Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		0.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Disney has released 1980's 'Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back' 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.

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The only thing chillier than Hoth might be this UHD, and the only thing more frozen than its surface might be the grain structure throughout the film. Disney has in some ways decimated the experience, dumbing it down but not entirely obliterating the picture. The resolution does allow the material to find another gear of clarity and textural resolve, at least considering what remains of its natural state. Filtering and processing run rampant. Look at the softness and mushiness on the white surfaces when Vader force chokes his first victim, the admiral who came out of light speed too close to the Hoth system, in chapter 12. Details are just wiped away and there's an instability, a muddiness, to the surfaces. It's the same story when R2 opens a door late in the film as he, Leia, Lando, and Chewie (with the dismantled 3PO on his back) escape to the Falcon. The scenes on Cloud City are the poorest of the bunch. The frozen grain is hopelessly and ceaselessly obvious against the bright surfaces and it's here where the most readily evident edge enhancement is also apparent; see the 1:27:55 mark for the most obvious example in the movie. But like with A New Hope, the image does boast the finest and most robust detailing ever for home consumption, even if it's a far cry from perfection. Even as there's more of a flatness and a smoothness here than with that original film, there are moments of borderline grand detail. Some close-ups during the Hoth battle inside speeders and walkers show near resplendent clarity and texturing, though just as many look awful. An intimate scene between Leia and Han on the Falcon midway through the film might reveal the best looking close-ups in the movie. There are a number of optical effects shots and these have never integrated seamlessly, but the UHD certainly does them no favors.

The HDR color palette does bring a nice bit of tonal upgrade to the film, though it's more of a reinforcement rather than a recreation. Viewers will note fantastic white elements on Hoth, even seen from orbit for the first time as the probe droid enters the atmosphere. The snow is crisp, more brilliant and pure than ever before. The same can be said of Echo Base's snowy dugout interiors and, of course, storm trooper uniforms. Lightsabers enjoy amplified intensity in the final act when Vader and Luke square off in some lower-light areas within the city's bowels. Yoda's green skin and the murky Dagobaah sequences present with firmer depth while more naturally illuminated Cloud City locations spring to life with newfound vibrance. Black levels are superior here, whether outer space, shadowy corners, or Vader's costume. Skin tones appear nicely accurate as well. Overall, though, the UHD is a disappointment but at the same time the best the film has ever looked for home viewing.

The included screenshots are sourced from the included 1080p Blu-ray disc, which has itself received a fairly drastic makeover compared to the 2011 20th Century Fox release. Also note that the "video" score for 1080p above is left blank; I have not yet conducted a full review of the new 1080p Blu-ray video quality.

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Empire's Dolby Atmos soundtrack fares a good bit better than its video counterpart. Once the volume has been upwardly adjusted, listeners will find a well-versed audio presentation that takes advantage of its newfound top end channels without fundamentally altering the established sonic landscape. The overheads are used to very good, natural effect throughout the film, with many fine examples coming during the opening act on Hoth. Ambient effects in Echo Base's command center swirl about with some interestingly unique tones, offering both dispersed and discrete elements. Cold winds bluster through to good effects with some helpful overhead integration when Han searches for Luke early in the film. When it's announced that "the first transport is away," listeners will feel like the sound is emanating, at least somewhat, from the top. Ditto a shot soon to follow announcing "Imperial walkers on the north ridge." Various explosions during the Hoth battle result in structural collapse. These details bear the fruits of quality top end detail and low end extension, the former particularly impressive as snow and debris seem to tumble atop the listener. An X-Wing seems to fly over during the last moments of escape in chapter 18 as well. Add the general chaos of battle and the swirling surround elements, nicely detailed laser blasts, deep walker footfalls, and general din and the whole segment delivers a fantastic sonic experience. Similar environmental traits may be heard on the Falcon as repairs take place in chapter 24 and, of course, on Dagobah, which comes alive with a symphony of eerie, creepy-crawly sounds as Luke meets Yoda and trains in the ways of the force. Climactic clashes within Cloud City, both the running laser battle as well as the lightsaber duel between Luke and Vader, make good use of immersion and overhead components. Musical clarity is excellent and it's properly balanced around the listener, dominant across the front but not shy about engaging surrounds, too. Dialogue delivery never stumbles. This is a very high quality presentation that will leave fans ecstatic.

