New to Blu: September 10-16

After suffering a less-than-regal run in SD on Prime, The White Queen at last can be seen on Blu-ray as it should have been broadcast.

“Shot digitally on Arri Alexa cameras, The White Queen is presented with a AVC MPEG-4 codec, but only at 1080i resolution.

“However, viewers will be hard-pressed to find a difference between this and a full 1080p transfer, as details are sharp, contrasts are solid, and colors are particularly lush without being oversaturated.

“Skin tones look natural and are consistent throughout the series’ 10 episodes.”

“The White Queen‘s high definition transfer satisfies across the board.

“Anchor Bay’s 1.78:1-framed transfer provides a clean, appealing surface. Details are very well defined.

“The HD video texture never veers too closely to the dreaded ‘glossy’ territory but instead manages a series of rather natural, nearly film-like details, noticeable particularly on close-ups of faces, armour, and period clothing.”

“The TrueHD 5.1 Surround track offers defect-free dialogue and music. For bonus features, there are a series of promotional featurettes taking you behind the scenes.”

Another Prime staple, Doctor Who, also can be revisited on Blu-ray: Doctor Who: Deep Breath and Doctor Who – 50th Anniversary Collectors Edition.

NZ is one of the first territories to land period drama Belle on Blu-ray while also new from the multiplex are Bad Neighbours and Only Lovers Left Alive.

“Part of what makes the mood and tone of Only Lovers work so well comes from the video quality.

“The palette is mostly made up of lifeless, dull and muted colours that suck the life right out of the fleshtones and environments, but on the occasions where our characters step out into the human world, colours explode. The wild contrast is amazing.”

Going direct to disc are Draft Day (“incredibly sharp and nicely detailed”) and The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (“a modest but pleasing picture”).

French film buffs will cherish Jacques Tati: The Restored Collection while new on the anime front are Code: Breaker – Series Collection, Dragon Ball Z – Season 5 and Karneval – Complete Collection.