Lightyear 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Lightyear 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 4, 2022

Lightyear underperformed at the box office, and there has been much handwringing over the reason(s) why. Was it due to holdover fears of the Covid pandemic? Did frustrated audiences accustomed to seeing the latest Pixar films (Soul, Luca, Turning Red) on Disney+ reject the idea of returning to see the film projected on the big screen? Was it confusion about what, exactly, Lightyear was about? Where is Woody? Where is Tim Allen? Did audiences choose not to see the film based on the controversial same-sex kiss? Whatever the reason the film wasn't the box office blast off Disney and Pixar obviously hoped it would be, and while there are many avenues for blame, perhaps the most obvious is this: Lightyear is just a very mediocre movie, especially within the Pixar brand.

Space Rangers Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans) and Alisha Hawthorne (voiced by Uzo Aduba) find their mission interrupted when their vessel is diverted to the planet T'Kani Prime in order to investigate signs of life. They become stranded on world. As the crew settles in, a small settlement becomes a fairly large technological undertaking that includes plans for Buzz to test pilot a new hyperspace technology that, if successful, could be used to bring the colonists home. The test is a failure, but what was a brief four-minute mission for Buzz lasted four years on the planet. As Buzz continues to test pilot refined hyperspace crystals, he continues to experience the same effect: he ages naturally while others (to him) age at an accelerated rate. Soon, he finds himself decades into the future and battling an invading robot army alongside Alisha's granddaughter, Izzy (voiced by Keke Palmer).

In an effort to reach some connective tissue back to the original Toy Story, a note at film's start suggests that this is the movie that inspired Andy to want a Buzz Lightyear action figure for his birthday. Apparently, computer generated animation was really good back then in this alternate universe because the best thing about Lightyear is its aesthetic composition. The film is unquestionably cutting edge, visually. It's beautiful, even though there's a somewhat coarse and gruff look to it. If nothing else, viewers will sit in awe of the film's technical construction and marvel at just how far things have come since Buzz Lightyear first appeared on the screen now pushing 30 years ago.

The movie is otherwise a fairly straightforward and bland one. There are some good ideas in play, but time manipulation has long been a staple of the Sci-Fi world; Lost in Space comes to mind as a movie that followed a somewhat similar storyline (others age while the Robinsons remain about the same) and, of course, Star Trek has toyed with this concept on a few occasions. It works well enough here, but the film is also very narratively sterile and stale otherwise, pushing predictable buttons and failing to really spark the imagination with its narrative developments. Wholly serviceable, well voiced (even in Allen's absence), and even exciting in spots is just not enough to overcome the film's disappointingly flat story trajectory that stalls even when it should be traveling at, well, light speed.

Lightyear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

Lightyear's 2160p/HDR UHD presentation is certainly a solid step forward from the Blu-ray, which was itself magnificent in its own right. The HDR color grading makes for the most immediately evident area of improvement. Tones are deeper and more precisely tuned to every environment. There's a beautiful sense of accuracy at work here as colors blast from the screen with prominent punch and perfectly realized pronouncement. There are some places where the HDR's impact is felt more aggressively than others, but there are no fundamental color alterations here. Instead, the HDR grading simply brings about a more naturally inclined palette that deepens, brightens, or otherwise makes more realistic (within the realm of a fictional alien world) every color in the film, also extending to blacks and whites. The improvements to detail under the 2160p resolution parameters are a little less obvious, but there is certainly an improvement to general object sharpness and overall screen clarity. Viewers will enjoy refined clarity to dirt and wear and general texturing on the space suits, clarity of the alien terrain, and definition to basics like skin. Again, it's not so dramatic a difference as to call it a revelation, but the little odds-and-ends upticks certainly make an impact in the overall viewing experience. The UHD manages the encode quite nicely, too; it's efficient and flawless.

Lightyear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Unlike the companion Blu-ray, which includes a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack, this UHD release of Lightyear features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. It proves marginally better than the Blu-ray effort, at least trying to offer some low-end engagement in order to add depth and weight to the track's more sonically demanding moments. Things are still timid at reference volume, but the signature is not as flat under the Atmos parameters. The subwoofer may not pack a wallop, but it at least packs something. The net effect for the rest of the track is fine and not all that dissimilar from the DTS track. It's very engaging in terms of making use of every speaker; the overheads are more complimentary here than they are discretely engaged, but the added spatial definition is welcome. Musical definition and immersion satisfy. Dialogue is clear and center positioned for the duration.

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

This UHD release of Lightyear includes three featurettes, a few deleted scenes, and an audio commentary track on the bundled Blu-ray, which is identical to the wide release. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.

• Building the World of Lightyear (1080p, 14:29): Exploring the in-depth process of designing the alien landscapes in the film, including original vision and nitty-gritty construction details. It also looks at human city design, the technology seen in the film, Star Wars inspiration, spacecraft modeling, costume design, and more.
• The Zap Patrol (1080p, 9:08): Looking in detail at several of the film's peculiar support characters, including character design and background construction, voice work, role in the film, and more.
• Toyetic (1080p, 10:00): Exploring why the film lends itself well to toy merchandise, the use of LEGO toys to visualize concepts for the film, Director Angus MacLane's involvement in the toy line, and more.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 26:49 total runtime): Included are, following a deleted scenes Introduction, The Dump, Polly, Meet Izzy, Up in the Lair, Tilted Ship, and Fathership.
• Audio Commentary: Director Angus MacLane is joined by Director of Photography Jeremy Lasky and Writer Jason Headley explore the film in detail.

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

Lightyear should have had a lot going for it: a beloved fan-favorite character in his own movie, big budget cutting-edge CGI at its disposal, and opportunity for some cool Sci-Fi content. Unfortunately, the film just never gels; it's generic but not always to a fault. There's enough to enjoy here to warrant a watch, but the film is doubtful to leave a legacy like its predecessors. Disney's UHD delivers superb video, adequate Atmos audio, and a smattering of extras. Worth a look.