Sherlock-Complete Series Three (Blu-ray) (2013)

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General		Extras
Category	Thriller	Main Menu Audio & Animation Featurette-Behind The Scenes-3
Rating
Year Of Production	2013
Running Time	261:41 (Case: 307)
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Dual Disc Set	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Paul McGuigan
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Benedict Cumberbatch Martin Freeman
Case	?
RPI	?	Music	Michael Price David Arnold

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English DTS HD Master Audio 5.1
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080i
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Sherlock Holmes is a character who has been brought to television and the cinema many times over recent years (and for many years in the past). The most recent versions are the US series, Elementary starring Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu, the movies starring Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law and this BBC series, Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. For me this is the best of the three versions despite the attractions of the other two. Benedict Cumberbatch is a marvellous Holmes, weird, difficult, annoying, infuriating and incredibly perceptive. This series has been going now since 2010 but has so far only produced three seasons with a total of nine movie length episodes. A fourth season is slated for 2016.

    This season starts two years after the end of the previous season with Dr Watson (Martin Freeman) having moved on since the 'death' of Holmes, settling down and heading towards marriage with Mary Morstan (Amanda Abbington). The first episode focuses on Holmes resurrection and the various theories about how he managed to survive the fall. The second episode focuses on the wedding of Dr Watson and the third introduces a new villain, Charles Augustus Magnussen (Lars Mikkelsen), a media magnate who gets what he wants by having extensive files of blackmail material. The second and third episodes are probably amongst the best of the entire show's history, however, unfortunately the first episode seems a little flat by comparison. It probably focuses too much on the various theories about the fall and doesn't offer enough forward momentum. Despite this by the time the series finishes you are left wanting more and certainly looking forward to the next season.

    This set includes all three, 90 minute episodes across two Blu-ray discs. An interesting piece of trivia is that the series was created and is written by Mark Gattis, the actor who plays Sherlock's brother Mycroft and Stephen Moffat who is also heavily involved in the new Doctor Who. The series has high production values and is always visually interesting with on screen text, interesting camera tricks and angles and more to add to the quality acting and writing.

    Highly Recommended.

Video

    The video quality is very good.

    The feature is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is unfortunately only 1080i.

    The picture was quite clear and sharp throughout but affected by motion blur.

    The colour is excellent, with no issues to report.

    There was some minor aliasing at times.

    There are subtitles in English for the Hearing Impaired which are easy to read.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The audio quality is good.

    This disc contains an English DTS HD-MA 5.1 soundtrack.

    Dialogue was not overly clear and easy to hear and understand at times with the subtitles proving useful.

    The score is excellent adding significantly to the atmosphere and the setting.

    The surround speakers were used for a atmosphere and music mostly, although added to various crowd and action scenes at times.

    The subwoofer was used occasionally to support the music and gunshots.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Menu

    The menu features some of the music.

Fans, Villains & Speculation (15:52) 

    A quality featurette covering the cast and crew, writing, characters, the stories, the influence of the books, the comedy used and the way they portray the deductions on screen. Interesting and well worth watching.

Shooting Sherlock (13:30) 

The Fall (13:23) 

.

    Our local release is the same as the UK one.

    The video quality is very good.

    The audio quality is good.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall