Australia Blu-ray

Australia

 (2008)

Adventure | Drama | War | Western



Set in Australia on the brink of World War II, Lady Sarah Ashley, an English Aristocrat (Kidman), travels to the faraway continent where she has inherited a cattle ranch, owned by her late husband. When Australian cattle barons plot to take her land, she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn local known as The Drover (Jackman) to drive 2,000 head of cattle across hundreds of miles of the country’s most unforgiving land, only to still face the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese forces that had attacked Pearl Harbor. When tragedy strikes and Lady Sarah becomes unofficial guardian to a “half-caste” boy, the unlikely couple must come to terms with a prejudiced society, dishonorable business associates and the impending arrival of the Japanese.

For more details about Australia on Blu-ray, see the Australia Blu-ray Review

Australia Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


20th Century Fox presents Australia on Blu-ray with a stunning 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. Generally, This is a fabulous transfer, often rivaling the best available on Blu-ray. Colors may be a bit warm with a red push, particularly in flesh tones, but it's incredibly clear and well defined, with a gorgeous color palette that stands out nicely, particularly the blues. The blue of the ocean, the outfit Sarah Ashely wears as she arrives in the Land Down Under, and even the blue of her eyes stand out with vivid precision that allows them to jump off the screen. Detail is often extraordinary; from the sandy, rocky terrain to the musky interiors of a bar, viewers are privy to the very finest of nuances to be seen in the film. It's truly a testament to the power of film, great cinematography, and the Blu-ray format to be witness to the weeds, rocks, and other natural wonders of the Outback with the level of clarity and resolution as found on this disc. The transfer is generally nothing short of beautiful; film grain adds a bit of a cinematic feel to the proceedings. Its presence is never intrusive and it is rarely seen in abundance. On the downside, black levels are sporadically spotty, tending towards a very dark shade of gray, but only in a few scenes. Banding is extremely minimal but noticeable in a few shots. A few scenes also reveal less-than-stellar levels of detail in faces; at times, detail looks washed away in several close-ups. Still, these very minor blemishes are more likely inherent to the film itself rather than some hiccup on the film's way to Blu-ray. There seems no cause for knocking the transfer, and the awe-inspiring imagery seen during the vast majority of the film is worthy of the perfect score the video receives.

Australia Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


Australia features a high quality DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The film's rousing score consistently serves as one of the audio highlights; it plays effortlessly and fills the soundstage with vigor, its reproduction clear as a bell and a joy to behold. The track offers plenty of minor environmental ambience -- blowing winds, for example -- that travel nicely around the listening area. Surrounds aren't put to full use in every scene, but they do come in to support the track when needed and offer the occasional discrete effect, all of which allows for the track to create a nearly seamless environment. The track often features thunderous bass, particularly when herds of cattle or horses pound their hooves on the dusty, barren terrain. No surprise, though, the sonic highlight of the film comes during the war sequences. Japanese Zeros scream across the sky and swoop through the listening area; machine gun fire and explosions rattle the windows and bring a powerful, engaging listening experience to the final act of the film. Dialogue is also strong and accurately delivered. While not quite on the same level of excellence as the film's visuals, this lossless soundtrack delivers the goods and serves as a fine compliment to the Australia experience.

Australia Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Today on Blu-ray - March 3rd - March 3, 2009


• Australia Announced for Blu-ray Release - January 14, 2009

Australia Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

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