World Trade Center 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

World Trade Center 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Oliver Stone's sixteenth non-documentary feature World Trade Center (2006) was previously covered by my colleague Dr. Svet Atanasov, who reviewed Paramount's 2-Disc Commemorative Edition. For in-depth details of the movie and that very early Blu-ray release, please consult the review linked above.

Emergency responders on the scene.

World Trade Center 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shout Select's "Collector's Edition" is the standard 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/regular Blu-ray combo, which comes with a slipcover. Director Oliver Stone supervised and approved a new 4K restoration. The film appears in its native 1.85:1 and is presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible). Paramount initially released World Trade Center on HD-DVD and Blu-ray (with an MPEG-2 encode) in late 2006.

According to American Cinematographer, director of photography Seamus McGarvey shot the picture on Kodak Vision2 500T 5218 and 200T 5217 as well as Kodak Ektachrome 100D Color Reversal Film 5285 35 mm stock. McGarvey also used Primo and Hylen lenses, the former of which he mentions in a new interview on Disc Two. The negative was finished as a Digital Intermediate. McGarvey worked with colorist Mike Eaves at EFilm on the DI.

Writer John Calhoun profiled McCarvey's work on WTC for an August 2006 article in AC. I will rely on that piece here while discussing the Shout and Paramount transfers. What I remember most about seeing this film in the theater is the high number of scenes at or near Ground Zero where there's very little light in the debris field. For this reason, I would strongly recommend watching the 4K or Blu-ray in the evening hours when it's dark. The only ideal conditions for viewing it during the day is if you have really good room darkeners. You'll notice from my screen captures that the low-lit shots are quite dark, especially on the 4K. The underground scenes boast "lovely, velvety blackness" as McGarvey puts it to Calhoun. In addition, the palette is suffused with charcoal grays. The DP says he "slightly overex­posed" the daylight piercing through the detritus. This provides a window for highlights on the 4K. For example, you can see a bit of light on the forehead of Will Jimeno (Michael Peña) and along the rocks behind him (see Screenshot #21). The shafts of light provide another highlight behind the silhouetted Dave Karnes (Michael Shannon) in frame grab #22. The flashback scenes serve in stark contrast to the sparse light levels. McGarvey photographed them with heavy filtration and "hotter spots of light that created a blooming overexposure in the highlights." For instance, see the sunlight cascading through the window as John McLough­lin (Nicolas Cage) sits on the bed (screen capture #s 35-37) and in the workroom where he teaches son JJ McLoughlin (Anthony Piccininni) how to use a saw (#s 32-34). The scenes at the McLough­lin and Jimeno homes also feature much warmer colors than the scenes at the twin towers. Look at how the red shines on the truck and how nice the yellow panels stand out on the doors in Screenshot #9.

The separation in image quality between the 2006 Paramount transfer and this year's Shout presentations can really only be in noticed in full when you watch you watch the discs in motion (and on a large screen). Shout's standard 1080p Blu-ray is actually a shade brighter than Paramount's Blu. There are very few print flaws on the Shout. The only one I could spot is a thin, light scratch you can see going down the right side of Officer Colovito's (Nicholas Turturro) nose in frame grabs 26-28. (It dates back to the master used on the Paramount discs in '06.) McGarvey says in the AC interview that he didn't incorporate much grain, particularly for the rubble scenes. But when it's present, you'll notice it on both the UHD and Blu-ray.

The UHD utilizes a triple-layered disc (actual disc size: 85.5 GB). The feature boasts a mean video bitrate of 77.5 Mbps while the full disc carries an overall bitrate of 90.1 Mbps. The regular 1080p Blu-ray employs the MPEG-4 AVC encode. Because it houses around a dozen supplements, it carries a relatively low rough average video bitrate of 23497 kbps. The bitrate on Paramount's BD-50 is actually higher (28783 kbps). Still, I didn't see any macroblocking on Shout's BD-50. My video score for that disc is 4.75/5.00.

Screenshot #s 1-25, 28, 31, 34, 37, & 40 = Shout Select 2025 4K Ultra HD BD-100 (downscaled to 1080p)
Screenshot #s 26, 29, 32, 35, & 38 = Paramount Home Entertainment 2006 BD-50
Screenshot #s 27, 30, 33, 36, & 39 = Shout Select 2025 BD-50 (from a 4K restoration)

There are twelve scene selections for the 129-minute feature.

