Looper 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Looper 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

A science-fiction masterpiece arrives on 4K UHD in a collectible steelbook.

A science-fiction masterpiece, Looper is an edge-of-your-seat thriller set in a futuristic world in which the Mafia sends “loopers” back through time for assassinations. When hit-man Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) learns that the mafia aims to “close the loop” and send future versions of the hit-men back in time to kill off their agents one-by-one, Old Joe (Bruce Willis) arrives at the scene to finish him off. Yet when Joe meets the beautiful and tough-as-nails Sara (Emily Blunt), a new element enters the equation: Sara's telekinetic son.

Looper features strong performances from the cast. Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers a knock-out performance in the leading role as hit-man Joe. Bruce Willis gives an impressive nod as Old Joe (and manages to imbue the film with a few more surprises). Emily Blunt stuns with one of her most entertaining roles and she commands herself as a total badass. In a smaller supporting part, Paul Dano also impresses as a fellow hit-man working alongside Joe.

The production impresses with many outstanding elements at play: the evocative production design by Ed Verreaux (Jurassic World, The Giver) imbues both an old-world style alongside a more futuristic design. Even some of the more basic sets which are showcased in the production (such as the diner Joe and Old Joe meet at) are impressively realized and give the filmmaking an outstanding sense of style. The costumes by Sharen Davis (The Help, Dreamgirls) are nuanced and fit each character to a tee.

Two sides of one coin.

The cinematography by Steve Yedlin (Knives Out, Brick) is one of the greatest elements of Looper. The shot-on-film aesthetic was outstanding to watch unfold and it gave the production an enticing style that is wholly unique. The filmmaking is visually rewarding and there is something majestic about how each scene within the film manages to unfold. From one frame to the next, audiences will be mesmerized.

The music composed by Nathan Johnson (Brick, The Brothers Bloom) gives the production an exciting and surrealist quality at the same time. The cousin of director Rian Johnson, Nathan Johnson's score is a perfect accompaniment to the filmmaking. An epic score that impresses in spades.

Written and directed by Rian Johnson (Knives Out, Brick, Star Wars: The Last Jedi), Looper is one of the auteur filmmakers best achievements. Johnson is in complete command of the filmmaking and brings every element of the production together in a vital and enticing way: with each sequence perfectly intertwined. With exceptional editing by collaborator Bob Ducsay (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Knives Out), Looper finds a perfect tonal balance. Johnson misses an opportunity for a richly evocative shot or an action-packed sequence. A science-fiction gem that no cinema enthusiast should go without seeing.

Looper 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on 4K UHD in 2160p resolution, Looper is presented in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.39:1 widescreen. The presentation on the 4K UHD is a strong improvement over previous Blu-ray editions of Looper. A upscaled (non-native) presentation, the encode is still surprisingly robust and there are a lot of great elements on display in the encode: the visual cues hit home.

Colors are well displayed and the encode never struggles with compression. At a high bit-rate of 81.65 mbps, Looper stuns in 4K and the presentation is consistently engaging. Though some of the scenes have some faint softness, the majority of the transfer is sharp and pleasing. A worthwhile upgrade.

Looper 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The lossless, high-resolution audio sounds remarkably crisp and clear throughout the presentation. Though the audio track was not "upgraded" to Dolby Atmos, the DTS-HD Master Audio track is remarkably potent and never feels underwhelming in the slightest. The surround channels are actively engaged during the presentation and the music score is well integrated in to the sound mix.

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

The collectors edition of Looper features collectible steelbook packaging (containing both the Blu-ray release and 4K UHD disc). The steelbook packaging features stunning art-work that easily bests the standard 4K edition. The front cover showcases a stirring image reflecting both Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Old Joe (Bruce Willis). The back art-work illustration is similarly compelling and gives some added symbolism to the film: showcasing "Old Joe" from within his younger self. The design impresses in spades. Though a simple matte finish, which could have been improved by a glossy or spot-gloss design, the steelbook is still a beautiful collectible for Looper fans.

On disc supplements are as follows: 

Looper: From the Beginning (HD, 7:51)

Scoring Looper (SD, 16:16)

Deleted Scenes (HD, 33:20) with optional Audio Commentary.

Animated Trailer (SD, 1:34)

The Science of Time Travel (HD, 8:30)

New Future, Old School (HD, 3:18)

The Two Joes (HD, 4:45)

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

Looper is one of the best and most original of all science-fiction films. Writer-director Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Knives Out) is a gifted filmmaker with a unique knack for telling stories. Every shot in the film has some importance to the narrative: a breathtaking experience. A masterpiece that is full of wonder at every turn of the story, there is much to appreciate. The 4K UHD release features a solid upgrade with a 2160p presentation. The collectible steelbook packaging is a nice bonus and makes the edition even more worthwhile. Fans won't be able to resist. Highly recommended.