8.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
Joel and Ellie, a pair connected through the harshness of the world they live in, are forced to endure brutal circumstances and ruthless killers on a trek across post-pandemic America.
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Kaitlyn DeverAdventure | 100% |
Thriller | 18% |
Horror | 17% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
German: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps)
Czech: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, French, German SDH, Italian SDH, Japanese, Spanish, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Swedish
Blu-ray Disc
Four-disc set (4 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
The Last of Us was released in video game form long enough ago that it debuted on the Playstation 3, which in and of itself may offer comforting memories of a bygone age when things like global pandemics seemed like either ancient history (as in the so-called "Spanish Flu") or some kind of, well, apocalyptic doomsday prophesying by some cable television madman. Well, as anyone can tell you, cable television madmen still abound by the scores, but any "blather" about a worldwide disease wiping out millions of people may not seem quite as "ancient" in the history department nowadays. That intervening time span and all that occurred within it between the video game's premiere in 2013 and this HBO television adaptation no doubt only added to the visceral intensity of a series that may flirt with some aspects of The Walking Dead, but which is undoubtedly its own singular creation.
Note: Screenshots are sourced from HBO's 1080 release of the series. This package does not include 1080 discs.
The Last of Us: The Complete First Season is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of HBO and Warner Brothers Home Entertainment with an HEVC /
H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.78:1. The IMDb lists the Arri Alexa Mini and a 4K DI as relevant data points. Longtime readers of my reviews know
that Arri Alexa captures are not always my favorite, at least when compared to some other cameras that I simply seem to prefer for some reason, but
this is one stunning looking series in 4K. Yes, the increased resolution probably adds to the artificiality of some of the CGI, but there is still a disturbing
verisimilitude to a lot of what is depicted, and I'd argue that all of the practical elements in the production attain some noticeable improvements in fine
detail and palette highlights courtesy of HDR and/or Dolby Vision. There can still be some pretty murky dark scenes (Episode Three in particular comes
to mind), but even that aspect is at least marginally improved in the 4K UHD presentation. What repeatedly struck me throughout this season was not
necessarily the signs of carnage, which are plentiful and frequently quite disturbing, but instead some of the breathtaking grandeur that Joel and Ellie
pass through, all of which looks stunning in 4K, even if I suspect some of the grandeur may have been achieved digitally.
The Last of Us: The Complete First Season offers an impressive Dolby Atmos track that consistently employs all of the surround channels with really nicely rendered "real" ambient environmental effects, coupled with some of the more frightening effects concocted for the series in terms of some of the clicker activities and other quasi-zombie material. The wealth of outdoor material lends itself to some nicely spacious sound design where the Atmos track can "breathe". Gustavo Santaolalla, who also scored the original video game, contributes an effective score which also populates the surround channels quite winningly. Dynamic range is very wide throughout the season, and all dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly. A few forced subtitles can appear during some non-English speaking moments, but there are optional subtitles available in a glut of languages.
All four discs offer some really interesting Inside the Episode featurettes, most of which include interviews with the principal cast and crew.
Many of these do have spoiler material, but they also are rather informative on any number of issues.
Disc One
- Gabriel Luna (HD; 3:46)
- Merle Dandridge (HD; 2:25)
- Nick Offerman & Murray Bartlett (HD; 4:41)
- Pedro Pascal & Bella Ramsey (HD; 4:45)
- Pedro Pascal & Bella Ramsey (HD; 5:12)
- Merle Dandridge & Gabriel Luna (HD; 2:40)
- The Last Debrief with Troy Baker #1 (HD; 5:10)
- The Last Debrief with Troy Baker #2 (HD; 6:12)
- The Last Debrief with Troy Baker #3 (HD; 6:01)
- The Last Debrief with Troy Baker #5 (HD; 7:04)
Fans of The Walking Dead who may have gone into a bit of a withdrawal situation when that series ended may find more than a suitable alternative with The Last of Us, even if this show is not really about zombies, per Troy Baker. I'm frankly not that big of a fan of your everyday zombie story, but I have to say The Last of Us totally captivated me and provided both scares and heartbreak in about equal measure. Technical merits are first rate and the supplements very enjoyable. Highly recommended.
2024
2024
2015
Includes "Silent Space" version
2013
Extended Edition
2015
Collector's Edition
2021
1995
2015
2009
10th Anniversary Edition
2006
2014
2015
2023
2006
2014-2017
2015
2015
2017
2011
1960