4K Digital Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

 

I would consider Phase 4 of the MCU to be a rebuilding phase. The post Thanos world saw many of our heroes retire in some form or another and new heroes to replace them. With Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania we get the return of one of our main characters but in a film that is way bigger than his first two outings that were smaller, more self-contained films. The introduction of the next major villain in Kang seems like the film is trying to do too much as a starting point for the next phase in the MCU. 

The film suffers from not knowing if it wants to be a fun and witty film or a dark and serious tone one. We open with Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) in a typical fun and bouncy Ant-Man opening. Then we learn that his daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton) has been creating something with Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) that could change the world. They want to create a way to map the Quantum Realm that Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer) was trapped for 30 years. Little to do they know that something in the Quantum Realm is looking for all of them as well. The technology they create zaps them into the Quantum Realm and they all learn that Janet wasn't as honest about her time there as they all had thought. In the Quantum Realm is a variant of Kang (Jonathan Majors), who Janet left there so he couldn't escape to destroy the universe. Kang believes that PYM Particles will help him escape the Quantum Realm and thus a huge war breaks out in an attempt to keep Kang trapped here.  

Audio Quality:

The Dolby Atmos track is good but not great. It seems that it has been toned down in terms of volume. The surround sound does envelope you especially in the battle sequences. Dialogue is front and center and perfect as usual. 

Video Quality:

The 4K video is exceptional here. The colors all pop off the screen. Fine details such as facial features and materials look fantastic. The blacks are rich and inky. Another wonderful video transfer from Disney and Marvel.

Bonus Features:

Gag Reel

• Take a look at some of the fun outtakes on set with the cast and crew of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. 

Audio Commentary 

• Watch the film with audio commentary by director Peyton Reed and writer Jeff Loveness.

Featurettes

• All in the Family – Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly and Michelle Pfeiffer discuss the complex layers and secrets – yet incredibly strong bond of this heroic family.
• Formidable Foes – Discover how Jonathan Majors, Bill Murray and Corey Stoll bring gravitas to the villains of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.  Learn more about how Kang brings a Thanos-level threat to this adventure and the larger MCU.

Deleted Scenes 

• Drink The Ooze – Upon entering the Quantum Realm, Scott Lang nervously drinks the ooze.
• I Have Holes – Veb expresses great excitement when he discovers he finally has holes.

Conclusion:

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the weakest of the three Ant-Man films and introduces us to the newest villain in Kang. Some fun bonus features including a wonderful audio commentary can be found. A popcorn film that would be a decent addition to your movie library. 

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is out on digital now and out on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray and DVD on May 16th.

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

Digital Review: Mickey & Friends 10 Classic Shorts - Volume 2

 

The second volume of classic Disney animated shorts has arrived as Walt Disney Animation Studios continues to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. Mickey & Friends 10 Classic Shorts - Volume 2 is now available on digital and on Blu-Ray and DVD June 27th. 

Animated Shorts Included in this release:

The Band Concert

Pluto’s Sweater

Mickey’s Trailer

Pluto and the Gopher

Mr. Duck Steps Out

Lonesome Ghosts

Boat Builders

Tugboat Mickey

Winter Storage

Pluto’s Party

 

The shorts here are presented in full frame (1:33:1). Each short has been fully restored in high definition and they all look amazing. The audio is a 2.0 Dolby Digital stereo mix which is an upgrade from the original mono tracks. 

Just as in the previous volume, the shorts play out more like a package feature with interstitials to play between each short. Mickey and the gang are watching a slideshow and looking back upon ten of their favorite memories. 

Mickey & Friends 10 Classic Shorts - Volume 2 is a wonderful way to celebrate Disney's rich animation history as part of the 100th Anniversary of the company this year. It is a fun way to showcase some of the gang's most iconic animated shorts and hopefully leads the way to move fun volumes throughout the year. 

(Walt Disney Home Entertainment provided the digital copy for review purposes and my review is strictly my opinion only)

Digital Review: Empire of Light

 

Director and writer Sam Mendes brings us a drama about human connection during turbulent times.  We find ourselves in a coastal English town in the 1980s. We meet Hilary (Olivia Colman), a manager of the local movie theater and struggling with mental health issues. New employee Stephen (Michael Ward) looks to leave this town where he faces racial issues each and every day. These two unlikely souls find each other and learn about the power of movies and community.

Sadly, the movie suffers from a script that is not engaging for the audience. Perhaps it is the subject matter that makes the film feel depressing and joyless. The saving grace is the brilliant cinematography by Roger Deakins. The vintage theater becomes a character and conveys mood in many of the scenes. 

Video Quality:

The 1080p image here is striking. From facial textures to color reproduction, the vivid imagery pushes the HD image as far as it can go. Black levels are deep and inky. The field of depth is natural with no blur at all. 

Audio Quality:

The 5.1 track is solid here. The dialogue, score and sound effects are all loud and clear and yet never get in the way of one another. The rear channels are put to good use as well creating a nice ambiance in each scene. 

Bonus Features:

Featurette

• Creating Empire of Light - Go behind the scenes of this personal film with writer-director Sam Mendes, and uncover the story’s origins and the director’s love of cinema. See how the perfect location was found to rebuild a classic movie theater that had the cast in awe.

Conclusion:

Empire of Light is a depressing tale that does have wonderful video and audio. There is only one bonus feature. This is recommended as a rental or viewed on a streaming service before deciding if this needs to be a purchase.

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

4K Digital Review: Turning Red

 

Turning Red tells the story of 13-year-old Meilin Lee, a Chinese-Canadian girl who discovers one day that she turns into a giant red panda whenever she gets angry or upset. She learns that the transformation is no accident and has to find a solution before the transformation ruins her life. 

