Blade Runner 2049 [4K UHD + Blu-ray] [2017]

Product Information

So you can bet your little behind that I was first in line to check out the home video release the minute I got it in my grubby little mitts. Atmos is well utilised in this aspect too, projecting disembodied voices with authority such as K's intimidating baseline test. No, it is not as PERFECT, at least upon first viewing, as Blade Runner, but all those involved have put their heart and soul into this creation.

The picture and sound are simply perfect, whilst the set is funded off with a decent selection of extras that expand on the film's production and ideas. This Atmos mix handles these variations beautifully with plenty of constant surround activity from every angle. Instead, this is a thoughtful, slow, and deliberate film that raises a lot of interesting ideas, explores them a little bit, but ultimately lets you come to your own conclusions.

On top of that, the main audio track is spectacular, if you have a good sound setup, this is a great disc to enjoy. A young blade runner's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former blade runner Rick Deckard, who's been missing for thirty years. Don’t get me wrong, it’s FANTASTIC to see Deckard come back to life, but the third act feels a bit too long at times, with Ford taking center stage for reasons unknown.

As clean as dialogue is, there are long stretches of silence where no one is talking and all you're left with is atmosphere. However, Niander Wallace himself has a desire for this powerful secret, and he uses his powerful influence to steal the information for himself. Fine detail is excellent, whether it's the track conveying the crunch of footsteps on snow or the noise Joi makes when she transitions. It's a rather orange scene so the chroma channel can be harder to analyze but there's more detail in the hair, around the eyes and eyebrows. Ana de Armas' Joi is a stunning visual concept, an AI that blurs the line (certainly for K) as to what's real and what's not.The Prestige (3/5) - more modern 35mm source with a good quality Blu-Ray and remastered to new 4K release. As usual, I wished they didn't compress the album as much - come on audio engineers, let's maybe aim for at least DR10 for these female "jazz" vocal albums please. This long-anticipated follow-up to Ridley Scott's 1982 cult classic struggled to connect with viewers .

It’s now the year 2049 and the world of replicants and humans is so much different, but still eerily similar. It’s a tricky enough endeavor for a film that’s a few years old, but trying to do so for an iconic Sci-fi masterpiece that has shaped countless films over the course of 35+ years?The sequel’s screenplay was written by by Hampton Fancher (back again) and Michael Green – the latter, best known for his writing work on films “ Alien: Covenant” (2017) and “ Logan” (2017). Coming out of Sicario I was excited to see what Villeneuve could do with Arrival as the original short story was so short but heady. These exchanges can be particularly jarring and unsettling when K undergoes his baseline tests as words are thrown fast and furious with an increasing intensity. There were a few instances on the album where it just sounded a bit strained without some dynamic level overhead on my main system. He wasn't well-served by Scott's original film, playing a lonely character that had a rocky relationship with Sean Young's Rachel.

To that point, one of the primary quibbles with HDR10 has been the "set it and forget it" variable when it comes to color, contrast, and black levels. Now, looking at this film from a visual aspect here, in terms of filmmaking, I have to honestly just first geek out. It’s indescribably great, too, to hardly ever see a resolution ‘join’ between the film’s in-camera visuals and its digital effects. Our friend “ K” is good at his job as a blade runner, as he brings in the replicant he’s after, and even manages to find other things along the way.Key kit used for this test: Samsung UE65Ks9500, Oppo 203 4K Blu-ray player, Panasonic UB900 4K Blu-ray player. I guess time will tell if the sequel becomes as revered and dissected as the original, but after this first viewing I am HUGELY impressed. Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item.