Men in Black 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Men in Black 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Sony and Best Buy have collaborated on a store exclusive SteelBook release celebrating the 25th anniversary release of the classic Sci-Fi Comedy 'Men in Black.' The disc includes new Dolby Vision graded video, differentiating it from the previously issued wide release, which was only available as part of a trilogy boxed set boxed set (also available in collectible SteelBook packaging). Also included are two new extras on the UHD, totaling about 30 minutes of watch time. See the 'Special Features and Extras' section of the review below for more on the SteelBook's look and feel.

Men in Black 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

This release includes a new video presentation, headlined by Dolby Vision color grading (the previous release included HDR only; also note that Sony has re-released a 4K trilogy set day-and-date with this issue; I cannot state whether that set includes this new Dolby Vision disc or the old HDR release).

The new Dolby Vision gradings brings out the best in the film's blend of expressive and subdued colors. One of the best scenes to explore is chapter five when Will Smith's Agent J is testing with a handful of other recruits. The silvery-white egg-shaped furniture and similarly colored walls and accents contrast quite nicely against his red jacket. All of these colors are notably firmer and more finely organic here. The difference is not drastic compared to the HDR UHD, but the picture certainly appears to push towards the very peak of current technology for home consumption with this release, offering more naturally inclined depth and overall superior accuracy and pop. Flesh tones are slightly fuller and more naturally organic, whites a hair more brilliant, blacks a smidgen deeper. In terms of textures and clarity, the image appears to be a near wash; there's no obvious gains or losses in this image eident either watching through or making specific scene comparisons. This is a wonderful image, and even if the change is not dramatic, Sony has certainly squeezed out all it can from the film's color palette for maximum visual pop and impact.

Men in Black 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sony has simply repurposed the existing Dolby Atmos soundtrack for this release. For a full UHD Dolby Atmos audio review, please click here.

Men in Black 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This predominantly black SteelBook is very elegantly finished. It will not show serious handling fingerprints. The front panel features a character collage of "earthly" characters and objects, including Agents J and K, Dr. Weaver, Jack Jeebs, Zed, Edgar, and Frank the Pug. The galaxy, the bug van, and the MiB car also appear, as do a couple of MiB weapons. It's a nicely arranged collage. The rear panel features an identical layout but is instead populated by a number of aliens, including Gentle Rosenberg inside his human host. The spine is black with the film's title in silver, center. A Columbia Pictures logo appears at the bottom. Sony has moved the legalese to the bottom of the SteelBook rather than the bottom of the back panel.

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 nothing but a pleasing dark blue color.

There are extras on both the UHD and the Bu-ray discs. The supplements on the UHD disc are marked as such and reviewed. Below that is a listing of what's included on the Blu-ray disc; it's the same supplemental suite as found on the BD included with the previous UHD issue. For full supplement reviews, please click here.

UHD:

• NEW! Notes from the Director's Chair (1080p, 11:55): Sonnenfeld discusses three personal decades with the 25-year-old film. He reflects on his original vision for the film, the film's characteristics that make it unique, Smith's and Jones' chemistry and performances, anecdotes from the set, his insistence on Jones' lack of humor in his performance, re-editing the film weeks prior to release, how this film changes in light of Men in Black 3, and the film's ending.
• NEW! Designing Men in Black (1080p, 20:09): Sonnenfeld chats with Production Designer Bo Welch, who sits down to talk up inspirations and the film's various production specifics.

• Audio Commentary: Telestrator commentary with Director Barry Sonnenfeld and Tommy Lee Jones.
• Audio Commentary: Director Barry Sonnenfeld and Tommy Lee Jones.
• Intergalactic Pursuit: The MIB Multi-Player Trivia Game
• Ask Frank the Pug!
• Extended and Alternate Scenes
• Metamorphosis of Men in Black
• Original Featurette
• Visual Effects Scene Deconstruction
• Character Animation Studies
• Creatures: Concept to Completion
• Galleries
• Storyboard Comparisons
• Scene Editing Workshop
• Music Video: "Men in Black."
• Men in Black Trailers
• Previews

Men in Black 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is a solid new package. It includes over 30 minutes of new extras on the UHD disc, and the Dolby Vision color grading offers a superior color grading presentation, albeit more incrementally superior than dramatically superior. The SteelBook is attractive, too. It should be enough to entice MiB super fans and packaging collectors, but the average film-watcher should still be good to go with the original UHD release.