presented without any problems whatsoever.
Both discs offer Declassified featurettes on each episode on that disc (see below), many of which, while brief, are very entertaining.
Disc One
Strike Back by any other name (or number) doesn't really pretend to be anything other than an adrenaline soaked adventure tale that manages to work in a few putative narrative elements until the next big explosion, gunfight or hand to hand combat situation occurs, and that's just fine. I actually really enjoyed this year, which offered an unusual subplot involving triads, along with some really cool location work. The focal trio are fun and often funny, and the show delivers a lot of energy in regular bursts. Technical merits are solid, and Strike Back: Season Six comes Recommended.
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