4K Digital Review of TRON: ARES

 

I am one of those people who have grown up with Tron and have been a huge fan since watching the first one on the big screen. I was eight when the first one hit theaters. The visuals and the story drew me in. Then I had to wait twenty-eight years for the sequel. Disney seemed geared up to take the franchise to the next level. Promotion for Tron: Legacy was everywhere from shoes, to clothes, to Daft Punk on the soundtrack to elecTRONica, a night party in Disney California Adventure Park. The movie opened and the box office return was less than stellar. So, here we are, fifteen years later, and while we don't get the exact sequel to Legacy, we get another Tron movie.

ENCOM and Dillinger are still going back and forth with one another for control of the digital world. They are using The Grid to try to advance their companies forward. They have both figured out how to bring digital items from The Grid into our world. The only problem is that the digital programs can only exist in our world for 29 minutes. Now the search is on for the permanence code that Flynn (Jeff Bridges) hid in his original code. ENCOM CEO Eve Kim (Greta Lee) finds the code before Dillinger CEO Julian (Evan Peters). Julian sends his security program, Ares (Jared Leto) after Eve.

Video:

The 4K video stream is stunning. In the real world, the colors are dark and moody. In The Grid, the bright colors really shine. There are so many fine details to point out. Facial details, skin tones, and materials all look amazing. The digital world looks clean and believable. Blacks are so deep and inky. Colors and shadows all look impressive. A demo worthy visual experience.

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos audio track matches the gorgeous visuals. The Nine Inch Nails score matches the moody visuals of the film perfectly. Dialogue is crisp and clean. The surrounds get a good workout. 

Bonus Features:

• Deleted Scenes
• Seth’s Date
• Burning Man
• Lisberger Cameo
• Featurettes:
• The Journey To Tron: Ares: Go on a personal journey with Jared Leto, director Joachim Rønning and other cast and crew members for an in-depth making-of look showcasing the stunning visuals, incredible stunts, cool (but heavy) costumes, and next-level sets of Tron: Ares.
• Lightcycles On The Loose: Join director Joachim Rønning as he peels back the layers of one of the most action-packed sequences in the film. Discover what ILM and the artists who grew up loving the franchise contributed, and what other iconic film the sequence pays homage to.
• The Artistry Of Tron: Ares: Director Joachim Rønning and actor-producer Jared Leto sit down to discuss their journey creating Tron: Ares. The pair unpack key moments and the striking visual, sonic and artistic philosophies that drive the storytelling both in and out of the Grid.
• Cast Conversations: Join the cast in candid conversations as they reflect on stepping into character, memorable on-set experiences, funny anecdotes and personal insights. Get a glimpse of the off-screeHi [NAME],
• n camaraderie that shines in their electric on-screen synergy. 
• The Legacy Of Tron: Decades after Tron first took the world by storm, and with Tron: Legacy in between, there’s loads of nostalgia to mine for Tron: Ares. Catch some clever easter eggs and noteworthy cameos as this enduring franchise continues to leave its mark

Conclusion:

A fun, solid, well-told Tron movie that seriously under-performed at the box office. We will probably never see another Tron movie again. Good bonus material along with incredible audio and video will still make this one of 2025's top demo discs. A welcomed addition to your library if you are a Tron fan like myself.

4K Digital Review of Edward Scissorhands 35th Anniversary

 

Edward Scissorhands is celebrating its 35th Anniversary with its first release in 4K. This is a story that Burton took from his personal experience of isolation growing up in suburban Burbank, CA. This might still be Burton's most personal story to date.

Johnny Depp plays Edward Scissorhands, an unfinished experiment who has scissor blades for hands. He lives in an old mansion that belonged to The Inventor (Vincent Price), who passed away before he had a chance to give Edward hands. Then comes Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest), an Avon saleswoman, who finds Edwards and brings him home with her. The entire neighborhood goes into disarray with the arrival of  Edward. But there are some that love Edward and this includes Peg's daughter Kim (Winona Ryder).

For a movie that means so much to so many, this is the power of storytelling  and the power of Tim Burton. He tells stories that reach a wide variety of people. He tells stories that might seem inhumane but are innately human.    

Video:

The 4K transfer looks very similar to the one they did for the 25th Anniversary Blu-ray. The pastels of the houses, the inky blacks of the shadows, and the details on such things as Edward's suit and facial scars look amazing. But where using an old transfer suffers is in the amount of film grain. We have seen fine work from Disney recently with the 4K restoration of Master and Commander: The Far Side of The World. So, hopefully we will get a new 4K transfer for the 40th Anniversary edition. 

