Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Pineapple Express 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Get high on a gorgeous cinematic transfer.

The future is here! Sony has released its first wave of UHD Blu-ray (4K/3840x2160p resolution) discs. We've posted a companion article detailing the UHD upgrade experience here. Watch for more reviews for these Sony UHD Blu-rays in the coming days and, of course, Blu-ray.com will be covering every UHD release in the future.

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

The Express.

Pineapple Express 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note that the included 1080p Blu-ray disc, and the one that is the source for the comparisons described below, is the original Blu-ray that contains all of the special features, not the featureless Mastered in 4K disc.

Pineapple Express was filmed on 35mm and, according to IMDB, it was finished at 2K. However, considering that the movie earned a "Mastered in 4K" release, the UHD is presumably sourced from that 4K master.

"Stunning." Without having any previous experience with the movie, having neither seen it nor reviewed either of its previous Blu-ray releases, the immediate reaction to Sony's 2160p UHD/HDR Blu-ray is one of awe, awe at the image's robustness, stability, and even and endlessly attractive filmic veneer. Grain is constant and evenly distributed, gorgeously textured and a key in bringing a true cinematic flavor and experience to the home. Detailing underneath is nothing short of a revelation. Rogen's brown sports coat is particularly impressive, reveling fine stitch work, seams, and tiny flaws in every scene. His car interior, and Franco's character's home, are treasure troves of little details. Whether grime on the seatbelt, wear on the dashboard and steering wheel, or the definition with which tiny little trinkets in the home are revealed even as background details is amazing. Likewise, facial textures are precise and highly revealing even in medium shots. Very fine pores, facial hairs, and other skin textures are remarkably lifelike.

Colors are likewise healthy and rich. The movie favors a predominance of brows and tans and other, similar earthy shades, particularly on clothes but also in key environments like Saul's home. Even so, the transfer's ability to so effortlessly manage them, to reveal exacting subtleties and variations in shade, and to offer a fullness and richness in the HDR color space is magnificent. Of course, there's more variety in the movie. Lush natural greens pop, red blood is appropriately authentic, and various support shades all impress with a full, refined appearance. Skin tones hold healthy and true, if not pushing to a very slight warmth that compliments that predominance of brown. Black levels are deep and accurate, never crushing details or appearing unnaturally pale.

When comparing the UHD with the included 1080p Blu-ray (not the "Mastered in 4K" version) the difference is substantial in favor of the UHD. Colors are much deeper and more refined, gaining depth and accuracy without betraying what appears to be the proper shading. Grain is more noticeable but very elegant. Delineation is noticeably increased, particularly when considering near-frame objects like clothing lines and facial definition. Compare a towel seen around the 50:00 mark, a back and forth dialogue scene. It's draped over a chair in which Gary Cole's Ted Jones is sitting. The Blu-ray fails to offer more than a fairly smeary (comparatively speaking), flat towel. On the UHD, detail is greatly improved, revealing its surface texture with much greater sharpness and very fine attention to fabric detail. The entire scene, really, is a revelation. Even the details the 1080p image handles best, such as facial and hair textures, clothes (particularly Carol's police uniform), and a police badge, the increase in resolution the UHD provides carries all of them to a new level. The green leaves behind Cole are also a good example of the difference in color. They're a deeper, darker shade of green on the UHD transfer, far less robust than the 1080p leaves but at the same time much more organically shaded (and textured) and more believably accurate. Unfortunately, the "Mastered in 4K" Blu-ray release was not available for further comparison, but it should offer an image closer to the UHD in terms of refinement, though the raw resolution and HDR colors should provide the UHD with a boost over the down-rezed 1080p counterpart.

From a purely cinematic perspective, for truly appreciating the concept of "home theater" and experiencing the texture of film replicated on disc, there's perhaps no better Blu-ray -- 1080p or UHD -- currently on the market to fill that duty.

Pineapple Express 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Pineapple Express makes its UHD debut with a brand-new Dolby Atmos soundtrack, replacing both the standard release's and the "Mastered in 4K" release's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtracks. This review is based on a 7.1.4 setup, which is the "traditional" seven-channel plus subwoofer configuration with the addition of four "object" or "overhead" speakers to the mix. Unlike some of the other recently released Sony UHD titles, like The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and The Smurfs 2, there's not a lot of added, obvious benefit from the Atmos presentation, whether considering more subtle immersion or more obvious sound effects. The movie's sound design frequently favors a basic front-end dominant stage that consists primarily of dialogue and minor sound effects, both of which play with unmistakable clarity and attention to detail. The back speakers open up to capture minor ambient details, such as a crowded school hallway or outdoor locations teeming with insects. Musical delivery is clear and detailed, aggressively but evenly spaced, and never wanting for more pronounced detail or depth. The movie's action-packed finale is also a little more uneven. One gunshot presents with good oomph, while a followup shot a few seconds later lacks that same punch. A greater spray of gunfire opens up the stage with a clear surround support and exciting discrete placement a few moments later. A couple of explosions pack a good wallop and represent the single most obvious "height" immersion in the track. There's a fuller sense of push to the explosions and a more authentic whoosh of fire, but the effect isn't exactly a revelation or perfect demonstration of Atmos' benefits. The track overall is very good, but its inability to really make noticeable, semi-regular use of the height channels is a disappointment.

Pineapple Express 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

While Pineapple Express contains no new "supplements" on the UHD disc (the commentary track is available on the UHD disc), it does offer a slick new menu system (and presumably the early standard for Sony UHD releases) in which different pages are selected by scrolling up and down and side-to-side. Beyond the usual scene selection and language tabs, there's also an option to watch highlight segments entitled Impaired Judgment (11:05), Hilarious Moments (13:35), Dale (11:51), and Saul (8:57), all of which offer both 2160p and Dolby Atmos goodness. There's also a Cast & Crew tab that appears to only offer a still image accompanied by character and actor name. All of the previous edition's supplements carry over on the included 1080p Blu-ray disc (click here for more information). A UV digital copy code is also included with purchase.

Pineapple Express 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Pineapple Express is a fun and energetic Action/Comedy hybrid that hits its stride early and never relinquishes. Its actors are enthusiastic, its direction is steady, its editing precise, and its story just interesting enough to keep things going forward to allow the likes of Rogen and Franco to dominate the scenery. Sony's UHD release is terrific, particularly from a picture quality perspective. There may not be a more fundamentally gorgeous film-sourced transfer available. The Atmos sound is a little disappointing, but the other speakers carry the load nicely enough. Extras are thorough but only appear on the 1080p disc. Along with The Smurfs 2, this is one of the clear-cut must-own releases from UHD's infancy, if only as reference material.