Shrek 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Shrek 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Universal has released the 2001 digitally animated classic 'Shrek' to the UHD format. At time of publication, this is the only one of the four main series 'Shrek' films to receive the UHD treatment. The new presentation includes 2160p/HDR video and DTS:X Master Audio. There are a number of extras included, most recycled from the old Paramount/DreamWorks four-film collection but a few that were not included in that flagship set. See below for reviews of new content.

Shrek 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

The first, and perhaps one of the most important, observation is that Shrek dates back two decades and isn't constructed of the most robust animation, at least by today's standards. It's a bit clunky as it is, very effective at a base level in support of the rich narrative and character output but clearly lacking the fine point visual nuance and sense of flow and photorealism that define so many digital films of more modern vintage. There's not massive room for improvement on the upswing from Blu-ray to UHD, though certainly some improvements are plainly in evidence. There's a mild-to-moderate uptick to overall image sharpness and detail definition. Clarity boosts allow for finer clothing, environmental, and character model crispness. There are no leaps-and-bounds improvements but viewers conducting a close comparison will certainly find an oftentimes agreeable increase in essential sharpness that squeezes out the absolute finest inherent to the source animation. This is particularly true in daytime and well-lit scenes; darker shots, scenes, and sequences tend to downplay the resolution gains a little bit. For the most part, however, most every element finds some level of tangible gain. Look at the Gingerbread Man around the 17-minute mark. The cookie textures are far more complex on the UHD, allowing for a more tactile, dense, less flat character model. Wood, brick, stone, trees, and other world details seen in good to full light appear more foundationally rich as well. Needless to say the most important essentials – Shrek's skin and clothes or Donkey's fur, for example – bear witness to the UHD's ability to more finely render the elements, too.

HDR lends a little more balance to the color spectrum, a shade more depth and nuance to the overall palette. White levels are more brilliant and pure while blacks find improved depth without reverting to crush. Natural greens are fuller and more alive, silver armor leaps off the screen with refined pop, and blue skies are impressively rich and vibrant. Every bold color, particularly under well-lit conditions, enjoys a fairly significant increase to boldness, depth, and vitality. A fine example comes around the 21:30 mark where deep blues and intense greens are in evidence. Shrek's green skin is a steady beneficiary of fine-tuned brilliance as well. Even some of the bleak and bland castle interiors, where dull grays and lower light abound, enjoy a healthy uptick in stability.

Light-to-moderate examples of aliasing carry over from the Blu-ray to be present here (look at suits of armor around the 5:30 mark for one of the more obvious examples). Aliasing appears in steady, sometimes unrelenting amounts but it is, fortunately, the only serious source or encode flub to be found. Shrek's age and inherent animation limitations hold it back a bit, but even so this is probably the absolute best-case scenario for the film's home presentation. Well done.

Shrek 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Shrek's UHD disc includes a DTS:X Master Audio soundtrack. It delivers a hearty, healthy, robust listen that begins with Smash Mouth's "All Star" playing with rich detail and full bodied spacing along the stage. Music remains similarly engaged throughout: seamlessly spacious and full-bodied, effortlessly immersive, and impressively deep at the low end. The same may be said of atmospheric effects, particularly within some of the more cavernous locations throughout Farquaad's castle where the feel for openness and depth as heavy doors close and other effects filter through are believably engaging and, here, aided by the extra spacing afforded to them by the top channels. The track offers no steady stream of top layer delights but the extra real estate is certainly a benefit as sounds are finely folded in to take subtle, but it seems now critical, advantage of the top speakers. Action is likewise deep and full figured for spatial awareness. Detail, too, is precise and the marriage of clarity and seamless positioning make every such moment a sonic delight. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and center positioned for the duration.

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

Shrek includes extras across two Blu-ray discs and the UHD disc. Below is a breakdown of what's included. Some of the extras repeat between UHD and Blu-ray (Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party actually appears on all three discs) and most of the supplements are holdovers from the previous Paramount/DreamWorks release. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.

Blu-ray Disc One (Feature Film):

• The Animators' Corner (1080p).
• Shrek's Interactive Journey: 1 (1080p).
• Spotlight on Donkey (1080i, 11:38).
• Secrets of Shrek (1080p, 3:52).
• Deleted Scenes (480i, 8:01).
• Audio Commentary: Directors Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson and Producer Aron Warner.
• Shrek, Rattle & Roll: Included are Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party (1080p, 2:53), Baha Men "Best Years of Our Lives" (480i, 3:08), Smash Mouth "I'm a Believer" (480i, 3:15), Shrek The Musical: "What's Up, Duloc?" (1080p, 3:57), and DreamWorks Animation Video Jukebox (1080p).

• Shrek's Short Films (1080p): Included are Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Party (2:51), Far Far Away Idol (9:00), and Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos (13:06). Note that a shorter version of Idol was previously available on the Shrek 2 Blu-ray from Paramount/DreamWorks. Diablos was not in the Paramount/DreamWorks set but was included on the Puss in Boots disc.
• Shrek's Halloween Favorites (1080p): Included are The Ghost of Lord Farquaad (12:34), Scared Shrekless (25:30), Thriller Night (6:08), and The Pig Who Cried Werewolf (6:49). Note that these were all previously available on Blu-ray via the DreamWorks Spooky Stories release.
• Shrek's Holiday Favorites (1080p): Included are Shrek the Halls (28:02), Donkey's Caroling Christmas-tacular (6:39), and Shrek's Yule Log (30:19). Note that the first two films were previously available on Blu-ray via the DreamWorks Holiday Classics release. Shrek's Yule Log is essentially a fireplace loop with the occasional character popping into view.
• The Adventures of Puss In Boots TV Episodes (1080p): This is the main draw for "new" supplemental content in this set. Included are five episodes: Hidden (23:04), Sphinx (23:04), Brothers (23:04), Dutchess (23:04), and Adventure (23:02).

• Shrek's Interactive Journey: 1 (1080p).
• Spotlight on Donkey (1080p, 11:37).
• Secrets of Shrek (1080p, 3:50):
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 8:01).
• Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party (1080p, 2:51).
• Baha Men "Best Years of Our Lives" (1080p, 3:08).
• Smash Mouth "I'm a Believer" (1080p, 3:15).
• Shrek The Musical: "What's Up, Duloc?" (1080p, 3:56).
• Audio Commentary: Directors Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson and Producer Aron Warner.

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

Shrek has never looked or sounded anywhere near this good for home consumption. While the source itself lacks the polish and finesse of newer digitally animated films the UHD certainly gets the most out of it, even if some of the inherent warts, like aliasing, remain. HDR is plus for the presentation, too. The new audio is excellent and there are plenty of extras on tap as well, including a handful of Puss in Boots TV episodes. Highly recommended.