Region: FREE! (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)

Sample Runtime: 0:43:06.584

Disc One Size: 41,539,381,620 bytes

Episode Sample Size: 10,356,031,488 bytes

Video Bitrate: 22.07 Mbps

Chapters: 7 per episode

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: December 8th, 2009

Aspect ratio: 1.78:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

The Fifth Season:

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc.
 

Lost - Season Five looks very impressive on Blu-ray. Shot in HD it has no reason for any fussing or tinkering and looks to have been thrown directly onto disc. The Hawaiian scenery is often stunning and I can find no discernable flaw with the image appearance. Close-ups show some incredible detail and facial features. Colors are far brighter and truer than SD could possibly relate and there is no undue noise at all. Contrast exhibits healthy, rich black levels and this is really how we like to see many modern theatrical films - this clear and tight - extremely realistic with plenty of depth.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

Audio isn't going to take a backseat with an incredibly healthy DTS-HD Master 5.1 track at a whopping 3470 kbps. There are plenty of effect noises to take advantage of the tracks strength and separation is abundant in many sequences. The Lost theme - sounds as haunting and mysterious as ever. There are plenty of foreign language subtitle options (as well as English) and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

Extras :

I look forward to trying out Lost University BD-LIVE function (listed above) once we reach the release date. On disc one we get the 'Starter Kit' which quickly brings a novice up to speed on the show. Unfortunately saying it so rapidly (4:44 in HD) - it makes it sound quite ludicrous at times... but we forgive. While they are a few standard production featurettes with input from cast, producers, writers, commentaries on the 'Because You Left' episode (disc one), 'He's Our You' episode (third disc), bloopers (lots of laughing), eight deleted scenes etc. my favorite thing in the supplements (and I've watched this 3 times now) is on disc 5 - the 26-minute, suitably in SD, Mysteries of the Universe: The Dharma Initiative - pretending to be an unearthed ABC TV show from the 80's. It's hilarious and some real effort has gone into it - it might even 'have you fooled' for a few minutes. Very amusing - very cool.   

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Okay, Okay, Okay - Time travel...  well, what did you expect? Actually this guys are so good at story arcs it simply ends up being highly suitable to the series direction. As they said in one of the supplements featurettes - it gives the audience what they want - a return of many entertaining, often despicable (remember Ethan?), characters. The drawback is that it can be damn confusing with flashbacks, and flash-forwards backed with time travel - but you know what - this is all adventure-esque fun - and nobody seems to do it better than they do in Lost. I was starting to fall away near the end of Season 4 - when writing directions always seemed very 'desperate'. But Kudos to the producers - it is right on track immediately into 1.5 episodes getting back to the essentials of the series. I was getting very confused - no doubt - but maybe I was meant to. Blu-ray is by far the best way to see this - as it is so visuals and the effects deliver so well in HD audio. Fans of the series may have to shake their heads a few times. This is a solid, extremely well developed, package of it's own unique blend of adventurous/sci-fi entertainment. Highly Recommended!

 

Gary Tooze

November 26th, 2009