4K Digital Review of Tombstone

 

In the year 1878, Tombstone in the Arizona territory is a boomtown. Ex-lawmen Wyatt (Kurt Russell) and Virgil Earp (Sam Elliot), and their younger brother Morgan (Bill Paxton) have moved here along with their wives. Wyatt's friend "Doc" Holiday (Val Kilmer), who is suffering from tuberculosis, has also come to town in hopes the dry weather will help him get better. 

A gang known as the Cowboys have also settled down in Tombstone. Their illustrious leader is "Curly" Bill (Powers Boothe). They have a skilled gunman in Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn). They want the freedom to do what they want and the innocent people of Tombstone stand in the way. The Earps feel that they need to protect the town's people. This all leads towards a fateful and historic showdown at the O.K. Corral.

Video:

This 4K transfer is a brand new scan of the original negatives and is absolutely spectacular. Every detail is vastly superior to the Blu-ray release back in 2010. The textures of materials, to the clouds in the sky are all sharp and crisp. Dimly-lit scenes are as detailed and focused as daytime scenes. One of the finest transfers from Disney.

Audio:

The audio track is essentially the same from the Blu-ray. Dialogue is rich and clear, the surrounds are enveloping and there is a lot of atmospheric ambiance. An excellent audio track then and an excellent audio track now.

Bonus Materials:

• The Making of Tombstone 
• An Ensemble Cast
• Making An Authentic Western
• The Gunfight At The O.K. Corral

• Director's Original Storyboards: O.K. Corral Sequence
• Trailers & TV Spots

Conclusion:

A solid film with an amazing cast surrounding a legendary story of the Wild West. The video and audio are some of the best ever. A highly recommended addition to your library.

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

4K Digital Review of Captain America: Brave New World

 

Captain America: Brave New World, picks up where we left off on the Falcon and the Winter Soldier Disney+ series. Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is still trying to take on the mantle of being Captain America from Steve Rodgers. General Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) has just become President of The United States and wants Sam to work with him. Sam is hesitant after the Sokovia Accords but agrees to work with the reformed Ross. 

While at the White House, Sam's friend, Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), attempts to assassinate the President. Sam and Joaquin (Danny Ramirez), the new Falcon, try to find out what really happened. Every lead goes to Professor Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson). Sterns has been alive all of these years and has been working with Ross to create super weapons for the United States. Ross changed his mind about letting Sterns free and now Sterns is out for revenge. Now Captain America must summon all of his strength to take down Sterns and save the world from the brink of disaster.

Video:

The 4K stream is beautiful here and is a visual treat for the eyes. All of the details are marvelous here from cloth, to skin tones, to the energy coming from Cap's new wings. The colors are bright and vivid here. Another stellar transfer from Disney.

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos audio completely compliments the video transfer. Audio levels are perfect and the audio mix is fantastic. The surround and main channels are all working overtime with the sheer amount of action that takes places throughout the entire movie. One of the better streaming audio tracks from Disney.

Bonus Features:

●      Deleted Scenes:

○      A Heartfelt Thanks

○      The Mission

○      Stick Around

●      Assuming the Mantle

●      Old Scores, New Scars

●      Gag Reel

●      Audio Commentary

Conclusion:

Captain America: Brave New World does a great job of bringing Sam Wilson's Captain America to the forefront. Sam is making Cap his own and shows his heart and his intelligence are his greatest strengths. A solid audio and video presentation along with some fun bonus features, including audio commentary, make this a welcome addition to you library.

Captain America: Brave New World is out on digital platforms, DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K Ultra HD.

* This movie was sent to me by Walt Disney Home Entertainment strictly for the purpose of review. The review is strictly my opinion.*

4K Digital Review of A Complete Unknown

 

Robert Zimmerman (Timothee Chalamet), a complete unknown 19 year old, hitchhikes his way to New York. He is trying to meet his idol Woodiy Gurthie (Scoot McNairy). Zimmerman finds him in a hospital in New Jersey where Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) is keeping Woody company. Woody is near death and Zimmerman, soon to change his name to Bob Dylan, plays a song of his. Seeger becomes Dylan's mentor and introduces his to other stars such as Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro). 

Here we enter the evolution of popular music. The radical changes from the music after the World War 2 era. We see the rise of Rock and Roll and the growth of "folk music". The popularity of "folk music" in the 1960s with its powerful messages and how Dylan helped shaped and influence that music for years to come.  

