4K Digital Review of The Sound of Music

 

The Sound of Music Celebrates arrives in a stunning restored and remastered 4K version for its 60th Anniversary. It is one of my favorite movies of all-time. I don't think I have ever seen a movie that is more joyful or optimistic. Here you can believe in the possibilities of love, that good will triumph over evil and the power of song.

Based on a true story that is known the world over, Julie Andrews plays Maria, who may never become a proper nun. She is sent to Salzburg to become the governess to the seven von Trapp children. Their father, Georg (Christopher Plummer), is a widower and a former Navy captain. He runs the household with strict military discipline. Maria wins over the children by letting them be children. They learn to sing and enjoy life. The Captain begins to see the change in his children and his heart begins to open. He even breaks off his engagement to the cold Baroness Schraeder (Eleanor Parker) to marry Maria. But there is danger out there. The Nazi threat looms over Austria and the von Trapps. The Nazis want the captain for their Navy and he makes a desperate escape with the entire family to safety over the Swiss Alps.    

Video:

The 4K Digital video is stunning. The 4K scan is from a brand new 8K scan with color correction and restoration work done. The details are absolutely eye-popping. A few examples include, the individual blades of grass as Maria sings at the opening of the movie, the details of the fabric on all the clothing and the stonework on the von Trapp home. The Sound of Music has never looked better.   

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is an equally stunning upgrade to go along with the video. The enhancement is immediately noticeable with the opening song. You will be completely surrounded by Maria's crystal clear vocals and the orchestration. Outdoor atmospheric ambiance is placed smartly. Dialogue is clean and clearly placed. An outstanding audio effort to accompany the amazing video.

Bonus Features (Bonus features vary by product and retailer)

• Sing-Along Version 
• Commentary by Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Charmian Carr, Dee Dee Wood & Johannes von Trapp 
• Commentary by Robert Wise
• The Sound of a City Documentary - Julie Andrews returns to Salzburg, Austria
• A City of Song - Filming locations in Salzburg, Austria
• Musical Stages - The songs, the show & the family
• Vintage Programs - The Sound of Music, Rodgers and Hammerstein, location interviews, and audio interviews
• Rare Treasures - Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall: The Pratt Family Singers, The Julie Andrews Hour: Julie Andrews and Maria Von Trapp, Screen Tests, 40th Anniversary DVD Introduction by Julie Andrews, and galleries
• Publicity - Fox Movietone News - Academy Awards,®, trailers and teasers, TV spots, and radio spots

Conclusion:

One of my favorite films of all-time has never looked or sounded better. While the bonus features have been ported over from other Anniversary sets, this version is still highly recommended.

The Sound of Music is available now on digital.

*The movie was provided by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the purpose of this review and the review is strictly my opinion.* 

4K Digital Review of The Fantastic Four: First Steps

 

I am a huge Marvel fan and have been watching every movie and TV Series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While I have enjoyed some of the movies and series after Endgame, I feel like Marvel lost their momentum and didn't know where to go from there. But Thunderbolts was a return to form for me as was The Fantastic Four: First Steps. It is focused on being a character driven film instead of what's next and leading towards a major Marvel film event like an Avengers film. 

We are introduced to The Fantastic Four in another universe. They have been spending the last several years protecting their Earth. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and his wife Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) are expecting their first child. Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are going to become uncles. The world seems to be in harmony. Then, Silver Surfer (Julie Garner) arrives to warn of the arrival of Galactus (Ralph Ineson). Galactus feeds upon entire planets to sustain himself and is heading towards Earth.

The Fantastic Four believe they can bargain with Galactus to protect the planet. It turns out that the only thing Galactus wants is to give his role as eater of planet's to another. A being that is powerful enough to take on the role and not be consumed by it.  A being born of two powerful metahumans. This would be Franklin, the unborn child of Reed and Sue. 

Video:

The streaming 4K video is beautiful. The world is a retro-future one and the colors are softer. Primary colors do pop off the screen. Finer details such a as clothing materials and skin tones are wonderful. Shiny and bright colors such as Silver Surfer, Galactus and Johnny's orange flames also really stand out. A fantastic video transfer from Disney and Marvel.  

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is solid. The surrounds will get a good workout due to all of the environmental sounds and some great actions sequences. Dialogue is crystal clear and the score is subtle and plays nicely in the background. A fantastic audio mix from Disney and Marvel.

Bonus Features:

• Deleted Scenes – Check out the scenes that didn’t make the final cut.

o Thanksgiving Soup Kitchen

o Fantastic Four Day

o Subterranea

o Birthday Sweater

o Taking Turns

• Gag Reel – Enjoy fun outtakes on set with the cast and crew of The Fantastic Four: First

Steps.

• Featurettes:

o Meet The First Family – The creation of the Fantastic Four saved Marvel Comics in

1961 and has only flourished as years have passed. Matt Shakman and the cast

explain how they found themselves gravitating toward each role and creating the

ultimate family unit.

o Fantastic Futurism – The filmmakers discuss the process of immersing the cast

and crew in the film’s retro-futuristic aesthetic. Join Matt Shakman and crew as they

discuss the experience of shooting in gigantic mid-century New York sets and

stepping into an otherworldly era.

o From Beyond and Below – The team explores bringing complex characters from

the page to the screen, including a larger-than-life Galactus, grounded Harvey

Elder/Mole Man, and an emotionally rich Silver Surfer.

