Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		2.5

Tomb Raider 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Lara Does UHD

Reviewed by Michael Reuben June 14, 2018

The theatrical release of the latest Tomb Raider prompted Paramount to reissue Lara Croft's two previous big-screen outings in new 4K editions (reviewed here and here). They are joined by Warner's UHD presentation of the new film, which offers a meaningful video upgrade over the standard Blu-ray, accompanied by the same superior audio. (There's also a 3D version for that rapidly dwindling fanbase, but its audio has been downgraded.)

My thoughts on the film can be found in the standard Blu-ray review. Additional perspectives are offered by my colleagues Brian Orndorf in his theatrical review and Josh Katz in his weekly column.

Tomb Raider 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

(Note: Screenshots accompanying this review have been captured from the standard Blu-ray. Additional captures from that disc can be found here.)

According to IMDb, Tomb Raider was finished on a digital intermediate at 4K. Although I have been unable to confirm this officially, the image on Warner's 2160p, HEVC/H.265-encoded UHD disc certainly reflects a degree of enhanced resolution suggesting 4K origination. The Alexa photography by George Richmond, cinematographer of the Kingsman films, already sparkled on Blu-ray, but the 4K disc reveals new layers of detail in faces, clothing and the varied environments into which the film takes its heroine on land and at sea. The increase in detail and sharpness is especially noticeable in big, crowded scenes like the early "fox hunt" bike race sequence through London streets, with its crush of riders and onlookers, and Lara's arrival at Hong Kong harbor, with its vast expanses of piers, people and watercraft. The huge "doorway" to Himiko's tomb, with its elaborate unlocking mechanisms, is more finely textured and sculpted, and the tree bridging the river across which Lara flees from Vogel and his men is even more detailed in its gnarled and bumpy branches. The crashed plane that saves Lara from going over the steep waterfall is more expressive in its disintegration, with clearer delineation among rusty patches, gaps in the superstructure and fragments of surviving metal.

The disc's HDR grading has not changed the film's palette, but it has distinctly improved contrast and differentiated areas of darkness in the film's many dim scenes. In the storm that wrecks the Endurance, both the ship and its two voyagers remain clearly outlined against the many shades of gray, blue and black of night and waves. Lara's slow-motion plunge into the water traces her arc more clearly, and the debris surrounding her underwater is more vivid (and dangerous-looking), though without brightening the scene. The journey through the catacombs is a lively interplay of darkness and illumination, and the party of explorers is more visibly outlined by the light of their torches and glowsticks, while the surrounding darkness remains ominously black. The pit of bones over which the party passes on a rickety ladder is more spookily imposing, thanks to the combination of increased resolution and enhanced contrast.

Whatever one's assessment of Tomb Raider as a movie, its 4K rendition is a sumptuous visual experience. If the film is to your taste, you'll love the UHD.

[System professionally calibrated for UHD using (a) a Klein K-10A Colorimeter with a Custom Profile made in CalMAN using a Colorimetry Research CR250 Spectroradiometer; (b) Murideo Fresco SIX-G UHD signal generator with HDR10 and Dolby Vision capability; and (c) SpectraCal CalMAN Software v. 5.8.2.85. Calibration performed by Kevin Miller of ISFTV.]

Tomb Raider 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The UHD disc offers the same superb Dolby Atmos track as the Blu-ray, along with the same redundant DTS-HD MA 5.1 option. Like the standard Blu-ray, the UHD defaults to DTS; so be sure to select Atmos from the "Audio" menu.

As far as I know, Warner is the only studio that masters their 4K discs with these bizarre audio choices. I have repeatedly asked the studio for an explanation and have yet to receive one.

Tomb Raider 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The UHD disc has no extras. The accompanying standard Blu-ray contains the extras listed and discussed here.

Tomb Raider 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Warner's 4K presentation of Tomb Raider is a notably more intense visual experience than its Blu-ray counterpart. The movie remains the same, and I still can't recommend it. But 4K devotees may enjoy using it to exercise their home theater setups.