8.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
The true story of how NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 and its crew to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, Ed HarrisAdventure | 100% |
History | 53% |
Drama | 5% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS:X
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1
Czech: DTS 5.1
Polish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Polish, Swedish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
The Film Vault is back with another pretty extravagantly packaged quartet of titles to complement the four equally lavishly appointed releases they offered last year, 1917 4K, Blade Runner 4K, GoodFellas 4K, and Scarface 4K. Along with design and package contents that are obviously meant to make this new foursome fit in right next to the previous four, like last year's assortment, this year's offerings are split evenly, two apiece, between films coming from either Warner Brothers (2001: A Space Odyssey 4K and The Shawshank Redemption 4K ) or Universal (this film and Jaws 4K).
Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc in this package, which is the20th Anniversary Edition whose review by Ken is linked to above. As with the other Film Vault releases from this "wave" that
contain a 1080 version of the film, the 1080 disc in this set played fine in my Region A equipment, for anyone without region free equipment not in
Region B who may be considering making a purchase.
Apollo 13 is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of The Film Vault with an HVEC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.35:1. Judging from Marty's
comments about the Region A 4K release and my experience thus far with The Film Vault, where their technical presentations tend to duplicate prior
Region A releases, this would appear to be another instance where there's little if any difference between the two. As Marty mentioned in his review,
there are some noticeable improvements in detail levels from the 1080 version, especially in some of the cramped interior spacecraft scenes, which
almost require close-ups considering the close quarters. Some of the practical special effects may frankly not have fared as well due to the increased
resolution, but even relatively picayune elements like the ice crystals forming in the windows of the vessel have some interesting new detail nuance in
this version. I found the biggest difference in this version when compared to the 1080 version to be courtesy of HDR, though, and in fact a lot of this
version's non-spacecraft material looked considerably warmer to my eyes, with a kind of summery red flush to the visuals. Contrasting that is the
much cooler, icy blue, tonal values of the spacecraft sequences. There are some occasionally curious spikes in grain that don't seem to be tied to
opticals or lighting (an early scene with Lovell and child in a bedroom in a good example), but on the whole grain resolution is organic. My score is
4.25.
As Marty mentioned in his review of Universal's own 4K UHD release for Region A, the DTS:X track on this disc is a clear winner all the way, with really beautifully detailed layering and aggressive engagement of all the surround channels. Marty singles out several great examples of midair effects, but I'd also point to some really convincing placement in the side and rear channels that perhaps surprisingly accrue in the confines of the spacecraft, but which add a really almost spooky quality to the breakdown of equipment. James Horner's gorgeously elegiac score also is nicely spacious throughout (you can also hear clear overhead placement of some of the cues, including the opening horn call). Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly. Optional subtitles in several languages are available.
On Disc Supplements
4K UHD Disc
If you didn't pick up any of the Region A releases and especially if you're a collector of deluxe packaging editions of this one, the Film Vault offers another release with secure technical merits and some really gobsmacking swag. Highly recommended.
15th Anniversary Edition
1995
Universal 100th Anniversary | Augmented Reality Edition
1995
20th Anniversary Edition | Digitally Remastered and Fully Restored
1995
20th Anniversary Edition | Limited Edition
1995
1995
1995
25th Anniversary Edition | Limited Edition
1995
Iconic Moments
1995
1995
(Still not reliable for this title)
2013
Extended Edition
2015
10th Anniversary Special Edition | Limited
2014
1998
2015
1997
1983
2016
2018
2015
2014
2016
1968
2012
2014-2017
2012
1956
2019
2000
Japanese Artwork Series #4
1975