Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Sound and Fury (in HDR)

Warner's UHD release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ("BvS") notches a number of firsts. It's the first UHD disc from Warner that has been sourced from a 4K digital intermediate, the first 4K version that Warner has issued day-and-date with the film's Blu-ray release, and the first Warner UHD to utilize the BD-100 disc format. Perhaps even more notable is the fact that the 4K BvS contains only the film's director's cut (or "Ultimate Edition"), which includes a half hour of new footage not seen in theaters. (The theatrical release is provided on a second, standard Blu-ray.) The absence of BvS's theatrical cut in 4K shouldn't deter anyone, because, for reasons discussed in the site's Blu-ray review, the director's cut is the superior version. UHD only makes it better.

Screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.

Despite being sourced from a 4K digital intermediate, Warner's 2160p, HEVC /H.265-encoded UHD disc won't immediately blow viewers out of their seats with its superior resolution, largely because BvS is such a visually kinetic film that the camera rarely pauses long enough for anyone to assess the improved detail—but it's there. Combined with judicious HDR encoding that subtly enhances brightness and contrast, the UHD treatment of BvS amplifies the impact of director Zack Snyder's crowded frames, even as the action rushes forward. Take, for example, the scene in the first screenshot accompanying this review (currently limited to 1080p), where Batman and Superman first confront each other standing atop the Batmobile, with bright flames to the right and a blue lens flare bisecting the frame horizontally. In the UHD presentation, the key elements of the tableau stand out more distinctly against the nighttime background, namely, the two superheroes confronting one another, each under the mistaken belief that the other one is a menace.

Indeed, the entire sequence leading up to that moment demonstrates the UHD image's superiority, beginning with the aerial shot that finds Batman poised above the pier where a ship smuggling kryptonite has docked. As the camera swirls and zooms from above, the folds of Batman's cape blowing in the wind are more defined on UHD. The ensuing pursuit in the Batmobile—an elaborate combination of practical stunts and CG elements—feels more visceral and immediate, because, even with the rapid-fire editing, all of the critical elements in the frame have more presence and finer definition, including Batman and his vehicle, the truck carrying the kryptonite, and the various additional vehicles and weapons deployed by Luthor's minions against their pursuer. (For a clear example of superior resolution, look at the beard stubble on Batman's face in the undercranked closeup where he first drives past Superman. On the regular Blu-ray, it's facial coloration, but on the UHD, you can see individual whiskers.)

Sequence after sequence reveals similar improvements, and since Warner has not provided the director's cut in 3D, BvS is the rare occasion where there doesn't have to be a trade-off to gain the UHD's improvements.

The only negative worth reporting (and it's a minor point) is a phenomenon I first noted in reviewing the 4K version of Mad Max: Fury Road, which is that the HDR encoding gives many of the flame effects an appearance of animated artificiality. Since BvS does not use as many (or as sizeable) flame elements as Mad Max, many viewers may not notice. (Maybe the effects experts, both CG and practical, need to re-engineer some of their tricks for a more demanding and revealing visual format, just as many TV productions had to upgrade costumes, makeup and sets for HDTV broadcasts).

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The UHD release of BvS features the same Dolby Atmos track previously reviewed.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The UHD disc contains no extras. The accompanying standard Blu-ray is identical to the initial release and contains the same extras listed here.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The UHD of BvS may not be the "killer app" for 4K adoption, but any fan of the film with 4K capability will want to own it. It's the better version of the film in its best presentation.