Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 2 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 2 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 13, 2021

This is the second volume in Sony's prestigious 'Columbia Classics Collection' series of 4K UHD boxed sets (volume one released in June 2020). It includes six all-time classic movies from the Sony/Columbia vault: 'Anatomy of a Murder, 'Oliver!,' 'Taxi Driver,' 'Stripes,' 'Sense and Sensibility,' and 'The Social Network.' This review includes links to all four films individually on UHD (note that they are only available, at time of writing, through this set) as well as a few words on the packaging, which is very similar to that of volume one.

For full film reviews, please click through the following links; note that these point back to various original Blu-ray releases, not the 4K presentations included in this set:

• Anatomy of a Murder
• Oliver!
• Taxi Driver
• Stripes
• Sense and Sensibility
• The Social Network

Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from 1080p Blu-ray discs representative of those included in this set.

For full UHD picture reviews, please click through the following links:

• Anatomy of a Murder
• Oliver!
• Taxi Driver
• Stripes
• Sense and Sensibility
• The Social Network

Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For full UHD sound reviews, please click through the following links. Note that the Taxi Driver link points back to the 2011 Blu-ray; that UHD only includes the legacy multichannel soundtrack:

• Anatomy of a Murder
• Oliver!
• Taxi Driver
• Stripes
• Sense and Sensibility
• The Social Network

Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Volume Two of Sony's prestigious Columbia Classics Collection (digital copies for all six films included on a single sheet) is all but dimensionally identical to the to 2020 Volume One release; interested readers can click to its page for a breakdown of physical dimensions and photographs. Beyond a major color change from black to dark red and, of course, information pertinent to this particular volume, there's very little superficial difference on and in the boxes themselves, including how they open. Perhaps the biggest change beyond color is that this set is a little more glossy-smooth whereas the last one is more matte. That actually translates to the slipcovers inside as well, which feel just a little less impressive and sturdy in the hand. Like Volume One, Volume Two includes an impressive coffee table-style book that features more than 80 full color glossy pages with essays on each film, numerous photographs, and even information on the picture and sound restorations and remixes.

Finally, a bonus Blu-ray disc is included which contains 20 vintage and contemporary short films, presented in 1080p, for a total runtime of 3:03:08. A list of shorts include:

• Umpa (16:32)
• The Three Stooges: Order in the Court (16:38)
• Charley Chase: Man Bites Lovebug (17:50)
• Color Rhapsodies: Little Match Girl (8:17)
• Charley Chase: The Sap Takes a Wrap (16:16)
• Color Rhapsodies: Dog, Cat and Canary (6:10)
• The Ragtime Bear (7:14)
• The Wonder Gloves (6:50)
• Georgie and the Dragon (6:43)
• Madeline (6:40)
• Pete Hothead (6:52)
• The Tell-Tale Heart (7:45)
• When Magoo Flew (6:31)
• The Man on the Flying Trapeze (6:49)
• Christopher Crumpet's Playmate (6:30)
• Stage Door Magoo (6:28)
• April in Portugal (20:14)
• The ChubbChubbs! (5:40)
• The Early Hatchling Gets the Worm (2:06)
• Puppy! A Hotel Transylvania Short (4:53)

For a full breakdown of the included supplemental content, please click through the following links:

• Anatomy of a Murder
• Oliver!
• Taxi Driver
• Stripes
• Sense and Sensibility
• The Social Network

Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This set is, externally, every bit elegant as the first. Internally, the six films make for a great collection of content, both considering the films themselves and the UHD presentations. Every one is well worth the price of admission. This boxed set earns my highest recommendation and is likely to top my "best-of" list for 2021.