Jumanji 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Jumanji 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

'Jumanji' makes its UHD debut with a fully restored 4K transfer sourced form the original camera negative. The studio has included Atmos sound for an even greater immersion into the film's chaotic world. A few new extras, as well as most legacy extras from the previous two Blu-ray releases, are included on the bundled Blu-ray, which also features a new transfer from the same scan (and is available to purchase separately).

Jumanji 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For Jumanji's UHD debut, Sony has fully restored the film and the results are quite impressive. Shot on film and offering bountiful textures at every turn (its more crude, by today's standards, visual effects not withstanding), this 2160p/HDR-enhanced image is a winner and certainly one of the better on the market. Indeed, textural qualities are striking and an honest step above the companion Blu-ray, released at the same time and sourced from this same restoration, sans the added resolution and HDR colors, of course. The film offers no shortage of wondrous surfaces and objects to explore in ultra high definition. The board game and pieces (including dice), dense natural elements, a plethora of manmade objects, really an endless supply of exceptionally well defined objects offer a treasure trove of intricate, intimate qualities to explore. Everything is razor sharp and effortlessly so, with truly tangible and innately complex textures that really show what this format is capable of revealing. Skin and clothing textures are likewise superb, the former in particular offering some amazing visuals in close-up. Grain retention is obvious and constant. Those who dislike more readily evident textural grain will be displeased here, calling it "sharp" and "buzzing," but it does lend a satisfying filmic appearance to the image and a nice textural touch that enhances the overall presentation. The movie's colors can be a bit dull and dreary by design; lots of grays and beiges and various shades thereof occasionally seem the more dominant end of the spectrum, but the image can certainly shine as the palette allows. A blue police car, a yellow and red flower monster, and other examples throughout the film offer a nice bit of reprieve from the somewhat bland and drab color scheme and tend to really show off what HDR can do, adding a nice bit of pizzaz and punch but remaining essentially faithful and simply finding a more deeply saturated and finely nuanced appearance. Black levels are excellent and skin tones are fine. Extremely critical viewers will encounter one or two speckles here and there, but absolutely nothing worth the effort of complaint. This is another A-grade UHD from Sony.

Jumanji 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Jumanji's UHD release not only sees an improved picture but also improved sound. Sony's Dolby Atmos soundtrack replaces the various, previous (and concurrently released) Blu-ray releases' DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtracks, and the results are excellent and certainly befitting the film. Expansion into the added back and overhead channels significantly opens the experience. There's a much improved sense of space, a feeling of wider, more naturally and effortlessly immersive location elements and music and effects. The track always takes a bold, muscular stance, particularly with its intensive action effects. Heavy caliber gunshots heard in chapter 10 blast with impressive, immediate punch and impressive full stage diffusion. A few moments later, a stampede powers through the house with striking low end weight and authoritative movement. Another in town a few minutes later is even more impressive, particularly as the animals run over and smash a car (with a child inside), and the sense of overhead engagement and command makes it the most singularly impressive highlight moment in a highlight-infused track. General ambience is excellent, too, right from the beginning as howling wolves and nighttime insects eerily saturate the stage, and onward throughout the film it offers ample back end and total immersion engagement to set various scenes. Dialogue is clear, front-located, and well prioritized, rounding a wonderful, reference-worthy Atmos track into finished, extremely enjoyable form.

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

Jumanji's UHD disc contains no supplements beyond the standard Sony cast and crew still photo tab and collection of categorized highlight "moments" (2160p/HDR/Atmos), here including Alan Parrish, Sarah Whittle, Jumanji, and Judy & Peter. All of the core supplemental content can be found on the bundled Blu-ray. For convenience, below is a list of what's included. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Audio Commentary: Special Effects Crew. From both the 2011 and 2015 releases.
• NEW! Sneak Peek of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (1080p, 3:13): A preview for the new movie disguised as a featurette.
• NEW! Gag Reel (1080p, 5:19): Funny moments from the shoot.
• NEW! Deleted Scenes (1080p): The Company with Soul (0:38) and Merry Christmas (1:09).
• Making Jumanji: The Realm of Imagination: From both the 2011 and 2015 releases.
• Jumanji Motion Storybook as Read by Author Chris Van Allsburg: From the 2015 release.
• SFX Featurette: Lions and Monkeys and Pods...Oh My!: From both the 2011 and 2015 releases.
• Bringing Down the House: From both the 2011 and 2015 releases.
• Jumanji: The Animated Series: From the 2015 release.
• Storyboard Comparisons: From both the 2011 and 2015 releases.
• NEW! Production Stills (1080p): A collection of still images from the making of the film. Included are Set Photography, Production Design Photos, CTC: 1 Alligator, CTC: 2 Bats, CTC: 3 Monkeys, CTC: 4 Pelican, CTC: 5 Spiders, CTC: 6 Pod, and CTC: 7 Lions. Pictures must be manually advanced via the remote's directional buttons.
• NEW! Conceptual Art (1080p): Includes Alternate Title Treatments, Creatures, and Production Design. Pictures must be manually advanced via the remote's directional buttons.
• NEW! The Extreme Book of Nature (480i, 5:48 total runtime): A collection of very brief featurettes highlighting a number of the frightening creatures that appear in the film. Included are Bats, Crocodiles, Lions, Monkeys, Mosquitoes, Spiders, and Stampede.
• NEW! Ancient Diversions (480i, 14:21 total runtime): Instructions on how perform a few parlor tricks. Includes Disappearing Paper, Invisible Ink, Life After Death, Magic String, Severed Finger, and Mind Reading.
• International Trailer: From the 2015 release.
• "Are You Game" Trailer: From the 2015 release.
• "It's a Jungle In There" Trailer: From the 2015 release.

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

It's hard to call Jumanji a "classic," but it's a fun and infinitely re-watchable film and one of the better from the late Robin Williams' illustrious career. Sony's UHD release offers exceptional picture quality and a wonderful new Atmos soundtrack. A few new extras are included on the bundled Blu-ray disc. Very highly recommended.