UPDATE: War for the Planet of the Apes has arrived on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray – get our full rundown of the disc on page 3!
We
all have busy lives, and trying to make a trip to the theater with all
the commotion we deal with daily can be difficult. That means seeing all
the newest movies, like It or Blade Runner 2049,
in their full cinematic splendor can be next to impossible. However,
there is another way. The best 4k Ultra-HD Blu-ray movies are getting
closer and closer to being able to faithfully reproduce that inimitable
cinematic experience from home.
What the best 4K Ultra-HD Blu-rays
offer in terms of image fidelity is about the closest thing to
cinematic quality that film lovers can find outside of a movie theater.
And now that many support high dynamic range (HDR)
the color reproduction and contrast will make standard definition
content look ancient in comparison. These features combine to bring you
an experience that is not unlike bringing a movie theater inside your
living room, and the best 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray movies will also completely destroy anything you can stream online.
Some streaming services, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Youtube do indeed offer plenty of content in 4K – Netflix Originals
come to mind – but if you’re looking for the newest movies in 4K with
HDR, you’re going to find that compatible titles are few and far
between.
These streaming services might have a ton of amazingcontent
that takes advantage of your 4K TV, but you it might take you a long
time to be able to find the same amount of content offered by the best
4K Ultra-HD Blu-rays. And even if you do decide to just wait it out, the
image quality of streaming video doesn’t even come close to the
fidelity offered by 4K Ultra-HD Blu-rays.
With that in mind, we've
compiled a list of the best 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray movies you can buy
today. Each of the discs on this list, regardless of how good the actual
films are, can be considered 'reference quality' and we've exhaustively
tested each to ensure they're truly worthy of our recommendation. Best
of all, every 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc is region free, so anyone with a
4K Blu-ray player can enjoy these films.
Read on to find out which Blu-rays have made the list!
Wonder Woman
Making her stunning debut on the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format, Wonder
Woman looks, well, wonderful. Shot on a combination of 35mm film and
using the Arri Alexa 65 digital camera, Wonder Woman receives an
unbelievable boost in visual fidelity, even if its digital intermediate
was mastered at 2K.
Color reproduction and contrast are where
Wonder Woman really shines, with the former looking especially beautiful
during the scenes set on Diana's home island of Themyscira. Blues and
greens are especially lush here, really selling the warm, sunny paradise
setting. This is juxtaposed brilliantly against the grim and gray World
War 1 tone that comprises much of the film's second half.
This is
where contrast becomes particularly important, as much detail is
revealed in the dark, dirty environments surrounding the main
characters. The smoke-covered battlefield of No Man's Land is especially
breathtaking, with its layers of smoky depth creating the illusion of
an atmosphere that you can all but touch.
Dirt and debris flies
as Diana marches into the line of fire, with every speck clearly visible
and contributing to the feel of the scene. Then there's Wonder Woman
herself, whose famous red, blue and gold costume stands out gloriously
against her war-torn surroundings.
For the film's fiery,
explosion-filled finale, Wonder Woman's HDR color grading really
delivers when it comes to highlights in the fire effects and sparks that
populate the scene. At every turn, Wonder Woman is a fantastic example
of how this format is ideal for this type of movie. Technical specs: Codec:
HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master), Audio:
English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), English
Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps), Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby
Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1,
Runtime: 141 minutes
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
James Gunn is in no small way responsible for Disney and Marvel
finally hopping aboard the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray train, the landmark
director insisting that his visually-spectacular new film, Guardians of
the Galaxy Vol. 2, be released on the only format that could do it
justice. And, what a first title! A reference quality disc if ever there
was one, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the kind of film that will
make doubters of the young format stand up and take notice.
The
film's opening credits, in which Baby Groot dances in the foreground
while a whole lot of intergalactic action takes place in the background,
is frankly breathtaking, making full use of the format's superior level
of detail. See the neon lettering that decorates each name in the
credits, now bursting with a super bright and realistic glow. Behind
Groot, you'll spot a near constant flurry of rainbow-like bursts of mist
and thousands of multi-colored particles, now even more vibrant thanks
to the disc's increased resolution and the wider color palette that HDR
brings in.
Detail is also amazing, with animated characters like
Rocket and Groot looking especially detailed – just look at Rocket's
realistic fur and the woodgrain texture that Groot exhibits. Costumes
also get a notable boost in texture – it's now possible to see fuzzy
fabric and stitching.
What’s really impressive is that the entire
movie keeps its level of visual chaos up without ever dropping the
ball. As the film gets more out there in terms of locations and visual
effects, the number of show-stopping 4K HDR scenes continuously grows,
making this a disc that will floor viewers from beginning to end.
Contrast and color levels have been impeccably chosen, too, with the
disc avoiding the blown-out brightness that some releases on the format
have unfortunately had.
If there's one downside to the 4K release
of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, it's that the film's IMAX sequences
are not presented full-frame in that eye-popping shifting aspect ratio
like they are on the 3D Blu-ray. Star Trek Into Darkness sported this
kind of presentation on its 4K release and left our jaws glued to the
floor, so it would've been great to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
presented in the same way. Technical specs: Codec:
HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master), Audio:
English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish
Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1,
Runtime: 137 minutes
Logan
Fox does it yet again with another fantastic superhero-themed 4K
Blu-ray, only this time, the movie on the disc is shooting for a sense
of gritty realism, making it more than ideal for the Ultra HD
treatment.
From the very beginning, Logan's opening night-time
sequence sets the tone for what we’re going to get from this HDR
presentation. Despite being a low-light scene, we have no trouble seeing
pristine detail in the Logan’s black limousine and the surrounding
desert.
When it comes to the color representation, Logan exhibits a
realistic palette that faithfully renders the dusty, western-style
environments the film is mostly set in. The blistering New Mexico sun
also looks amazing in this presentation, with impressive HDR-enhanced
highlights.
As the film goes on, we also start to see a lot of
wear and tear on Logan's attire and his skin, with bloody wounds that
look quite realistic. This is no doubt an advantage the 4K Ultra HD
presentation has inherited from its true 4K digital intermediate.