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is also based off the surround sound track for the previous Blu-ray. But here, they did a really nice job in boosting the environmental effects and the Danny Elfman score. The score sweeps around you as does the sound of the scissors cutting. A nice audio upgrade all-around. 

Bonus Materials:

• Featurette – Peek behind the scenes and hear the cast & crew of Edward Scissorhands discuss Burton’s unique, modern reinterpretation of Frankenstein
• Audio Commentary by Director Tim Burton
• Audio Commentary by Composer Danny Elfman
• Theatrical Trailers

Conclusion:

It makes me sad that such a charming and personal Tim Burton film gets only a minor upgrade when it comes to the video and no new bonus material. The audio does get a nice upgrade. If you already have the old Blu-ray, then this is A Worth A look at best. 

Edward Scissorhands is now available on digital and 4K UHD. 

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

4K Digital Review of The Roses

 

The Roses is a modern take on The War of The Roses that came out in 1989. That movie starred Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. This version stars Olivia Colman as Ivy and Benedict Cumberbatch as Theo. We see the two meet in London, where Theo's architectural firm is having a confab at a restaurant, where Ivy is the chef. It's love at first sight and the two move to Southern California, get married and have children. 

Suddenly, Theo's career tanks, while Ivy's skyrockets. As their relationship begins to fall apart, the dream home that Theo designed for Ivy becomes an obsession for both characters. And while there are differences between the source book and the first film, the rough outline of the story is similar. It falls apart with the sidekicks of this version. They actually bring the movie to a screeching halt rather than helping it propel forward. Sadly, this version never captures the magic of the first one. 

Video:

The 4K streaming video is fairly solid. Fabric textures on clothing and skin tones look fantastic. The Roses' home looks amazingly detailed as well. Some of the blue screened backgrounds though do not blend in as seamlessly as they should but this is a minor issue.

Audio:

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is solid. Dialogue is clean and clear. There is a lot of environmental effects which makes good use of the side and rear channels. The soundtrack is lively and immerses you. 

Bonus Materials

• Bloopers
• Featurettes:
• A House To Fight For – A behind-the-front-door look at the epicenter of both beauty and acrimony. See the construction of the Roses’ home, hear from the designer and the filmmakers on their vision, and discover the actors’ wish to take everything from the house home with them.
• The Roses: An Inside Look – Hear from the cast and filmmakers about making The Roses. Learn about the actors’ connection and chemistry, and join the grounded, satirical, British, wry wit that only Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch can pull off.
• Comedy Gold – This cast is stacked with comedy talent bringing Tony McNamara’s witty dialogue to life with Jay Roach directing. Even Olivia Colman had to ask about this special cast, “How the F did we get them?”

Conclusion:

This remake of The War of The Roses has great performances from Cumberbatch and Colman. Technical specs are solid and some decent bonus materials make this a good recommendation to add to your library.

The Roses is out on digital now and out on Blu-ray and DVD November 25th. 

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

4K Digital Review: The Rocky Horror Picture Show: 50th Anniversary

 The Rocky Horror Picture Show Celebrates it's 50th Anniversary. It follows a newly engage couple Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon). They experience car trouble in a fierce rainstorm and seek shelter in a castle. The castle owner is the drag-clad Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry). His minions, aliens from another planet, are singing and dancing throughout the movie. You get jealousy, murder and a musical all in one movie. This cult classic brings you pretty much everything!  

Video:

This 4K streaming video makes The Rocky Horror Picture Show look the best it ever has. There are so many fine details such as makeup, garters, hairstyles and more. Wait until you see how razor sharp the details are in the castle and in the lab. Colors also really shine here such as reds, as well as skin tones. Blacks are nice and inky.

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos audio track really delivers here. Much of the audio is front and center but it opens up for the song and dance numbers. Vocals are prioritized over the music. A solid audio mix from Disney. 

Bonus Features:

• Audio Commentary featuring Richard O’Brien and Patricia Quinn
• Trivia Track: 50 Years and Still Kicking!
• Vintage Callback Track (Unrated)
• Rocky-oke: Sing It!
• Alternate Version with Black and White Opening (HD 1:40:04)
• Deleted Song “Once In A While” (SD 3:08)
• Outtakes (SD 10:02)
• Alternate Credit Ending (SD 3:45)
• Misprint Ending (SD 1:44)
• The Midnight Experience with the 35th Anniversary Shadowcast
• Search for the 35th Anniversary Shadowcast
• Rocky Horror Double Feature Video Show (SD 36:25)
• The Time Warp Music Video (SD 4:36)
• Bacon Theater, New York City - 10th Anniversary (SD 5:20)
• Trailers

Conclusion:

The cult classic has never looked or sounded better. There is a wealth of bonus material as well. This is a highly recommended addition to your library.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is now available on digital.

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