Galaxy Quest 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		0.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Galaxy Quest 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Paramount has released the fan favorite 1999 'Star Trek' spoof/celebrity focus/Sci-Fi Fantasy film (I think that covers most of the bases) 'Galaxy Quest,' directed by Dean Parisot and starring Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, and Alan Rickman, to the UHD format. Rather than the typical video upgrade only issue, Paramount has taken the extra steps of offering, in addition to the 2160p/Dolby Vision video presentation, a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and a new supplement.

Galaxy Quest 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from the UHD disc output at 1080p. They are not representative of the UHD/Dolby Vision image you will see on your screen.

Paramount has done some real work to bring Galaxy Quest to the UHD format. A quick comparison between the UHD and the aged Blu-ray reveals a major and obvious difference right off the bat before digging into the picture quality proper. First, there's been a change in aspect ratio, with more of the film presented in the window box aspect ratio. Look at a scene when Alexander is bemoaning his fall as an actor in the opening minutes. It's window box on the UHD and 2.35:1 on the Blu-ray. The image maintains the window box format for the opening act of the film and only opens wide to 2.39:1 at the 19:30 mark when the Taggart finally comes to realize that he's no longer on a set at the outset of his transport back to Earth.

As fast as the rest of the presentation, the new 2160p/Dolby Vision image is certainly a step up from the old Blu-ray. First of all, it's obvious that there's been some serious clean-up work on the UHD. Just perusing various scenes for comparison between the two discs shows the removal of various pops and speckles. Grain management is better, too, with grain much finer on the UHD whereas it's clumpier on the Blu-ray. The UHD is not a massive upgrade in sharpness, though. The picture looks quite flat in many shots, especially in the window box opening act, but it does find a pleasant filmic quality, though certainly it's always lacking the sort of significant sharpness that accompanies many UHD releases sourced from a film shoot. The smoothness almost seems deliberate, especially considering the look of the Thermians and the ultra clean exteriors on the Protector. This is not an eye candy image, but it does stabilize the picture above and beyond the Blu-ray with finer overall clarity and film-like richness.

The Dolby Vision grading is likewise not a major revelation compared to the Blu-ray. It delivers nice depth grains and increases to accuracy, but there's not a massive uptick in tonal richness and vividness, either, especially looking at the blue accents on uniforms or the red on Madison's red uniform colors. The film is fairly spartan in terms of color output, but what is here finds improved stability for sure. Black levels are deeper, white balance is superior, and skin tones across a wide array elements look better, including the very pale Thermians. This is not a UHD that most will likely turn to for demo purposes, but it does seem to present the film with more visual accuracy than the old Blu-ray.

Galaxy Quest 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

New to the UHD is a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, which is a pleasant surprise given Paramount's propensity to just drop the old Blu-ray soundtrack onto the UHD. Indeed, the old Blu-ray featured the antiquated Dolby TrueHD 5.1 configuration, and the added spatial content is most welcome here. There's a very distinct, front-heavy component to the early content that is window boxed. But it does open up a good bit even after that, with some discrete content in the first major battle at the 18-minute mark, mostly in the form of distant laser blasts and explosions, and continuing at the 19-minute mark with some excellent low end depth and further surround content in the "transport" scene. The track really takes advantage of the aded back and height channels at a number of locations, offering a wonderful sense of immersion into the more aggressive action elements and a firmer ambient fill in the more sonically subtle components. Music is very rich and pleasing with larger stage fill and ample clarity. This is a nice boost over the Blu-ray in these areas, while also offering tighter overall clarity and definition to all elements. Dialogue is unsurprisingly centered, lifelike, and well prioritized for the duration.

Galaxy Quest 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Paramount releases Galaxy Quest to the UHD format with all of the extras on the UHD disc proper; no Blu-ray copy is included. All of the extras from the old Blu-ray carry over with the exception of Galactopedia. It also adds a new "Filmmaker Focus" extra, which is usually only found on the "Paramount Presents" line, of which this release is not a part. See below for a brief review of the new extra and for a list of what's included (and please click here for reviews of the legacy content). This issue does ship with a fresh digital copy voucher and a non embossed slipcover.

• NEW! Filmmaker Focus with Director Dean Parisot (1080p, 19:30): A new retrospective that looks at the film's narrative elements, Parisot's lifelong relationships with Star Trek, utilizing Star Trek tropes in the film for various points of impact, details of the shoot, cast and performances, and much more.
• Historical Documents: The Story of Galaxy Quest
• Never Give Up, Never Surrender: The Intrepid Crew of the NSEA Protector
• Grabthar's Hammer, What Amazing Effects
• Alien School: Creating the Thermian Race
• Actors in Space
• Sigourney Weaver Raps
• Deleted Scenes
• Thermian Audio Track
• Theatrical Trailer

Galaxy Quest 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Galaxy Quest makes the jump to the UHD format with a really nice new package. The video may not be the handsomest on the block, but it's a nice overall upgrade from the Blu-ray, even if it's a more subtle series of improvements, especially to the aspect ratio. The Atmos track is wonderful, and the new extra is most welcome. Recommended!