Léon: The Professional Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.5

Léon: The Professional Blu-ray Movie Review

Sony has re-released 'Leon: The Professional' to Blu-ray with a 'Mastered in 4K' (presented in 1080p) transfer that offers an improvement over the original 2009 release and, like that older release, also offers both the film's theatrical cut (1:49:27 runtime) and extended version (2:12:54 runtime). Audio has seen a boost to Dolby Atmos. No new supplements of substance have been included. Note that the film is also available in a pricier 'Supreme Cinema Series' release; Sony was unable to provide a review copy of that version, which comes with fancier digibook-style packaging.

Léon: The Professional Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Léon: The Professional makes its "Mastered in 4K" debut, presented at 1080p, with an image that's an upgrade over the previous release. The color palette appears a bit fuller and healthier. Contrast finds a more natural position, yielding colors that still favor the film's warm veneer while stabilizing support colors, largely in the way of more neutral shades of gray and beige. Colors leap off the screen with satisfying precision, particularly a jolt of mix-and-match hues seen lining a store shelf and, again, in the store's window. Shadow details are excellent, made possible by rich, deep blacks. The transfer enjoys a high quality filmic veneer that's organically and lightly grainy. Grain is consistent, never spiking or disappearing. Details are wonderfully complex and naturally so. Facial textures reveal natural complexities with striking ease. Stable close-up shots reveal very fine pores, for example, producing a level of intimate detailing that wasn't missing on the previous release but that's a little more refined here. Likewise, clothing textures are terrific, and even close-ups of firearms reveal light wear on weapon bluing. Broader details are equally impressive, particularly urban brick and concrete textures but also, and more consistently obvious throughout the film, many of the details in Leon's apartment, like grubby and torn wallpaper, stains on cabinets, and other lived-in details. There are no obvious distractions in the way of print damage or compression problems. This is a terrific image from Sony and an upgrade that's more refined than it is striking.

Note that screenshots 1-20 have been selected to approximately match those found in the original review. Additional screenshots have been added for perusal.

Léon: The Professional Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Léon: The Professional has also received an audio boost for this release, foregoing the previous release's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack in favor of a Dolby Atmos (core Dolby TrueHD 7.1) presentation. This review pertains only to the TrueHD track. The presentation is stellar. Every speaker is regularly involved, with only basic dialogue scenes leaving most of the stage beyond the center hushed. Music is precise and robust, a combination that yields a spectacular, detailed presentation that effortlessly immerses the listening area. The entire range sings with fine-tuned detail, including a well balanced low end that juggles power and stability with ease. The track presents plenty of great little ambient effects, largely in the way of exterior city din but also more refined interior details, too, particularly within Mathilda's apartment before it's shot to pieces. Speaking of, the film's action scenes are frighteningly exquisite. Gunfire rips through the stage with striking authority and detail, emanating from each and every speaker. Ricochets are so well defined and zip with such force that audience might duck without realizing. Shattering glass and other post-impact destruction proves exceptionally detailed and immersive, making use of every speaker for consistent immersion. Dialogue delivery is smooth and center placed, presenting with effortless articulation and trouble-free prioritization.

Léon: The Professional Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Léon: The Professional contains the same bonuses -- 10 Year Retrospective, Jean Reno: The Road to 'Leon', Natalie Portman: Starting Young, and Fact Track -- as the previous Blu-ray release. This release ditches the old Sony trailer collage and BD-Live functionality but does add the Leon theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:25) and a voucher for a UV digital copy.

Léon: The Professional Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Léon: The Professional has earned a nice little bump in technical presentation courtesy of Sony's "Mastered in 4K" Blu-ray release. Unlike its release day companion The Fifth Element, no new supplements have been included. And as noted in that review, there's more than a decent chance that this will come to UHD sooner rather than later, making this not so much a superfluous release in the present but certainly one that might become dated, and fast, if there is indeed a quick turnaround for the full 4K release.