Jarhead 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Jarhead 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Based on the book of the same name by former Marine Corps Scout Sniper Anthony Swofford, 'Jarhead (2005)' makes its way to 4K UHD disc in this 'Jarhead: 20th Anniversary Limited Edition SteelBook 4K' courtesy of Universal. The film tells of Swofford's experiences during Operation Desert Storm and stars Jake Gyllenhaal ('Source Code') as Anthony Swofford, a young man who wasn't exactly thrilled with enlisting, Jamie Foxx as Staff Sergeant Sykes ('Ray'), and Peter Sarsgaard (Troy, 'Garden State'). This release brings forward a host of extras that have been absent since the DVD/HD-DVD era, though no new on-disc supplemental material has been created. Technical merits are solid, with the release boasting an eye- catching 2160p presentation and an efficient Dolby Atmos track. A Blu-ray disc, and a Digital Code redeemable via Movies Anywhere are also included. Please scroll down to the 'Special Features and Extras' section below for a discussion of the new SteelBook.

Jarhead 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a discussion of the film's 2160p presentation, please follow this link.

Jarhead 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For comments concerning the film's Dolby Atmos track, please follow this link.

Jarhead 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Universal has once again opted for a simple but effective design for the Jarhead: 20th Anniversary Limited Edition SteelBook 4K. The cover is a close-up of a dog tag that simply reads Jarhead. A closer look reveals the silhouettes of Jamie Foxx's Staff Sergeant Sykes facing Jake Gyllenhaal's Marine Corps Scout Sniper Anthony Swofford. The dog tag and its beaded chain lie atop the standard issue desert camo fatigues worn by the men in the film. The tan and brown camo carries over to the both the spine and the back cover. The spine features the film's title in white with Universal's logo at the bottom. The back is nothing more than a rendering of the fatigues with Universal's logo centered at the bottom and a product number in the lower right corner. The dog tag and the beaded chain boast some silver metallic highlights. Spot gloss has not be used, and the SteelBook does not contain any embossed or debossed elements. It has a matte finish that should hide fingerprints associated with normal handling quite well. Considering the nature of the raised letting present on dog tags, it feels like something of a miss that that the tag's text is not embossed here.

Opening the SteelBook, the tabs on the left secure the Digital Copy. On the right side, the 4K UHD disc and the Blu-ray disc, each containing the feature film (though only the 4K UHD disc carries all of the bonus material), are stagger-stacked, each on their own hub, with the 4K UHD disc on top. Removing all of these contents exposes a two-panel still from the film of Swofford and other soldiers advancing through the desert past a burned-out vehicle as smoke and fire are visible on the horizon. The still captures the spirit of the film quite well.

All of the DVD-era legacy features have been brought forward for this release, with no new on-disc material added. For an accounting of these on-disc extras, please follow this link. Please note that while the full assortment of material is found on the 4K UHD disc, only the commentary tracks make their way to the Blu-ray disc.

Jarhead 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Though often funny, Jarhead does little to glamourize war, nor to romanticize those in the trenches and on the front lines. The portrayal of Swofford, Staff Sergeant Sykes, and the rest of the enlisted men is honest and heartfelt, filled with as much tragedy as triumph. The direction by Sam Mendes is captivating, and the screenplay by William Broyles Jr. allows events to unfold organically, with plenty of opportunities for small moments to reveal much about the men and their growth and development as both people and soldiers. The improvements to the video presentation are appreciated, and while the there isn't as dramatic a difference between the 4K disc's Dolby Atmos track and the DTS-HD MA 5.1 of the Blu-ray, it feels faithful and accurate to the source for a film that is often dialogue-driven. While some new supplemental material would have been most welcome, the inclusion of the long-absent DVD-era material should delight fans. As SteelBooks go, this is one that would certainly have benefitted from the embossing of the film's title as it is printed on the dog tag. The beaded chain it hangs from could have received similar treatment. But as it stands, the simple design is quite evocative of the film and the Jarhead; 20th Anniversary Limited Edition SteelBook 4K comes strongly recommended for SteelBook collectors and fans of the film alike.