Galaxy Quest 4K UHD

Thank you, Paramount, for making such a bold move with this 4K presentation. If you are a real fan of Galaxy Quest, then you know Galaxy Quest has never been presented at home as it was in theaters... Until now. == When Galaxy Quest was released in premium theaters it was presented in a constant height based on the 2.35:1 aspect ratio using 3 different aspect ratios. The film opens in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio as would have been seen on an old-style TV. This 1.33:1 aspect ratio is displayed within a 2.35:1 aspect ratio box. 3 minutes in, we find ourselves at a convention, where the screen slowly opens-up wider to 1.85:1 aspect ratio maintaining a constant height (still within the 2.35:1 aspect ratio box). 19 minutes into the film, when Jason Nesmith realizes he is on a real spaceship and the bay doors open showing the vastness of space, the presentation again slowly opens even wider to the full 2.35:1 aspect ratio (always maintaining constant height). The old Blu-ray did not do this. This 4K disc is the 1st time we have the original intended presentation at home. If you watch the special features, the multi aspect ratio is discussed as an artistic decision. == Paramount made a bold move to release the 4K disc in the original format because many people will be watching this 4K disc on a smallish 16x9 TV. Remember, the movie is always adhering to a constant height determined by 2.35:1 aspect ratio, so for the first 19 minutes of the movie, there will be black bars on the top/bottom and on both sides of your screen. At approximately 19 min. the screen will expand to its full width in cinemascope (2.35:1) with only black bars at the top & bottom. I suggest watching this 4k-disc on the biggest screen available to you and in a dark room. The best option is a projector at 100" or more. If you are lucky enough to be using a cinemascope screen with your projector, you are in for a real treat. The 4k disc plays perfectly on a constant height cinemascope screen. I prefer the new 4K presentation and I'm very happy to say we have a new ATMOS sound mix for Galaxy Quest as well. For me, I'm watching on my 4K projector with 110" 1.85:1 screen in a totally dark room. I was so involved in the movie; I did not notice the black bars on the sides until about the 15-minute-mark which is when I remembered how it was originally shown in theaters. Please check the attached images for reference. In Summary, if your display is less than 65” you may want to consider the Blu-ray instead. Please be aware for the 1st 19 minutes, the image will be smaller than your screen. This was the director’s vision and matches the original theatrical presentation. If you have an 65” or larger display, you should enjoy this presentation as it was intended. As a side note: One reviewer using a small TV, referred to this presentation as a “gimmick”. In my opinion, this is no truer than calling the shift from black/while to color in the Wizard of Oz as a Gimmick. The 3 aspect ratios are an artistic form of cinematography. If the changing aspect ratios is a big problem for you, then you may be better off with the old Blu-ray. The old Blu-ray lacks rich color and ATMOS sound track, but the Blu-ray is limited to only 2 aspect ratios where the 1st 3 minutes are incorrectly cropped to 1.37:1 and then at 3 min. mark switches 2.35:1 . On the old Blu-ray, the screen maintains the 2.35:1 aspect ratio for all but the 1st 3 min. The footage before 19 min-mark is in 2.35:1 aspect ratio and reveals information not intended by the director on the sides of the screen. This is between 3 min. mark and the 19 min. mark. This additional screen area does not contain anything of artistic significance. For example, in the green-room-scene, the cast waiting for Jason Nesmith. The sides of the screen reveal a white board and a coke machine.