If
you're in the UK or US, you may have also received a 4K version of
Logan Noir, a black and white feature created just for the film's home
release. However, we were unable to test this monochromatic version of
the film, though it would be interesting to see how HDR can improve
something in black and white. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English
Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby
Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0,
Aspect ratio: 2.38:1, Runtime: 137 minutes
Deadpool
Speaking on the 4K Blu-ray release of his film, Deadpool,
director Tim Miller told TechRadar that "the Ultra HD is f***ing
amazing in the level of detail." Having thoroughly inspected the disc
for ourselves, we absolutely have to agree. Shot at 3K on the Arri Alexa
camera and then finished at 4K, Deadpool's Ultra HD Blu-ray closely
resembles the film's theatrical presentation, only with the added bonus
of HDR – which is exclusive to the film's home release.
Immediately
evident from first viewing, Deadpool at 4K offers a much greater level
of visual detail than the film's regular Blu-ray. By far the film's most
eye-popping element, Deadpool's suit shows more fine detail in its
fabric and stitching, and the wider color gamut offered by HDR makes the
costume's various shades of red not only stand out more, but also blend
together more naturally. As with most CGI and green screen-heavy films,
the added resolution gives the film a slightly-heightened vibe, one
that seems fully intended by its filmmakers. The film's fully
computer-generated character, Colossus, also looks better, with HDR
allowing for improved specular lighting on the character's reflective
metal body.
Add to this a punchy and immersive Dolby Atmos soundtrack, and Deadpool becomes one of the format's first must-own discs. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English
Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby
Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, Runtime:
108 minutes
X-Men: Apocalypse
X-Men: Apocalypse was originally captured at 6K in the Redcode RAW
format, which offers filmmakers an increased level of post-production
control, making it perfect for HDR post processing. Finished on a 4K
digital intermediate, X-Men: Apocalypse comes to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
with no loss to visual fidelity whatsoever. A visual effects showcase if
ever there was one, the end result, pardon the pun, is x-traordinary.
From
its Ancient Egypt opening through to its apocalyptic finale, X-Men:
Apocalypse dazzles in Ultra HD. Costumes and makeup benefit greatly from
the added resolution afforded by format, opening our eyes to the
incredible work that goes into their creation. There's an immediately
noticeable increase in detail, as well as an added depth of texture.
As
you would expect from a movie in which characters frequently shoot
beams of energy from their hands/eyes/sceptres, lighting effects are a
particular highlight here. Increased contrast and a wider color gamut
mean that light blooming appears much more natural, avoiding the usual
blocky-glow that plagues images with a lower color depth. It's also an
extremely colorful movie, with numerous blue and purple characters on
its roster. Thanks to HDR, and the added color gradations that it
offers, characters show much more individual detail on screen. Without
question, this Ultra HD Blu-ray is the preferred way to experience
X-Men: Apocalypse. Technical specs: Codec: HEVC /
H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English Dolby Atmos,
English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1,
French DTS 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.35:1, Runtime: 144 minutes
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition
As director Zack Snyder typically shoots on 35mm film stock, his
films can be scanned at 4K without any real loss in visual fidelity.
With Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Snyder also opted to capture
certain sections of the movie with 4K digital cameras, and on 70mm film
stock using Panavision 65 cameras. The film was then finished on a 4K
digital intermediate, which makes its Ultra HD Blu-ray release pretty
close to what most people would've seen at their local multiplex (if not
what they might have seen at IMAX and 70mm screenings).
Admittedly,
the movie itself is quite grim, dark and muted in its presentation, but
that doesn't stop its 4K Blu-ray from being super impressive – the
disc's added resolution and color depth mean that Batman v Superman
looks as good as it possibly can at home. HDR support allows for
tremendous contrast and vivid colors (when they do appear). Fire in
particular, looks vibrant and lifelike, achieving a level of brightness
that makes it look even more incandescent. Everything else on screen has
finer definition, allowing you to really appreciate the detailed
texture of Batman's suit, for instance.
If you're a fan of Batman v
Superman: Dawn of Justice, this 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is a no-brainer –
along with its inclusion of the more brutal and violent director's cut, the disc is also a testament to how 4K and HDR can improve the overall viewing experience. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English
Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby
Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect
ratio: 2.40:1, Runtime: 182 minutes
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Much like Batman v Superman, The Amazing Spider-Man was shot on 35mm
film and later scanned and transferred to a 4K digital intermediate.
Whatever you may think of the film itself, its Ultra HD presentation
here is utterly sublime. Vibrant and colorful throughout, TASM2
especially shines during its effects-heavy set pieces.
Watching
Spidey swing through New York on sunny days is a real treat – the film's
beautiful blue skies really pop on this transfer, presumably aided by
some HDR tinkering. The red and blue of Spider-Man's costume shimmers in
the sunlight in a realistic manner, and the added resolution makes the
spandex's rippling in the wind much more noticeable.
The real
standout though, is the villainous character of Electro. With his
translucent blue skin, constantly changing shades and pulsing with
electricity, Electro's presence throughout the film is a real
show-stopper. The scene in which he reveals his new form in the middle
of Times Square, surrounded by the area's huge electronic billboards, is
one of the most dynamic scenes I've personally witnessed on a
television screen. Thanks to HDR, the scene's many colorful lights emit a
more naturalistic light bloom that never shows signs of bleeding into
the background.
Best of all, this Ultra HD presentation of the
film manages to achieve all of this without losing its filmic
appearance. A truly exceptional disc. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English
Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby
Digital 5.1, French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1,
Runtime: 142 minutes
War for the Planet of the Apes
One of the most impressive 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases to date, War
for the Planet of the Apes is ape-solutely spectacular on the format
(sorry). We all know how astonishing the film's visual effects are (read
more about how they were created in our Weta Digital VFX
report), but its photo-realistic apes hold up magnificently under the
increased scrutiny of 4K and HDR (despite being upscaled from a 2K
digital intermediate).
Unsurprisingly, fur looks especially good
here, looking completely natural at all times, particularly with light
shining through it. Facial textures also receive increased detail, with
the various wrinkles in the apes faces looking extra defined.
Though
the disc's increased resolution is a boon for video enthusiasts, the
real showstopper here is the wider color gamut afforded by its HDR
presentation. Much of the film is spent in darkness, yet we now get to
see more detail and definition in those dark areas. Small details in
costumes and props are now much clearer because of it.
