6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Team G.I. Joe is not only fighting for their lives they are fighting for their very existence. Framed for crimes against the country, they are forced to disband by Presidential order. The surviving team members face off against Zartan, Cobra, and the world leaders he has under his influence!
Starring: Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson, Adrianne Palicki, Ray StevensonAction | 100% |
Adventure | 72% |
Sci-Fi | 51% |
Thriller | 20% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
German: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Russian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish=Espana and Latinoamerica, Portuguese=Brasil
English, English SDH, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Cantonese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Russian, Swedish, Thai
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
With 'Snake Eyes' just around the corner, Paramount has released 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/Dolby Vision video. No new audio track has been included; Paramount simply repurposes the existing Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless soundtrack. No new extras are included. The UHD carries over the commentary track while bundled original Blu-ray release, included, offers a few more supplements. Paramount has also concurrently released first film in the series, 'G.I. Joe: The Rose of Cobra,' to the UHD format.
The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.
Much like the Rise of Cobra UHD, Paramount's work on Retaliation doesn't make a big splash on Blu-ray. The 2160p/Dolby Vision
UHD
presentation looks fine, but it's not a significant upgrade over the Blu-ray and arguably not enough of one to make the cost of the upgrade
worthwhile.
Fine detail is boosted a tiny bit but overall sharpness isn't really all that different one format to the other. Look at an early shot showing
Roadblock at the 3:29 mark.
Comparative analysis shows little textural gain to pores, facial hair, or the military uniform and tactical gear. The big difference in this shot is a drastic
increase in
brightness on the UHD. Dolby Vision transforms the look of the scene, here giving the appearance that the character is standing in a floodlight
whereas on the old Blu-ray he looks more grounded in a nighttime shot, warmly rather than harshly lit, the skin appearing a bit deeper and healthier,
too. In this particular
instance: advantage Blu-ray. Unfortunately that's the case throughout more often than not. Every nighttime scene looks overly bright, washed out,
and garish at worst.
The Blu-ray offers more tonal balance, better blended contrast, and superior blacks. Look at another nighttime exterior at the 13-minute mark. The
Blu-ray actually offers the deeper blacks and the more intense colors. The UHD just looks like it had its brightness cranked up and the black levels
lifted. Some daytime exteriors don't fare much better. Look at another Roadblock closeup at the 32:16 mark. The level of intimate detail and overall
clarity are practically a wash between the two. The pores, facial hairs, and sweat beads are not really all that superior on the UHD. The color grading
here pulls a mite ahead on the UHD for overall saturation, but the difference is minimal. A shot of a home exterior at the 48:32 mark is one of the
best, albeit rare, examples of the Dolby Vision grading's excellence and clear superiority over SDR Blu-ray. The whites are greatly more intense on
UHD, appearing comparatively drab and creamy on Blu-ray. The grass is a bolder, deeper green and the skies a more vibrant blue. The shot looks
alive on UHD and lifeless on Blu-ray. But it's more the exception to the rule.
So, at best, the UHD is a lateral move and, at worst, to this reviewer's
eyes and preferences, a step down in darker scenes where it just looks too bright, too washed out. In isolation it plays fine, more or less, but many
viewers are going to note the overly aggressive brightness and raised blacks. With the relative lack of greatly enhanced detail, there's little reason to
upgrade.
Rather than reconfigure the soundtrack for the Dolby Atmos or DTS:X encodes, Paramount has simply repurposed the existing Dolby TrueHD 7.1
lossless soundtrack. For convenience, the review from the original Blu-ray appears below:
'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' explodes onto Blu-ray with a tremendous Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless soundtrack. Paramount's latest sound presentation is one
of the most dynamic and enjoyable available today. Right from the Paramount logo the track positively dazzles, revealing exceptional clarity within a
full, wide soundstage. Surround support is immediate and natural, while bass is big but balanced. Those elements define the entire experience. Action
scenes explode with a large array of elements, from cracking gunfire erupting all over the stage to heavy, thumping explosions that push the low end to
its limits. Aircraft zip around the stage and heavy ground vehicles rumble all over. The sense of chaos completely surrounds the listener and every
action scene in the film proves completely worthy of demonstration showroom floors. Yet the track doesn't just excel at its most exciting. Minimalist
elements, small supporting sound pieces, and environmental touches help bring the track to life, again by making use of a very big stage and the
track's pinpoint placement and clarity. Musical delivery is robust but smooth, sounding very big and satisfying with full seven-channel implementation
and a quality bass element. Dialogue comes through evenly and clearly from the center. This is a fun, reference-quality track from the first second to
the last.
The UHD disc includes one supplement, the Audio Commentary track with Director Jon M. Chu and Producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura. This
track, and all of the other extras, are included on the bundled Blu-ray, which is identical to the 2013 release. For convenience a list of what's included
appears below. Please click here for full coverage. A digital copy code is included with
purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.
This one is pretty weak as far as UHD upgrades go. There are some moments when the Dolby Vision color grading proves vastly superior, some where it's more or less a match with the Blu-ray's SDR colors, and some -- mostly at night -- when it just looks too washed out, too bright. There's not much difference in terms of clarity and fine detail, either. With no new audio and no new extras, fans may as well just hang on to the Blu-ray.
2013
2013
2013
Extended Action Cut
2013
Bonus Disc & Exclusive Packaging
2013
Bonus Disc & Exclusive Packaging
2013
Extended Action Cut
2013
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2013
2013
Extended Action Cut
2013
+ Extended on BD
2013
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2009
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2019
20th Anniversary Edition
1996
2016
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2003
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Live. Die. Repeat.
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