The Sting 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Sting 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Universal brings the classic 1973 Paul Newman/Robert Redford film 'The Sting' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video that clearly outpaces the Blu-ray even if it's imperfect in and of itself. No new audio track is included and the UHD ports over all of the Blu-ray extras. See below for a review of the new video presentation.

The Sting 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

Universal brings The Sting to the UHD format with 2160p/HDR-enhanced presentation parameters. The Blu-ray's processed appearance has not been carried over here, at least not to an extreme. While some signs of processing remain, the UHD is clearly the superior image in every area of concern; beyond a cursory reorientation with the Blu-ray there's practically no need to conduct an A-B comparison. Gone, thankfully, is the Blu-ray's consistently inconsistent grain structure and the flat details that were the result of some heavy-handed noise reduction. This is a much more faithful and true picture, one that is sharp (though certainly some inherently softer elements remain, in scene transitions and randomly from time to time) and far crisper and pleasing than the old image. For the most part, grain presentation falls onto the natural side, even in density and rarely spiking to a bothersome noisy output. Details are sharp, particularly in good light; darker interiors and low light exteriors hold to a bit of that flatter feel (as do some daylight scenes, admittedly) but for whatever fluctuations occur the end result is a much more stable, pure, and satisfying textural image next to the Blu-ray. Expect to find new life to faces, clothes, and environments alike. While none reach format perfection this is a more accurate and pleasing image that will certainly become the new go-to for home viewing.

Color output is stabilized and improved upon under the HDR parameters. While the palette holds true to essentials, there's a nice uptick to color depth and definition. Whites are crisper, warm tones more flattering, colorful apparel and other splashes (candies, storefront signs, and the like) enjoy an honest gain to vitality as well. A scene out on the golf links earlier in the film offers some of the most abundantly expressive colors the UHD has to offer, enjoying a finer feel for tonal realism over the older Blu-ray counterpart. But the image generally favors a steady stream of earthy tones that are more enriched than amplified, more properly defined than fundamentally redefined. On the extreme spectrum ends, whites are notably crisper and brighter and blacks deeper with the caveat that there's a propensity to lean towards crush in the most challenging of scenes (look around the 21-minute mark).

This is by no means a reference UHD disc. There remain some items that will give the videophile pause, including a handful of print speckles, but its superiority over the Blu-ray does make it a worthwhile investment, even if it's not so perfect as Animal House, another 70s catalogue favorite Universal released to UHD on the same date.

The Sting 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Unlike the aforementioned Animal House, which Universal released to UHD with a DTS:X audio configuration, the studio has simply ported over the existing Blu-ray's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack for the UHD release of The Sting. It's a fine listen and the material doesn't exactly scream for more channels, but some may be disappointed that those lights aren't engaged on the front of the receiver; it's doubtful any such additions would have made a worthwhile difference. For a full audio review, please click here.

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

Universal's UHD release of The Sting includes the exact same extras on the UHD as are found on the legacy Blu-ray from 2012, which is also included in this set. See below for a listing of what's included on both discs and please click here for full coverage. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase.

• The Art of The Sting: The Perfect Script
• The Art of The Sting: Making a Masterpiece
• The Art of The Sting: The Legacy
• Theatrical Trailer
• 100 Year of Universal: Restoring the Classics
• 100 Years of Universal: The '70s
• 100 Years of Universal: The Lot

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

The Sting is one of those bonafide classics that needs to be part of every serious film library, and Universal has released it on UHD in what is easily its best home presentation ever. The UHD is well superior to the Blu-ray even if the picture quality is itself imperfect. Some of those imperfections appear to stem from the source, others, perhaps, from a less-than-perfect transfer. Either way it's a good video presentation that, with the HDR colors, leaves the film very watchable and far more so than the Blu-ray. There is no new audio track and no new extras, but what is here is fine. Recommended, and packaging enthusiasts should be sure to check out the SteelBook.