The
overall palette looks richer, too, with the film's forest settings
feeling more lush and its white snow looking brighter and more tangible.
Skin tones in humans also receive an uptick, looking warmer and more
natural than they did in the cinema.
War for the Planet of the
Apes is a must-own for fans of the series, thanks to its exceptional
fine detail quality, deep blacks, and terrific use of HDR. Stay tuned
for reviews of the other two films in the series, Rise of the Planet of
the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Technical specs: Codec:
HEVC / H.265, HDR10, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English
Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby
Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, German Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian
Dolby Digital 5.1, Polish Dolby Digital 5.1, Czech Dolby Digital 5.1,
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1, Runtime: 139 minutes
Blade Runner: The Final Cut
Remastered from a 4K scan, Blade Runner: The Final Cut looks
absolutely astounding on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. We're not just saying that
it looks good for an old film – it looks amazing regardless of when it
was filmed.
The transfer reveals an exceptional level of clarity
in what is generally a dark and smoky film. The noirish, rain-slicked,
neon-soaked streets of futuristic Los Angeles look more detailed than
ever, with the HDR-enhanced visuals giving us our best look at Rick
Deckard's world to date.
Witness, for instance, the staggering
level of detail found in the film's miniatures – one particularly shot
showing the Tyrell building will blow you away with its clarity,
revealing all the intricacies of the model in question, including the
many glittering lights all over the structure giving you the illusion of
thousands of offices within. You won't even mind that the illusion is
slightly broken by the obviousness of the miniature work, because you'll
be too busy appreciating the spectacular craftsmanship and on display.
Elsewhere,
the whole film gets a visual uptick, with HDR helping significantly
when it comes to the smooth gradation of colours and lighting. Clothing,
skin textures and hair all look better in this version, and the various
extreme close-ups of eyeballs all show extra detail now.
If
you're a fan of Blade Runner, chances are that you already own The Final
Cut of the film on Blu-ray. While it's highly likely that both releases
come from the same 4K digital intermediate, this 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
version blows previous Blu-ray and HD DVD releases of the film out of
the water. This is the best that Blade Runner has ever looked, period. Technical specs: Codec:
HEVC / H.265, HDR10, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English
Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby
Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0, French Dolby Digital 5.1, German
Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian Dolby Digital 5.1, Polish Dolby Digital 5.1,
Russian Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.40:1, Runtime: 118 minutes
Alien: Covenant
Though it's been upscaled from a 2K digital intermediate (much like
the 4K release of director Ridley Scott's previous film, The Martian),
Alien: Covenant looks expectedly magnificent on the Ultra HD Blu-ray
format.
As this is a dark film with a muted palette (despite its
many outdoor daytime scenes), an emphasis has been placed on HDR's
ability to provide deeper, more lifelike contrast, much to the benefit
of Alien: Covenant's astounding cinematography.
Colors appear
richer, too, standing out even more against the film's greyish blue
tones. The alien itself also looks magnificent, with its inky-hued skin
receiving added translucence and detail, benefitting from the disc's
improved contrast and wider color gamut.
Those of you with OLED
TVs will get an even better viewing experience, with the technology's
infinite contrast taking full advantage of the film's tenebrous
atmosphere.
But it's not all about the Xenomorphs – the film's
human characters also look terrific thanks to the 4K release's bump in
resolution and enhanced colors, with faces revealing extra definition
and skin tones looking warmer and more naturalistic than the film's SDR
presentation.
Adding to the film's immense visuals is a beefy
Dolby Atmos track that focuses on atmospherics with occasional moments
of bombast. Admittedly, we wish the disc offered a DTS Headphone:X
track, as that would've made for an appropriately nerve-jangling
experience akin to the recent video game release, Alien: Isolation.
Still,
we can't complain, as Alien: Covenant's 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release is
hard to fault when it comes to the film's video and audio presentation.
If you're a fan of the film, consider this a must-have. Technical specs: Codec:
HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master), Audio:
English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish
Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1,
Runtime: 122 minutes
Ghost in the Shell
As you might expect, Ghost in the Shell looks glorious on 4K Ultra HD
Blu-ray, with its neon-drenched cyberpunk setting really popping on the
format. Though much of the film takes place in dark areas, the disc
impresses throughout, particularly during scenes where vibrant colors
are juxtaposed against dark environments.
We were also blown away
by how well the special effects stand up in this increased resolution,
given that the film was finished at a 2K resolution. Still, you only
have to watch the film's first major action sequence (pun intended), in
which Scarlett Johansson's Major character applies active camouflage and
blasts through a window to shoot down some haywire robot geishas, to
get an idea of how impressive this presentation is. The scene is
bursting with color and HDR-enhanced highlights, with reflective glass
flying through the scene and slow-motion gunfire at every turn.
Still
some viewers might be taken aback by the film's many dark scenes,
though they truly come alive when combined with OLED's capacity for
infinite contrast. This is truly a demo-worthy disc in that regard.
Also,
while some film buffs may scoff at a film that isn't presented in the
letterbox format, Ghost in the Shell looks fantastic as its 1.78:1
aspect ratio fills the entire frame – particularly impressive during
overhead shots of the film's futuristic cityscape. Technical specs: Codec:
HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master), Audio:
English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish
Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital
5.1, Aspect ratio: 1.78:1, Runtime: 116 minutes
Passengers
Shot at a resolution of 6.5K and then finished with with a 4K digital
intermediate, Passengers soars on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. An ideal
candidate for demonstration purposes, the format allows the viewer to
truly absorb the impeccable craftsmanship that went into the film's
exception production design and special effects work. Taking place
entirely on an enormous spacecraft. Passengers offers ample
opportunities for glorious space gazing and futuristic interior design.
There
are times in this 4K presentation when the photographic clarity of the
film is so high and lifelike, it almost feels like you're watching a
play. Other times, the digital photography is so clean and sharp, that
it gives the film an unreal quality, almost like it's partly animated.
Of course, this is completely intentional and only serves to make
Passengers look even more astounding on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. Of course,
the film's HDR colors contrast level keep everything in check.
