- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,409
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Time being of the essence, I missed the first three seasons of Breaking Bad, although I'd heard very positive things about it.
When Season Four was announced for Blu-ray, which is my preferred means of viewing for all long-form episodic broadcast, especially cable, I asked my son for his opinion. And was told that I "needed" to see it, as it was possibly the best thing on broadcast.
I further realized that I couldn't simply jump into Season Four, and have any idea what was going on, and began with a sampling of episodes from the first three seasons, in order to follow the story-line.
I can confirm, that without prior knowledge, I would have been lost.
Now that I've been able to view the first few episodes of Season Four, I'm impressed.
Very impressed,
By the writing, the plot-line, which occasionally meanders a la Lost, with shots that come up episodes in advance, without meaning, that take shape as the season continues...
The cinematography -- the pilot episode got off to an incredible start, as the producers brought in John Toll behind the camera. It doesn't get much better.
Audio, which tends to be a bit folded in when viewing on a TV sized monitor without 5.1, expands notably when played back on a full system. I should mention that I generally watch (and review) TV and cable programming on a basic system -- 50 or 55" flat panel, and either just left and right audio, or occasionally surrounds. Never a sub.
When viewing product created for TV, it must be realized that there are stylistic differences to feature films. Hardly as much as it was a decade ago, when monitor sizes were far smaller, but different nonetheless. There is a general lack of extreme long shots, or even medium long shots, and a tendency to go more to a closer view. Understandable, when the majority of the audience will be viewing on around 32".
On a nominal 50" monitor, the image of Breaking Bad is superb. It's shot on 35mm 3-perf film, which gives it a bit smoother look than most digital imagery, and is finished in HD.
Bump it up, and things begin to change, but just a bit.
Where some entities may have tried to save a bit of budget, knowing that broadcast in 1080i isn't going to be problematic regardless of how image is completed, the team behind Breaking Bad holds things together. Kick the image up to over 90" and just a couple of things are noticed. A bit of banding in fades, and the very slightest bit of sharpening -- walking up the screen and looking for it, sharpening.
Nothing problematic.
So even in projection, the image holds up very nicely. Audio becomes a totally different experience. As an example, in the opening sequence, "Box Cutter," David Costabile, who plays Gale, is opening some large crates. As he cuts the strapping, and sides fall away, we get a real jolt as they hit the floor, and then...
and this is what got my attention...
foam peanuts come flying out of the packaging, and they can be heard, flying and landing.
Very nicely done.
I'm certain that I don't need to go into performances from Bryan Cranston (who also directed episodes), Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, or the ever-dangerous Jonathan Banks. Suffice to say, performances are spectacular across the board.
Great series, that goes places that are unexpected in a darkly humorous way.
Beautifully produced Blu-rays, that are unfortunately making some of the most recent very high-end catalog releases pale in comparison.
Glad I finally got the chance to make Mr. White's acquaintance.
Highly Recommended.
RAH
When Season Four was announced for Blu-ray, which is my preferred means of viewing for all long-form episodic broadcast, especially cable, I asked my son for his opinion. And was told that I "needed" to see it, as it was possibly the best thing on broadcast.
I further realized that I couldn't simply jump into Season Four, and have any idea what was going on, and began with a sampling of episodes from the first three seasons, in order to follow the story-line.
I can confirm, that without prior knowledge, I would have been lost.
Now that I've been able to view the first few episodes of Season Four, I'm impressed.
Very impressed,
By the writing, the plot-line, which occasionally meanders a la Lost, with shots that come up episodes in advance, without meaning, that take shape as the season continues...
The cinematography -- the pilot episode got off to an incredible start, as the producers brought in John Toll behind the camera. It doesn't get much better.
Audio, which tends to be a bit folded in when viewing on a TV sized monitor without 5.1, expands notably when played back on a full system. I should mention that I generally watch (and review) TV and cable programming on a basic system -- 50 or 55" flat panel, and either just left and right audio, or occasionally surrounds. Never a sub.
When viewing product created for TV, it must be realized that there are stylistic differences to feature films. Hardly as much as it was a decade ago, when monitor sizes were far smaller, but different nonetheless. There is a general lack of extreme long shots, or even medium long shots, and a tendency to go more to a closer view. Understandable, when the majority of the audience will be viewing on around 32".
On a nominal 50" monitor, the image of Breaking Bad is superb. It's shot on 35mm 3-perf film, which gives it a bit smoother look than most digital imagery, and is finished in HD.
Bump it up, and things begin to change, but just a bit.
Where some entities may have tried to save a bit of budget, knowing that broadcast in 1080i isn't going to be problematic regardless of how image is completed, the team behind Breaking Bad holds things together. Kick the image up to over 90" and just a couple of things are noticed. A bit of banding in fades, and the very slightest bit of sharpening -- walking up the screen and looking for it, sharpening.
Nothing problematic.
So even in projection, the image holds up very nicely. Audio becomes a totally different experience. As an example, in the opening sequence, "Box Cutter," David Costabile, who plays Gale, is opening some large crates. As he cuts the strapping, and sides fall away, we get a real jolt as they hit the floor, and then...
and this is what got my attention...
foam peanuts come flying out of the packaging, and they can be heard, flying and landing.
Very nicely done.
I'm certain that I don't need to go into performances from Bryan Cranston (who also directed episodes), Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, or the ever-dangerous Jonathan Banks. Suffice to say, performances are spectacular across the board.
Great series, that goes places that are unexpected in a darkly humorous way.
Beautifully produced Blu-rays, that are unfortunately making some of the most recent very high-end catalog releases pale in comparison.
Glad I finally got the chance to make Mr. White's acquaintance.
Highly Recommended.
RAH
