7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A pair of U.S. Navy fighter pilots risk their lives during the Korean War and become some of the Navy's most celebrated wingmen.
Starring: Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson, Thomas Sadoski, Daren KagasoffWar | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.20:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.20:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 0.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Sandwiched in between World War II and Vietnam is America’s “forgotten war” in Korea, and it is on this war which Devotion focuses. There is also another war at play in the film, and that is the war over the human soul. The story is centered around a black aviator who finds himself unexpectedly befriended and expectedly looked down upon. It follows his own moments of soul-searching as he faces doubt and discrimination head-on while also standing up for himself and his abilities, not only in the cockpit, but as a father, husband, friend, and man. In many ways, then, the movie is familiar with a different framework to tell it, but it is so genuinely acted, smartly written, and beautifully photographed in such ways that any residual sense of familiarity gives way to the film's own heartbeat.
The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.
Paramount's 2160p/Doby Vision UHD release of Devotion soars. The picture is expertly crisp and effortlessly efficient. It offers an honest step
forward from the excellent companion Blu-ray, capturing a sense of cinematic elegance that the 1080p offering cannot
quite achieve. The image's crispness and definition are plainly superior to the Blu-ray. Facial and clothing elements are standouts in close-up, but even
broader shots of fighter planes, aircraft carriers, runways, and other locales present with clear boosts to sharpness that render the picture tighter, more
accessible, and more realistic. The differences are immediately obvious when watching the film back-to-back on Blu-ray and UHD but even more stark
when conducting a deliberate A/B comparison. The UHD is the plain superior. Likewise, the Dolby Vision color grading adds more color depth, superior
contrast, enhanced black levels, and crisper whites, the latter evident in overlaid on-screen text and various paint on the planes. Skin tones are
rendered
more realistically, too. Even broad stroke gray components on aircraft carriers offer superior tonal engagement, rendering otherwise "boring"
hues more lifelike and authentic. This is a healthy, nice looking UHD from Paramount, not reaching peak format performance but delivering a very
well-rounded watching experience.
Paramount has curiously chosen to forego a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, not only for Devotion's UHD release, but also for its companion Blu-ray. Instead, both discs feature identical DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtracks. Despite the absence of that desirable overhead and surround-back extension, the track is plenty wonderful and practically perfect within its 5.1 parameters. The track offers superb engagement through all channels with fluid movement and hearty depth, especially zipping and rumbling plane engines which power through the stage with expert placement and very satisfying depth. Action scenes are alive with splendid movement and seamless directionality, accompanied, again, by the powerful low-end support. Gunfire rings out with striking accuracy and alarming depth; it's very real. The aerial action scenes are simply spectacular for movement, clarity, and subwoofer support, especially as the fighters first engage at the 75-minte mark as anti-aircraft fire rips through with a real sense of upward-and-through movement amongst the planes. A ground battle at the 86-mnute mark is equally impressive for similar dynamics. Musical clarity, spacing, and depth are all first-class, too. Ambient supports are nicely detailed and enveloping in various locales, especially on board the carriers where little hums and PA announcements and other odds and ends help fill in the sonic space. Dialogue is clear, center-focused, and well prioritized for the duration.
This UHD release of Devotion includes two featurettes. No Blu-ray copy is included, but Paramount has bundled in a digital copy voucher. This
release ship with a non-embossed slipcover.
Devotion is a very well-structured film that builds around a historically accurate and contemporarily engaging narrative, combined with excellent acting and world-class visuals and action. The film certainly exists in Top Gun: Maverick's shadow, but this is nevertheless a film that is not to be missed. Paramount's UHD offers spectacular video and audio. Supplements are thin, but the limited content is very good. Highly recommended.
Ultimate Edition
2002
1959
1969
2017
1945
1955
1954
1981
2008
2012
1952
1942
Fragile Fox
1956
1997
1942
2011
1987
1963
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1966
1968