Earthquake 4K Limited Edition SteelBook Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Earthquake 4K Limited Edition SteelBook Blu-ray Movie Review

1974's 'Earthquake 4K' returns to 4K UHD in the 'Earthquake 4K Limited Edition SteelBook' 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. A 1080p Blu-ray disc with the film and a Digital Code redeemable through Movies Anywhere round out this release. For a discussion of the SteelBook, please scroll down to the 'Special Features and Extras' section.

Earthquake 4K Limited Edition SteelBook Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a discussion of Earthquake 4K's 2160p transfer, please follow this link.

Earthquake 4K Limited Edition SteelBook Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For information about Earthquake 4K's Dolby Atmos and 2.1 DTS Sensurround audio tracks, please follow this link.

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

The cover of the Earthquake 4K Limited Edition SteelBook contains a collage of images. Near the top, under the names of the prominent cast members (printed in black), are sepia-toned headshots of the eight with whom the film spends the most time in front of a ruined Los Angeles skyline. As expected, Charlton Heston's image is the largest and is centered. Just below them is the title, it's yellow-fading-to-orange lettering fractured in half. Below the title are scenes of death, destruction, and derring-do from the film, though these are more realistically colored. The spine simply sports the film's title in the same font in a field of black, with Universal's logo at the bottom. The reverse image depicts the destruction left by the earthquake. A crumbling building, a collapsed bridge, and a burning building are the predominant focal points, and the artwork uses the same color palette as that of the front cover. When opening the SteelBook, the Digital Code is found under two tabs on the left side. On the right side, the 4K UHD disc and the Blu-ray disc are stagger-stacked, each on its own hub, with the 4K UHD disc on top. Removing the discs reveals a two-panel nighttime image of a ruined location from late in the film. The SteelBook has the preferred matte finish which resists fingerprints associated with normal handling very well. It's a great package with a vintage look that immediately lets viewers know what awaits them if the play the film.

Earthquake 4K Limited Edition SteelBook 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 model 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, "tough-guy" 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 the Earthquake 4K Limited Edition SteelBook looks terrific and should be an easy choice for SteelBook collectors and fans of the film alike. Highly Recommended.