Collateral 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Collateral 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Paramount has released Director Michael Mann's 2004 Hitman Thriller 'Collateral' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/Dolby Vision video. No new audio soundtrack has been included; the studio has simply ported over the existing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless presentation. No new supplements are included. The bundled Blu-ray is a duplicate of the 2010 issue. See below for coverage of the new video content.

Collateral 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

Collateral is not a film of vivid colors and scrumptious textures. It's a gritty experience, blended between film and digital construction. It's packed with grain and noise, low light conditions, and not a lot of visual splash. It's not a film that immediately springs to mind as one that would benefit from the UHD treatment, but the 4K/Dolby Vision presentation does offer some subtle refinements that altogether make for a pleasing, and ultimately critical, series of visual improvements. One of the most immediately obvious benefits is the disc's ability to render the grain and noise a bit more pleasantly and efficiently. On the UHD it's more organic, less spiky and dense, still a very noticeable and daresay critical component of the visual experience. Texturally the upgrade is a little more nuanced but still evident, even as it's reportedly sourced from a 2K digital intermediate. The UHD renders skin details, textures inside the cab, and location specifics both inside offices and out in the city with increased command of fine point details. Clarity is improved even through the mess of grain and noise and viewers will note more pleasantly crisp and authentic intricacies that help to elevate the film's visuals to greater heights. It's not revelatory but rather more clearly realized.

The Dolby Vision color grading does some good work in tightening up the picture's color spectrum. This is a dark film and black levels are mission critical to its success. The UHD presents these darker nighttime blacks, shadows, and low light interiors with greater depth but also more realistic accessibility. The movie greatly benefits from a more stable and consistent black level series through a wide range of deeper and lighter shades of black as lower light locations are influenced by an array of surrounding light sources, whether streetlights at night, dim lights inside a club, or instrument readouts and signage glowing inside the cab. Opposite, white balance and brilliance are improved, though never to the point of compromising tonal integrity to match the film's color timing and mood. There is a slightly less green cast to parts of the movie and essential colors, including skin tones, are improved as well (look at the cab scene when Max first meets Annie). Even the brightest colors are only tweaked for depth. This is a very tasteful Dolby Vision application. The palette is reinforced but only within Mann's and Cinematographers Dion Beebe and Paul Cameron's vision for the film. The picture is free of obvious encode artifacts as well. This is by no means a "looker" but fans will find the upgrades to add up to a fairly good looking take on the film and the clear-cut best presentation yet for home consumption.

Collateral 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Collateral's UHD disc includes a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack, the same configuration found on the previously issued Blu-ray. While there is a difference in bit rate between the two (the UHD reads a little lower) one would be hard-pressed to notice any meaningful differences, if any exist at all. For a full audio review, please click here.

Collateral 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Collateral's UHD disc includes the carryover commentary track and a trailer. See below for a breakdown of what's included on each disc and please click here for full coverage. This release ships with a digital copy code and a slipcover.

UHD:

• Audio Commentary
• Theatrical Trailer: Presented in 2160p/Dolby Vision (yet Dolby Digital 5.1 audio).

• Audio Commentary
• City of Night: The Making of Collateral
• Special Delivery
• Deleted Scene with Commentary
• Shooting on Location: Annie's Office
• Tom Cruise & Jamie Foxx Rehearse
• Visual FX: MTA Train
• Teaser Trailer
• Theatrical Trailer

Collateral 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Collateral still holds up as a tight Thriller that is at once both gritty and graceful. Michael Mann knows how to make 'em for sure. Paramount's UHD release includes no new audio or supplements but the 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD picture offers but a modest upgrade in all areas yet proves rather effective in ironing out the kinks and delivering the film at its best. Recommended.