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[tab title="Movie Review"]
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Ronald D. Moore, the showrunner who turned a rebooted Battlestar Galactica into a modern classic series, is back again doing what he does best. This time, though, his aim is not for the stars. It’s 1743 Scotland by way of a postwar England circa 1945. Working with Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling Outlander series, Moore is back at it with a historical fantasy series that is equally a political drama, a sudsy soap opera, and a science-fiction saga that is presented from a woman’s point-of-view. If it sounds like it is destined to fail, think again, America. Outlander, at least in the eight episodes included in this half-season release, is bold, critical, and pretty damn impressive.
Claire Randall, played by Caitriona Balfe, was once a bold wartime nurse. Having not seen her husband, Frank (Tobias Menzies), but for 10 days during the last 5 years, the reunited couple decides to reconnect with a vacation in Scotland. Frank investigates his heritage. Claire does some soul searching among some pretty scenic views. It is this attention to detail that makes Outlander rise above some of its soap operatic tendencies in its opener. There is a part of the season opener that made me feel all "Lifetime" cable about it. It faded quickly and surprised me. The series takes its time and unrolls some magic of its own, making us interested in Frank and his past, as well as Claire, our heroine who soon becomes out of sync with her own time period.
After witnessing a modern Druid ritual among a set of standing stones on the hill of Craigh na Dun, Claire, only one day later, finds herself lured back to the standing stones to pick Forget-Me-Nots alone. There is a strange humming coming from within one of the rocks. She places her hand on the rock and finds herself waking in the middle of a skirmish between Redcoats and Highlander rebels. She then comes face to face with Frank's sinister double: Black Jack Randall, Captain of His Majesty's Dragoons, who tries to rape her. That’s right, her charming husband in 1945 has turned into a monster in 1743.
She is rescued by a mysterious Scotsman and taken to his unwashed company of men where she nurses the wounded Jamie (Sam Heughan), resuming her role as nurse during battle. And, in that manner, her adventure among the Scots begins. Co-starring Gary Lewis, Graham McTavish, Lotte Verbeek Bill Paterson, Duncan Lacroix, Grant O'Rourke, and Stephen Walters, Outlander’s cast is a relative wish list of top notch actors.
Outlander, with its author as a consultant, has a lot of character. It’s confident as a time-travelling adventure and stirring as it spins a political web that ensnares the audience. Armed to the teeth with wars that span two great distances, the series isn’t afraid to get bloody and, yes, pretty damn violent. In these eight episodes, the show goes from light to dark and back again with themes more developed than ever expected. For years, fans of the book series have been clamoring for a movie adaptation. I always felt that movie would disappoint. Moore helming a series for Starz, which seriously needs this to be exactly what it has already become, needs a new hit drama.
I feel the need to comment on the Balfe’s portrayal of Claire Randall. She’s a newcomer and her performance as the woman betrayed by her own time will be her breakout role. She is captivating and strong and this brings to light another issue that has been getting only slightly better in Hollywood over the past decade or so, which is the importance of having strong female characters onscreen. Moore, with his stellar work on Battlestar Galactica, knows how superb a female cast can be for viewers. What’s so impressive about Balfe’s performance is that it is just her; she really doesn’t have a large ensemble to feed off of. This alone should rocket her shining star into orbit around Hollywood.
With the mid-season break almost over (the second half of Season One airs this April), this collector’s edition allows you the chance to get caught up and lost in time with Outlander. Make this show your own ritual.
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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]
Blu-ray Details:
Available on Blu-ray - March 3, 2015
Screen Formats: 1.78:1
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Discs: 50GB Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (2 BDs); Digital copy
Region Encoding: A
Sony’s features a striking 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation that remains true to Moore and cinematographer David Higgs' intentions at every turn. Determined to accurately capture the cloud-cast light of the Scottish skies, the bleakness of the inhospitable, ever-changing weather, and the earthiness of the countryside, costumes and castle interiors, the showrunners deliver a lifelike palette that, while stark and darkly shadowed, boasts tremendous beauty. Colors absolutely pop with crisp detail. Black levels are deep. Detail is excellent too. Sony's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is disarming in its subtly and effectiveness. Crank it and be wowed.
Supplements:
Commentary:
- None
Special Features:
While many fans will be disappointed at the prospect of having to buy two sets to complete their Outlander season one collection, it is reassuring to see that Starz and Sony have not skimped on the special features for Volume One. Although some features contain well known and often repeated information, others provide new behind the scenes footage, as well as the opportunity to hear from less familiar members of the Outlander team. There are a few extras for this Blu-ray set, including the collectable lenticular and 32 page book attached to the case. The lenticular can serve as a cover image for the box set, but is also easily removable if one wishes to display it in another setting. The book’s images are plentiful and grouped by episode. Many are official stills that were released in previous months, but it is nice to see them collected here. Although, it does make one long for a behind the scenes book once the season ends. If I do have one gripe about the set, it is the packaging. While it gets points for aesthetics, I am someone who favors simpler cases in an effort to maximizing shelf space and ease of access.
- Outlander: An Epic Adaptation (7 min)
- Authentic in Design: The Dresses & Kilts of Outlander (7 min)
- Casting Outlander (7 min)
- On Location: Castle Leoch and the Magic of Scotland (7 min)
- Emerging a Scot: Cast Goes to Bootcamp (6 min)
- A Walk Through the Sets & Stages (7 min)
- Deleted Scenes (20 min)
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