Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Ratatouille 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Disney has released the 2007 Pixar film 'Ratatouille' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video and a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. No new extras are included but the bundled Blu-ray, which is identical to that which released in 2007, brings over a fairly prodigious assortment of extra goodies.

Ratatouille 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

Ratatoille serves up a tasty 2160p/HDR UHD presentation. This UHD is, in total, a modest improvement over the long existing Blu-ray at first glance, but upon closer inspection the feel of smaller updates turns into one of more necessity. The presentation is fine, well defined, sharp, and nicely detailed. The 2160p resolution does reveal more command of various textures. Look at a piece of cake at the 2:22 mark. Compared with the Blu-ray there's a little more crispness and sharpness to the fluffy middle layer and more deep, detailed information on the frosting's textures and the lines running through it. Remy's fur and Linguini's hair (as well as his freckles) are beneficiaries of the resolution's ability to add crispness and clarity, both enjoying more stout, believable sharpness and visible texturing. Pots and pans, bricks and tiles, and various food ingredients in varying states of preparation are some of the regular highlights in the kitchen where much of the movie's action takes place. Are these vital improvements? Yes, in comparison for sure. While they are not substantial, there's no mistaking the subtle yet critical adds to sharpness, alleviating the comparative look of softness on the Blu-ray.

The HDR color spectrum makes some tangible improvements as well. In the opening minutes, a warm collection of sunset-influenced colors are rendered a little deeper and bolder. Remy's blue fur and Linguini's red hair enjoy greater depth and punch, more stable, more refined hues. Much of the movie is very warm, and so many of its colors reflect that -- bronze pots and pans, dark wood trim around the kitchen -- and the picture does have a look of added "darkness" about it but viewers will quickly note the more agreeably deep and nuanced colors, allowing for added visual subtlety and tonal nuance unavailable on the Blu-ray, such as the various colors making up individual strands of Remy's aforementioned fur. Eagle-eyed viewers might spot a hint of aliasing here and there but, overall, this is a very good UHD presentation that actually does a fair bit to improve upon the longstanding Blu-ray image, even considering the movie's somewhat challenging tones and slightly dated digital animation construction elements.

Ratatouille 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Ratatouille's Dolby Atmos soundtrack cooks up a sonic storm on UHD, literally when one listens to an early movie scene in which storm clouds rumble above the listener and filter through the stage in chapter three. Then, without warning, a lightning strike at the same time zaps the stage with a sudden, full, and immensely detailed burst of energy that made this reviewer jump. A shotgun blast a few minutes later also hits incredibly hard, presenting the sort of low end that really rattles the ribs. Granted, the track does need the now-standard Disney volume adjustment but once the knob has been cranked a few decibels there's no missing the track's power and splendor. Music takes full surround advantage. It's grounded in the front but does filter about the listening area to positive effect. Clarity is excellent through the locally flavored notes and spread along the front is equally well proportioned. Atmosphere around the kitchen is excellently immersive and dialogue is true in all critical facets: clarity, placement, and prioritization. This is a very enjoyable and highly complimentary track.

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

The UHD disc contains no extras, but the bundled Blu-ray, identical to Disney's 2007 issue, contains all of the legacy content, outlined below. For a few thoughts on what's included, please refer to the 2007 Blu-ray review. This release ships with a Movies Anywhere digital copy code as well as an embossed slipcover.

• Fine Food and Film
• Animated Short: Your Friend the Rat
• Animated Short: Lifted
• Cine-Explore: Animation Briefing
  
  
  • Mushroom and Cheese
  • Caught
  • Linguini Is Made
  • Reunited
  • Homecoming: Old Issues
  • Homecoming: Silence Game
  • Emile Returns: Motorcycle Ride
  • Emile Returns: Demoted Rat
  • Car Escape
  • Colette Moves On
  • Rats Cook
  • The Rearview
  • La Ratatouille
• Cine-Explore: Documentary Shorts
  
  
  • Care and Feeding of Your CG Rat
  • Building Paris
  • Tiny Rat Cameraman
  • A Woman in a Man's World
  • Behind the Swinging Doors
  • Something New
  • Where the Color Isn't
  • My Dad the Composer (a rat-u-ment-ary)
  • Good Enough to Eat
  • 2D Animation
• Cine-Explore: Deleted Scenes
  
  
  • Chez Gusteau
  • First Day
  • Meet Gusteau
• Deleted Shots R.I.P.: Several shots only identified by numerical code.
• Game: Gusteau's Gourmet Game
• The Will
• Remembering Dan Lee
• Easter Eggs: Accessed in the "full menu" to the left of the word "Features."
  
  
  • Ro-Dead Commercial
  • Yes! Shots
  • How to Pronounce Ratatouille
  • L'ecole Culinaire d'Pixar
  • Producer Plays Trombone

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

Ratatouille's UHD disc delivers impressive results both visually and aurally. The 2160p resolution sharpens and clarifies the image while the HDR colors add a new level of depth and punch. The Atmos soundtrack is very well rounded. Highly recommended.