Skin
tones are remarkably true to life, and while the film's stars come
across a little too beautiful at times (seriously, no one can look that
great at all times) Passengers is exactly the kind of film that the 4K
Ultra HD format was made for. It's a showcase for gorgeous people
hanging out on stunning sets doing remarkable things with the help of
magnificent visual effects. Technical specs: Codec:
HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English Dolby
Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby Digital
5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese
Dolby Digital 5.1, Thai Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1,
Runtime: 116 minutes
Lucy
Arriving on Ultra HD Blu-ray with an absolutely stunning transfer
sourced from a 4K digital intermediate, Lucy demonstrates the strengths
of the format by showcasing immense fine detail, exceptionally-realistic
skin tones and textures, and truly-dynamic color reproduction
throughout.
From the film's opening scene, which features Lucy the
primate in a prehistoric setting, this presentation solidifies its
place as one of the format's best reference-quality discs. The detail in
the hominid's face and fur is utterly astounding, as are the colors and
textures in its surrounding habitat.
As was mentioned earlier,
skin tones and textures are also incredible on Lucy's 4K Ultra HD
Blu-ray, looking supremely lifelike at all times. Seriously, if you can
find pores and imperfections on the face of someone as beautiful as
Scarlett Johansson, you know you've reached an unparalleled level of
clarity.
Likewise, as the film starts to veer into true
science-fiction territory, the disc continues to shine, displaying
vibrant HDR-enhanced colors and terrific contrast. Even if you only have
a passing admiration for Luc Besson's trippy action film, you owe it to
yourself to check out Lucy on 4K Blu-ray. Technical specs: Codec:
HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English Dolby
Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby Digital
5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, Runtime: 89 minutes
Oblivion
As a science-fiction film with a very sleek and minimalistic art
design, Oblivion makes an ideal candidate for the added resolution of
4K. Though the transfer was taken from a 2K digital intermediate (common
with visual effects-driven films), Oblivion looks sharp and clean, if
not immediately mind-blowing.
With that said, as the film enters
its darker scenes, the impressive color gamut and contrast afforded by
the film's HDR grading give the film a real sense of depth and vibrancy,
particularly in the film's indoor drone shootout sequence. Bloom
lighting and sparks from the scene's many explosions burn white-hot,
showcasing the brilliant brightness that 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is capable
of. Likewise, close-up shots of the drones show a wonderful level of
detail.
Though the film has a mostly washed-out grey and blue
tone, skin tones appear quite naturalistic and at times appear to be the
most vibrant thing on screen. Facial textures also excel, showing fine
details like pores and individual hairs in Tom Cruise's five o'clock
shadow. Grime, cuts and bruises also look benefit from the format's
added clarity.
Giving the film a visual uptick in every category
over the standard Blu-ray edition, for fans, this is by far the best way
to experience Oblivion. Technical specs: Codec:
HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master), Audio:
English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish
Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1,
Runtime: 125 minutes
Pacific Rim
The reference-quality Blu-ray disc of Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific
Rim threatens to stomp the rest of your Blu-ray collection and land
itself at the top of the pile for visual quality.
Though the film
was finished on a 2K digital intermediate, much like Star Trek Into
Darkness, this does not stop Pacific Rim from looking utterly
sensational on Ultra HD Blu-ray. Shot in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, your
entire television screen will be used to display the film's many giant
robot vs monster set pieces.
Thanks to some HDR tinkering, the
film's colors and contrast now look even better than they did when the
film was in theatres. Witness the rainswept battle that opens the film
to see how good its vivid colors look against the inky blacks of a
night-time sky. The added resolution afforded by 4K Blu-ray makes the
rain look more detailed and realistic. Sparks that fly within the Jaeger
cockpit are also more clearly defined and burn hotter than ever before.
Though
the entire film is a showstopper, anyone that has seen Pacific Rim will
know that its mid-film Hong Kong monster battle is the best-looking
section of the film, and believe us when we say that it has never looked
better than it does on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. The city's neon-soaked
skyline radiates with beautiful and realistic bloom lighting, making the
best of the film's high-dynamic-range upgrade.
Even if you already own Pacific Rim on 3D Blu-ray, you owe it to
yourself to see how incredible the film can look on 4K Ultra HD. This is
absolutely a reference quality disc. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master),
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby
Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 1.85:1, Runtime: 131 minutes
Independence Day: Resurgence
Sourced from a true 4K digital intermediate, Independence Day:
Resurgence roars onto 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray without losing any detail
whatsoever – in fact, the film's presentation is improved by the
inclusion of HDR (that said, the ultimate way to watch a film of this
magnitude will always be on the biggest cinema screen possible).
A
much darker and gloomier picture than its predecessor, Independence
Day: Resurgence features many scenes surrounded by inky blacks that
would look exceptional on an OLED display. Unfortunately, we didn't have
access to one for testing purposes, so we can only say that the 4K
Ultra HD Blu-ray's increased contrast and vivid colors make Independence
Day: Resurgence look fantastic on any HDR-compatible TV.
Its
various scenes of computer-assisted citywide destruction unfurl on
screen with an extreme level of visual clarity and detail, acting as a
showcase of what the 4K format is capable of. Many times, the film's
turquoise alien tech takes centre stage, glowing with a naturalistic
light bloom that never shows obvious signs of color gradation (see the
film's opening scene to see how well light fades into darkness).
If you're a fan of the film, there's no better way to watch Independence Day: Resurgence than on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English
Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby
Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, Runtime:
120 minutes
Chappie
Director Neill Blomkamp (District 9) is known for his knack for
seamlessly blending science fiction elements into everyday scenarios,
offering a uniquely down-to-earth view of a world filled with robots and
aliens. His film Chappie is no exception. Set mostly around the slums
of Johannesburg, Chappie's mostly daytime action allows this 4K HDR
presentation to really pop.
Shot by Redcode RAW (5K) cameras and
finished on a 4K digital intermediate, Chappie's 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
practically mirrors what was shown in theatres, only with HDR providing
improved contrast and more naturalistic colors. The detail in the
titular robot character is astonishing, with the steely greys and blues
of his frame making the orange highlights of his arm and antenna stand
out even more. You can also see details in Chappie's dirty, scratched
body that just weren't visible on the film's regular Blu-ray. Best of
all, the expressive LED lights on Chappie's face now show much finer
detail, making the character seem even more like a real world object,
and not just a marvel of computer-generated wizardry.
