Labyrinth 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Labyrinth 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Sony has once again released 'Labyrinth' to the UHD format. The studio first released the film to UHD in 2016 in standard packaging alongside a newly remastered Blu-ray in DigiBook packaging. Those releases built upon the original 2009 Blu-ray. This new release combines UHD and DigiBook, the former now with Dolby Vision color grading and two new supplements: a slew of deleted scenes and vintage audition footage featuring several high profile actresses. The UHD includes the same Dolby Atmos soundtrack from the original UHD while also adding new English 5.1 and 2.0 lossless options.

Labyrinth 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sony's 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD presentation of Labyrinth may not constitute a significant upgrade over the previous release, but color dynamics and accuracy are well handled here, as is the filmic texturing and the resultant razor clarity. To be sure there are moments of soft focus and fuzzy object rendering, but the overall sharpness and clarity, even in low light, are beyond dazzling. As with the previous UHD, the picture is nothing short of gorgeous. Grain management is exceptional, yielding a first-class sense of authentic filmic delights. Whether skin and clothes or the countless puppets seen throughout the film -- the latter in particular bringing out every textural delight -- the picture is gloriously firm and authentic. Even "characters" integrated into walls -- watch a sequence beginning around the 30-minute mark as Sarah is pulled down and, a few minutes later, stone walls speak -- are a visual delight. Above ground, hedges and stone work leap off the screen, revealing commanding, pinpoint sharpness in every shot. Despite a handful of softer focus elements and the odd scratch and speckle -- these are particularly and clearly in evidence within the 76-miunte mark -- the picture maintains a steady clarity that that excels start to finish. It's a glorious experience.

The Dolby Vision color grading is terrific. Color depth and saturation are exceptional. The range between perfect blacks and brilliant whites offer an expressive color array that is perfectly revealing throughout the film. Skin tones can push slightly warm -- look at Sarah around the 40:25 mark -- but the level of tonal excellence cannot be understated for vibrant greens, bright blue skies, and even well defined earthy supports on stones and rocks. This movie is not abundantly colorful -- beiges and browns are amongst the most dominantly present hues -- but the accuracy with which even these otherwise "bland" or "boring" tones present on screen cannot be understated. It is perhaps black levels where the Dolby Vision grading truly excels. Low light interiors are perfectly reproduced. Black depth and purity cannot be questioned, and there is no crush, just pure black. Labyrinth looked excellent before in 4K, and it also looks excellent now. Can't go wrong with either one.

Labyrinth 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sony re-releases Labyrinth to the UHD format with the existing Dolby Atmos soundtrack as the flagship audio presentation (please click here for a full review). Also included, beyond the slew of alternate language presentations, are English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 lossless soundtracks. The 5.1 track obviously lacks the sense of spacious precision the Atmos track delivers, but it is never wanting for greatly improved core dynamics and detail within the specific channel parameters. Clarity and detail are excellent, whether musical, spoken word, or environmental fill. The surrounds and subwoofer channels work to bring a greater sense of life and depth to the proceedings, creating a sense of well balanced space and accuracy, albeit, again, without the fuller feel afforded to the material in the Atmos configuration. Unfortunately I cannot comment on the 2.0 track; while my player reports two-channel playback with this track selected, a 5.1 output continues to play through my receiver with all channels audibly engaged. This was true of playback both with my reference Panasonic UB9000 player and an Xbox Series X console.

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

This DigiBook is outwardly designed to resemble one of the key props from the movie (see the screenshot here). The cover has a soft feel to it. It's brown with the film's title top center in gold; a pattern of hearts and flowers outlines the edges. The rear and spine are blank. Inside are full color glossy pages which include a one-page note from Karren Falk as well as numerus pages consisting of script excerpts, storyboards, and still images. The two discs are situated in the rear in staggered-stacked formation.

This new UHD edition of Labyrinth includes two new extras on the UHD disc. These are listed below. Also included is a Blu-ray copy, identical to the 2016 DigiBook issue, which incudes the bulk of the supplemental content. Those extras are listed below and full reviews can be found here (by extension reviews of content from the 2009 disc can be found here).

UHD:

• NEW! Deleted & Alternate Scenes (1080p, 26:04 total runtime): Included are Goblins in the Bedroom, Alternate Goblin King Intro, Sarah Explores the Labyrinth, Longer Magic Dance Scene, Chicken Joke, Two Door Riddle, Helping Hands, In the Oubliette, Hoggle Cheats, Goblins Imitate a Serpent, Sir Didymus Duels Ludo, Jareth & Toby, You Have No Power Over Me, and I Need You. With optional Brian Henson commentary.
• NEW! Lost Auditions (1080p, 55:09 total runtime): Included are Trini Alvarado, Maddie Corman, Tracey Gold, Molly Ringwald, Jill Schoelen, Danielle von Zerneck, and Claudia Wells.

• Audio Commentary with Brian Froud
• Reordering Time: Looking Back at Labyrinth
• The Henson Legacy
• Remembering The Goblin King
• Anniversary Q&A
• "Inside the Labyrinth" Making of Documentary
• Journey Through the Labyrinth: "Kingdom of Characters"
• Journey Through the Labyrinth: "The Quest for the Goblin City"
• The Storytellers - Picture in Picture
• Theatrical Trailers

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

This is certainly not a "must own" upgrade for Labyrinth. There's nothing wrong with the wonderful 2016 UHD/HDR issue and there's nothing wrong with this wonderful UHD/Dolby Vision presentation. This one will offer more finely tuned color output -- graded case-by-case, not given a single full movie pass -- but this is not a transformative experience. Completists will enjoy the new DigiBook presentation but this release is probably best recommended to those who have yet to take the plunge and buy the film on UHD.