The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 11, 2016

Lionsgate is revisiting one of their most successful franchises, bringing out all four Hunger Games films on 4K UHD. Do these upgrades hit the bullseye? Read on.

For my thoughts on the film, please see our original The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Blu-ray review.

Note: Both I and a number of readers on our Forum have experienced difficulties in getting The Hunger Games: Catching Fire 4K to load, with a variety of error messages being reported (varying by player). I’ve reached out to Lionsgate’s PR firm and have been informed this is a widespread issue that Lionsgate is aware of. As more information and/or working discs are provided, I’ll update this review.

Update 11/25/16: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire 4K Blu-ray review is now available.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 is presented on 4K UHD courtesy of Lionsgate Films with a 2160p HDR enhanced transfer in 2.40:1. Unlike the first two Hunger Games outings, both of which were shot on good old fashioned film, the Mockingjay outings were digitally shot and finished at 4K DIs. There are some striking differences between the overall looks of the films, therefore, and the two Mockingjay entries show arguably much more consistent uptick in detail and fine detail levels over their 1080p counterparts than the first Hunger Games film does (as noted above, I've been unable to see Catching Fire yet). As I mentioned in the review of the 1080p presentation, the film's overwhelming darkness tends to defeat detail levels, and while things are incrementally improved now due to HDR, shadow definition and general detail levels still aren't quite at the level as those enjoyed generally in the first half of the finale. That said, there are still some noticeable upticks in detail levels in more brightly lit moments, and HDR also adds some evocative new tones as in the buttery yellows that accompany Finnick's wedding scene. Occasional CGI elements, like the flames enveloping Capital City at one point can have a slightly artificial look, something that seems to be prevalent in other FX heavy 4K UHD presentations.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This release features the same excellent Dolby Atmos track discussed in our original The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Blu-ray review.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

As with the other 4K UHD releases of the Hunger Games films, Mockingjay - Part 2's 4K UHD disc actually has some supplements, though once again (and kind of oddly), not quite all that are including on the 1080p Blu-ray also included in this package. The 4K UHD disc contains all of the supplements detailed in our original The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Blu-ray review with the exception of the "Jet to the Set" featurette.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Mockingjay - Part 2 feels overstuffed and weirdly lethargic at times, but it also builds to an appropriate emotional catharsis. This 4K UHD disc improves on detail levels in the film's many dark scenes, and also includes the same excellent Atmos track that graced the original 1080p disc release. Recommended.