Sense and Sensibility 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Sense and Sensibility 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Sony has released the 1995 Jane Austen film adaptation 'Sense and Sensibility' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio. A new retrospective has been included alongside returning extras. At time of writing, this disc is only available as part of the second volume in Sony's prestigious six-film 'Columbia Classics Collection' (Volume 1 released to rave reviews in June 2020). Other films in volume 2 include 'Oliver!,' 'Taxi Driver,' 'Anatomy of a Murder,' 'Stripes,' and 'The Social Network.' This film was previously released to Blu-ray by Twilight Time.

Sense and Sensibility 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from Sony's 1080p Blu-ray disc.

I cannot comment how Sony's new Blu-ray stacks up to Twilight Time's, but the included 1080p presentation is quite handsome: organically filmic, pleasantly sharp, and richly colored. It's no slouch and fans will find it a delightful alternative to the UHD should, for whatever reason, that disc be unplayable in a particular situation. However, the studio's 2160p/HDR UHD presentation is much the Blu-ray's superior. The picture is exponentially sharper, extraordinarily crisp and clear well beyond the Blu-ray, which has a soft -- pleasantly soft, admittedly, but still soft -- appearance. The UHD in every way brings out an incredible textural grace and clarity. It simply cannot be overstated how sharp and well defined it is, ranging from resplendent home interiors, complex period costumes, natural delights outside, and human faces and hairs. There is not a single object that escapes the UHD's massive textural reach. Clarity is absolutely off the charts and grain management is terrific. It can look a little spiky and noisy in a few places but, goodness, does this look beyond impressive. In most shots, scenes, and sequences, audiences would be hard-pressed to find a UHD that is more purely filmic than this.

Perhaps even more impressive is the HDR color output. Most any adjective simply cannot do these colors justice. Natural greenery is the unequivocal highlight. The level of punch and pop while holding to a very true feel of tonal intensity and brilliance is unmatched. These greens may very well be the finest ever seen on a UHD disc. Additional colors are resplendently revealing. Contrast is perfect and everything is naturally vivid and pure. Whites are spot-on, black levels are prefect, and skin tones don't look more realistic than they do here. The print is perfect and encode issues are nonexistent. This one is a stunner.

Sense and Sensibility 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sony brings Sense and Sensibility to the UHD format with a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The track offers some scattered discrete effects -- a dog barking back right in the 29-minute mark, for example -- as part of a larger general atmosphere that is pleasant to experience. Whether natural sounds of light vitality but full engagement or mild howling winds heard subtly in the background during the family's first night in the cottage, there's a healthy sense of place in evidence in practically every scene. Light winds and birds flutter through the area above the listener to subtle and satisfying effect, helping to create a wondrously gentle but very involved natural world in practically every outdoor scene. One of the exceptions is falling rain at the 42-minute mark; it's fairly front heavy where the effect would be better served with more surround balance (which seems to come and go) but the track does offer well-defined rolling thunder up top and around. Score is resplendently clear and engaging along the front with some quality rear channel usage as well to better immerse the listener into the movie's music. Dialogue is clear and center positioned for the duration. Like the video presentation, it's difficult to imagine this presentation being any better.

Note that the Blu-ray only includes DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0 lossless audio; no Atmos track is included.

Sense and Sensibility 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sense and Sensibility's UHD disc includes no supplemental content, but the bundled Blu-ray includes several bonuses. Only the 25th Anniversary Reunion is a new supplement. Everything else carries over from the Twilight Time disc. Note the absence of the isolated score track and Emma Thompson's Golden Globe Acceptance Speech extras from that disc. As it ships in the Columbia Classics Collection, a slipcover and digital copy code are included with purchase.

• NEW! 25th Anniversary Reunion: Back to Barton Cottage (1080p, 27:37): Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Greg Wise, Imelda Staunton, Imogen Stubbs, Myriam Francois, producer Lindsay Doran, and Director Ang Lee virtually gather to speak about the film two-and-a-half decades after the fact.
• Adapting Austen (1080i, 11:18).
• A Sense of Character (1080i, 8:14).
• Audio Commentary: Emma Thompson & Producer Lindsay Doran.
• Audio Commentary: Director Ang Lee and Co-Producer James Schamus.
• A Very Quiet Man (1080i, 12:03).
• Locating the World of Sense and Sensibility (1080i, 5:42).
• Elegance and Simplicity: The Wardrobe of Sense and Sensibility (1080i, 3:57).
• Deleted Scenes (1080i): Included are Mrs. Dashwood Comforts Elinor (1:08) and True Love's Kiss (1:35).
• Trailers (1080p): Included are Domestic Trailer (2:08) and International Trailer (1:57).

Sense and Sensibility 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Stunning" may not even begin to describe Sony's UHD release of Sense and Sensibility. This may be the absolute best looking transfer not just in this box, but across the full UHD experience to date. Between the perfect film look, the high resolution, and the bountiful colors, there's just no beating it. Add in a terrific Atmos soundtrack and a quality assortment of extra content, including a new group retrospective, and this is quite possibly the highlight and unsung hero in the second volume of Sony's mightily impressive six-film Columbia Classics Collection boxed set. It unsurprisingly earns my highest recommendation.