Oblivion 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Oblivion 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Note: The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.

Universal previously released 'Oblivion' to 1080p Blu-ray in August 2013. This UHD release marks Universal's debut into the 4K disc era, alongside 'Lucy' and 'Lone Survivor.'.

Oblivion 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Oblivion (2K digital intermediate, according to the film's IMDB tech page) looks great in 4K, though the film, as it is, isn't an obvious showcase for the format's capabilities. Universal's 2160p, HDR-enabled presentation holds true to the movie's style, which yields a very clean image that lacks much of a diverse color palette, except in spurts. The film favors a largely toned down off-white, gray, and light blue color scheme. Attire, structures, furnishings, aircraft, and drones all lack much in the way of aggressive coloring, giving the movie a rather uniquely barren look. Earth is often scorched and gray. Some green vegetation, orange fireballs, and small accents liven up the presentation. Each is suitably punchy, that fire in particular. The HDR enhancement certainly doesn't drastically alter the movie's color scheme. It's a slight enhancement of it, if anything, offering a bit more fullness and vitality to the limited material. Detail is very impressive. Facial textures are nicely complex. Attire shows plenty of gritty wear: caked-on dirt, primarily, but basic uniform textures underneath are also excellent. The barren terrain and clean, smooth lines don't offer much seriously tactile detailing, but the UHD brings out the very best of the movie's often straightforward environment. Black levels hold very accurate and flesh tones appear true to the movie's style. This isn't as dramatic and eye-popping a 4K presentation as Lucy, but it's a nice UHD image that boosts over the 1080p Blu-ray quite easily.

Oblivion 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Oblivion's Dolby Atmos soundtrack is highly impressive and features several fantastic, reference-worthy Atmos moments. This review is based on a setup with seven traditional front, center, and surround speakers (plus subwoofer) and four "height" channels. The Atmos effects begin almost immediately. Jack calls in on a comms check which is heard from Victoria's perspective; the sound literally seems to emanate from directly above the listening audience, the voice saturating the top end of the stage. Such effects are heard more than once, and they're impressive each time, presenting realistically and balanced, with no sense of forced or gimmicky sensations. Other Atmos effects are splendid. Rippling cables can be heard reverberating like guitar strings overhead around the 17:45 mark. The sound pulses through the top of the stage as if the audience were seated below in the environment where Jack finds himself. Drones and ships zoom from side to side and front to back, often with a noticeable, but more finely integrated, overhead effect. General sonic details are impressive. Gunfire is punchy and zippy. Explosions pack a healthy wallop. Music saturates the stage with seamless spread and depth around. Low end accompaniment is always deep but balanced. Dialogue is clear and well prioritized with a natural front-center positioning. This is a marvelous Dolby Atmos track with several demo-worthy moments.

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

Universal's UHD Blu-ray release of Oblivion contains one supplement on the 4K disc: an audio commentary track with Actor Tom Cruise and Director/Story Writer Joseph Kosinski. The included 1080p disc carries over the bonus material from the previous release. Please click through the link at the top of this review for more information. A voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy code is included with purchase.

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

Oblivion looks quite nice with the UHD treatment. Even with the source's limitations -- precious few vibrant colors and oftentimes more subtle and less aggressive texturing -- it's still quite the looker. The Atmos soundtrack is superb, with several naturally occurring and very realistic top layer effects. Recommended.