7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A journalist must investigate a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone one week to the day after they view it.
Starring: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman (I), Brian Cox, Jane AlexanderHorror | 100% |
Supernatural | 38% |
Thriller | 31% |
Mystery | 27% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
German: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Paramount has released the popular 2002 Horror remake film 'The Ring,' directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, and Brian Cox, to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/Dolby Vision video. As is Paramount's custom, this disc retains the same 5.1 lossless soundtrack which was included with the original Blu-ray release from 2012, which is also included in this set. All supplements carry over from the original Blu-ray and are only included on the original Blu-ray; the UHD disc is absent any and all special features. This is the film's second UHD issue; Shout! Factory released the film to the 4K format earlier this year. I did not review that release, nor do I have access to it, so this review cannot comment on any similarities or differences between these UHD releases.
The included screenshots are sourced from the UHD disc output at 1080p. They are not representative of the UHD/Dolby Vision image
you
will see on your screen.
There's no denying that in recent years there has been a fair bit of controversy surrounding Paramount catalogue UHD titles, with some of them
looking
downright stunning and some of them looking downright awful. Fortunately, The Ring falls into the former category. Paramount's
2160p/Dolby
Vision UHD presentation is a visual treat, serving up a picture that is clearly superior to the original Blu-ray, delivering a high quality and a faithfully
cinematic viewing experience that benefits from the higher resolution and the amplified color grading that merge to make what is simply the best the
film has looked since theaters and maybe even better than ever.
The higher resolution sees the film presented with a crispness and authority that dominates the old Blu-ray. The image is as faithfully filmic as can
be,
defined by its consistently stunning grain structure that gives it a satisfying cinematic quality that brings the theater experience home. The
grain shows no signs of unwarranted tampering, remaining intact while also flattering the details around the frame. There is nothing that looks
anything
less than film perfect. Details are strikingly complex, with facial features precise and exacting, revealing every pore, line, and imperfection with as
much
detail as the UHD format allows. This clarity extends to hair (Watts' hair is notably dense and complex yet in good light it's almost defined and
distinguished enough to allow viewers to pause and count individual hairs). Environmental details are also stout, capturing everything down to paint
imperfections on walls. I could not be any more excited with this presentation's quality.
The Dolby Vision color grading is also a major boost of the film's UHD presentation. The film has a very unique color scheme that sees it tinted
heavily green and gray with some pushes to blue and only the occasional burst of vivid color. But most everything that is not in some way dominated
by the green color temperature, with shades of gray and blue also at work, are very muted and infrequent. The Dolby Vision grading obviously
retains this filmmaker intended color push and it amplifies its clarity and stability with excellent tonal depth and accuracy, offering nuanced shades
and excellent saturation even with the innate color parameters. It's bold and stable, offering the best color output the film has ever enjoyed. Just as
important, black level depth is taken to the next level, where blacks appear inky and honest, deep and full, well beyond the Blu-ray's ability to
capture and hold true black.
Lastly, the print appears free of any kind of evidence of wear and tear (no pops, speckles, scratches, or the like) and the encode is as solid as they
come, showing no compression artifacts or other anomalies that prevent this release from earning a coveted, and very well deserved, perfect video
score.
As noted above, this UHD release of The Ring includes the same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack from the original Paramount Blu-ray. Please click here for full coverage.
This UHD release of The Ring includes all of the supplemental features on the included Blu-ray disc, which is identical to the disc released back
in 2012. The UHD disc proper contains no supplements. Below is a listing of what's included. Please click here for full coverage of the supplements. Note that the Shout! Factory UHD release contains
additional bonuses not included on this disc. A digital copy voucher is included with purchase.
Fans of The Ring are going to be beyond excited for this UHD release. Paramount's new 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD presentation is vastly superior to the Blu-ray. It's a wonderfully faithful and filmic image that alone makes this worth the upgrade. And that's good because audio and extras remain unchanged. Recommended. Do note that paramount has also released an attractive UHD SteelBook day and date with this standard packaging UHD release.
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
2002
20th Anniversary Limited Edition
2002
2002
2002
2012
2005
Ring 2
1999
Unrated
2004
2015
2013
1980
1973
2013
2015
25th Anniversary
1999
1986
Theatrical + Unrated Alternate Cut
2007
2014
Profondo rosso
1975
2001
2017
2019
Ring
1998
2000