Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Shot entirely on location in England's castles and countryside, this modernization of the classic Robin Hood tale combines elements of history, myth, and magic with plenty of action thrown into the mix. The ensemble cast includes Michael Praed as Robin of Loxley, Ray Winstone as Will Scarlet, and Nickolas Grace as the conniving Sheriff of Nottingham.

Broadcast on PBS and Showtime in the 1980s, this British series certainly shows its age with the outdated music, 1.33:1 framed image, and campy production value. The series has a cult-like following and I don't mean to insult the fans, but I don't get it. My wife and I did our best to get through all 13 episodes, but couldn't make it to the end.

Video Highlights

• AVC/1080p encode on 3 BD-25 discs
• Hazy detail
• Very grainy
• Fits the video quality of most 1980s TV shows

Audio Highlights

• Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack
• Front-heavy presentation
• Compressed dynamics
• Cheesy score

This one hasn't aged particularly well and doesn't look great on Blu-ray. It was originally shot with on 16mm film and there's plenty of grain, decent color saturation, and hazy details. The audio track is even less impressive with a cheesy soundtrack and compressed dynamics. Granted, this is a TV show from the 1980s, so I guess it could be worse.

Bonus Materials

• Five episode commentaries
• Behind-the-scenes documentary
• Photo galleries containing nearly 500 images
• Music-only track on four episodes
• Bonus DVD with additional supplements

In its time I'm sure this was a fine TV show, but it hasn't aged gracefully. The 'poofy' 1980s hairstyles are laughable and the synthesized score sounds like it was produced on an Atari 2600. If you watched the show when it first aired your personal nostalgia may overlook its modern shortcomings, but don't expect to be blown away by the Blu-ray presentation.

Release Date: June 7, 2011
Studio: Acorn Media

TV Show: 5/10
Picture: 5/10
Sound: 5/10

Review System

Source
Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray player

Display
JVC DLA-RS40 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Integra DTC-80.2 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 power amplifier
Belkin PVA-PF60 power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector

Acoustical treatments from GIK Acoustics