7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.7 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Fearing the actions of a god-like super hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane LaneAction | 100% |
Adventure | 87% |
Sci-Fi | 76% |
Comic book | 75% |
Fantasy | 65% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, 1.43:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Japanese hidden
English SDH, French, Italian SDH, Japanese, Spanish, Arabic, Cantonese, Czech, Danish, Finnish, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Polish, Swedish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 0.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Arriving nearly five years after their first 4K Ultimate Edition (and damn near impossible to find during the first week of its online-only release), Warner Bros.' remastered 4K Ultimate Ultimate Edition of Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice exists for two reasons: to fix a few color grading issues on the original 4K disc, and to restore scenes shot in IMAX to their original 1.43:1 aspect ratio, rather than crop them to 2.40:1 like all earlier home video versions. But the majority of this 182-minute Director's Cut was composed for -- and is still presented in -- that much wider format, which means you'll battle black bars on the top and sides like The Grand Budapest Hotel.
As Michael Reuben pointed out in his review of the 2016 4K Ultimate Edition, it was notable for being (a) WB's first UHD disc sourced from a 4K digital intermediate, (2) the first 4K release WB issued alongside a Blu-ray, and (d) their first UHD to utilize the BD-100 disc format. What it didn't do, however, was match the Blu-ray edition in color quality, as several facets of its HDR grading boosted reds and other warm colors unnaturally... which was noticed by director Zack Snyder while streaming the movie, of all things. Most major studios won't recall discs -- let alone pony up the cash for a second 4K edition -- for that kind of issue, at least not anymore. But with the six-year gap in release dates, combined with interest surrounding the recent debut of Justice League's "Snyder Cut", Batman v Superman's 4K color fixes were piggy-backed onto what's perhaps the more notable selling point of this new release: its re-framed IMAX footage, which affects less than 1/6 of the movie but makes a substantial difference during a few of its biggest moments.
Batman v Superman's IMAX-shot scenes (the opening credits and helicopter landing, the infamous "Knightmare" scene, Batman & Superman's big brawl, the post-Doomsday fight, and the final scene before the end credits), now framed at their original 1.43:1 aspect ratio, show a lot more clearance at the top and bottom. There's even a bit more room at the sides here and there, too. This results in a much bigger scope and more expansive atmosphere during a handful of scenes that really demand it... and what's more, the extra information doesn't look unnecessary. Nor does the shift between 2.40:1 and 1.43:1 feel nearly as jarring as expected. I still generally prefer the idea of cropping IMAX footage to 1.78:1 for home video releases (since it preserves the illusion of height on industry standard 16x9 TVs), so I came in expecting to absolutely hate the aspect ratio switch... and I really didn't. It's pretty great, honestly. As for the color? It's clearly less filtered and appears more natural in certain areas, especially on Superman's costume and many of the fire/explosion effects, which looked pretty questionable on the first 4K release. I'd chalk it up to HDR being a relatively new process back in 2016.... but either way, the new color tweaks are another check in the win column.
Overall, it's a very satisfying presentation that, despite the aspect ratio changes, actually ends up looking more consistent than the previous 2160p transfer. And although I can't be sure, it also appears to be quite a bit grainier in certain areas as well; whether or not this is the result of DNR removal or added grain still has yet to be determined. Either way, die-hard fans should be really happy with its appearance: pound for pound, this one's a winner.
A word about the screenshots: No Blu-ray disc is included with this release, nor is one being offered separately... so, since I am not equipped for true 4K captures I went with the next best thing: direct screengrabs from the 4K disc, whose playback was downsampled to 1080p after my initial viewing via a few settings changes on my capture setup. The result, while obviously not true UHD resolution or HDR enhanced, should at least give you a general idea of the new IMAX framing and maybe even a few color changes. (The "Knightmare" screenshot above is also featured in our review of the 2016 UE Blu-ray, if you'd like to see a comparison.) On a related note, this nifty FlashbackFM trailer also includes a few 1.43:1 formatted clips from the HBO Max streaming version if you haven't seen it already.
This 4K disc contains the same audio options as the first 4K Ultimate Edition; please refer to that review for an analysis of the default Dolby Atmos tack. Dub and subtitle options also appear identical to that previous release.
This one-disc release ships (eventually) in a standard black keepcase with new artwork and a Digital Copy redemption slip. Surprisingly enough, two new extras are included -- a nice touch that might nudge a few fans over the fence.
Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is far from the pinnacle of big-screen comic book entertainment in my book, but the Director's Cut makes it easier to digest. This new remastered 4K Ultimate Edition is squarely aimed at fans of that version, who will appreciate several upgrades across the board here: revised color tweaks that fix errors in the 2016 4K Ultimate Edition, re-framing of the IMAX sequences to restore their original 1.43:1 aspect ratio, and even a brand new feature-length audio commentary from the director. At only $20, this is a fairly priced "companion piece" disc that die-hard fans won't mind shelling out for... assuming they can find it, of course.
plus Theatrical Cut on standard Blu-ray
2016
2016
plus Extended Cut on 2D Blu-ray
2016
2016
Superman Edition
2016
2016
Batman Figurine
2016
Superman Figurine
2016
w/ Graphic Novel
2016
Ultimate Edition | plus Theatrical Cut on standard Blu-ray | Justice League Movie Money
2016
Ultimate Edition | with Justice League Movie Money
2016
Ultimate Edition
2016
with $5 Vudu credit
2016
plus Theatrical Cut on standard BD
2016
Ultimate Edition
2016
with Lego lenticular slipcover + The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part Movie Money
2016
Ultimate Edition
2016
2016
Ultimate Edition
2016
2013
2018
2017
2015
Cinematic Universe Edition
2017
Extended and Theatrical versions
2011
Cinematic Universe Edition
2012
2013
2011
2017
Cinematic Universe Edition
2016
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #8
2010
Extended TV Cut & Special Edition
1978
Cinematic Universe Edition
2018
2014
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #4
2009
The Richard Donner Cut 4K
1980
2016
Cinematic Universe Edition
2019
2015