4K Digital Review of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

 

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a near perfect film and is on digital, 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray for the first time. 

In the year 1805, Napoleon has conquered all of Europe with the exception of England. All that stands between him and invading England is the Royal British Navy. Captain "Lucky Jack" Aubrey (Russell Crowe), commands the HMS Surprise, a 28-gun frigate, with orders to stop the French 44-gun privateer Acheron. 

Intended to be a trilogy, Master and Commander was based loosely off the acclaimed novels by Patrick O-Brian. While the movie was critically acclaimed and received no less than 10 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, the box office return was only modest at best. Plus, the film was largely overshadowed by several films including Elf and the epic Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. 

But Master and Commander is a masterclass in world-building. Think James Cameron and Titanic when it comes to attention to detail. You will feel like the 19th Century has come back to life. Much of the movie was shot on a real frigate out on sea. The HMS Rose is still in San Diego and you can still take a tour of this ship. They even built a second full size replica to film at the Fox Baja Studios. Even the actors portraying the ships crew were trained in their sailing responsibilities. 

The heart and soul of this movie is the friendship between Aubrey and Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany), the ship's doctor and naturalist. While these two men are complete opposites, they share a bond and respect for one another that cannot be broken.    

Video:

The film has been remastered into 4K from the original negatives and the results are stunning. There is so much fine detail to take from fabrics, to skin tones, to hair, to rope and sails. All the colors feel earthy and natural. Just a beautiful remastering job. 

Audio:

The audio is now in a Dolby Atmos mix that must be heard to be believed. The level of immersion is quite remarkable. From exterior shots where you can hear the men yelling at one another from the rigging above you. The interior shots where you can hear the men running on the decks above you. The quiet moments where you can hear the creaking of the ship to the waves hitting the ship's hull. In the battle sequences you can hear the cannon balls shoot past you, the timbers shattering around you and the clanging of swords everywhere.  

Bonus Features:

• The Hundred Days (SD – 68:38)
• In the Wake of O’Brian (SD – 19:24)
• Cinematic Phasmids (SD – 30:02)
• On Sound Design (SD – 17:47)
• Interactive Canon Demonstration (Audio Feature)
• HBO First Look (SD – 25:02)
• Historical and Graphic Trivia Track
• Deleted Scenes (SD – 6 scenes – 24:20 in all)
  • Weighing Anchor (SD – 4:16)
  • Shipboard Life (SD – 9:50)
  • Superstition (SD – 3:20)
  • Dentistry (SD – 1:08)
  • Articles of War (SD – 2:43)
  • Galapagos (SD – 3:00)
• Multi-Camera Shooting (SD – 6 angles – 2:42)
  • Surprising the Surprise
    • 4 Camera Setup (SD – 6 angles – 2:42)
  • The Final Battle
    • 4 Camera Setup (SD – 6 angles – 5:19)
    • 3 Camera Setup (SD – 5 angles – 2:08)
    • 2 Camera Setup (SD – 4 angles – 1:59)
  • Split-Screen Vignette (SD – 4:30)
• Trailers
  • Theatrical Teaser (SD – 1:19)
  • Theatrical Trailer (SD - 2:43)
  • International Trailer (SD – 1:02)

Conclusion:

A perfect film filled with an unbreakable friendship, historical authenticity, and an amazing naval adventure. Solid video and immersive audio along with great bonus features will make Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World a welcomed addition to your film library.

*The movie was sent by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the this review. The review I strictly my own opinion.*

4K Digital Review of Lilo & Sitch (2025)

 

One of my favorite Disney animated films has been given the live-action treatment. Director Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) gives us a more character driven take on the animated classic. It is more grounded and utilizes Hawaiian culture as part of the heart and soul of the movie and not just a cultural backdrop. The bond between Lilo and Nani is where this movie shines. 

Lilo (Maia Kealoha) is a misunderstood little girl who is imaginative and feels like she doesn't fit in. Her sister Nani (Sydney Agudong) is a high school student struggling to raise her sister while grieving over the loss of their parents. She is also trying to finish high school and work to make ends meet. The supporting characters bring warmth while not taking anything away from the heart of the story. Amy Hill's Tutu is the perfect caring auntie. David (Kaipo Dudoit) gives Nani quiet support and encouragement. Tia Carrere as the social worker provides caring and understanding. Changes to the story and to the characters from the animated version do not take away from the originals fun and chaos but also bring in dealing with grief and displacement.

Stitch, voiced once again by Chris Sanders, is still the same ball of chaotic energy with a lot of heart as well. Here he complicates matters rather than fixing them. When he begins to change, it feels genuine and not just a plot point.  

In the end, Lilo & Stitch is more than just action sequences and laughs. It is about ohana, who is your family and who is there for you. It is about the connections of family, friends, culture and what it means to love and fight through adversity.

Video:

While not flawless, the 4K streaming video is beautiful. The blending of CGI and live-action is mostly seamless. The high resolution of the 4K does seem more obvious that there are both CGI and live-action elements. Other than that, the physical sets and clothing offer high amounts of detail to take in. The physical locations, such as the beach, offer such fine details as the grains of the sand. And as we have come to expect from Disney, the color palette is outstanding. Another fine transfer from Disney.

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos track here is wonderful. It is full of moments of complete immersion such as the opening escape sequence and the surfing sequence. Such great use of all of the channels. Dialogue is crystal clear. The sounds of Stitch scurrying about sounds great from the rear channels. The Hawaiian ambient music and the environment sounds in the outdoor scenes are so vibrant in the rear channels. Another great track from Disney.

