Vanilla Sky 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Vanilla Sky 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Paramount has released Director Cameron Crowe's 2001 film 'Vanilla Sky,' starring Tom Cruise, to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/Dolby Vision video. The film was recently released to Blu-ray with a newly remastered transfer as part of the studio's prestigious 'Paramount Presents' line. Also included is DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless audio, the same soundtrack from the 'Paramount Presents' line, as well as a slew of legacy bonus features as well as a retrospective that was new for the 2021 Blu-ray. The film was originally released to Blu-ray in 2015 under the Warmer Brothers label.

Vanilla Sky 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

The 2021 Blu-ray looked spectacular, so it's no surprise that this UHD upgrade looks even more splendid. The picture is fabulously filmic, presenting the picture with a healthy, organic grain structure that holds consistent and beautifully rendered from the first frame to the final. The grain structure is not radically different from the Blu-ray, but there is an unmistakable gain in density and filmic accuracy, albeit a gain that is more of a finessed gain rather than a significant one. The same can be said of every other aspect within the image. The picture is sharper and crisper overall, but not so dramatically as to rewrite the book on the movie's home video appearance. There are firmer textures and more satisfying elements overall, with faces more complex, hair more radiant and readily distinguishable, pores more intimately revealing, and clothing textures more satisfyingly dense and accurate down to the finest fabric element. Much of this speaks to the Blu-ray's excellence, but even with the gains more subtle than dramatic, the UHD definitely outshines and stands a head above the Blu-ray for overall filmic faithfulness and total clarity.

The Dolby Vision grading brings also some critical increases to tonal nuance and accuracy. Colors are deeper but not dramatically so, and certainly not just a result of a lowered brightness and boosted contrast. There is a feel for color accuracy and fine gradation that the Blu-ray cannot achieve, offering here the fullest subtleties and richness that clothes and environments have to offer. Skin tones present with more pleasantly accurate realism, toning down the hint of warmth found in the Blu-ray. Black level depth is striking. The picture enjoys absolute print cleanliness and no discernible encode issues. This one looks great.

Vanilla Sky 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The audio track is well complimentary of the movie's sound structure, and as a Cameron Crowe film music and some unusual audio cues are to be expected. The track plays in excellent balance and command even when it's charged with waywardly placed, discrete, and otherwise nontraditional sound cues, which are not often prominent or even fully pronounced but still vital to a listen. The track has been carefully engineered and yields excellent clarity to essential and support components alike. Much of the track is not particularly challenging, with straightforward dialogue and music that is both clear and effortlessly positioned. A few harder-hitting effects offer ample stage fill and prominent, but never overbearing, low end extension. In short, audiences can expect a track that is carefully balanced in all facets of its existence, one that is a perfect compliment to Crowe's narrative structure and visual components alike.

Vanilla Sky 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Paramount brings Vanilla Sky to the UHD format with a slew of legacy content. The UHD disc includes no extras; all supplements are only available on the bundled Blu-ray disc. See below for a full listing of included legacy content and please click here for full coverage of the carryover 2015 extras suite and here for a review of the Filmmaker Focus extra. A digital copy code and non embossed slipcover are included with purchase.

• Filmmaker Focus: Cameron Crowe on Vanilla Sky
• Alternate Ending (1080p, 29:45): With optional Crowe commentary.
• Prelude to a Dream (480i, 6:13).
• Hitting it Hard (480i, 10:04).
• An Interview with Paul McCartney (480i, 1:34).
• Gag Reel (480i, 5:27).
• Music Video "Afrika Shox" by Leftfield/Afrika Bambaataa (480i, 3:57).
• Photo Gallery with Audio Introduction by Photographer Neal Preston (1080p, 2:43 intro, 18:15 gallery).
• Mask Test (1080p, 3:23): With optional Crowe commentary.
• Kurt Russell Single Take (1080p, 6:08). With optional Crowe commentary.
• Trailers (480i): Included are Unreleased Teaser Trailer (1:41) and International Trailer (2:49).
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 34:16 total runtime): With optional Crowe commentary.
• Audio Commentary: Cameron Crowe and Nancy Wilson.

Vanilla Sky 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Vanilla Sky is a challenging film that demands repeat views and the audience's full attention to get under its skin, so to speak, and explore all it has to offer. And there is now no better way than this UHD, which offers perfect picture, excellent audio, and plenty of bonus content. Very highly recommended.