Boyz n the Hood 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Boyz n the Hood 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Sony has released the seminal 1991 film 'Boyz n the Hood,' directed by the late John Singleton, to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio. The UHD disc includes new extras while the bundled Blu-ray, identical to that which released in 2011, brings over the rest.

Boyz n the Hood 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

Boyz n the Hood makes its UHD debut with a spectacular 2160p/HDR presentation. The movie practically looks brand new. Grain is largely even and complimentary, with only a few spikes in noisy and dense intensity, notably in the classroom scene in the film's first few minutes where the hazy locale pushes the film grain quite hard. Otherwise, the picture is remarkably sharp and extraordinarily detailed. Look at the stop sign to start the movie. One can clearly read "City of Los Angeles" in fine print at the bottom, while the sign's textured wear and scuffs are remarkably precise. Location details are startlingly real for visual complexity and ease of clarity. They are boldly sharp, particularly the various homes seen throughout the movie where signs of wear and tear leap off the screen, easily transporting the viewer to every location. Facial textures are beyond sharp. Viewers will be privy to every pore, scar, and other imperfection, while hair reveals exceptionally detailed textures. The image makes for a fairly substantial leap over the existing Blu-ray, that disc decent in its own right but this is Boyz n the Hood looking as if fresh out of theaters.

Also of great benefit to the presentation is the addition of HDR colors, which in no way alter or transform the movie's palette but rather bring out the best in it. Colors are solidified with increased depth and, as necessary, dazzle. Urban grays are nicely countered by intensely bold yet realistically grounded splashes of clothing color. Every tone enjoys a realistic pop and punch, from green grasses of various shades to a teal colored house seen in parts of the movie. Intense reds and blue skies are highlights for the significant adds to pop, tonal nuance, and overall color clarity. The white titles enjoy far greater intensity and luminance compared to the Blu-ray, where the same letters over the opening black title card appear creamy, flat, and dull. Black levels are perfectly defined and skin tones are spot-on throughout. With no source blemishes or encode troubles in sight, this is an absolutely striking UHD presentation from Sony.

Boyz n the Hood 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Boyz n the Hood's Dolby Atmos soundtrack begins promisingly and delivers on that promise for the duration. The film begins with sounds against a blackened screen: harsh language followed by hard-hitting gunfire, screams emanating from all over, and a helicopter flying overhead with a tangible top layer presence. The sense of space, immersion, and clarity is mesmerizing; the tone that the sounds set is vital to the picture, and the Atmos track positions the elements perfectly. What follows is a sonic delight, boasting elegantly delivered music with firm, immersive positioning and quality low end support. Gunfire thumps with frightening depth and rings out with perfect placement. Additional top end engagement is noted with more helicopters and general din throughout the film's various locations. Environmental effects in particular flourish with the added channels and greater spacial awareness; never has Singleton's film so perfectly drawn in its audience on the aural end (not to mention the video side of the ledger, too). Add in perfectly detailed, positioned, and prioritized dialogue and the track complements the film with seamless, flawless expertise. This is easily the best the film has ever sounded for home video.

Boyz n the Hood 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Boyz n the Hood's UHD release includes several new extras on the UHD disc, all presented in 1080p high definition (albeit some upscaled). These new supplements are reviewed below. The bundled Blu-ray, which is identical to Sony's 2011 issue, includes carryover content. Those extras are merely listed below; please click here for full coverage. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

UHD:

• John Singleton Tribute (1080p, 6:16): A well produced and moving look back at the Boyz n the Hood director. It is crafted via film clips, retro interviews, and more recently crafted reflections with Singleton himself.
• Theatrical Press Conference (1080p upscaled, ~4x3, 24:26): In this vintage piece, Singleton speaks to the media ahead of the film's release, addressing the violence around and reaction to the film.
• Original Behind the Scenes Featurette (1080p upscaled, ~4x3, 4:57): Film clips and retro interviews build a quickly assembled look at the movie's shoot, characters, actors, and story.
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:36).

• Audio Commentary
• The Enduring Significance of Boyz n the Hood
• Friendly Fire: Making an Urban Legend
• Deleted Scenes
• Music Videos
• Audition Videos
• Previews
• BD-Live

Boyz n the Hood 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sony's done it again. Boyz n the Hood probably didn't look this good when it released theatrically in 1991 and it all but assuredly didn't sound this rich and authentic then, either. Not that the studio had to further sweeten the pot beyond the perfect A/V presentations, but Sony has added a few new extras on the UHD disc. The bundled Blu-ray is a repeat of the 2011 disc, and that's just fine. There's also a SteelBook packaging variant. This UHD release of Boyz n the Hood earns my highest recommendation.