The story is largely based on the teenage years of Director Domee Shi and takes a look at puberty and the trials and tribulations of the hormonal responses to becoming a teenager. We also get a vivid look at the differences between ancient cultural traditions and pubescent problems. 

This is one of Pixar's most personal stories to date with a style and tone all its own. The anime-influence, the top notch animation and voice acting make this a journey you will want to take over and over again.

Video:

The 4K, Dolby Vision and HDR streaming video is exceptional from start to finish. There is so much detail put into this film and the clarity of the video really shines.  From the characters, to their clothing, to the environment, the details are just exquisite. And every detail is crisp and clean, from the woodwork of the temple to the pencil sketches in Mei's notebook.  Colors are bright, bold and vivid. Mei's panda form is the standout when it comes to color in terms of brightness and vividness. Black levels are inky and the whites are brilliant. Another outstanding video transfer from Disney. 

Audio:

The Dolby 5.1  Dolby Atmos is quite capable but seems quite reserved throughout most of the movie. The surround sound is fine in crowded scenes as well as in several action sequences. Dialogue is crisp and clear and center channel grounded. 

Bonus Features:

• Life of a Shot (1080p, 14:36): A fascinating journey with Director Domee Shi and additional crew exploring the vast amount of work that is required to bring just seven shots in the film from concept to finished form, requiring the work and input of every single department in the studio.
• Build Your Own Boy Band (1080p, 8:38): Discussing the secrets behind the process of building a fictional boy band in 10 easy steps, from listening to a lot of real Boy Band music to crafting dance choreography.
• Audio Commentary: Director Domee Shi, Producer Lindsey Collins, and Director of Photography Mahyar Abousaeedi offer a well-spoken, informative, but also welcoming and breezy track that explores inspirations, narrative themes, story construction, music, visuals, and so much more.

• Ani-Mei-Tion (1080p, 9:38): Exploring the film's "snappy" visual style and structure, Anime influences, character design, and more.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 23:40): Following an Introduction are the following scenes: Intro Meilin, Taming the Panda, The Debate, Fei and Christina Hang, 4*Town Dilemma, and Roping in Leo. Some are presented in early storyboard form, others in final form.

Conclusion:

Turning Red is a fun, coming of age story with a lot of heart and wonderful music. While the audio is lacking, the video is stunning and there are some fun extras.

Turning Red is available now on digital and on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD on May 3rd.

Here is the trailer for the video release:

*disclaimer - the digital download was provided for review purposes by Walt Disney Home Entertainment but the opinions are strictly mine alone*

Marvel Studios Eternals 4K Digital Movie Review

Marvel's Eternals is now available to own on Digital HD and coming to 4K, Blu-Ray and DVD on February 15th.

Eternals is an epic story, introducing us to ten immortals, who arrived on Earth in 5000 B.C. to eliminate a race called the Deviants. The Deviants were finally defeated thousands of years later and the Eternals stayed on Earth to wait their creator, a Celestial named Arishem.

Now in the present day, Sersi (Gemma Chan) is living with Sprite (Lia McHugh) and dating a human, Dane Whitman (Kit Harington). A new Deviant named Kro (voiced by Bill Skarsgard) attacks. Ikaris (Richard Madden) arrives to help his friends. When they realize this new Deviant is more powerful than any they have faced before, they decide to find the others. The three of them travel around the world to find their other Eternals: Ajak (Salma Hayek), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), Thena (Angelina Jolie), Gilgamesh (Don Lee), Druig (Barry Keoghan), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), and Makkari (Lauren Ridloff). Together again, the Eternals must stop Kro and figure out how to save Earth from a planet destroying threat known as the Emergence.

Video

The streaming 4K video quality is outstanding. The use of natural light that director Chloe Zhao is known for is breathtaking and gives the film a look that we haven't seen from any in the MCU. Colors and details such as cloth are impressive as are night scenes with shadows and fire. 

Audio

The 5.1 audio mix is superb. The sound effects surround you, the dialogue is crystal clear from the front channel, and the soundtrack is rich and never overpowers. 

Bonus Features

• Audio Commentary – View the film with audio commentary by Chloé Zhao, Stephane Ceretti, & Mårten Larsson
• Immortalized – Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe launches into the cosmos with the Eternals. In this behind-the-scenes documentary, dive deep into the reasons why Marvel wanted to immortalize these superheroes for the MCU.
• Walks of Life – Eternals unveils Marvel's biggest and most diverse lineup of SuperHeroes in one film. Hear reactions from the cast on being involved in the film and the instant sense of camaraderie that was felt on the day they all joined each other in their costumes.
• Gag Reel – Watch some of the hilarious mishaps of the charming cast and crew.

Deleted Scenes

• Gravity – Phastos and Jack have a conversation that leads to a breakthrough.
• Nostalgia – Sprite and Makkari reminisce about humankind while overlooking the ruins of Babylon.
• Movies – Gligamesh and Kingo connect over movies while crossing the Amazon River with the rest of the team.
• Small Talk – Sprite confronts Dane in the museum about his interactions with Sersi.

Conclusion:

A divisive Marvel movie that I truly enjoyed. I see this as the drama Marvel movie as Ant-Man is a heist movie and Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the political thriller. Eternals has the most serious tone of any Marvel movie and how it plays out into the rest of phase 4 and beyond will be interesting to see. A solid video transfer with a quality audio mix plus some decent bonus features makes this a welcome addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  

*Disclaimer: The digital copy of Eternals was provided by Disney but the review is strictly my own opinion*