[BBC] Bleak House

[cherbert]

For anyone interested I have just had delivered the UK BBC / 2-Entertain release of Bleak House on Blu-Ray disc. I can confirm that not only is it multi-region but the picture quality is gobsmackingly gorgeous!!!! Got to be the most detailed picture I have seen yet on Blu-Ray!

[depooter]

how many BDs? what are the extras? where did you order it from?

[Grubert]

Also, are there any subtitles?

Thanks!

[cherbert]

I got it from Amazon.co.uk

3 Disks (1 x BD50, 2 x BD25)
Format: 1080i / 16:9
Length: 461 Minutes
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English LPCM Stereo
Region Code: A,B,C

Interviews with Gillian Anderson, Denis Lawson and Charles Dance.

Audio Commentaries with Writer Andrew Davies, Producer Nigel Stafford-Clark and Directors Justin Chadwick and Susanna White.

& a Photo Gallery.

(All Special Features are in Standard Definition)

[donaldheil]

I've never heard about BLEAK HOUSE before. When I was looking for something attractive in Blu Ray, UK exclusive, I found this one.

My hunger for all (good) things blu, and the fact that the series has been rated above 9 on metacritic.com and imdb.com, and has 5 stars with over 100 ratings in amazon, convinced me there must be something good.

Gladly, I was very pleased with the product.

Beginning with the content itself, the series has high production values (regarding sets, costumes and make up) and excellent casting. Each actor has been chosen to fit perfectly the character. Moreover, the acting is top-notch. I don't remember a single false move in the performances. The camera work, throgh very precise close-ups, show perfectly the emotion expresed by each actor, enhancing their good job.

The image quality is stunning. Never mind that it's only 1080 i. You can't expect more. Regarding the audio, its only LPCM stereo, and could be taken as a low point, but everything is heard clearly.

The series is spread in three discs, 5 half-hour chapters each one (except chapter 1, one hour).

Some people would dismiss the content of the series as plain soap opera. But you'd wish all the soap operas would be based on Charles Dickens!. I must admit that in the middle part, the series turn a little slow, and it's there where it's mostly "soap-opera-ish". But the last 5 chapters are a good compensation, and I think the result, overall, is of the highest standars.

So if you want something good (something with message, a story that puts in the balance money and pride, against true love and caring for the needy) and you hunger for a quality image that will enhance your experience, this is the best gift you can give to yourself.

Note: as stated by others, the set is Region Free, and I got my copy on e-bay. You can also get it throgh amazon.uk.

[Deciazulado]

Blu-ray.com Review of the 3-disc set US BBC release (should be the same).

[overmatik]

You can buy the Boxset at Amazon.co.uk for £13.93. Real bargain compared to Amazon.com.

[S_Dalsgaard]

Thanks for the info mate. It has been somewhere on my to-buy list for a while, but perhaps I should bump it up a little

[overmatik]

Originally Posted by S_Dalsgaard

Thanks for the info mate. It has been somewhere on my to-buy list for a while, but perhaps I should bump it up a little

You won't regret, I'm sure. And waiting for The X-files in Blu!

[popcultureboy]

So everything the BBC releases through 2 Entertain is in 1080i? My copies of Being Human series 1 and 2 arrived yesterday and I was disappointed to note they were in 1080i. It's even more disappointing to note this isn't a one off. I take it I can expect Hamlet to be the same?

[overmatik]

Originally Posted by popcultureboy

So everything the BBC releases through 2 Entertain is in 1080i? My copies of Being Human series 1 and 2 arrived yesterday and I was disappointed to note they were in 1080i. It's even more disappointing to note this isn't a one off. I take it I can expect Hamlet to be the same?

I think so, because they are made for TV, and digital TV is 1080i. I don't see that much difference, though.

[Goldengirl]

I've been holding off buying Little Dorrit until it came out in Blu, and I see it has an August release date in the UK, but I only have a Sony S550, so I need a region A player or for the disc to be region free.

[McCrutchy]

Are you all certain the BBC UK edition is not 1080i/50? I have BBC UK BDs in that format (Region ABC as well) and most US equipment won't play them.

[Wintermute]

Are the U.S. & U.K. releases identical in terms of encode & PQ?

Also, I see a few Amazon comments about the region-free set not working on U.S players -- and a bunch of comments about the 2nd (and sometimes 3rd) disc being defective (freezing up, not playing). But I'm not sure if it's U.S. or U.K copies that have that issue, or both -- so I'm not sure which to go for.

[Reiver]

Unfortunately this was an early bluray release that was converted from the original 25p recording to 29.970i with interlacing/interpolation before they started using 25i MBAFF encoded progressive to workaround the bluray spec authors negligence in missing out 25p.

So US and UK releases should be the same.

(The Cranford bluray was the same unfortunately but the Little Dorrit bluray was correct thankfully.)

[daycity]

It also, same as Little Dorrit, has an overly sharpened look to the picture. I bought both series and ended up selling them and getting the DVDs which although are lower res (obvs); have a much more natural look to them.