Though the
film can be quite grimy at times, it's got a lively, vibrant
undercurrent to it, employing a Day-Go style thanks to Chappie's
co-stars, the rap-rave group Die Antwoord. The group brings its
signature art style to the film's costumes and set design, all of which
looks fantastic when aided by HDR's wider color gamut. Now, bring on
District 9 and Elysium in 4K! Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English
Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby
Digital 5.1, French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.40:1,
Runtime: 120 minutes
Star Trek
Though it's been 'upconverted' from a 2K digital intermediate (which
is what you likely saw in theatres upon release), J.J. Abrams' first
Star Trek movie looks absolutely wonderful on 4K Blu-ray – the release
actually lends some weight to argument that Ultra HD discs don't need to
come from a true 4K source in order to impress.
Director J.J.
Abrams' may be guilty of relying a little heavily on his 'lens flare'
technique on both of his Star Trek films, but the effect looks better
than ever here thanks to HDR's increased color gamut and contrast
levels. Light blooms looks completely natural, avoiding harsh shade
transitions entirely. Elsewhere, the Ultra HD Blu-ray offers amazing
detail when it comes to facial textures on the film's many creatures and
alien races – Eric Bana's Romulan character Nero looks especially good,
with the disc's increased resolution showing just how great the film's
Oscar-winning make-up and facial prosthetics are.
While Star
Trek's Ultra HD Blu-ray disc may be outclassed by its sequel's truly
(inter)stellar 4K release (listed below), this is by far the best way to
experience J.J.'s first voyage on the USS Enterprise at home. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master),
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit),
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby
Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.40:1, 1.78:1, Runtime: 132 minutes
Star Trek Into Darkness
When it comes to the visual quality, the Ultra HD Blu-ray for Star
Trek Into Darkness is absolutely mind-blowing – we'd even go as far as
calling it the most impressive 4K release on this list. With over 30
minutes of the film shot in the IMAX format, J.J. Abrams' Star Trek Into
Darkness cuts back and forth between a traditional 2.40:1 letterbox
presentation for its non-showy scenes, and the more vision-encompassing
1.78:1 aspect ratio for the film's spectacle-driven moments (this
presentation is exclusive to the film's Ultra HD release). Though the
film looks great throughout (despite being sourced from the film's 2K
digital intermediate), the level of detail displayed in these IMAX
scenes is absolutely astonishing.
From its very first scene
(pictured above), in which Kirk and Bones are chased through a vibrant
red forest by the primitive Nibiru tribe, Star Trek Into Darkness will
make an instant believer of any 4K/HDR naysayer. Witness, for instance,
the cracked, flaking skin on the faces of the Nibiru tribes people,
shown up close and in great detail. Marvel at the naturalistic skin
tones, visible pores and wrinkles shown on actors Chris Pine and Karl
Urban's faces, offering a level of immersion that 3D just cannot compete
with.
Another scene, in which Spock drops down into a volcano, is
also a showstopper – with its swirling specks of fire and ember, and
contrast enhanced greatly by HDR, the scene becomes a showcase for the
emerging 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format. Until more IMAX-enhanced films
start to be released, consider Star Trek Into Darkness your go-to 4K
reference disc. Technical specs: Codec: HEVC /
H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master), Audio: English Dolby
Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby Digital
5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect
ratio: 2.40:1, 1.78:1, Runtime: 132 minutes
Trolls
Looking like a cotton candy machine exploded in a glitter factory,
Trolls is one of the most vibrant and colorful films currently available
on the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format. And, as you'd expect, there are huge
HDR-related benefits to owning the film in 4K over the still admirable
regular Blu-ray version.
First off, the colors are astonishing.
This is visual eye candy to the max, and while you might expect the
vibrancy to be dialled up significantly on the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
release, the disc's HDR allows for more naturalistic blending and
shading. Combined with improved brightness and color, the overall
presentation achieves a richer, more nuanced color palette that avoids
looking sickly sweet and garish, and manages to do so without losing its
vividness.
Then comes the disc's fine detail, which receives a
tremendous uptick at the 4K resolution. Each of the trolls in the film
has a furry, felt-like texture that comes across even stronger when you
can see fine hairs swaying on their arms and faces. Of course, their big
colorful troll hair looks even more realistic than ever before. An
impressive release that demonstrates the subtleties of HDR's wider color
gamut, Trolls is the most impressive animated 4K release to date. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master),
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit),
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French (Canada) Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect
ratio: 2.35:1, Runtime: 92 minutes
Labyrinth
Starting with an outdoor scene shot in natural light, Jim Henson's
classic family film Labyrinth does not immediately impress on 4K Ultra
HD Blu-ray. Looking soft and full of grain, you'd be forgiven for
thinking that not a lot of work has gone into this transfer.
However,
once these initial minutes pass, and as the film moves into studio sets
with professional lighting and controlled environments, the real Ultra
HD magic begins. It's at this point that Labyrinth's brand new 4K scan
(sourced from the original 35mm negative) becomes truly mind-blowing.
Taking
advantage of the format's added resolution, Labyrinth shows
extraordinary detail in the film's many puppets. Fur looks sublime, with
individual strands of hair becoming clearly visible. Quite frankly,
they look so good, it's almost as if you could reach out and touch them.
The film's fantastic makeup work and matte paintings also hold up
magnificently under the increased scrutiny of 4K.
Though
Labyrinth's 4K Blu-ray provides an incredible visual upgrade in all
areas, perhaps the most important thing about this release is that it
manages to keep the film's original filmic texture, with no digital
noise reduction to speak of. Though we're watching a digital scan, the
presentation always feels film-like.
Labyrinth has never looked
better than it does here, and while this presentation can't top the
likes of Star Trek Into Darkness in terms of spectacular visual clarity,
for a 30-year-old film populated mostly by puppets, this release is a
triumph. Technical specs: Codec: HEVC / H.265,
Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English
Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Czech Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby
Digital 5.1, German Dolby Digital 5.1, Hungarian Dolby Digital 5.1,
Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1, Polish Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby
Digital 5.1, Russian Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1,
Italian Dolby Digital 2.0, Aspect ratio: 2.40:1, Runtime: 101 minutes
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Boasting incredible detail and rich, vibrant colors, the 4K Ultra HD
Blu-ray release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is a
noticeable step up from its already impressive regular Blu-ray release.
