Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Disney has released 2016's 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio. A number of supplements are included on a dedicated Blu-ray disc.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

Rogue One's 2160p/HDR UHD hits the mark from the start. There is a sizable increase in color depth and density evident right off the bat, considering both the outer space blacks that dominate the screen in the opening seconds and the newly intensive blue sky over Lah'mu, which appears overcast and flat on the Blu-ray. There is added depth to natural greens around the Erso homestead and sharper textures on rocks, dirt, and structures. Look at the first close-up depicting Krennic confronting Galen. The white balance is spectacular, the clarity intimate and razor-sharp, and the definition of the accumulated raindrops on his garment absolutely puts the viewer right there in front of him. It's majestic. The HDR richness extends throughout the film, even as it's largely gray and bleak and earthy in its early and middle stretches. The film is the most visually restrained in the franchise, pulling the audience down into the nitty gritty, blood, sweat, and tears corners of the Rebellion. Certainly other Star Wars films capture the wear-and-tear around the ragtag Rebellion, particularly the original trilogy, but this one takes the audience to darker corners heretofore unseen.

Black level excellence extends to the Rebel base first seen in chapter seven, and HDR brings the teal-colored maps (or whatever they are) to life with a previously unseen intensity and balance. It's otherwise a visually bland scene but on UHD it's suddenly a rich, vibrant experience while maligning structural integrity. The scenes and clash on Jedha are beautiful, with Stormtrooper costumes boasting white depth and clarity well beyond Blu-ray while also capturing wear and scruff in close-up with tactile definition. The UHD handles everything within the movie's visual spectrum with fantastic faithfulness and explodes in the final act with beautiful natural greens and blue waters on Scarif, supported by intensely popping explosions on the surface and bold laser blasts above during the large-scale space battle, which is one of the most exciting scenes in any Star Wars film. Clarity maintains excellence for the duration, revealing intimate character details, costume lines, and numerous world accents with breathtaking clarity. The blockade runner interiors seen in the final few minutes dazzle with the same white balance goodness seen in the Revenge of the Sith UHD. Even the closing blue credits pop. There appear to be no encode hiccups or source-related hangups of note. The existing Blu-ray looks great, but this takes Rogue One to a whole different level.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Rogue One's Dolby Atmos soundtrack borders on perfection. As with other Disney titles, it lacks authority at reference, calibrated levels but is not entirely puny or fully flat there. Still, an upward volume adjustment helps. Discrete effects are found aplenty, particularly in the Rebel base and comms chatter inside the ship taking the heroes to Jedha in chapter eight. On the planet and within the dense city streets, listeners will enjoy a wide range of light but mood-critical ambience. The track finds plenty of stage spread and satisfying zip and zoom during battle scenes, whether on the ground or in the air. Laser blasts emanate from everywhere and move through the stage's every inch. Low end extension is fair but never quite seems to find that last gear. When the Death Star fires on Jedah, the crumbling depth and coming death offer wide and immersive output and solid, though not truly spectacular, bottom end engagement. It comes close, but it's not quite there. Same with the battle at the end, whether walker footfalls, explosions, or other combat sounds. It's wide-ranging but the last little bit of boom is just lacking. Discrete overhead components are few and far between. An alarm goes off as Stormtroopers exit the base in the 94 minute mark with clear top end engagement, but generally the Atmos channels are used to support, to create a fuller, more finely realized listening experience. Musical clarity is first rate and stage saturation comes effortlessly. Dialogue is perfect in all areas of concern.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Rogue One's UHD contains no supplemental content, but the set includes a Blu-ray disc dedicated to extras, in addition to a movie-only 1080p presentation. See below for a list of what's included. Please click here for full coverage; these extras are identical to those included with the 2017 Blu-ray release. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.

• A Rogue Idea
• Jyn: The Rebel
• Cassian: The Spy
• K-2SO: The Droid
• Baze & Chirrut: Guardians of the Whills
• Bodhi & Saw: The Pilot & The Revolutionary
• The Empire
• Visions of Hope: The Look of Rogue One
• The Princess & The Governor
• Epilogue: The Story Continues
• Rogue Connections

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Rogue One blends tight storytelling and great action with plenty of fan service, yielding one of the best Star Wars films of the eleven live action ones currently out there. The UHD is of reference quality, particularly its video presentation. The Atmos track is not far behind. No new extras have been included but there's a decent enough selection on a dedicated bonus disc. Rogue One's UHD release earns my highest recommendation.