The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
78
Studio and Year: 20th Century Fox - 2010
MPAA Rating: NR
Feature running time: 264 minutes
Genre: TV Comedy
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 1.78:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Starring: Danny DeVito, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olsen, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney
Music by: Cormac Bluestone
Written by: Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day & various
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: September 13, 2011
"A circle of jerks"
Film Synopsis:
Step up to the bar with Mac (Rob McElhenney), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Charlie (Charlie Day), Dee (Kaitlin Olson) and Frank (Danny DeVito), the outrageously inappropriate gang at Paddy's Pub, as they work together for a common cause... themselves! It's every man for himself as the gang tackles gay marriage, fights the class war, enjoys the high life on the high seas and does whatever it takes to figure out who knocked up Dee. Featuring uproarious deleted scenes, including the unaired, extended cut of Lethal Weapon 5 season six of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia is indecent, incorrect and incredibly hilarious! Bottoms up!
My Take:
We regularly watch It's always sunny in Philadelphia and get a kick out of the nonsensical escapism provided by Mac, Dennis, Charlie, Dee and Frank. For those not familiar with the show here is a quick synopsis:
It's always sunny in Philadelphia follows the exploits of five depraved underachievers who run Paddy's Pub, a dive of a bar located in south Philly. They are dishonest, egotistical, greedy, unethical, lazy, arrogant, and antagonistic, and are often embroiled in controversial issues. Each show usually features a combination of their elaborate money making schemes, conspiring against one another ( but usually against others) for personal gain or participating is activities that have little bearing on real life but serve only to enhance their sometimes sadistic and nonsensical values. Their tactics can often rely on the infliction of emotional or physical pain (or a combination of both) depending on their rather unique perspective based on the target. Loyalty isn't high among their priorities as any of them would sell their soul or each other for personal gain. Lastly there seems to be an incessant interpersonal that sometimes fuels the gang's actions.
Season six proves the show hasn't lost any of its luster and contains some classic bits, typically outrageous antics and over the top inanity of the sort that makes It's always sunny in Philadelphia such a guilty pleasure. This season addresses such topics as gay marriage (use your imagination), divorce (far from typical), and pregnancy (out of wedlock of course - who's the father?!), Frank's discovery of his paternal side, the gang's perspective on Lethal Weapon (hysterical), and survival in the woods (my favorite). Of course these are just to name a few as there is fun to be had by all throughout season six especially if you enjoy the show's risqué humor and nonsensical theme. Season Six's twelve episodes are divided over two BD-50 Blu-ray discs with the bulk of bonus features contained on disc two.
Parental Guide:
The show contains graphic language and thematic material that would be inappropriate for younger audiences.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 70
Video: 86
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
It's always sunny in Philadelphia Season 6 comes to Blu-ray from 20th Century Fox featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 35 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 3.4 Mbps.
This release marks the first time that this series comes to Blu-ray featuring true 1080p encoded video (rather than upconverted standard definition) and the results are very good. Now that the series is being shot in high definition viewers can enjoy much improved broadcast quality which is positively reflected in this presentation. The 1.78:1 framed images are consistently sharp and exhibit varying levels of delineation and dimension that enhances perspective. Colors are vivid with natural highlights and pleasing depth. Fleshtones are naturally reproduced and appear lifelike. Contrast and black levels strike a good balance which favors both light and low level scenes. I didn't observe any signs of compression related noise or distracting artifacts. This high definition presentation appears faithful and makes for a very satisfying viewing experience.
The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio lossless soundtrack mimics the show's TV presentation. Dialogue is intelligible with appreciable intonation and vocal distinction among the cast. The soundstage across the front three channels maintains a centrally localized perspective but doesn't feel compressed or lacking in room penetration. Dynamics are on the anemic side and the lack of low frequency support is notable although based on the show's elements there is little need for them. The surround channels are used to convey some directional sound effects and mild ambience but the combining of the front and rear sound fields rarely creates a cohesive atmosphere.
Bonus Features:
Final Thoughts:
It's always sunny in Philadelphia: The complete season six continues in the series tradition of outlandish and over the top comedy that may be lewd and crude but is a hoot nevertheless. Its Blu-ray Disc presentation offers sparkling high definition video quality, satisfying lossless sound and a decent assortment of bonus features that makes this a fan friendly and worthwhile offering from 20th Century Fox.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS50 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100 16x9 Screen
Onkyo PR-SC5508 THX Ultra 2 Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Furman SPR-20i Stable Power Regulator
Wireworld, VizionWare, Audioquest, Better Cables, Best Deal Cables - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package
The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
78
Studio and Year: 20th Century Fox - 2010
MPAA Rating: NR
Feature running time: 264 minutes
Genre: TV Comedy
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: AVC (MPEG-4)
Video Aspect: 1.78:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Starring: Danny DeVito, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olsen, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney
Music by: Cormac Bluestone
Written by: Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day & various
Region Code: A
Blu-ray Disc release Date: September 13, 2011
"A circle of jerks"
Film Synopsis:
Step up to the bar with Mac (Rob McElhenney), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Charlie (Charlie Day), Dee (Kaitlin Olson) and Frank (Danny DeVito), the outrageously inappropriate gang at Paddy's Pub, as they work together for a common cause... themselves! It's every man for himself as the gang tackles gay marriage, fights the class war, enjoys the high life on the high seas and does whatever it takes to figure out who knocked up Dee. Featuring uproarious deleted scenes, including the unaired, extended cut of Lethal Weapon 5 season six of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia is indecent, incorrect and incredibly hilarious! Bottoms up!
