Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1982/Umbrella Region B Blu-ray) + The Mission (1986/Umbrella Region B Blu-ray) + Outrageous Fortune – Season Six (2010/Umbrella PAL DVD Set)

 

Picture: B/B/B-     Sound: B-/B-/C+     Extras: D/D/C     Main Programs: C+/C+/C

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: These Blu-rays are locked in Region B and can only be operated on players capable of handling that format (U.S. machines can only do Region A) while the DVD set of Fortune may be lasted as Region Four/4 PAL DVDs, can actually be operated on machines capable of playing back DVDs that can handle Region Zero/0/Free PAL format software and all can be ordered from our friends at Umbrella Entertainment at the website address provided at the end of the review.

 

 

We now revisit three titles we have come across before from Australia’s Umbrella Entertainment, including two films now on Blu-ray and the latest season of a big hit overseas you still may not have heard of.

 

 

The films both happen to have appeared on the big Umbrella DVD box set Movies He’ll Love, which included our first time covering Nagisa Oshima’s respected film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1982) which has already been issued on Blu-ray by Criterion in the U.S. market.  Now it is available in a basic Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment in A Region B Blu-ray.  Here is the link to my brief comments on the film:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10791/Movies+He%E2%80%99ll+Love+(Mis

 

 

The 1080p 1.77 X 1 digital High Definition image is much better than the PAL DVD previously covered and even other past transfers I have seen, yet the source shows its age and can look soft despite part of that being the approach to the shoot, while the DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 lossless mix is better than the DVD, but still shows the age of the audio of the film.

 

Roland Joffe’s The Mission (1986) was part of that box as noted, plus was covered in these versions reviewed at the following links:

 

Umbrella single DVD (same as in box set)

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/9724/The+Mission+(1986/Region+Four/4/PA

Region 1 Warner DVD vs. KD Media DTS Import

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2653/The+Mission+(Warner+R1+U.S.+vs.+K

 

 

This new Umbrella Region B locked Blu-ray is likely the same source as the Warner U.S. Blu-ray (unreviewed) and has no extras, but is also better than the pervious DVD editions we have seen.  However, The 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is much better than the DVDs previously covered and even other past transfers I have seen, yet the source shows its age, is not a brand new HD master and is also shot to have a soft, natural look, while the DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix is better than the DVDs, but still shows its age with limited range as this is an upgrade of the audio of the film that was never known for a strong soundfield to begin with.  Still, you could do worse despite no extras present.

 

 

That leaves the hit TV Gangster show from New Zealand, Outrageous Fortune – Season Six (2010) and no, it has nothing to do with the Bette Midler film.  We have covered two of the previous seasons as these links will show and offer you all the information you need to know about the series:

 

Season One

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6730/Outrageous+Fortune+%E2%80%93+S

Season Four

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8774/Outrageous+Fortune+%E2%80%93+S

 

 

The show still has some good moments and laughs along with its ongoing storylines, but the show is playing to its long-established audience and though you can enjoy it starting here, you should begin with the First Season to really enjoy everything much like The Sopranos.  All 18 episodes are here across 4 DVDs and I give the cast and makers credit for keeping things going as the show seems regenerated a little bit since we last looked at it.  And yes, Robyn Malcolm looks like a long lost Aunt of the pop singer Pink!

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is actually a little sharper than Season Four, because the HD cameras they are using are getting better, but you still get plenty of motion blur, though I bet this would look better on Blu-ray.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is nicely recorded and mixed, but that does not guarantee Pro Logic-like surrounds all the time.  Extras include cast commentary on select shows.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo