7.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Set in the 23rd century, New York cab driver Korben Dallas didn't mean to be a hero, but he just picked up the kind of fare that only comes along every five thousand years: A perfect beauty, a perfect being, a perfect weapon. Now, together, they must save the world.
Starring: Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Milla Jovovich, Chris TuckerAction | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 73% |
Adventure | 73% |
Thriller | 50% |
Epic | 39% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Essentially an exact copy of Best Buy'a exclusive Steelbook released all the way back in 2017, this limited edition 4K/Blu-ray reprint of Luc Besson's stylish sci-fi action film The Fifth Element is a bit of an outlier among Sony's usual UHD output. Their more recent catalogue cuts have saved the Steelbook packaging for definitive 100GB 4K releases that typically add in Dolby Vision compatibility to existing HDR10 masters, presenting them in a way similar to their old "Superbit" DVD releases of yore. This simply repurposes the same HDR10 master as before... and it's one that's good but not great, with so-so disc encoding and a smaller size (66GB) that holds it back a little. It's still a decent release, though, led by outstanding Dolby Atmos audio and a broad but familiar assortment of extras to dig through.
NOTE: These screenshots are sourced from the included Blu-ray disc.
For details about the included 4K and Blu-ray's respective 2160p/HDR10 and 1080p/SDR transfers, please see Martin Liebman's 2017 review of Sony's standard-issue combo pack. More than ever I think viewing either disc in 2024 shows that there's clearly at least a little room for improvement here, both in overall disc encoding and size as well as the 4K's continued lack of Dolby Vision, which again is reflected in my slightly lower scores above.
The Dolby Atmos audio still rocks the house, however, and is likewise detailed in Martin Liebman's 2017 review. I'm just docking it a half-point for the lack of original 5.1 audio, which is a personal pet peeve, but I can also appreciate those who see the Atmos track as a total replacement. Geez, I guess I'm just a tough grader today.
This two-disc release ships in Steelbook packaging with eye-catching artwork depicting Leeloo's daring escape with a fleet of hovering police cars in pursuit. A blue-green dominant color scheme with bold orange background sky elements gives the front cover an immediately striking appearance with the title printed in yellow above. The back cover is less impressive but at least continues the overall design scheme, but the interior print is a big missed opportunity -- there's just a boring metallic blue-green flat color throughout, rather than more contrasting artwork or even a few stills from the film. Both discs sit on overlapping hubs to the right and a Digital Copy slip is tucked inside.
The included bonus features are identical to those mentioned in Martin Liebman's 2017 4K/Blu-ray review, which in turn points also back to Sony's Mastered in 4K Blu-ray release for the bulk of the HD extras.
Luc Besson's The Fifth Element is still a fun and stylish sci-fi thrill ride, but this limited edition 4K/Blu-ray Steelbook is just a reprint of one of Sony's good but not great releases during the format's infancy. As such it doesn't reach the A/V heights of their newer 4K Steelbooks (which are typically 100GB discs with Dolby Vision), yet it's still a decent release stacked with plenty of familiar extras. At this point I'm not sure if a definitive edition will be released, but it's one of the most well-represented titles on home video so there's a good chance that might happen in the future.
Limited Collectors Edition / Import
1997
Import
1997
Limited Deluxe Edition / Import
1997
PS5 4K Movie Essentials
1997
1997
20th Anniversary Edition
1997
Remastered | Blu-ray Essentials
1997
Supreme Cinema Series
1997
1997
Project Pop Art
1997
Mastered in 4K
1997
Remastered
1997
20th Anniversary Edition
1996
2012
2016
1998
20th Anniversary
2003
2010
2014
2005
2003
1986
2000
2009
15th Anniversary Edition
2005
Limited Edition
2004
2022
2004
2013
2013
2009
Collector's Edition
2013