Ice Age: Collision Course 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

Ice Age: Collision Course 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

The Ice Age saga continues with the fifth film in the franchise, Ice Age: Collision Course, which 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is bringing out in a number of different formats.

Ice Age: Collision Course 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ice Age: Collision Course is presented on 4K UHD with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.40:1. Perhaps because this is the product of the digital realm, the fact that this was sourced off a 2K DI doesn't lead to the relatively lackluster 4K experience that's on display in some other 2K DI (live action) offerings like X-Men: First Class 4K. While subtle at times, detail levels are definitely more precise in this 4K iteration, and there's an appealing quasi-3D quality to a lot of the imagery that's noticeable from the get go during the outer space sequence. The most obvious uptick in detail levels comes courtesy of all the rendered fur, which improves upon the already impressive detail levels of the 1080p Blu-ray. HDR also adds a nicely nuanced gamut of new interstitial tones, especially in some of the blues and purples that are so prevalent throughout the film. Some of the evocative lighting effects also acquire a new luster in this version.

Ice Age: Collision Course 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Ice Age: Collision Course ups the sonic ante, if subtly at times, by offering a Dolby Atmos track (with a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core). There's occasional but notable overhead activity now, typically in some of the outer space scenes, but also including some of the calamities that afflict Manny and brood. There's the same excellent placement of sound effects in discrete channels that I described in the 1080p Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix. Oddly, some of the LFE seemed just a little less forceful in this mix than in the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix, but that may simply be due to the "relative" merits of all the other activity that's so immersive and involving on the Atmos track. Fidelity remains absolutely spot on, with excellent clarity and superb dynamic range.

Note: As tends to be the case with Fox releases, the audio and subtitle specs are different on the 4K UHD disc and the 1080p Blu-ray disc. Refer to the appropriate reviews for the proper specs.

Ice Age: Collision Course 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The 4K UHD disc ports over Scrat: Spaced Out (HD; 14:44) from the standard Blu-ray's supplemental package. The standard 1080p Blu-ray included in this package includes all of the supplements detailed in our original Ice Age: Collision Course Blu-ray review.

Ice Age: Collision Course 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ice Age: Collision Course is probably the least effective of the Ice Age franchise thus far, but younger kids especially are almost sure to enjoy its manic proclivities, especially those that involve the lovably dunderheaded Scrat. Technical merits are very strong, and my personal recommendation is for those interested in this film and with the equipment to support this release to go for this version rather than the standard Blu-ray. The only downside to this release (other than the film, that is) is the lack of a 3D Blu-ray.