Spectre 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Spectre 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

MGM has released Director Sam Mendes' 2015 James Bond franchise film 'Spectre,' 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 7.1 lossless soundtrack MGM used for the 2016 release, 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.

Spectre 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

Spectre offers easily the most dramatic UHD upgrade over any of the four Daniel Craig Bond films. The picture is gorgeous, a perfectly filmic, visually robust viewing experience that features an organic, complimentary, consistent, and critical grain structure. It's beautifully rendered and supportive from beginning to end. The picture enjoys a firm boost in texture clarity and fine detail over the Blu-ray. The increase is obvious everywhere but it is perhaps nowhere as noticeable as on character close-ups, where pores are dramatically more detailed, hairs sharper, and other skin details appreciably more clear. The various environments -- from the bright and sunny expansive open to intimately low light and very warm interiors -- enjoy superbly robust accuracy and total clarity.

The Dolby Vision color grading is also of great benefit for the film. While there's no wholesale overhaul to the palette, there is a great feel for tonal solidification and enhanced accuracy. While there's a slight green tint to the image, there's no mistaking the bolder, deeper, truer tones, particularly whites which find positive foundational brilliance and integrity, whether crisp and bright overlay titles or fallen snow in Austria (both can be seen simultaneously at the 52:57 mark). The Dolby Vision color further enhances blacks, adding depth and integrity without veering into crush, even in the darkest and most challenging shots. In general, Dolby Vision strengthens the palette, adding a fairly substantial feel for overall tonal accuracy, fullness, and clarity throughout the expanded spectrum. Combined with the fairly substantial increase in overall image clarity and sharpness, this one's fairly special and in every way a very good and thorough upgrade from the Blu-ray, the best of the four Craig Bond films.

Spectre 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. Skyfall is one of those exceptions. For this UHD, MGM has simply repurposed the legendary DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack from the previously issued Blu-ray. Some fans might bemoan the omission, but in truth there's absolutely nothing wrong with the 7.1 presentation. It's every bit as dynamic, large, and fun as a contemporary Bond soundtrack should be, and even lacking the added 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. In fact, even at 7.1 only, this is one of the fullest, more robust, most dominantly immersive, clear, and powerful soundtracks ever released to market. Please click here for a full review from the 2016 Blu-ray.

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

Spectre's UHD disc contains no supplements. The bundled Blu-ray, which is identical to the 2016 issue, brings over all of the legacy Blu-ray extras. As Michael noted in his Blu-ray review, it's a fairly scant assortment. See below for a list of what's included and please click here for a brief breakdown thereof.

• Spectre: Bond's Biggest Opening Sequence
• Video Blogs
  
  
  • Director - Sam Mendes
  • Supercars
  • Introducing Léa Seydoux and Monica Belucci
  • Action
  • Music
  • Guinness World Record
• Gallery
• Theatrical Trailers
  
  
  • Teaser Trailer
  • Theatrical Trailer #1
  • Theatrical Trailer #2

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

For its A/V presentation, Spectre is the best of the four Craig Bond films on UHD (best overall movie goes to Casino Royale). The picture quality borders on stunning and the 7.1 lossless soundtrack is of legendary status. Highly recommended.