Video:

The 4K streaming video is beautiful. The movie was shot using Sony's CineAlta cameras that gives the movie more of an actual shot on film look. There is a graininess that gives the movie the look and feel of a documentary from the time period rather than being a modern digital movie. The level of detail is still phenomenal from close-ups to wide shots taking in all the scenery. Another solid transfer from Disney.

Audio:

The streaming Dolby Atmos audio mix is impressive. The music is such a huge part of this story and the audio mix takes full advantage of the speakers in front of you and behind you. The live performances immerse you into the movie. The surround channels are very activate for not only the music but the environmental sounds. The dialogue is rich and clear from the front channels. Just an elevated audio experience from Disney. 

Bonus Feature:

• The Making of A Complete Unknown
• The Story
• Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan
• The Supporting Cast
• The Design
• Audio Commentary by James Mangold

Conclusion:

A solid movie with powerful performances that not looks at the music and the early days of Dylan, but the incredible world of changes happening around these events. A solid video and audio package with two wonderful bonus features makes this a highly recommended addition to your library. A Complete Unknown is currently available on digital.

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

4K Digital Review of Mufasa: The Lion King

 

After the success of the live-action The Lion King in 2019, another movie was more than likely. Who knew that it would be a prequel of how Mufasa became king. 

The film opens where The Lion King ended, with Simba as King. As he and Nala expect a new cub, they leave their first-born Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter) with Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogan). When a huge storm hits, Rafiki (John Kani) comes to help calm Kiara. Then Rafiki begins to tell the story of how Mufasa and his adoptive brother Take (Kevin Harrison Jr.) leave their homeland when the evil Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen) arrives. Heading towards the land of mythical land of Milele, they meet new friends Sarabi (Tiffany Boone), Zazu (Preston Nyman) and a young, wise baboon. 

The story and the characters grow and develop as they discover what it means to be family. The animation has greatly improved from the 2019 The Lion King. Everything from the foliage, the fur, the scenery all look incredibly photorealistic. All help to tell the story and make you a part of this world. A fine prequel to the legacy of The Lion King.

Video:

The streaming 4K video is stunning. The level of detail has vastly improved since the live-action versions of The Jungle Book and The Lion King. The fine details of the fur, the feathers, the plants and the scenery are breathtaking. The visuals are borderline true to life. There is a depth and a weight to the characters that wasn't felt in the 2019 movie. The colors are gorgeous and the blacks and shadows bring that weight and depth alive. Another fantastic video transfer from Disney.

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos mix here is solid. The dialogue is crisp and clear. The Lin-Manuel songs are catchy and fun and really fill the surround channels. The mix really shines in the various environments. The grasslands feel vast, the snowy mountains feel cold and windy, and you can feel the rumble of the loud crashes of falling rocks and the elephant stampede. Another fine audio mix from Disney. 

Bonus Features:

Full Length Sing-Along – Sing along with your favorite songs while watching the movie with on-screen lyrics.

 

Finding Milele: The Making of Mufasa: The Lion King – Join visionary director Barry Jenkins and the cast of Mufasa: The Lion King on an epic journey to create a brand-new chapter in the story of The Lion King. Explore how the story was developed and the technology used to make Mufasa's world come to life.

 

Songs of the Savanna – Director Barry Jenkins and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda sit down to discuss the excitement and challenges of creating the music for Mufasa: The Lion King.

 

Ostrich Eggs with Timon & Pumbaa – Timon and Pumbaa reveal fun facts and some of the hidden references in the movie.

 

Outtakes – Watch the cast having fun in the recording booth.

Deleted Scenes:

• Who's the Mole Rat?
• What Do You Feel in There?
• Have Faith in Her
• Taka's Dream

 

Music Video: "I Always Wanted a Brother" – Join Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast of Mufasa: The Lion King as they perform "I Always Wanted A Brother" backstage at a film shoot.

 

Song Selections:

• Milele (First Rain)
• I Always Wanted a Brother
• Bye Bye
• We Go Together
• Tell Me It’s You
• Brother Betrayed

 

Protect the Pride – Learn how Disney and The Lion Recovery Fund are working to protect the pride and conserve lions in the wild.

Conclusion:

I wasn't sure that this was a film that we needed, but I was wrong and Mufasa: The Lion King ended being a great movie. The story was engaging and the more emotive characters looked photo-real. The 4K transfer along with the Dolby Atmos audio mix are stunning. As always, I wish there were more substantial bonus features like an audio commentary. Mufasa: The Lion King deserves a place in your library. The movie is available on digital now.  

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