My Take:
We regularly watch It's always sunny in Philadelphia and get a kick out of the nonsensical escapism provided by Mac, Dennis, Charlie, Dee and Frank. For those not familiar with the show here is a quick synopsis:
It's always sunny in Philadelphia follows the exploits of five depraved underachievers who run Paddy's Pub, a dive of a bar located in south Philly. They are dishonest, egotistical, greedy, unethical, lazy, arrogant, and antagonistic, and are often embroiled in controversial issues. Each show usually features a combination of their elaborate money making schemes, conspiring against one another ( but usually against others) for personal gain or participating is activities that have little bearing on real life but serve only to enhance their sometimes sadistic and nonsensical values. Their tactics can often rely on the infliction of emotional or physical pain (or a combination of both) depending on their rather unique perspective based on the target. Loyalty isn't high among their priorities as any of them would sell their soul or each other for personal gain. Lastly there seems to be an incessant interpersonal that sometimes fuels the gang's actions.
Season six proves the show hasn't lost any of its luster and contains some classic bits, typically outrageous antics and over the top inanity of the sort that makes It's always sunny in Philadelphia such a guilty pleasure. This season addresses such topics as gay marriage (use your imagination), divorce (far from typical), and pregnancy (out of wedlock of course - who's the father?!), Frank's discovery of his paternal side, the gang's perspective on Lethal Weapon (hysterical), and survival in the woods (my favorite). Of course these are just to name a few as there is fun to be had by all throughout season six especially if you enjoy the show's risqué humor and nonsensical theme. Season Six's twelve episodes are divided over two BD-50 Blu-ray discs with the bulk of bonus features contained on disc two.
Parental Guide:
The show contains graphic language and thematic material that would be inappropriate for younger audiences.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 70
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
Video: 86
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black level/Shadow detail:
- Color reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
It's always sunny in Philadelphia Season 6 comes to Blu-ray from 20th Century Fox featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 35 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 3.4 Mbps.
This release marks the first time that this series comes to Blu-ray featuring true 1080p encoded video (rather than upconverted standard definition) and the results are very good. Now that the series is being shot in high definition viewers can enjoy much improved broadcast quality which is positively reflected in this presentation. The 1.78:1 framed images are consistently sharp and exhibit varying levels of delineation and dimension that enhances perspective. Colors are vivid with natural highlights and pleasing depth. Fleshtones are naturally reproduced and appear lifelike. Contrast and black levels strike a good balance which favors both light and low level scenes. I didn't observe any signs of compression related noise or distracting artifacts. This high definition presentation appears faithful and makes for a very satisfying viewing experience.
The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio lossless soundtrack mimics the show's TV presentation. Dialogue is intelligible with appreciable intonation and vocal distinction among the cast. The soundstage across the front three channels maintains a centrally localized perspective but doesn't feel compressed or lacking in room penetration. Dynamics are on the anemic side and the lack of low frequency support is notable although based on the show's elements there is little need for them. The surround channels are used to convey some directional sound effects and mild ambience but the combining of the front and rear sound fields rarely creates a cohesive atmosphere.
Bonus Features:
Disc 1:
- Audio commentary by Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, & Rob McElhenney on episode The gang buys a boat
- Audio commentary by Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, & Rob McElhenney on episode Who got Dee pregnant?
- Episodes 1-7
- Mac fights gay marriage
- Dennis gets divorces
- The gang buys a boat
- Mac's big break
- Mac and Charlie: white trash
- Mac's mom burns hers house down
- Who got Dee pregnant?
Disc 2:
- Audio commentary by Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, & Rob McElhenney on episode Charlie Kelly: King of the rats
- Audio commentary by Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, & Rob McElhenney on episode The gang gets stranded in the woods
- Episodes 8-12
- The gang gets a new member
- Dee Reynolds: shaping America's youth
- Charlie Kelly: King of the rats
- The gang gets stranded in the woods
- Dee gives birth
- The sunny flip cup trivia challenge - interactive game
- (HD) Deleted/Extended scenes - 14 minutes
- (HD) Blooper reel - 6 minutes
- (HD) Lethal weapon 5 - Extended cut with optional commentary
- Dennis & Dee's podcasts - 3 segments
- (HD) Legal advice from Jack Kelly - 3 minutes
- (HD) Pilot episode of FX's Wilfred
- BD Live: Live Extras Exclusive: Dee & Dennis' podcast The biggest loser
- Season Play Mode feature
Final Thoughts:
It's always sunny in Philadelphia: The complete season six continues in the series tradition of outlandish and over the top comedy that may be lewd and crude but is a hoot nevertheless. Its Blu-ray Disc presentation offers sparkling high definition video quality, satisfying lossless sound and a decent assortment of bonus features that makes this a fan friendly and worthwhile offering from 20th Century Fox.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS50 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100 16x9 Screen
Onkyo PR-SC5508 THX Ultra 2 Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Furman SPR-20i Stable Power Regulator
Wireworld, VizionWare, Audioquest, Better Cables, Best Deal Cables - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package