Willow 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Willow 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 8, 2024

A running joke in many of my reviews of Lionsgate's 4K UHD releases has revolved around Lionsgate wanting to get rid of 1080 remainders of various films that the studio includes in those 4K UHD packages, and in whatever the fairy tale equivalent of "hold my beer" might be, Disney / Buena Vista and 20th Century Studios seem to be employing the same "strategy" (?) with their new 4K UHD release of Willow, which does indeed include a 1080 disc which seems to be an exact replica of the Willow 1080 release which Disney / Buena Vista put out in 2019. The studio is perhaps upping the consumer allure by offering not just a 4K UHD upgrade with this release, but the added enticement of SteelBook packaging, for collectors of such formats.

Willow has had two prior 1080 releases, and both Casey Broadwater's Willow of a 2013 release and Martin Liebman's Willow Blu- ray review of the aforementioned 2019 release should provide more than ample plot summary information, as well as those reviewers' takes on the technical merits of the discs and the supplements included on both releases.

Willow 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc in this package.

Willow is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Disney / Buena Vista with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.40:1. This is another shot on film enterprise that may evoke different responses from viewers depending on their tolerance for at times rather heavy grain and at least slightly degraded clarity and overall quality due to the surplus of "old school" composited effects. When things like optical dissolves or superimposed special effects are not being employed, this 4K presentation offers some nice if subtle improvements to fine detail on everything from the bristly fur of the wild boars to some of the knit or crocheted outfits some of the little people in particular wear. The palette is rather interesting throughout this presentation, with HDR / Dolby Vision probably showing the greatest amount of highlights in some of the more brightly lit outdoor material that starts showing up more consistently later in the story, though even then those with eagle eyes may spot noticeable differences in tonal values in things like skies, even with scenes supposedly offering the "same" background material. Some of the darkest material, including some of the blue graded scenes really didn't offer substantial improvements in shadow detail to my eyes. There are minor but noticeable fluctuations in densities and suffusion at various points, and at times there's a slightly brownish quality to things like flesh tones, even when opticals are not part of the scene. My 4K UHD score is 4.25.

Willow 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

I often state "different reviewers means different opinions", and while pretty minor, Casey and Marty differed on their reactions to the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that was on the 1080 disc (and which is also on the 4K UHD disc in this release), though there may have been some interstitial tweaking done to the release that Marty reviewed, which I'm assuming is probably more like the audio on this release than the one that Casey reviewed. In any event, this is a really nicely rendered DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, one that provides consistent immersion throughout courtesy of both really smartly placed ambient environmental (and other sound) effects, as well as a nicely spacious accounting of another really gorgeous score from James Horner. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional subtitles in several languages are available.

Willow 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: The 4K UHD disc has no on disc supplements. While Marty didn't mention the Info "supplement" in his review, the 1080 disc in this package sure seems to be a carbon copy of the one he reviewed, and those interested can find more information on the following supplements on the 1080 disc in this package in Marty's Willow Blu- ray review:

• Audio Commentary


• Willow: Deleted Scenes with Ron Howard (HD; 12:30)


• The Making of an Adventure with Ron Howard (HD; 23:38)


• From Morf to Morphing with Dennis Muren (HD; 17:23)


• Willow: An Unlikely Hero -- Personal Video Diary of Warwick Davis (HD; 10:51)


• Matte Paintings (HD; 1:08)


• "W" (HD; 00:28)


• TV Spots and Trailers

  15 Second TV Spots (SD; 00:49)

  
  

  30 Second TV Spots (SD; 2:31)

  
  

  Theatrical Trailers (SD; 5:25)

• The Making of Raziel's Transformation (SD; 8:15)


• Info (HD; 00:08) is the standard copyright blather.

Additionally, a digital copy is included.

The SteelBook packaging is quite handsome, emphasizing slightly purplish brown tones on the front and back panels, with appealing illustrations offering an assortment of different characters on the front and back. The inside panels have a photograph of the group of little people in a fantastically scenic gorge.

Willow 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As Marty mentioned in the closing comments of his review, Willow "borrows" pretty overtly from certain elements of the "life story" of some guy named Moses, or something like that, but as both Marty and Casey mention, there's also a decidedly Lord of the Rings vibe to the film which may recommend it to younger viewers who weren't around when it was originally released (and maybe not even around when the first 1080 Blu-ray came out). This 4K upgrade has some nice improvements in fine detail and some interesting highlights courtesy of HDR / Dolby Vision, but this is another shot on film property with a surplus of old school composited optical effects where the increased resolution of this format can literally show the "seams" of some of the special effects wizardry. The SteelBook packaging is very handsome and should appeal to collectors. With caveats noted, Recommended.