Earthquake 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Earthquake 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

From 1974, the epic disaster film 'Earthquake' arrives on 4K UHD disc courtesy of Universal. Boasting impressive visual effects which showcase the widespread destruction of Los Angeles, the film was one of several disaster films of the 1970s like 'The Towering Inferno' and 'Avalanche' whose titles informed audiences exactly what they were in store for if they purchased a ticket. Also like those films, 'Earthquake' is populated with an impressive cast including Charlton Heston, George Kennedy, Victoria Principal, Richard Roundtree, and Geneviève Bujold. While no on-disc supplemental material is included, viewers do have the option to select between a new Dolby Atmos audio track and a 2.1 DTS Sensurround track. An embossed slipcover, a Blu-ray disc, and a Digital Code redeemable through Movies Anywhere are also included.

Earthquake 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Things start out looking quite strong, with the opening credits scene looking sharper and the yellow letters with the cast's names being crisp and vibrant. Rather immediately, I noticed that the artificial sharpening that marred the original Blu-ray presentation from 2013 was gone. Fine detail is typically high, affording viewers a chance to appreciate the various decorations and cosmetic elements that litter Remy's (Ava Gardner) bedroom. As the action shifts outside, pavement presents with realistic and discernible imperfections and cracks, pebbles are well-defined in the fields, and later, the rubble of the ruined citiscape lets viewers survey the widespread damage. Wood grain is also plainly visible in doors and paneled offices, and fabric textures of 1970s fashions possess a pleasing tactile quality. Film grain is present, but resolves naturally. Blacks are deep yet allow for an appreciation of detail in the subterranean scenes late in the film. Colors, especially primaries, are quite vibrant and are noticeably improved from those of the Blu-ray. In my opinion, none are more pronounced than the jumpsuit that Miles (Richard Roundtree) dons for his stunt show. The yellow lightning bolts are dazzling and instantly eye-catching, virtually leaping from the screen. H.B. Haggerty, here a brawny, brawling pool player but who most will remember from his ill-fated face off beneath a plane in Raiders of the Lost Ark, sees his red sweater become much more richly saturated. The reds in Walter Matthau's uncharacteristic clothing are similarly improved, as are the wildly colored clothes preferred by Gardner's Remy. While the transfer has many positives that will delight fans, there are a few imperfections on display. Some scenes throughout the film exhibit a strange softness coupled with washed-out colors. One such scene occurs at around the 22-minute mark. It's a wide shot of five people looking over the edge of the dam to receive information from a diver. While brief, the shot is remarkably blurry and grainy. Later, there's another such scene at the 28-minute mark where two men discuss a crack at the top of the dam that one of them contends wasn't there before. It has an overall aesthetic of coming from an older film that hasn't received much, if any, restoration work. Things improve as the scene continues, but it's a bit jarring. After the earthquake hits, another instance occurs at the 1:06.07 mark as Heston's character stops his ascent of the damaged building and shouts up to Lorne Greene's Royce. Here, again, the image becomes soft, grainy, and undefined, with Heston's face becoming brownish-red and blotchy. Likely, it's an issue with the source material, as none of these scenes looked markedly different on the enclosed Blu-ray. And, again, thankfully, the scenes are very brief, cumulatively not accounting for even a single minute of viewing time. Overall, it's a solid upgrade. My score is 4.25 out of 5.

Please note the screenshots used are sourced from the included Blu-ray disc.

Earthquake 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

In my opinion though, of equal or even greater importance is the sonic improvement to be found thanks to the addition of a Dolby Atmos audio track, and it's the one I spent the most time with. The Sensurround track, to me, felt a bit flat, and while the dialog may have been pushed a bit more, during the scenes of destruction the bass felt underwhelming. The Dolby Atmos track was a different experience. Despite the title's promise of inevitable destruction, most of the film plays out as a dialogue-heavy melodrama, with characters dealing with substance abuse, a failing marriage, potential job loss, and other issues. After the quake, there are obviously more critical concerns of life and death with which to contend, and we'll discuss dialogue in a moment. But for a few gratifying minutes near the middle of the film, and near the end when the dam fails, the Dolby Atmos track gets to energetically stretch its legs and audibly destroy Los Angeles. Bass on the Dolby Atmos track is pleasingly deep and rumbly in these moments. Surrounds are used to project terrified screams and destruction from all sides. Heights are employed to make falling debris and shaking fixtures in interior locations a credible and audible threat and also allow viewers to briefly track helicopters that pass overhead. While some of the model work that comprises the scene may not be as convincing as modern audiences would like, the Atmos track sells the destruction exceedingly well. Outside of those moments of mayhem, dialogue is handled well. Voices are consistently front and center focused, and sit neatly on top of the action and music in all but the most chaotic moments, and appropriately so. The track likewise handles John Williams' score very well, with he instrumentation being faithfully rendered. Its a great track.

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

Earthquake 4K is devoid of any on-disc supplemental material.

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

As disaster movies go, Earthquake is a gem, though as a fan of disaster movies, I'm admittedly biased. I've also long been fascinated with the type of mode work and matte painting (done here by the great Albert J. Whitlock) on display in this film and found in others of this vintage, so that also colors my opinion. More objectively, however, it's wholly accurate to say that Geneviève Bujold, Victoria Principal, Richard Roundtree, and the delightfully manipulative Ava Gardner add finesse and rich texture to the film and offer an excellent counterpoint to overtly masculine, "macho" performances turned in by Charlton Heston and George Kennedy. The 4K transfer offers viewers a solid upgrade, most notably in terms of the vibrant colors on display and the amelioration of the issues found on Universal's previous Blu-ray release. And while many will no doubt enjoy the Sensurround audio track, for me, the new Dolby Atmos track is the winner, bringing impressive and satisfying depth and power to the scenes of destruction, and a more polished listening experience in general. Universal's new release may be lacking on-disc supplemental material, but for those looking to enjoy the film in its best incarnation, Earthquake 4K comes highly recommended.