PLANETA AZUL II
Blue Planet II was filmed digitally using various 4K cameras and was finished using a 4K Digital Intermediate (DI), which presumably formed the basis for this
Ultra HD Blu-ray release. The series is presented at a resolution of 3840 x 2160p and in its correct 1.78:1 aspect ratio, the discs use 10-bit video depth, a
Wider Colour Gamut (WCG) and
High Dynamic Range (HDR), and are encoded using the HEVC (H.265) codec. We reviewed Blue Planet II using the
Oppo UDP-203 Ultra HD Blu-ray player and an
LG 55B7 OLED TV.
Recent BBC wildlife documentary series have been used as a test bed for the burgeoning technologies that are revolutionising the way we watch TV. Planet Earth II was the first flagship series to show the full potential of increased resolution, higher dynamic range and wider colour gamuts, all of which were showcased to great effect on the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release. Blue Planet II is the next title to get the HDR treatment and the series has already been used by the BBC to demonstrate Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) on the iPlayer.
Staggering 4K HDR images, each more colourful and jaw-dropping than the last
Blue Planet II looked incredible when broadcast in Full HD and even more impressive in HLG on the iPlayer but the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray takes things to another level. The level of detail in the 4K photography is often stunning with close-ups of dolphins revealing every tiny mark and scar in staggering detail and every hair visible on the face of a walrus. The vast coral reefs are just bursting with the tiniest of details that make full use of the additional pixels and this fascinating underwater world is delivered with incredible reality.
This is made all the more realistic thanks to the use of high dynamic range (HDR), with shafts of sunlight illuminating various underwater creatures in such a striking manner that they almost look like effects shots. The use of the higher dynamic range to deliver the sunlight reflecting off waves or the details in the darkness of the abyssal depths is equally as impressive and many of the shots captured are simply breathtaking. The storm clouds contain more detail in the peak highlights, lightning bursts out from the darkness and ice flows reveal a wonderful level of intricate detail in all that white.
However where this disc really delivers is in terms of the wider colour gamut available to Ultra HD Blu-ray, with the aquatic world revealed in a way to which only those with experience of tropical diving can relate. Once again the coral reefs are a riot of colour, whilst the ability of a cuttlefish to literally change colour before your eyes is mesmerising. The entire series is one of the most striking uses of colour as a visual tool that we have ever seen and it is often hard to believe that such primary colours exist in nature.
On thing that was apparent during the series' original broadcast and also on iPlayer was banding but there is no evidence of this on the 10-bit disc, with the numerous underwater shots free of any such artefacts. In fact if you're looking for a new disc to show off the full potential of your TV in terms of resolution, dynamic range and colour gamut, then Blue Planet II should be at the top of your list.
Blue Planet II Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
