7.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Throughout his life Edward Bloom has always been a man of big appetites, enormous passions and tall tales. In his later years, he remains a huge mystery to his son, William. Now, to get to know the real man, Will begins piecing together a true picture of his father from flashbacks of his amazing adventures in this marvel of a movie.
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham CarterRomance | 100% |
Imaginary | 73% |
Drama | 46% |
Comedy | 4% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Czech: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Hungarian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Korean: Dolby Digital 2.0
Polish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Thai: Dolby Digital 5.1
Polish VO, Spanish DTS=Castilian, Spanish DD = Latin American
English, English SDH, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovenian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Sony has released Director Tim Burton's 2003 film 'Big Fish' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio. The included Blu-ray has also been remastered and is home to several extras that are new to the format. The film originally released to Blu-ray in 2007.
The included screenshots are sourced from the new 1080p Blu-ray disc included with this set.
Big Fish makes a big splash on the UHD format. Sony's 2160p/HDR presentation equips the picture with a newfound sense of filmic
excellence
that
is
apparent in practically every shot. The picture holds steady to a natural grain structure, one which appears unblemished and absent any manipulation
for one reason or another. The end result is that highly desirable, naturally occurring, and visually pleasing cinematic texturing. Details are crisp and
stout, clearly well ahead of the
aged MPEG-2 Blu-ray and also well capable of leading the charge against the included remastered Blu-ray which is fine in isolation and itself a solid
improvement over the 2007 Blu-ray but nowhere near so capably stout and sure as this UHD. Whether facial definition, the young Edward's finely
combed head of hair, rich environmental details, or costumes, the picture's steady command of its visual elements will delight most every viewer.
Location details are of particular note. In true Burton fashion there are some spectacular sets and finely honed and quirky production details, though
certainly such are toned down within his usual working peculiarities in order not to overwhelm the tenderhearted story center. Still, quaint small
towns,
exotic circuses, and any number of other extraordinary or grounded environments leap off the screen with pinpoint command of both broad and fine
details alike; viewers will be able to soak in every last bit of textural excellence in every shot.
The HDR color spectrum brings new opportunity for pinpoint color control and accuracy to the film. The picture thrives under the parameters, finding
greatly improved presentation essentials as colors flourish by bringing about both improved depth and striking brilliance. The film maneuvers through
a full spectrum, from intense, screen dominating reds and greens to more subdued scenes where grays and flatter tones prevail. No matter the scene
or color application, though, Big Fish's color output thrives. The feel for more precise balance, localized brilliance, and gradated nuance are
also improved. The picture has a very natural appearance, one that is full of positive, expressive life that neither the old nor the new Blu-ray can
match for sheer tonal dominance and excellence. Add in sublime black levels and popping, expressive whites (look no further than a sorority house
front door around the one-hour mark) and the film's HDR color excellence is never in question. Just as important, there are no obvious print
blemishes or encode faults to report, either. It's difficult to imagine Big Fish looking any better than it does here.
Big Fish has also earned an audio upgrade in the form of a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The track is pleasantly rich and robust, engaging and effortless in delivery. The big takeaway here is the expansion through the back and above, both working to create a fuller, more complimentary sound field that brings the track alive like never before. Certainty this film's sound design is not going to challenge the most high octane and incessantly active tracks for sheer intensity but for precision, immersion, and fidelity this one's perfectly good. The overhead channels are more supportive than they are home to an endless string of discrete effects, aiding in building a more substantial, room-filling, and believable -- insofar as some of these sounds can be labeled as "believable" -- sound elements, including the giant's footfalls and booming voice, crowd and circus din, and other examples of the track's more robust sonic moments. Essentially, though, the track enjoys a more seamless feel for total stage saturation. The track is smooth and efficient with no coverage gaps and certainly no want for greater elemental clarity. That extends to music as well, which is rich and wide and full of life. It is, of course, most dominant along the front but also appreciably immersive as necessary. Subwoofer extension is used in a complimentary role as well with a few moments of more intense engagement but its primary function here is to add body to the track, not to define or overwhelm it. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and center focused for the duration.
There are no extras on the UHD disc, but the remastered Blu-ray included in this set features a handful of extras that were not on the 2007 Blu-ray.
It
does carry over the commentary track. Extras which are new to Blu-ray are marked as such below and reviewed. A Movies Anywhere digital copy
code is included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.
Big Fish blends together Tim Burton's imaginative tall tales with the frayed yet intimate bond between father and son. It's one of Burton's least quirky pictures and certainly the one with the biggest heart. Sony's new UHD release is a stunner. The 2160p/HDR video presentation is first-class, the Atmos soundtrack is terrific, and the studio has included a large number of extras that were not present on the now very old original Blu-ray release. Highly recommended.
2006
2011
2008-2009
1953
25th Anniversary Edition | Remastered
1990
2009
Warner Archive Collection
1985
2012
2009
1961
2012
2013
2007
2010
2008
1983
1990
2006
2008
2004