BLU-RAY REVIEW

Doctor Who: Dark Water/Death In Heaven 3D

Featured In Issue 202, December 2015

3D Picture4.5
Picture5
Sound4.5
WSR Score3.5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
BBC Video
(Catalog Number):
NA
(MPAA Rating):
TV-PG
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$19.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
105
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
No
(Direct-To-Video Release):
(Disc Release Date):
9/22/2015
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Rachel Talalay
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby TrueHD 7.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

Doctor Who: Dark Water/Death In Heaven is the epic two-part Season Eight finale of the long-running sci-fi television show. In the mysterious world of the Nethersphere, plans have been drawn. Missy is about to come face to face with the Doctor (Capaldi), and an impossible choice is looming. With Cybermen on the streets of London, old friends unite against old enemies and the Doctor takes to the air in a new role. As the Doctor faces his greatest challenge, sacrifices must be made before the day is won. (Gary Reber)

Special features include The Doctor's Meditation—a special prequel scene to the first episode of Season Nine (HD 06:39), an extended interview with actors Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman hosted by Wil Wheaton (HD 42:12), and upfront previews.

The 1.78:1 1080p MVC 3D picture was created by View-D™. It is quite good, with natural depth perspective throughout. The imagery is nicely dimensional, with objects exhibiting natural volume and scale. This perfectly enhances the sense of realism and natural imagery. The color palette is naturally rendered with well-balanced hues that are vividly rich with pleasing tones. Fleshtones are naturally rendered. Resolution is excellent, with fine detail exhibited in facial features hair, clothing, and object texture. The production design is creatively rendered with effective lighting effects that make for a compelling visual experience. The cyber men appear plastic/metallic and shiny. The picture photographed digitally is impeccably pristine. Overall, this is an excellent 3D visual experience, with realistic depth and perspective, for a pleasing picture. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Digital TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is nicely expansive, with the orchestral music score leading the affair, extending wide and deep across the soundstage and extended to the surround. Over the music is the dialogue, which is well integrated spatially and clean sounding. Atmospherics and sound effects enhance the dynamic character, especially during the cyber men scene. Explosions also are effectively produced. Deep bass sounds natural, with extended .1 LFE energy. This is an engaging soundtrack with a terrific orchestral music score that occupies all seven channels holosonically. (Gary Reber)