Look closely and you'll notice that each of the turtles has realistic,
scaly skin textures that make you understand just how much work has gone
into bringing these characters to life – heck, you can even see the
enamel on their teeth!
Other digital characters also look
fantastic. Notice the individual textures given to Bebop and Rocksteady,
giving each creation its own unique look and texture. Splinter also
impresses, with the added resolution on display allowing you to see
individual hairs and whiskers that weren't as noticeable in regular HD.
Though
most impressive during its daytime scenes (which include the film's
spectacular, effects-heavy finale), TMNT: Out of the Shadows also
impresses in the darker subterranean moments set within the turtles'
sewer lair. The color palette and contrast on display are exceptional,
adding a real depth to the image. Fans should consider this 4K Blu-ray
release as the definitive way to watch the turtles' latest big screen
adventure. Technical specs: Codec: HEVC / H.265,
Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master), Audio: English Dolby Atmos,
English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1,
French Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio:
2.40:1, Runtime: 112 minutes
The LEGO Movie
One of the things that immediately strikes you about The LEGO Movie's
Ultra HD presentation is that the film has received a significantly
brighter and more vivid color palette. Not only that, contrast has also
increased by leaps and bounds, making the film's characters look even
more like real, stop-motion minifigs – even fingerprints are visible,
despite everything on screen being computer generated. Touches like this
are what makes 4K and HDR so important to our overall immersion in the
film.
Notice the deep blacks in any scene featuring Batman, or the
beautiful, naturalistic bloom lighting found in the Old West portion of
the film, or how about the gorgeous orange light emitting from film's
spaceship (SPACESHIP!!) finale?
Though this release has been
upscaled from a 2K master (the film was captured at 2.8K), The LEGO
Movie looks incredible in Ultra HD. Vibrant colors and wonderful
contrast levels make this 4K release an essential purchase for fans of
the movie. Technical specs: Codec: HEVC / H.265,
Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master), Audio: English DTS-HD
Master Audio 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1,
Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, German Dolby Digital 5.1, Dutch Dolby
Digital 5.1, Catalan Dolby Digital 5.1, Flemish Dolby Digital 5.1,
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, Runtime: 101 minutes
The Fate of the Furious
The eighth film in the blockbuster Fast and Furious franchise sings
the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray thanks to incredible HDR-enhanced colors,
driving home just what the format is capable of (see what we did there?)
Flesh
tones look astonishing on this disc, as do the HDR-enhanced explosions
that litter the film. Colors also impress – witness the opening race in
sunny Cuba to see how much of a difference HDR makes to this kind of
film.
Another show-stopping scene involves a prison riot, with
vibrant orange prison uniforms standing out even more than on the film's
regular blu-ray.
The disc also presents the film in Dolby Vision
as well as HDR10, which should be exciting for people who own TVs that
can support the format and the added color depth that it brings. For
everyone else, the disc defaults to standard HDR, which is still very
impressive.
Perhaps the film's most standout sequence though,
involves a huge frozen lake and a submarine. The white ice that
surrounds this setting really allows the film's HDR/Dolby Vision
presentation to flex some real muscle, with bright highlights getting a
good workout. Technical specs: Codec: HEVC /
H.265, Resolution: 2160p (Upscaled from 2K master), Audio: English
DTS:X, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), English DTS
Headphone:X, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect
ratio: 2.39:1, Runtime: 136 minutes
Patriots Day
Here's a film that doesn't need a blockbuster scope or enormous
amounts of CGI to dazzle on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. Patriots Day recounts
the devastating events surrounding 2013 Boston Marathon bombing in a
very naturalistic and matter-of-fact kind of way.
The film aims
to put you right there during not only the explosions that changed
everything, but the eventual chase to capture the assailants
responsible. In this regard, the film's cinematography succeeds
magnificently in capturing a sense of realism, thanks to some incredibly
sharp digital photography (captured in 3.4K with a 2K digital
intermediate) and exceptionally lifelike HDR color grading.
Skintones
are as close to reality as I've seen from any film on the 4K Ultra HD
format. Lines and pores are clearly visible, and make it even easier to
read the emotions displayed on the characters' faces.
Later in the
film, during an extended night-time firefight in suburbia, the disc
jumps to another level of clarity entirely. Shadow detail gets a huge
boost, making it easier to follow the action in what would normally be
an underlit setting.
In fact, we'd go as far as to say that
Patriots Day acts as a showcase for what HDR can bring to a films
lighting and color palette, with fire taking on an especially important
role. Surprising as it may be, this is a demo-worthy disc. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (Upscaled from 2K master),
Audio: English DTS:X, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), English
DTS Headphone:X, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1,
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1, Runtime: 133 minutes
John Wick: Chapter 2
Immediately exhibiting the benefits of increased resolution and the
wider color gamut afforded by the inclusion of HDR in its presentation,
John Wick: Chapter 2 comes out of the gate firing on all cylinders with a
visually-sensational night-time chase through Manhattan (actually
Montreal).
Surrounded by lights and colorful billboards, the
disc's HDR-enhanced contrast allows viewers to peer into the darkness
and clearly see objects and details that they'd normally normally miss
in regular high definition. Witness, for instance, the film's
show-stopping shootout inside the catacombs in Rome – the characters are
enveloped in darkness and yet we can clearly see everything that's
going on thanks to some terrific lighting and high-dynamic-range magic.
Immediately
prior to that scene, a night-time concerto amongst the ruins of the
Baths of Caracalla in Rome demonstrates incredible highlights, with red
and blue LED lights surrounding the stage as spotlights swirl around in
all directions.
The incredible visuals just keep on coming with
this release. We have a shootout in a museum where vibrant red blood
splatters over a number of statues, a neon-enhanced 'hall of mirrors'
battle inspired by Enter the Dragon, fight scenes taking place in a dark
and vivid underground metro, and the list goes on and on. One of the
most dynamic releases on the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format, this is
absolutely the best way to experience John Wick: Chapter 2. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (Upscaled from 2K master),
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit),
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio:
2.40:1, Runtime: 122 minutes
Hacksaw Ridge
Though sourced from a 2K digital intermediate, Hacksaw Ridge arrives
on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with a gloriously-detailed transfer that's
bolstered by a terrific HDR color gamut.
