The Patriot 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		5.0

The Patriot 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Sony first released 'The Patriot' to Blu-ray in 2007 with a 1080p transfer considered very good at the time. This UHD renders that disc absolutely obsolete. The increase in picture quality is substantial. The new Atmos soundtrack is fantastic, too, and Sony has even included many new (to HD formats) extras on the UHD disc.

The Patriot 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date. Also note that the score above for Blu-ray video is simply reflective of the review written in 2007 by another author; only the 4K score and review are my own.

With The Patriot, Sony has done it again. This is a remarkably strong presentation and a massive upgrade over the previously released Blu-ray. The movie was shot on film and its native 4K presentation takes full advantage of the format's capabilities. The image presents with a gorgeous cinematic texturing. Grain retention is even, flattering, obvious in every scene but light and beautiful in structure. Detailing is exceptional. There's no need to conduct a direct comparison to note the tremendous quality apparent throughout the film. Period attire and skin textures are unequivocal highlights, though to be sure the image is remarkable in overall clarity and definition of structures, open fields, trees, and other background and support elements. But facial textures are a delight, revealing pores, sweat, blood, and hair with stellar clarity, well beyond Blu-ray's capabilities, and a direct comparison does indeed reveal a massive improvement in image stability, accuracy, clarity, and sharpness: these are mammoth textural improvements. Even the clarity and density of the smoke rising from the family's burning house at a pivotal moment that ends the first act is breathtaking. It takes on a very tangible volume and depth and its smoky dark gray/approaching-black color appears spot-on, too.

Indeed, the entirety of the 10-bit HDR-10 colors delight and, like the textural efficiency and high yield cinematic detailing, no comparison is really needed to appreciate the added color depth, stability, and accuracy. Low-light scene muzzle blasts are very bright with expert illumination. Black levels are perfectly balanced whether at dusk, at night, within buildings illuminated by candlelight, in a murky swamp, or under the cover of dense foliage during an ambush scene that marks the beginning of the film's second act. But the true splendor becomes apparent in well-lit, sun-drenched exteriors. Natural greens sparkle with rich vibrancy and amazing saturation. British army redcoats offer full, nuanced, and intense saturation. Subtle color details and variations on militia attire look great, and even blue skies seen throughout the climactic battle sequence offer striking clarity and fine-tuned color reproduction; such are grossly less dynamic on the Blu-ray and the entire palette, for that matter, doesn't even come close to the excellence exhibited by this remarkable HDR enhancement. This is a total package UHD and is amongst the best the format has to offer. Sony continues to stay well ahead of the pack when it comes to catalogue UHD release excellence.

The Patriot 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Patriot's Dolby Atmos soundtrack is also an upgrade from the previous Blu-ray's 5.1 uncompressed soundtrack, though the differences are not quite as dramatic. Surrounds carry a significant din at a rally against the king 10 minutes in, yielding excellent spacing and a feeling of real distance amongst the crowd and from the crowd to the listener. A well integrated overhead component supports the scene, too, with less a direct presence and more a complimentary engagement. A celebratory rally after the vote to go to war features additional immersive din and gunshot reverberations that filter atop the listening area, as well as, of course, through more traditional spaces around the listener. A distant battle as the family dines in chapter three offers amazingly detailed diffuse explosions and pops, supported by a well defied low end signature that perfectly balances depth and distance. As the battle draws closer, clarity and low end execution increase until the listener is essentially only yards from the action.

Every action scene is just as immersive and wonderfully tuned. A battle in chapter five, when Martin and two of his children ambush British soldiers, is a sonic delight. With no music to interfere, the clarity and positioning of voices as the British soldiers attempt to locate and return fire to the small ambushing party sounds very open and detailed with remarkable stage positioning and a modest reverberation through the partially enclosed location. Depth and detail of gunfire are stellar here, too. The final battle, of course, stands as the sonic highlight on the disc. Volleys of gunfire pop with remarkable potency, crispness, and absolute immersion into the fight. Explosions are hefty, cannonballs zip through the air with fine positioning and stage traversal, and the detail within the din -- individual gunshots and screams -- is fantastic. The track also carries John Williams' score with fluid spacing and first-class clarity. Ambient effects are always perfectly positioned and effortlessly immersive. Dialogue never wants for additional clarity and is always perfectly positioned and prioritized.

The Patriot 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Patriot's UHD release actually contains a bevy of new (to Blu-ray/UHD, at least) extras on the 4K disc itself while carrying over the same Blu-ray that released back in 2007. Both of the featurettes included on that disc -- The True Patriots and The Art of War -- also appear on the UHD. Note that this UHD is not the "Extended Cut" as was previously released to Blu-ray but rather the theatrical cuts, which runs about 10 minutes shorter. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Audio Commentary: With 160-plus minutes at their disposal, Director Roland Emmerich and Producer Dean Devlin dive into the film in great detail, including real history (often the best parts of the commentary), story, cast and characters, and much more.
• The Art of War (1080p upscaled, 9:45): This supplement is not about the Sun Tzu book. It instead features cast and crew discussing how war was fought in the period of the American revolution and how that style of warfare was recreated for the film, including practical construction and digital support effects, the actors' work in the fighting scenes, and more.
• The True Patriots (1080p upscaled, 9:57): A discussion of the film's historical accuracy, with particular attention paid to constructing costumes and a few other tidbits, such as the role of African-Americans in the war.
• Visual Effects Featurette (1080p upscaled, 9:20): Crafting a shot in which a cannonball takes off a soldier's head, followed by a look at crafting digital backdrops and supports.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p upscaled, 13:01): A collection of scenes with no identifying markers. With optional Emmerich/Devlin commentary.
• Conceptual Art to Film Comparison (1080p upscaled, 4:48): A collection of sketches followed by the finished corresponding shot from the film.
• Photo Gallery (2160p): Still images available as a slideshow or individually selectable. No musical accompaniment.
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:39):

The Patriot 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Patriot is a standout amongst the very small number of films to deal with the American Revolution. Its a bit amped-up in classic Roland Emmerich style, but it's engaging, exciting, and very well put together considering all of its technical merits: production design, acting, direction, editing, sound effects, and score. Sony's UHD is stellar. The 2160p/HDR-enhanced presentation is of reference quality. The Atmos track is great, too, and it's nice to see some new supplements added into the mix. Highly recommended.