World Trade Center 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Shout has supplied three audio track options to watch World Trade Center with on UHD and two on Blu-ray (in addition to two archival commentaries). On the 4K there's a recent Dolby Atmos mix (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible) encoded at an average bitrate of 3402 kbps and a maximum bitrate of 5430 kbps; a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround track (3165 kbps, 24-bit); and a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo downmix (1988 kbps, 24-bit). On the standard Blu-ray there are DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 tracks encoded at identical bitrates as the UHD.

Paramount's HD-DVD had a Dolby Digital Plus track. I am glad that Shout recorded an Atmos track for the UHD because I picked out noticeable differences between it and the 5.1. For certain, the 5.1 Surround is much more speaker specific in its delivery of certain f/x. The Atmos is palpably more enveloping as I experienced through my home theater's full sound field. There are a couple of audible "Boom!" effects heard at different pitches. The first is lighter and more distant. The second feels like an entire building is caving in on you. The bangs and pops really bring in the .LFE. I also felt that these moments brought in all the height channels. The ambient city sounds heard in the first reel are similar in both tracks but the Atmos is more detailed. The soundscape is quieter in the opening scenes because they signify the calm before the storm.

The upper-east/New York accents are clear enough and distinct. I found them consistently intelligible even when the constrained voices of two of the characters are on the lower register. The surrounds occasionally bring in Craig Armstrong's score, which is heavy on piano, guitars, and cello.

The optional English SDH deliver an accurate and complete transcription of the film's dialogue. The track is devoid of any typographic or grammatical errors.

World Trade Center 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Shout has retained two archival commentaries and a collection of excised/extended scenes from the Paramount release. The Shout set loses two documentaries, three featurettes, an interview, image gallery, trailer, and TV spots. Please refer to Svet's review for details on the vintage extras I have not covered here. Shout has added nine recent interviews, all of which can be found on the second disc.

DISC ONE: 4K UHD

• Audio Commentary with Director Oliver Stone (2006) - this feature-length track with Stone covers the making of the movie in New York and Los Angeles. While the commentary is very good, I wouldn't rank it among the best Stone has recorded. There are some gaps throughout. He sometimes repeats the phrase, "That is animation." in reaction to an effects shot. Stone gives an interesting tidbit about screening a portion of WTC at the Cannes Film Festival the same year Platoon was honored with an anniversary screening. In English, not subtitled.

• Audio Commentary with Real-Life First Responders Will Jimeno, Scott Strauss, John Busching, and Paddy McGee (2006) - this track with the emergency responders is moderated and led by Will Jimeno. They discuss details of the 9/11 events they experienced and compare how they're represented on screen. The responders were recorded together. The participants speak in English, not subtitled.

• Audio Commentary with Director Oliver Stone (2006) - this feature-length track with Stone covers the making of the movie in New York and Los Angeles. While the commentary is very good, I wouldn't rank it among the best Stone has recorded. There are some gaps throughout. He sometimes repeats the phrase, "That is animation." in reaction to an effects shot. Stone gives an interesting tidbit about screening a portion of WTC at the Cannes Film Festival the same year Platoon was honored with an anniversary screening. In English, not subtitled.

• Audio Commentary with Real-Life First Responders Will Jimeno, Scott Strauss, John Busching, and Paddy McGee (2006) - this track with the emergency responders is moderated and led by Will Jimeno. They discuss details of the 9/11 events they experienced and compare how they're represented on screen. The responders were recorded together. The participants speak in English, not subtitled.

• NEW Director Oliver Stone on WORLD TRADE CENTER (16:46, 1080p) - After summarizing the global reception and DVD release of Alexander (2004), Stone briefly discusses Andrea Berloff's screenplay, which he says he contributed a lot of uncredited work to. Stone describes his method of editing, the interiors and exteriors of production designer Jan Roelfs's sets, shooting conditions, and camera angles. Stone also spends a portion of the interview talking about his cast members. He addresses the US critical reception to WTC and his reaction to it. In English, not subtitled.

• NEW Remembering WORLD TRADE CENTER with Actor Jon Bernthal (17:33, 1080p) - The Accountant 2 co-star speaks about portraying officer Christopher Amoroso. He also details his experience working with casting director Mary Vernieu and the auditions he gave. Bernthal additionally delves into Stone's qualities as a filmmaker. Moreover, he tells of what he learned about police procedures and emergency responders. Bernthal reflects on his friendships with Will Jimeno and Michael Peña. In English, not subtitled.

• NEW Remembering WORLD TRADE CENTER with screenwriter Andrea Berloff (22:09, 1080p) - Berloff remembers working with three producers and in particular, Debra Hill. She explains how she learned to make a movie by observing Stone and his work ethic. Berloff states that there's a binary in the film and outside of it: what the audience knows versus what the two main characters don't know. In addition, she describes the process of writing her script and life events happening to her at the time of production. She recalls a table read with Nicolas Cage and her impression of the actor. In English, not subtitled.

