6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 3.3 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
An oil company expedition encounters a colossal giant gorilla and brings it back to New York to exploit him.
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, Jessica Lange, John Randolph, Rene AuberjonoisHorror | 100% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
2.0 BD, 5.1 UHD
English, English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Paramount has released the 1976 film 'King Kong,' starring Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, and Jessica Lange, and directed by John Guillermin, to the UHD format. This package includes two cuts of the film. The extended TV cut, which is on Blu-ray only, runs at a whopping 3:12:47, while the theatrical cut, which runs at a more manageable 2:14:32, appears on UHD. The Blu-ray is presented at 1080p and the UHD at 2160p with Dolby Vision color grading. The Blu-ray features a 2.0 lossless soundtrack and the UHD a 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Beyond a trailer on the Blu-ray, no supplements are included. At time of writing this release ships exclusively in SteelBook packaging.
The included screenshots are sourced from the extended TV cut 1080p Blu-ray disc.
The Blu-ray disc contains the lengthy TV cut of the film, presented at a theatrical 235:1 aspect ratio rather than the original broadcast 1.33:1 ratio.
Fans
might be divided on the presentation's chosen aspect ratio, but this does see the film in a more theatrical exhibition presentation (though an
alternate version at
1.33:1 would have been welcome, if possible). The image is fine, though certainly not one for the record books. Grain is dense and coarse, with a
snowy
appearance rather than a more refined look about it. Fine detail suffices, lacking the absolute crispness and intricate definition elements that define
the
best of film-based Blu-ray images, but the picture is definitely sharp and robust enough thanks to the 1080p muscle. Whether faces, island
environments, ship interiors, or various examples of attire, the picture proves capable enough of capturing essential elements with suitable definition
and detail. Colors are fine, certainly lacking intense boldness and absolute integrity, but there's enough depth to natural greens, colorful clothes, and
even fire to satisfy. Black levels struggle to hold true, looking thin and pale in places and teetering on crush in others, sometimes even in the same
scenes and sequences (look around the 68-minute mark for some stark fluctuations from shot to shot). White balance is decent but hardly notable,
and
skin tones are much the same: sufficient but lacking real authenticity. There are a few stray print anomalies, a pop here and a stray vertical line
there,
but overall the print appears to be in decent shape. The encode seems fine, too; there are no obvious compression issues to note, even at the 3+
hour runtime
The UHD, which holds the film's theatrical cut, looks quite nice. It's a substantial improvement over the Blu-ray, certainly helped by housing a shorter
cut but also because of the greater resolution opportunity and color enrichment process via Dolby Vision. First, the picture is much more filmic on the
UHD. Grain is vastly superior, losing that spiky, snowy look and finding a much more subtle and satisfying presentation where density is even and
light but still evident and flattering. The picture is very sharp, certainly not as sharp as other images but capturing a very good depth and definition
to the film-based elements that reveal much finer and crisper skin, clothing, and location detail beyond what the Blu-ray can achieve. The Dolby
Vision color grading stabilizes black levels, resulting in much more even accuracy without the massive fluctuations between paleness and crush as
seen on the Blu-ray. Certainly, they remain imperfect here, but they do exist much closer to perfection. Whites are brighter and crisper and skin
tones
look more convincingly real. Natural greens are a joy, bright clothing excites, and various supports, like flares and balloons and bright signage in the
final act, offer wonderful pop that is not found on the paltrier Blu-ray. There are no obvious signs of print wear here, and the encode appears to be in
top shape. This is a much better image than the Blu-ray.
The Blu-ray opens with the following on-screen text: "the best available sound and picture elements were assembled for this widescreen King
Kong extended broadcast TV cut. This presentation's intent is to preserve the theatrical 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio, however this revealed
sequences where audio anomalies are present (loose sync and missing dialogue) that were cropped out of the original 1.33:1 TV broadcast and
cannot
be remedied. We hope you enjoy this Paramount classic film."
The Blu-ray's DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack is of limited means and meager output quality, resulting in a listenable, but certainly
imperfect, presentation. The essentials are in decent enough working order, with dialogue imaged well enough to the center and playing with suitable
clarity. Music, likewise, enjoys adequate front side stretch and a baseline clarity that satisfies basic needs, but there is a clear lack of greater range
and
precision details. Additionally, the track certainly struggles with the finer points, including some lip sync issues. Look around the 27:40 and 33:07
marks, and numerous other spots throughout, for examples.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack accompanying the UHD presentation is much the superior next to the 2.0 track on the Blu-ray. It's
fuller, obviously, with more channels at work, but it is also crisper, more efficient, more satisfying for clarity and immersion alike. Action scenes are
taken to another level of excellence with broader engagement and more precise placement, offering greater spatial opportunities and therefore
greater
net impact as the listener feels more involved in the action. This is definitely not a surround extravaganza or a tight track with laser accuracy, but the
greater sense of fulfillment and surround immersion leads to greater satisfaction. Musical clarity is improved as well, and the track makes use of the
surround elements to increase musical engagement. Dialogue is clear and centered for the duration.
Only the Blu-ray contains the film's Theatrical Trailer (480i, 2:33). That's it. There's nothing else on the Blu-ray or the UHD. The old Studio
Canal disc included a trailer in addition to a making-of and deleted scenes.
The SteelBook is glossy and depicts Dwan in Kong's open palm, hovering high above the city, a high up view leading to a horizon mid SteelBook with
a
blue, cloudy sky above. The film's title appears in orange letters, center. Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, and Jessica Lange's names are in white block
letters above the title. The rear panel depicts Kong bursting through a high tribal community wall with humans fleeing at the bottom and a bold blue
sky
behind him. The spine features the cloudy blue sky with the film's title, again in orange, center. A white Paramount logo appears at the top.
Inside, the digital copy code is tucked underneath the left-hand-side tabs. The two discs, one UHD and one Blu-ray, are situated on the right in
staggered-stacked formation. The inner print is a two-panel spread that features Kong and the giant snake in combat. The SteelBook also ships with a
transparent plastic slipcover with additional artwork. A J-card with all the usual back matter is also provided.
I watched the longer cut first and the theatrical cut second and found the latter to be the much better experience. The longer cut mostly adds fluff and needlessly lengthens scenes and sequences, and the net increase in content is not worth the hour add. The theatrical cut, which is quite lengthy in its own right, is not just leaner but a more capable storyteller, hitting the highlights without missing anything that the longer cut offers. Kudos to Paramount for offering both! The Blu-ray is decent enough, but the UHD really shines, especially for its video, which is imperfect and not the best looking on the market but certainly very satisfying as it is. The 5.1 track in accompaniment is a winner, too. It's a shame that the supplements are limited to a trailer, but the SteelBook packaging is very nice. Recommended.
Warner Archive Collection
1933
1957
1959
1962
Includes "Drácula"
1931
1954
Slipcover in Original Pressing
1977
1953
Dracula / Warner Archive Collection
1958
Screamers / L'isola degli uomini pesce / Something Waits in the Dark
1979
Warner Archive Collection
1957
1964
Beast of the Dead
1971
Grave Desires / Tomb of the Living Dead
1968
1982
Collector's Edition
2013
1976
Collector's Edition
2023
2004
Slipcover In Original Pressing
1974