Quantum of Solace 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Quantum of Solace 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 31, 2019

MGM has released Director Marc Forster's 2008 James Bond franchise film 'Quantum of Solace,' starring Daniel Craig as the title character, to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/Dolby Vision video. The disc carries over the same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack MGM used for the 2009 and the 2015 Blu-ray releases, which both include the same disc bundled in this set. All included supplements are ported over from that disc; there's nothing new and nothing appears on the UHD disc proper. Note that this disc is currently also available as part of a UHD boxed set with the other three Daniel Craig James Bond movies.

For a few thoughts on the film, please see the Blu-ray.com review of the original 2009 Blu-ray here; note that the film score simply carries over from that review.

Quantum of Solace 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

MGM's UHD release of Quantum of Solace offers minor improvements over the decade-old Blu-ray: some negligible, some a little more obvious, most falling firmly in between. The picture's grain structure is finer on the UHD, but it's not appreciably rich and organic, either. Whatever noise reduction has been applied has been applied carefully and with consideration to the image's natural filmic structure. On the whole the picture looks rather flat. The upscaled 4K image doesn't boast any significant increases in textural awareness or clarity compared to the old Blu-ray, though there's a sense of more finely defined and subtly sharper elements. It's simply not a drastic shift but rather a slight variation that solidifies the picture with minor bumps to skin tones, clothes, and the worldwide locales seen throughout the film. Those locales each reveal a healthy level of inherent sharpness, which sometimes falls by the wayside (background gray rocks and boulders in chapter 21). But it just can't escape the feel of flatness that's pervasive throughout. MGM's picture is nicely detailed, generally, but there are many moments that cry for a better image.

The Dolby Vision color palette likewise delivers modest tonal gains. There is a minor green tint in places but on the flip side whites are crisp, flesh tones appear healthier, and black levels are appreciably deeper. General colors enjoy greater depth and saturation but nothing that absolutely stands apart. The new color spectrum is not a revitalization of the palette but rather a mild enhancement of it. One of the most drastic improvements can be seen at the 52:31 mark, an exterior Bolivian airport shot. Not only does the rusty foreground sign find vastly improved textural awareness, the UHD's color grading brings greatly enhanced tonal brilliance to the blue "La Paz" text and renders the sun peeking over the building's corner less harsh, diffusing the light with better distribution and detail. Unfortunately these standout moments are few and far between. MGM's UHD simply doesn't move the needle much. It looks fine by-and-large, but fans shouldn't expect a radical transformation for either the textural qualities or the color spectrum.

Quantum of Solace 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

With some exceptions it's standard practice for studios to release films -- new and not-so-new -- to the UHD format with either a Dolby Atmos or DTS:X soundtrack. Quantum of Solace is one of those exceptions. For this UHD, MGM has simply repurposed the admittedly effective DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack from the previously issued Blu-ray. Some fans might bemoan the omission, but in truth there's absolutely nothing wrong with the 5.1 presentation. It's every bit as dynamic, large, and fun as a contemporary Bond soundtrack should be, and even lacking some of the added back and overhead channels there are no obvious gaps in coverage or areas where more speakers might have greatly benefited the track beyond adding some very minor nuance. Are there moments when listeners will say, "that could have benefitted from an overhead component!" Yes, absolutely. Does the track in any way shortchange the movie watching experience? Not at all. Though a decade old, the 5.1 track remains a bit of well engineered sonic delight. Please click here for a full review from the 2009 Blu-ray.

Quantum of Solace 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Quantum of Solace's UHD disc contains no supplemental content, but the bundled Blu-ray, which is identical to the 2009 issue (including the needlessly cumbersome menu), brings over all of the legacy Blu-ray extras. See below for a list of what's included and please click here for a brief breakdown thereof.

• Music Video: "Another Way to Die."
• Bond on Location
• Start of Shooting
• On Location
• Olga Kurylenko and the Boat Chase
• Director Marc Forster
• The Music
• Crew Files
• Theatrical Teaser Trailer #1
• Theatrical Trailer #2

Quantum of Solace 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Quantum of Solace's UHD video presentation shows improvement over the aged Blu-ray, but it also shows a number of shortcomings where the image screams for more of an overhaul. It's a flat, uninspired UHD. It's hardly a disaster, but it's hardly a delight. It's easily the worst looking of the four Craig Bond films.