New to Blu: June 17-23

There’s nothing black and white about the week’s most prestigious release, Selma.

It’s bound to divide Blu-ray buyers with a transfer that US critics have dubbed both disappointing and flawless.

On the one hand … “The image is generally pale and fatigued, with drained colours and very poor black levels. Darker backdrops go a murky shade of grey or brown rather than remain tightly true.”

On the other … “The film, shot with an Alexa Plus, contains fine detail. Colours are rich at times, but generally washed with a palette representative of the era and location, with some muted, earthier tones.”

Then again … “It offers a faithful video presentation (that doesn’t always make perfect high definition), a solid sound mix, and numerous HD exclusives.”

“Wild has been given a top-notch transfer that showcases the gorgeous cinematography of Yves Bélanger, and the location shooting in and around the PCT.

“The image is bright, colourful – even during the shots that are laden with heavy filters – and full of rich detail.”

“Digitally shot with the Arri Alexa XT, Wild is often a sumptuously beautiful high definition experience, one that offers not just a crisp, precise account of fine detail in close-ups of various characters’ faces, but at times simply awe inspiring vistas of the Pacific Crest Trail.”

“The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound mix offers a well above average mix of natural sounds from the varying terrains spread through the entire soundfield. Though the movie doesn’t have an original background score, source music and pop hits from Simon and Garfunkel get a nice spread through the fronts and rears.”

“Chappie‘s magnificent 1080p transfer reveals all of the movie’s live-action and digital effects with unflinching perfection.

“The visual effects are so robustly put together that it’s impossible not to see reality in them, particularly considering the Blu-ray’s ability to reveal with pinpoint precision every last little bit of wear on Chappie’s mechanical body.”

“Presented in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, the video also arrives with pitch-perfect contrast, making the smallest little detail in the far distance as clear and distinguishable as anything else in the foreground …

“The spectacular, demo-worthy DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack …  is a fantastic and endlessly gripping lossless mix that audiophiles will love.”

Also new are: The Cobbler (“presentation is as clear as it gets”), Last Knights, Plus One, Jungle Shuffle, Viking: The Beserkers and The Man With the Iron Fists 2 (“solid video“)

The only TV-on-disc newcomers are David Attenborough: Rise of Animals — Triumph of the Vertebrates and season three of The Newsroom (“solid clarity“) while the documentary Cobain: Montage of Heck will be nirvana for Nirvana fans.