6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
An unlikely trio sets out to save their homeland, Four Lands, when it's threatened by a grave danger. Adapted from the book series by Terry Brooks.
Starring: Austin Butler, Poppy Drayton, Ivana Baquero, Manu Bennett, Aaron JakubenkoFantasy | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 88% |
Adventure | 87% |
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: Dolby Digital 2.0 (256 kbps)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Turning books into films or TV shows is hardly a new idea, but recent history has shown the visual entertainment industry capitalizing not only on adult-oriented novels but also from the plethora of Young Adult books on the marketplace. From the supernatural (Twilight) to the dystopian (The 5th Wave, Maze Runner, The Hunger Games), it seems a new YA book is brought to life on the screen every few months. The Shannara Chronicles differs from the filmed form, bringing an entire series to life as a TV show instead of a single title as part of a feature film or series. It also brings life to an epic Fantasy originally written for an Adult audience -- actually beginning with book two -- as a TV series aimed at an MTV teen audience. This series also alters the norm for the Fantasy genre with a setting on a futuristic Earth instead of a distant world or long-lost bit of Earth. In that way, The Shannara Chronicles blends elements of both the Dystopian and Fantasy genres together into an interesting mix with Tolkien-ish characters and quests against a backdrop viewers are more accustomed to seeing in a Science Fiction film like Planet of the Apes.
The Shannara Chronicles: Season One's Blu-ray transfer holds up nicely, though its somewhat more limited production values become clear under the 1080p microscope. Source noise is fairly prevalent, running rampant in darker corners at times but, on the whole, it's not a serious distraction. Contrast seems to vary wildly throughout the show. It occasionally looks sickly green-tinted while at other junctures it pushes warm, bronze, or blue. Neutrality is rare, but that doesn't prevent bright red blood or natural greens, as varied as the latter can be sometimes within the same sequence, from looking fairly true. Saturation is certainly never a problem, even under some poorly lit interiors or overcast exteriors. Detail is quite good, with skin in particular showing off fine freckles, scruff, pores, and imperfections with impressive easy and clarity. Environments are nicely textured, too, perhaps not quite as finely as one might find on a top-shelf digital source but there's not a lot of room for complaint. Black levels can be a little soupy but never to the point of excess crush. Flesh tones switch about with the changes in contrast. Overall, given the show's look, the Blu-ray impresses much more than it disappoints.
The Shannara Chronicles: Season One features a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack that pleases but never approaches the top-shelf audio of the finest releases. Dialogue is by-and-large acceptable, though the program does occasionally struggle with bursts of noticeable murkiness and shallowness, a mild garbled sensation than doesn't render the spoken word unintelligible, just less than lifelike. Positioning in the center and prioritization are largely fine, however. The series' opening title music presents with what sounds like some deliberate scratchiness for effect, but front end width is fine and clarity is otherwise excellent. Surrounds carry some environmental ambience and action scenes open up the stage nicely enough. The low end kicks in with a good bit of rattly and rumbly force when called upon, and action scenes yield positive definition through the range of elements presented.
The Shannara Chronicles: Season One contains its supplemental content on disc two. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.
Everything about The Shannara Chronicles cries "mediocre." Mediocre acting, mediocre visuals, mediocre production values, mediocre story. It's fine for what it is, a second-rate TV show that's boosted only by the fairly unique combination of elements that drive it forward. Otherwise, TV watchers aren't missing much, particularly considering the deluge of TV shows on today's grossly oversaturated marketplace. The Shannara Chronicles: Season One features solid video, good but occasionally troubled audio, and a few decent extras. Worth a look.
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