Bonus Features:

• Deleted Scenes:
• Nani Cleans Up
• My Name is Nani 
• ‘Ohana Means Family: Making Lilo & Stitch – Learn how an animated classic becomes an instant live-action favorite. Explore the challenges of bringing Stitch into the real world, how the familiar images of the original were recreated, and join returning cast members on a set that embodies ‘ohana.
• Drawn to Life – Check out scenes from the animated original film alongside their live-action counterparts to see how these beloved key moments were faithfully recreated. And uncover some easter eggs along the way!
• Bloopers – Take a look at some of the fun mishaps on set with the cast and crew of Lilo & Stitch.
• Scenes with Stitch – Hear Stitch talk about some of his favorite scenes as he watches the movie play.
• Escape To Earth
• Feeding Fish
• Hula Performance
• Stitch Gets Named
• Bath Time
• Watch This 

Conclusion:

Lilo & Stitch is a welcomed addition to your library with expanding the story and making it a true Lilo and Nani story. Light but enjoyable supplements and fine audio and video round off this digital release.

Lilo & Stitch is now available on digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD.

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

4K Digital Review of Thunderbolts*

 

As Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes to an end, Thunderbolts* gets the MCU back on track with a story of misfits who end up working together for a greater cause. These misfits include Yelena (Florence Pugh), her dad the Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russell) and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen). They join forces with Bucky Barns (Sebastian Stan) and CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Valentina, who is being investigated for her possible connection to a secret project, sets all of them up to gather them together to be eliminated. Bob (Lewsi Pullman) is the only successful part of this secret project and might be the key to stopping Valentina. 

The movie stands on its own as we make way for Phase 6. We get an impressive band of people who feel alone for different reasons and what they do to get through and not let the darkness win. We don't get the polished fight sequences. We get the fight sequences of those that have no superpowers, just the ability to punch and shoot. And at the end we get a tease of things to come in the future of the MCU. 

Video:

The 4K streaming video is wonderful. Colors are vibrant and details are razor sharp. Black levels are nice and inky. Another fine transfer from Disney and Marvel.

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is another solid effort from Disney and Marvel. The dialogue is crystal clear. The action sequences, especially those towards the end of the film, really engage the surround channels. Just another Marvel-ous listening experience. 

Bonus Features:

• Deleted Scenes – Check out the scenes that didn’t make the final cut.
  • Door is Unliftable
  • Gary Announcement

• Assembling a Team to Remember – Spend a bit of quality time with the cast and crew of Thunderbolts* as they divulge how the film’s fictional team of superpowered mavericks, misfits and antiheroes was assembled.

• Around the World and Back Again – Discover the eclectic locations and astounding production design that helped make Thunderbolts* a rousing reality, including a visit to the sprawling sets in Kuala Lumpur where we join Florence Pugh performing stunts atop one of planet Earth’s tallest buildings and blowing up buildings on the streets.

• All About Bob, Sentry & The Void – Deep dive into the making of three different characters: Bob, Sentry, and The Void – all performed by Lewis Pullman.

• Gag Reel – Enjoy fun outtakes on set with the cast and crew of Thunderbolts*

• Director’s Audio Commentary – Watch the film with audio commentary by director Jake Schreier.

Conclusion:

The MCU is back on track with Thunderbolts* as Phase 5 comes to a close. A powerful film on what it feels like to be alone and to not let the darkness win. Top tier video and audio along with decent supplements make this a welcome addition to your library.

Thunderbolts* is available on digital, Blu-ray and DVD. 

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

4K Digital Review of The Amateur

 

The Amateur has all the tools for a great one-man-army story but sadly fails on the execution. Rami Malek plays Charles, a CIA crytographer, who loses his wife Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan) to a terrorist attack. Charles begins to go through the evidence and with a CIA training session with Robert (Laurence Fishburne) is off to track down the terrorists. 

What starts off as a great movie is bogged down in the second act with needless rehashing of what Charles is going through. Strange story choices as well as new characters that have nothing to do, pull you out of the momentum of the film.    

Video:

The 4K UHD streaming video is a great presentation. Everything is sharp and crisp with lots of details. Another fine transfer from Disney. 

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos track here is practically perfect. Wait until you hear the big pool scene. The way that the sound washes (sorry for the pun) over you is phenomenal. The environmental effects are consistent and engaging throughout the movie. The score plays well in the surround channels. Dialogue is crisp and clean.

Bonus Features:

• The Team – Join the cast and crew as they reflect on what drew them to this bold project. Rami Malek shares his dual experience as both actor and producer. Director James Hawes and others discuss how the script blends emotional depth and high-stakes action.
• The World – Explore how the film’s production combined real-world locations with intricate set designs to create a visually stunning and immersive world, from the shadowy halls of CIA headquarters to the bustling streets of Europe.
• The Pool – Go behind the scenes as the talented creative team uncovers how Charlie’s ingenious plan involving the sky pool was conceived, planned and executed, blending practical effects and cutting-edge technology to deliver a show-stopping moment.
• The Score – Listen in as the composer and director talk about the challenges of creating the score’s various themes — and using unusual instruments and techniques — to bring emotion and drama to this unique thriller.
• Deleted Scenes:
• Sarah Wonders How Charlie Can Trust His CIA Bosses 
• Henderson Blasts Heller for Failing a Training Exercise
• Heller Tracks Gretchen Through Paris
• A Third Assassin Chases Heller Through the Hotel Basement
• Heller Asks Inquiline Some Personal Questions

Conclusion:

The Amateur starts off really strong and then struggles to get to the finish line. The audio and video quality is solid with some enjoyable bonus material. 

The Amateur is available on digital and on 4K UHD and Blu-ray.

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