6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The year is 2029. John Connor, leader of the resistance, continues the war against the machines. At the Los Angeles offensive, John's fears of the unknown future begin to emerge when TECOM spies reveal a new plot by SkyNet that will attack him from both fronts—past and future—and will ultimately change warfare forever.
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, J.K. SimmonsAction | 100% |
Adventure | 72% |
Sci-Fi | 69% |
Thriller | 26% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
UV digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Paramount has released the big-budget Sci-Fi blockbuster 'Terminator: Genisys' to the UHD format. The 2160p/Dolby Vision presentation offers a satisfying, worthwhile upgrade over the previously released Blu-ray. The Atmos sound is potent and the studio has both ported over core extras while adding a new disc with several more. Read on for more.
The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.
Terminator: Genisys was digitally photographed, reportedly at resolutions of 2.8K and 3.4K and finished at 2K. The
upscaled 4K presentation offers a marked improvement over the Blu-ray. The film is fairly dark in its first half, with bleak backgrounds and low light
conditions aplenty, but
even so the UHD's benefits are clear to see. Black levels are strong, yielding firm, well defined shadow detail that's dense and deep without crush on
this format. The 12-bit Dolby Vision color palette handles battle scenes with dazzling intensity. Red laser prison grids, purple laser blasts, fiery
explosions, red-eyed Terminators, and polished metallic endoskeletons (as well as the T-1000's silvery regenerating liquid metal) play with a
refinement to
color vitality and intensity over the Blu-ray. Likewise, brighter scenes find a greater white balance, much improved saturation and intensity to
primaries,
and healthier skin tones; hospital scenes midway through, and some more light-forgiving scenes and sequences to follow, offer a good example of the
foundational boosts Dolby Vision provides. The Dolby Vision
colors likewise handle more reserved background shades, in any of the film's timelines, with careful attention to detail and plenty of depth, allowing for
a highlighting of foreground elements without ruining the composition and the focal point.
Textural increases are appreciable, too. The image is razor-sharp even under the constraints of its largely low-light first half and certainly in its more
forgiving second half. Take look at John Connor in almost any scene in which he appears in close-up, one of the first opportunities coming at the 13:50
mark. The clarity of the skin, the depth of the scars, and the balance of the color defining
his skin tone is superb, with all three elements playing a very positive role in shaping an image that's a firm foot forward form a Blu-ray that is
comparatively murky and less dynamic, all without sacrificing the counterbalance of the dull gray background and the scene's grim (yet still hopeful)
dramatic intensity. Such holds true for the duration. Detail is very firm and sure, particularly skin tones, wounds, and clothes, but dense city
environments and sleek lines in various second-half locations as well as the war-torn, run-down set pieces in the open all enjoy a noticeable, and very
welcome,
boost forward in clarity and sharpness. The movie may not be a native 4K presentation, but it sure feels made for the 4K format. It's a winner.
Terminator: Genisys' UHD release contains a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, which seems to be identical to that released on the Blu-ray back in 2015. The track is substantial. That Blu-ray review pertained only to the core 7.1 track, so here are a few additional insights as they relate to the film's use of the overhead channels. The film opens with some distinctly overhead use of missiles flying about and strongly defined low end concussive blasts that push through the stage with frightening depth and sound movement, also with plenty of top end engagement. The future battle sequence to follow follows suit playing with very enjoyable top end movement, hefty bass, and total stage saturation as blasts, explosions, crashes, anything and everything Terminator chaos roars with effortless and highly entertaining intensity. The teleportation sounds likewise extend their electric tentacles throughout the listening area with, again, a positive overhead presence. Essentially, for every opportunity for the track to extend above the listener, it does so, and it does so without overselling the effect. For as exciting and chaotic as this track may be, there's a beautiful sonic balance to it, an effortlessness of positioning, clarity, and immersion that ranks it very high on the current "best of" Atmos lists. Additional thoughts on more core, but still very expressive, sound elements can be found here.
Terminator: Genisys' UHD disc contains no extras, but the pair of bundled Blu-ray discs bring over both all of the original Blu-ray's content as
well
as a second disc with in-depth extras not included on the core release from 2015. A UV/iTunes digital copy code is included with purchase.
Blu-ray Disc One (Please click here for reviews):
Terminator: Genisys plays as a serviceable big-budget spectacle with plenty of strictly recreated nods to previous entires in the franchise, but it's also lacking that spark that made the original two, and to a lesser extent the third and fourth films, superior. Nevertheless, there are some highlights and the film plays well as more of an homage to the series than it does a necessary entry into it. Paramount's UHD is excellent. The 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer is a highlight, the Atmos sound is exceptional, and the studio has included several new extras that were not included on the core Blu-ray release from 2015. Recommended.
2015
2015
2015
Includes Endoskull
2015
Bonus Disc: The World of Terminator Genisys
2015
2015
2015
With Exclusive 22 Page Comic
2015
2015
2015
2015
2020
Director's Cut
2009
2019
+BD with the 3 versions
1991
2013
1080i
2003
2014
2017
2009
2013
2018
2003
2004
3 Disc Edition
2012
2015
2013
2018
40th Anniversary Edition
1984
Live. Die. Repeat.
2014
2011