Jack Reacher 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Jack Reacher 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Paramount has released the Tom Cruise Action film 'Jack Reacher' to the UHD format. This new disc makes for, in some ways, a clear and convincing upgrade over the previously released, and technically excellent, Blu-ray from 2013, though in other ways the upgrade's credentials are a little more debatable. The UHD disc includes new 4K/Dolby Vision video but simply ports over the preexisting 7.1-channel lossless soundtrack and all of the previously released supplements, which includes a pair of audio commentaries and a trio of featurettes.

Jack Reacher 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.

Jack Reacher's 2013 Blu-ray release scored a perfect five for video and, looking back on it today, it remains a stellar, reference quality release; half a decade has changed nothing in that regard. Enter the film's 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD release. It's also gorgeous. It's also in some ways not much of a change from the Blu-ray, in others a fairly significant departure, and in others still a positive refinement to an already high-end image.

Textural speaking, the UHD is appreciably, albeit usually only slightly, sharper. Skin tones are cleaner and a bit more refined. The movie was shot on film and reportedly finished at 2K. The add to resolution allows for light-to-moderate increases to detail. Take a look at an early movie shot at the 3:16 mark, a character close-up. Facial hair and pores are both a little sharper and more revealing on the UHD, but the increase is not substantial. The same essentially holds true for the duration. In any given scene, one can spot a basic improvement to clarity and detail over the Blu-ray, but never does the 2160p image obliterate the 1080p presentation for textural intimacy or revelatory clarity. The UHD is nevertheless exceptional. Even as it's not a vast improvement over a previous generation release, the presentation is beautifully filmic, maintaining a handsome and consistent natural grain structure and never failing to capture the essence of its source with as much textural might and first-rate clarity that the UHD format affords.

In that same above-referenced scene at the 3:16 mark, and throughout most of the movie, one can see that the Dolby Vision color enhancement renders the image a little cooler, less flush and full. Skin is warmer and healthier looking on the Blu-ray and a bit more drained and pale on the UHD. That's a constant observation. Just watching the UHD, it's noticeable just how drained the palette can look, at times, particularly as it pertains to skin, but one quickly acclimates to the Dolby Vision's cooler veneer. Colors are still vibrant and present with fine saturation and vitality; they're just tuned in a different direction. On the other hand, black levels are improved, appearing much deeper and more capable, maintaining that ultra-fine balance between perfect depth and expert shadow detail. Whites, too, appear much brighter, cleaner, more lively and intense.

This one really comes to down to personal preference. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the Blu-ray, and there's nothing wrong with the UHD. Textures are slightly improved on the UHD, though they're not a leap above the 1080p image. The color temperature is different. The UHD is cooler, the Blu-ray is warmer. Both look great and only on a few occasions might a viewer wonder why the UHD appears a little drained. On the other hand, black levels and whites are clearly superior on the UHD. The best answer? Sell the Blu-ray and buy the UHD; it comes with both versions, anyway, and the movie is good enough to watch twice, too.

Jack Reacher 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This UHD release of Jack Reacher simply ports over the existing DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack as found on the previously issued Blu-ray. For a full audio review, please click here.

Jack Reacher 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Jack Reacher's UHD release carries over the pair of previously released commentary tracks but otherwise contains no supplements, new or old. The bundled Blu-ray, identical to that released in 2013, contains all extras. For convenience, below is a list of what's included. For full supplemental reviews, please click here. A UV/iTunes digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Audio Commentary: Actor Tom Cruise and Director Christopher McQuarrie.
• Audio Commentary: Composer Joe Kramer
• When the Man Comes Around
• You Do Not Mess with Jack Reacher: Combat & Weapons
• The Reacher Phenomenon

Jack Reacher 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Jack Reacher grabs the viewer right off the bat and never lets go. The film is fast, fluid, and intense. The story is engaging, the characters are well defined, the action is strong, the performances are top-notch. It's everything a modern Thriller should be. Paramount's UHD release is very good. Whether it's vastly superior to the Blu-ray is debatable: slightly better texturing and much better blacks and whites are opposed by a Dolby Vision color presentation that's far cooler, paler than the Blu-ray. Both images look terrific, and with only a few exceptions the Dolby Vision's absence of the Blu-ray's warmth will go largely unnoticed unless one is stopping to compare every five minutes. The UHD is very sound, the presentation is very filmic...it's a great release, though one's own opinion will come down to personal preference. Paramount has not changed audio or supplements. Recommended.