6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A disgraced former fireman takes on a group of terrorists holding the Vice President and others hostage during the seventh game of the NHL Stanley Cup finals.
Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Powers Boothe, Raymond J. Barry, Michael Gaston, Audra LindleyAction | 100% |
Thriller | 95% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Peter Hyams' "Sudden Death" (1995) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary by critic Mike Leeder and critic and filmmaker Ross Boyask; archival cast and crew interviews; making of featurette; and vintage promotional materials. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Wrong answer, he dies.
Kino Lorber's release of Sudden Death is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray disc is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray disc is Region-A "locked".
Please note that some of the screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.
Screencaptures #1-26 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #29-39 are from the 4K Blu-ray.
I have only this British Region-B Blu-ray release of Sudden Death in my library. However, I am quite certain that it offers the same technical presentation of the film that the multiple North American releases do. They are all sourced from the same older master that was prepared at Universal.
Kino Lorber's combo pack is sourced from a new 4K master struck from the original camera negative. In native 4K, the 4K makeover can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I c hose to view it with Dolby Vision. However, I frequently switched to the 1080p presentation on the Blu-ray. I will explain why shortly.
The entire film looks very healthy now. The difference is instantly recognizable, too. All visuals, regardless of whether they are indoor or outdoor visuals, look significantly lusher and more natural. Density levels are very good as well, though the old master did not disappoint either. Grain exposure is improved. However, some of the hockey footage still reveals slightly harsher visuals. (Obviously, this discrepancy is inherited). Color balance is very good. All primaries and supporting nuances look very healthy and are properly balanced. However, I felt that the entire film looks just a tiny bit darker than it should. This is why I kept switching between the native 4K and 1080p presentations, to see how different areas look. If I had to choose between the two, I would go with the 1080p presentation because the Dolby Vision grade darkens several indoor and nighttime sequences in ways that flatten them. In 1080p, the same sequences reveal slightly more finer nuances. However, the exact same sequences do not look drastically different on the old Blu-ray release I have. Some shadow nuances there look dated, so even with the darkening, they are better balanced on the new 4K master. I just think that their superiority is more convincing in 1080p, not in native 4K. Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks spotless. All in all, the new 4K master offers a substantial upgrade in quality, which is easy to appreciate on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray.
There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
The old Blu-ray release of Sudden Death that I have did not have a 2.0 track, so I spent a bit of time with the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. I think that it is pretty good. However, there is a lot of intense action throughout the film that benefits from the 5.1 track. In fact, the film probably deserved a Dolby Atmos track because the shootouts and explosions are very effectively mixed. All dialog is clear, stable, and easy to follow.
4K BLU-RAY DISC
While the main attraction is obviously Jean-Claude Van Damme, it is hard to imagine Sudden Death without Powers Boothe, whose villain seems like a close relative of some of the great mean characters J.T. Walsh played. However, despite being an R-rated film, Sudden Death was conceived to be a big crowd pleaser, so it prioritizes flashy action rather than unique characters. Kino Lorber's combo pack introduces a new 4K makeover of Sudden Death that looks very good on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray, so if you enjoy the film, give yourself a present. RECOMMENDED.
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