• Audio Commentary – Watch the film with audio commentary by director Matt Shakman

and production designer Kasra Farahani.

Conclusion:

A fantastic introduction to Marvel's first family into the MCU. I look forward to seeing where they go from here and how they enter the rest of the MCU that we already know. Fantastic video and audio with some wonderful bonus features including a good audio commentary make this a highly recommended addition to your library.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is available now on digital, DVD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD.

*The movie was sent by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the purpose of this review and the review is strictly my own opinion.*

4K Digital Review of TRON: Legacy

 

TRON: Legacy begins in 1989, seven years after the events of the original film. Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) is the CEO of ENCOM and is leading them into the future. And suddenly, without warning, Flynn disappears. Flynn's friend Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner) is left in control of ENCOM until Flynn's son Sam is old enough to take control. Now, 20 years later, Sam (Garrett Hedlund), is as tech savvy as his father. A message leads him to his dad's old arcade and he is teleported into the digital world. Here Sam is captured and forced to play in the games. The games are a life and death battle involving energy disc battles and lightcycle duels.  Sam quickly learns that he was brought here by CLU, a program who looks just like Flynn. CLU is in control of the digital world and sees users such as Flynn and Sam as the ones holding the programs from realizing their full potential. Sam is rescued by Quorra (Olivia Wilde), a program who is friends with Flynn. As father and son are reunited I nthe digital world, Sam now must decide to not interfere with CLU and his intentions of stop CLU and get back to the real world. 

Video:

TRON: Legacy was remastered from the original digital sources and upgraded to 4K. The results are unbelievably stunning to say the very least. You get sharper, better defined details throughout. The blacks are inky and facial features and skin tones looks lifelike. The transfer is gorgeous and demo-worthy.

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is as impressive as the video. The sound envelopes you as atmospheric effects travel seamlessly all around you. When Sam enters The Grid, you are surrounded by digital noises. From the sounds of disc wars flying around you, the hum of the lightcycle, the Recognizers hovering above you with their deep bass and the sound of light jets flying just above your head. You will feel as if you and not Sam were in The Grid.

Bonus Material:

• Launching the Legacy (HD – 10:20)
• Visualizing TRON (HD – 11:46)
• Installing the Cast (HD – 12:04)
• Disc Roars (HD – 3:00)
• The Speed of Light (HD – 9:49)

Conclusion:

While not as groundbreaking as the original, TRON: Legacy still delivers a visually stunning world. The video and the audio are demo-worthy. The supplements are lacking and just brought over from the previous Blu-ray. But this is still highly recommended for your library.

TRON: Legacy is now available to own on digital, Blu-ray and 4K UHD.

*The movie was sent by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the sole purpose of this review and the review is strictly my opinion.*

4K Digital Review of TRON (1982)

 

Back in 1982, personal computers were not even a thought for the average household. Computer animation was not a thing. We were still years away from the internet. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was unknown to the masses. TRON debuted in theaters and it wasn't just a film ahead of its time, it was the start of a revolution. A film meant to push the boundaries of animation, has influenced just about everything that we know today. It has pioneered computer graphics in movies, pushed music and computer interfaces.

TRON focuses on Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), a brilliant programmer at ENCOM. Flynn's rival Edward Dillinger (David Warner), stole two of his best video game programs and used them to move up the ranks of ENCOM. Determined to find evidence that Dillinger stole his work, Flynn wants to hack into the company's Master Control Program (MCP). With the help of his ENCOM employee/friends Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner) and Lora Baines (Cindy Morgan), Flynn gains access to ENCOM. While trying to hack into the system, the MCP uses a laser to transport Flynn into the virtual world of its system. Flynn discovers a world that only serves the MCP. Alan Bradley has created a security program he calls TRON who helps Flynn fight the MCP and hopefully return Flynn back to the human world.

Video:

The 4K streaming video is sourced from a brand-new restoration and remaster from the film's original negatives. TRON has never looked better. The video is extremely crisp and sharp. The glow of the red and blue hues in the digital world are impressive.  Blacks are inky and silky. Facial expressions are clean and accurate. A showcase quality restoration from the amazing team at Disney.

Audio:

The streaming Dolby Atmos soundtrack is superb to match the restored video quality. While mostly front channel heavy for most of the movie, the surround channels come in during the digital world. The sound field is enveloping and immersive especially during the games and the final act. Vocals are crystal clear throughout the movie. Another wonderful audio track from Disney.

Bonus Features:

• The TRON Phenomenon (HD – 9:45)
• Photo TRONology (HD – 16:37)
• Original DVD Features
• Development
  • “Computers Are People Too” (SD – 4:28)
• Digital Imagery
  • Digital Imagery in TRON (SD – 3:44)
  • “Beyond TRON” (SD – 4:00)
• The Making of TRON (SD – 88:21)
• Publicity
• Trailer #4 (SD – 1:34)

Conclusion:

TRON has never looked and sounded better. Reference-quality video and a very engaging soundtrack brings this 1982 movie to renewed life. Some good supplements that have been out before. This is a highly recommended addition to your movie library.

TRON is available on digital, Blu-ray and 4K UHD now. 

*The movie was supplied by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the purpose of this review. The review is strictly my own opinion.*