Hi-Def Preview

Battlestar Galactica – Season One

Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Released: 12/04/07

Review By: Ryan James

Picture Quality – 2/5

Audio Quality – 4/5

Special Features - 4/5

Overall – 3/5

Comments: This release of Battlestar Galactica – Season One is decent. It comes in packaging, which contains 6 individual HD-DVD discs all housed in a clear case.

This set is presented in 1.78:1 and I listened using the Dolby TrueHD option. After an exhaustive day watching this set, I have to say I was a bit letdown by the picture quality. The image was VERY grainy, almost to the point where certain people/objects seemed slightly out of focus and soft. Unfortunately I detected a fair amount of macroblocking. This is the first time I have noticed any macroblocking in any HDM release in quite some time. The macroblocking is evident in most dark scenes or dark objects on the screen. As I mentioned earlier, this release has a severe amount of grain, so much so it nearly looks like standard definition up-converted. I am not sure why this happened with this release, but it is there, so buyers beware.

As mentioned earlier, I listened using the Dolby TrueHD option and simply put, it sounded solid! The dialog sounds wonderful and completely dominates the center channel. The surrounds also get a nice bit of action, albeit not as frequently as one may have hoped for. From time to time the surrounds created the feel of objects heading in your direction, to the point where you felt like you had to move out of the way. I also feel the Left and Right channels were used to perfection as they completed the overall surround feel with various echo’s and sound effects which were perfectly presented.

This set is also full of some great special features. Here is a list of what is included for Special Features:

Encyclopedia Galactica – Go deeper into the BSG universe with this interactive guide to the spacecraft and the 12 Colonies of Kobol. Explore personnel files and flight the flight-training manual.

Picture In Picture – Access cast and crew interviews and behind-the0scenes footage from the miniseries, all without interruption to the viewing experience.

Web-Enabled – Get connected to sign-up now to download exclusive content, trailers and updates directly to your HD DVD player.

Commentary with Director Michael Rymer and Executive Producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore.

Deleted Scenes

Sketches And Art – Storyboard comparison, featuring the production design of the battleships.

8 Behind-The-Scenes Featurettes

All in all this is a decent overall presentation from Universal. Although I was letdown by the picture quality, the rest of the release was EXCELLENT. It truly is an entertaining trip through the world of Battlestar Galactica. If you are a fan of BSG, I recommend this purchase, even considering its hefty price tag.