In its first half, the
film radiates with natural-looking light and the kind of clear
cinematography that only digital cameras can achieve. Though the disc's
increased resolution makes it easy to spot green screen work on a couple
of occasions, the added clarity that's made possible by the Ultra HD
format far outweighs these minor infractions.
Later, the added
detail provided by the format's higher resolution, as well as the wider
color gamut it offers, brings a shocking level of detail and an added
feeling of authenticity to the film's many gruesome war scenes. If you
find intense scenes involving bloody viscera and shredded appendages
hard to stomach, you're going to have an even harder time experiencing
them on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.
Elsewhere, high-dynamic-range allows
the film's cinematography to really shine, showing very realistic color
and light reproduction, especially in dark scenes. At times, Hacksaw
Ridge's war scenes forego realistic color palettes in favour of a
stylised, almost monochromatic look. Here, HDR allows you to really
notice the different shades at work, rather than simply looking dull and
grey. These scenes are also punctuated by a barrage of explosions,
juxtaposing bright bursts of color over a bleak battlefield.
Top
this off with a dynamic and concussive Dolby Atmos audio track, and what
you have in Hacksaw Ridge is one of the best releases on the format. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (Upscaled from 2K master),
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit),
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39: 1, Runtime: 131 minutes
The Neon Demon
One of the few 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray titles that doesn't come with HDR
enhancements, Nicolas Winding Refn's horror thriller The Neon Demon
looks utterly glorious on the format nonetheless. If you want to get
your hands on the film in razor-sharp 2160p, you'll have to import this
English-friendly German release, which includes all the special features
found on the regular Blu-ray in the US and UK – don't you just love how
all 4K UHD discs are region free?
With regards to the disc's lack
of HDR, you may be surprised to learn that the famously-visual director
is actually quite color blind. An inability to see midtones has led
Refn to favour high contrast and extreme colors throughout his career,
as evidenced by the films Drive and Only God Forgives. Because of this,
it's probably safe to assume that he wouldn't get much out of the
high-dynamic-range experience.
Sourced from a 4K master (but shot
at 3.4K), The Neon Demon looks incredible on Ultra HD Blu-ray, with its
high resolution offering a noticeable uptick in detail over the 1080p
version included in this package.
Aside from its 4K resolution,
deep blacks and scorchingly vibrant colors are the big selling point
here – though we were unable to test the film on an OLED television, the
promise of individually-lit pixels beaming and pulsing out of the pitch
black darkness of certain scenes has us giddy at the possibilities on
hand.
Essentially a feature-length exercise in immense style and
cinematography, it would be hard to imagine a film more suited to the 4K
Ultra HD format. Technical specs: Codec: HEVC /
H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English DTS HD-Master
Audio 5.1, German DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1 Aspect ratio: 2.35: 1,
Runtime: 118 minutes
Deepwater Horizon
Based on the devastating true story of an enormous oil rig disaster
that occurred in 2010, often cited as one of the largest man-made
disasters in history, it is perhaps in bad taste to describe Deepwater
Horizon as a tremendously visceral and visually spectacular film, given
the lives that were lost on that fateful day. Regardless, we must still
call 'em like we see 'em, and Deepwater Horizon looks incredible on 4K
Ultra HD Blu-ray.
Director Peter Berg (The Kingdom, Lone
Survivor) brings his tough and gritty film to the format with
exceptional results. Though the film was finished on a 2K digital
intermediate, Deepwater Horizon delivers strong detail and impressive
dynamics, with its HDR enhanced presentation offering great depth and
color reproduction.
Witness, for instance, the fantastic textures
in the many scenes featuring actors smeared in oil and covered in dust
and debris. Likewise, the film's many explosions burst with astonishing
clarity thanks to the format's higher dynamic range. Fire is so bright
that you can almost feel the heat emanating from your screen.
Visuals
aside, Deepwater Horizon's audio presentation also receives top marks,
with a Dolby Atmos presentation that will shake your living room once
those aforementioned explosions start. The film's audio dynamics will
bounce around your room, placing you right in the action. Helicopters
flying overhead are particularly impressive here, making Deepwater
Horizon a reference quality disc in both video and audio categories. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master),
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit),
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1, Runtime: 107 minutes
The Shallows
Providing even more proof that you don't need a 4K master to get
exceptional 4K UHD Blu-ray results, the entertaining shark attack movie
The Shallows has emerged on the format with an absolutely sublime audio
and video presentation.
Upscaled from a 2K master, The Shallows
looks astonishingly crisp, with the film's digital photography lending
immense clarity to the film's many surfing scenes. Witness, for
instance, star Blake Lively's resting 'beachface', which reveals
detailed pores, fine lines and even the salty texture of someone who's
spent all day swimming in the ocean and soaking in sun rays.
Unsurprisingly, the waves look spectacular, too.
Also
complementing The Shallows' incredible visual presentation is an amazing
Dolby Atmos track which faithfully reproduces the film's clever sound
design. It's a muscular track that really puts you in the action,
handling all of the film's audio dynamics with ease. Scenes where Lively
is submerged make your living room feel like it's underwater, and one
particular moment where an underwater GoPro shot breaks through the
surface makes your ears pop like the real thing.
Occasionally,
the added resolution of the disc makes some of the film's shark attack
scenes look a little fake, but overall The Shallows is one of the best
looking and sounding releases that the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format has
produced. Highly recommended. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master), Audio:
English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Czech
Dolby Digital 5.1, French (Canada) Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby
Digital 5.1, German Dolby Digital 5.1, Hungarian Dolby Digital 5.1,
Italian Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1, Polish Dolby
Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, Russian Dolby Digital 5.1,
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, Thai Dolby Digital 5.1, Turkish Dolby Digital
5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, Runtime: 86 minutes
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mad Max: Fury Road's 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release brings with it some
enormous expectations, as the film is one of the more visually dazzling
action blockbusters in recent memory. Thankfully, Fury Road absolutely
delivers, despite having been upscaled from a 2K digital intermediate.