• NEW Remembering WORLD TRADE CENTER with Actor Frank Whaley (14:14, 1080p) - the veteran actor reminisces about reading for some different roles for casting director Billy Hopkins. He also talks about the part of paramedic Chuck Sereika and the scene where his character is introduced. Whaley describes what it felt like on the set of WTC and the structure of the film. He describes Stone's style as a director and a memory he has while acting in The Doors (1991). In English, not subtitled.

• NEW Remembering WORLD TRADE CENTER with Composer Craig Armstrong (15:49, 1080p) - Armstrong goes back to the time he met with Stone's longtime music supervisor Budd Carr, who connected him with the director. Armstrong explains his process of writing the main themes for cello and piano. He also discusses some of the film's sound design elements. In English, not subtitled.

• NEW Remembering WORLD TRADE CENTER with Actor Nicholas Turturro (8:03, 1080p) - John Turturro's younger brother talks about portraying Officer Colovito in the film. He offers his recollections of 9/11 while living in New York. Turturro fondly recalls hanging out with actor Danny Nucci. He offers a few stories he learned about that tragic day and when he first got to know Michael Peña. In English, not subtitled.

• NEW Remembering WORLD TRADE CENTER with Actress Donna Murphy (20:45, 1080p) - Murphy looks back when she first got involved with WTC and her filmed audition. She recalls meeting the real-life couple, Jay and Judy Jonas. More, she describes acting out her scenes with fellow actresses in the film. In English, not subtitled.

• NEW Remembering WORLD TRADE CENTER with Director of Photography Seamus McGarvey (27:25, 1080p) - McGarvey recollects anecdotal details of his initial meeting with Stone, which he also recounted in AC. He provides a personality profile of Stone as a filmmaker and his experiences collaborating with him on WTC. McGarvey explains his probe for the appropriate level of darkness in the rubble scenes, the lenses he chose, and why he shot the picture in 1.85:1. He also supplies his rationale for selecting 3M Scotch-Lite material for one scene. In English, not subtitled.

• NEW Remembering WORLD TRADE CENTER with Port Authority of NY & NJ Police Detective Will Jimeno (36:59, 1080p) - Jimeno remembers being in the hospital recuperating when a Philadelphia reporter visited to write a long article about him and John McLoughlin. Jimeno explains how producer Debra Hill envisioned his 9/11 story and wanted to meet with him and McLoughlin. Jimeno offers stories about meeting Hill, Stone, producer Moritz Borman, and others. Jimeno was on set and shares stories of what transpired during filming. He tells of bonding with Michael Peña and encounters with Nicolas Cage and Jon Bernthal during filming In English, not subtitled..

• Deleted/Extended Scenes (with Optional Commentary with Director Oliver Stone) (17:42, 480i) - nine omitted and extended scenes from WTC. They appear in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and have not been uprezzed. They can be viewed with or without Stone's commentary.

• The Making of WORLD TRADE CENTER (53:42, 1080i)

• Common Sacrifices (54:31, 1080p)

• Building Ground Zero (25:11, 1080i)

• Visual and Special Effects (12:08, 1080i)

• Oliver Stone's New York (24:31, 1080i)

• The 2006 David Lean Lecture: Oliver Stone in Conversation with Mark Kermode (12:33, 480i)

• Photo Gallery (8:50)

• Theatrical Trailer (2:32, 1080p)

• Five TV Spots (3:11, 480i)

World Trade Center 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Stone delivers an honest and straightforward story of two police officers' heroism and valor in an unprecedented situation. Stone's style and the film's mise-en-scène are minimalist at times so the viewer can concentrate on the most essential elements in the frame. I was rather lukewarm about World Trade Center when I first saw it in the theater, but I appreciate it more after repeat viewings. Even though Armstrong produces his music in a mostly understated way, I feel that, in combination with some of the visuals, the score becomes a bit saccharine (even if that's warranted by the story). I can see viewers wanting to revisit the film during 9/11 anniversaries. I would argue that there are several other Stone films that have higher replay value.

Shout Select's two-disc set represents a significant upgrade in picture and sound over the older Paramount editions. The latter didn't even have lossless audio, which the recent discs have along with a robust Atmos mix. The nine new interviews are informative across the board. If you own Paramount's "Commemorative Edition," however, you'll want to hang on to it since Shout doesn't port over any of the docs or featurettes. A VERY SOLID RECOMMENDATION for this fine package. After a long while of being out of stock on Amazon, the 4K UHD/Blu-ray set is back in stock.