Note that the bundled Blu-ray features a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack; Fox's 2011 release included a 6.1 track.

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Empire Strikes Back's UHD disc contains no supplements, but numerous extras may be found on the paired Blu-ray discs: two carryover commentaries on the feature film disc and a number of video-based supplements on the dedicated extras disc. New supplements, be they new to Blu-ray or entirely new, are marked as such and reviewed. Note that the previous Fox release is fairly clumsy to navigate; I've tried to ensure comparative listings are correct. Coverage of carryover content from the original 20th Century Fox boxed set can be found here. Note that some of the extras that were separated out into different sections on the previous release ("Hoth," "Dagobah," "Pursued by the Imperial Fleet," and "Cloud City") have been combined here. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.

Blu-ray Disc One (Feature Film):

• Audio Commentary: George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt, and Dennis Muren.
• Audio Commentary: Cast and Crew (Archival).

• NEW! Conversations: The Lost Interviews (1080p, 9:31): Charles Lippincott interviews cast and crew from the Star Wars universe between 1975 and 1978; these tapes were only recently unearthed. Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, and John Williams are heard over still photos, concept drawings, and film clips from the set and the recording studio.
• NEW! Discoveries from Inside: Matte Paintings Unveiled (1080p, 4:42): J.W. Rinzler is joined by Matte Painting Supervisor Harrison Ellenshaw to look over a few key art pieces created for the franchise.
• Legacy Content
  
  
  • A Conversation with the Masters (2010)
  • NEW! Dennis Muren: How Walkers Walk (480i, 1:54): A brief, vintage, rapid-fire look at the stop-motion technology used to bring the Imperial armor to life.
  • Interviews: Hoth Overview, George Lucas on Editing 'The Empire Strikes Back' 1979, Irvin Kershner Interview, Dagobah Overview, Pursued by the Imperial Fleet Overview, George Lucas on the Force: 2010, and Cloud City Overview.
  • Deleted/Extended Scenes: Han and Leia: Extended Echo Base Argument, Luke's Recovery, Luke and Leia: Medical Center, Wampa Attacks, The Fate of General Veers, Yoda's Test, Hiding in the Asteroid, Alternate Han and Leia Kiss, Lobot's Capture, and Leia Tends to Luke.
  • The Collection: AT-AT Walker Fallen Model, Snowspeeder Model, Tauntaun Maquette, Rebel Transport Model, Hoth Landscape Matte Painting, Leia Hoth Costume, Han Solo Interior: Hoth Costume, Yoda Model, Luke's Severed Head, Dagobah Bog Matte Painting, Dagobah Matte Painting, Luke's Tan Costume, Star Destroyer Model, 'Millennium Falcon' Model, Space Slug, Darth Vader's Star Destroyer Model, Star Destroyer Hull Model, Executor Bridge Matte Painting, Boba Fett Prototype Costume, Imperial Officer Costume, Rebel Cruiser Model, Twin-Pod Cloud Car Model, Cloud City Models, Cloud City Matte Painting, Cloud City Landing Platform Matte Painting, Cloud City Core Vane Matte Painting, Cloud City Core Vane Platform Matte Painting, Lando Bespin Costume, and 'Slave I' Matte Painting.

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Most Star Wars fans consider The Empire Strikes Back to be the best of the bunch, and this reviewer agrees. Unfortunately, it has not received the best UHD of the bunch. While the Atmos soundtrack is great and the extras are fine, the video presentation suffers from severe, and unnecessary, processing that leaves grain frozen, details wanting, the film source robbed of its majesty. What a shame. It's tough to recommend on its technical merits, but the film itself, obviously, earns my highest recommendation.