This might seem like a bummer, but that's how the film was presented in
theatres, and it looked pretty freakin' good there, didn't it?
With
its colors undergoing a re-grading process in HDR, Fury Road looks more
sensational than ever in Ultra HD. The film's many explosions now burn
with added intensity, and improved contrast and increased resolution
give the film a more painterly appearance, especially in the film's huge
storm sequence.
Some might argue that this makes Mad Max: Fury
Road's CGI stand out more, I believe it only adds to the film's artistic
quality. Elsewhere, you'll find more realistic skin tones and textures,
brilliant lighting, richer landscapes and shinier chrome. Mad Max: Fury
Road's Ultra HD release is definitely worth the upgrade for fans,
though we'd love to see what the added resolution of 4K and HDR could do
with the film's new Black and Chrome version. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master),
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit),
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby
Digital 5.1, German Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.40:1, Runtime:
120 minutes
The Revenant
As close to a flawless 4K presentation as the format has so far
produced, The Revenant looks utterly fantastic on Ultra HD Blu-ray. Shot
digitally at resolutions of up to 6.5K (and finished on a 4K digital
intermediate) using only natural light sources, The Revenant offers a
very natural-looking presentation, giving the audience a more authentic
idea of what it must feel like to be in the freezing wilderness
alongside Leo and Co.
Compare the The Revenant's 4K disc to the
regular Blu-ray packaged with it, and you'll notice that the discs
provide quite different presentations of the film. This is because
director Alejandro G. Iñárritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki
re-graded the entire film in HDR exclusively for this UHD release. By
comparison, the regular 1080p Blu-ray looks much cooler, with more
dominant blues and greys taking centre stage. Meanwhile, the 4K disc
offers more naturalistic skin tones and a warmer overall palette, making
the film's many icy landscapes appear whiter and more true to life.
Speaking
of landscapes, the added resolution and contrast of The Revenant's 4K
Ultra HD Blu-ray makes them appear more grand and breathtaking, offering
more fine detail and depth. Improved bloom lighting also lets the sun
shine without bleeding into obvious and distracting shade transitions. A
reference disc if ever there was one, The Revenant belongs in
everyone's 4K collection. Technical specs: Codec:
HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English DTS-HD
Master Audio 7.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French DTS 5.1, Italian
DTS 5.1, German DTS 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, Runtime: 156 minutes
Warcraft: The Beginning
Though you'd expect HDR to make films more vibrant and colorful,
Warcraft's presentation has taken a more subtle approach to the film's
coloring. Less garish than its regular Blu-ray counterpart, Warcraft's
Ultra HD presentation offers more naturalistic colors, especially when
it comes to orc skin tones. That's not to say that this presentation is
muted in any way – Fel magic looks spectacularly vivid and bright,
giving the film a suitably other-worldly and fantastical appearance.
As
expected, the real show-stoppers here are the orcs, lovingly realised
through terrific motion-capture performances and CGI wizardry (as
opposed to the other kind of wizardry seen in the film itself). Lead orc
Durotan's facial expressions are more detailed and realistic, thanks to
the disc's bumped-up resolution. Getting to actually see fine lines,
wrinkles and textures in these characters' faces make them much more
believable (though the illusion is still broken whenever they're
standing next to the film's human characters). Other CGI creations, like
the Gryphon Lothar rides during the film's climax, or the kingdom of
Azeroth itself, exhibit an exceptionally high level of detail.
While
it is another example of an upscaled film sourced from a 2K digital
intermediate, Warcraft's 4K presentation nonetheless offers enhanced
clarity, improved contrast and naturalistic tones. This Ultra HD release
is definitely the best way to watch Warcraft: The Beginning in 2D. Technical specs: Codec:
HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master), Audio:
English Dolby Atmos, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital
5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, Runtime: 123 minutes
Sausage Party
The idea behind Sausage Party was for Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg to
create a hilariously filthy R-rated animate comedy with Pixar-level
animation. While it doesn't quite reach those lofty heights, the film
looks fantastic on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray nonetheless.
Finished at
2K and then upscaled to 4K, Sausage Party still manages to eek out a
whole lot of extra detail over its regular Blu-ray counterpart. This is
largely thanks to some HDR tinkering, which gives the film's colors and
lighting a more detailed and pleasing look overall.
Certain foods
gain extra details in their textures, with the sausages themselves
looking like real objects that you can touch. In fact, the move to
high-dynamic-range makes everything look more realistic (while still
keeping that stylised animated look).
Sure, there are
better-looking CGI animated films available on this blossoming format
(just look at our Trolls entry in the family movies section), but
Sausage Party still looks good enough to eat. For fans of the film, this
is as good as it's ever going to look. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master),
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 16-bit),
Czech Dolby Digital 5.1, French (Canada) Dolby Digital 5.1, Hungarian
Dolby Digital 5.1, Polish Dolby Digital 5.1, Russian Dolby Digital 5.1,
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1, Runtime: 89 minutes
Planet Earth II
BBCOkay,
so we're cheating a little bit here, as BBC's Planet Earth II is a
documentary series, not a movie. However, much like how the first Planet
Earth series was a showcase for the Blu-ray format, Planet Earth II
proves to be an astounding demo disc that easily highlights the 4K Ultra
HD format's greatest strengths.
With numerous locales spread over
six episodes, Planet Earth II gives the viewer a whole lot of variety
in the eye candy department. In the first episode alone, the crystal
clear waters of the Caribbean are juxtaposed against the volcanic
majesty of the Galapagos islands, offering lifelike HDR visuals at both
ends of the color spectrum.
Creature close-ups are astonishing in
their sharpness, exhibiting high detail in faces and fur. Just as
impressive are the series' signature drone shots, which give you a
bird's-eye view of various landscapes, including mountains, jungles and
even cities in the final episode.
A major selling point of Planet
Earth II is that it was all captured in Native 4K and is presented here
exactly as intended by its creators. Add to this the otherworldly feel
attributed by the use of slow motion photography, and what you have is
the definitive 4K Ultra HD disc to make people's jaws drop. A must-have
addition to any serious 4K collection. Technical specs:
Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: DTS-HD
Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit) Aspect ratio: 1.78:1, Runtime: 300
minutes
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