If you have a 4K TV and player, below are three fantastic new releases to add to your home entertainment library. If you’re not familiar with the system, here’s a little primer.
In basic terms, 4K resolution, also called 4K, refers to a display device (TV) or content (4K disc) with horizontal resolution of 3840 pixels and vertical resolution of 2160 pixels (that’s for 4K Ultra High Definition (HD), which is what the below releases are and what I’ll mainly be referencing on Reel Life With Jane).
4K Ultra HD has twice the horizontal and vertical resolution of the 1080p HDTV format, with four times as many pixels overall. What does that mean? In short, it means a much clearer picture. Those extra pixels result in images that are crisper and capable of showing more details than standard HD. I can confirm this is true. Watching 4K TV is like being inside your TV. It’s that good.
But in order to watch the below 4K Ultra HD releases, you must have a 4K TV. 4K was everywhere at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and industry peeps say it’s the next big thing in TV. Yes, 4K TVs are more expensive, but as with every new electronics trend, the price will likely come down as time goes on. For more about 4K, TechRadar.com has a good write-up on everything you need to know.
Let’s take a look at the three new releases that were sent to me for review. Note that most 4K home entertainment releases will probably include blu-ray discs, as well, as with the releases below. At least until 4K is more prevalent among consumers.
Independence Day 4K Ultra HD, 2Disc Blu-ray & Digital HD
You know the story. It’s the original Oscar-winning (1997, Best Visual Effects) sci-fi epic that launched a new era in blockbuster filmmaking. Director Roland Emmerich, producer Dean Devlin and an all-star cast including Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman join forces to deliver the ultimate encounter between powerful aliens and the human race.
When massive spaceships appear in Earth’s skies and blast destructive beams of fire down on cities all over the planet, a determined band of survivors must unite for one last strike against the invaders before it’s the end of mankind.
This beautiful 20th Anniversary Edition of the groundbreaking film includes two versions – the theatrical and the extended cut – in 4K Ultra HD, 2-Disc Blu-ray and Digital HD. Just in time for the theatrical release of Independence Day: Resurgence. Read my review here.
INDEPENDENCE DAY: SPECIAL FEATURES
Attacker Edition Gift Set Blu-ray™
- Newly Restored Extended and Original Theatrical Cuts
- All-new 30-Minute Documentary – Independence Day: A Legacy Surging Forward
- Limited Edition Alien Ship Replica
- Collectible Booklet
- Includes Two Blu-rayTM discs and Digital HD
Blu-ray™
- Newly Restored Extended and Original Theatrical Cuts
- All-new 30-Minute Documentary – Independence Day: A Legacy Surging Forward
- Includes Two Blu-rayTM discs and Digital HD
DVD
- Newly Restored Theatrical Cut
- Includes Digital HD
- Digital HD
- First time Digital HD Extras Including Newly Restored Extended Cut
- All-new 30-Minute Documentary – Independence Day: A Legacy Surging Forward
THE DEETS:
Independence Day – 20th Anniversary Attacker Edition Blu-ray & Standard Blu-ray
- Release Date: May 3, 2016
- Screen Format: 16:9 (2.39:1)
- Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD-MA / Spanish 5.1 DD / French Parisian 5.1 DTS / French Quebecois 1.0 DD
- Subtitles: English / French / Spanish
- Total Run Time: Approximately 145 minutes (Theatrical Cut) / Approximately 154 minutes (Extended Cut)
- U.S. Rating: PG-13
Independence Day – 20th Anniversary DVD
- Release Date: May 3, 2016
- Screen Format: 16:9 (2.39:1)
- Audio: English 5.1 DD / Spanish 5.1 DD / French 2.0 Surround DD
- Subtitles: English / French / Spanish
- Total Run Time: Approximately 145 minutes
- U.S. Rating: PG-13
Sicario 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & Digital HD
Treat yourself to an action thriller that’s as compulsively watchable as it is brilliant. Emily Blunt plays a tenaciously impassioned, idealistic FBI agent enlisted to join a secret government operation fighting the war on drugs, led by Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro.
But this is not your average drug cartel story. It’s an art house AND an action film, the perfect example of the masterwork that can result when the right director, screenwriter, stars, and cinematographer come together.
With intense suspense, riveting action, ravishing photography, an otherworldly score, and thought-provoking moral quandaries, “Sicario” is one of the most engaging, essential, and rich moviegoing experiences of the year.
Special Features – Blu-ray:
- Stepping Into Darkness: The Visual Design of Sicario
- Blunt, Brolin & Benicio: Portraying the Characters of Sicario
- Battle Zone: The Origins of Sicario
- A Pulse from the Desert: The Score of Sicario
THE DEETS:
Actors: Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Jon Bernthal, Victor Garber
Directors: Denis Villeneuve
Format: 4K
Language: English
Number of discs: 2
Rated: R
Studio: LIONSGATE
Release Date: March 1, 2016
Run Time: 121 minutes
Ender’s Game 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & Digital HD
Based on the award-winning, landmark bestseller by Orson Scott Card, this movie takes place on a futuristic earth, where only the best and brightest children are recruited by a government desperate to fight back after an alien attack.
When young Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) emerges as a genius strategist, he suddenly becomes humanity’s last and best hope to destroy the alien Formic race. Also stars Harrison Ford, Viola Davis, Abigail Breslin, Ben Kingsley and Hailee Steinfeld.
I found “Ender’s Game” to be visually stunning – especially the 4K version – with a compelling story, great writing and a stellar cast.
Special Features – Blu-ray:
- Audio Commentary
- Ender’s World: Thje Making of Ender’s Game
- Inside the Mind Game
- Deleted/Extended Scenes
THE DEETS:
- Actors: Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Ben Kingsley
- Directors: Gavin Hood
- Format: 4K
- Language: English
- Number of discs: 2
- Rated: PG-13
- Studio: LIONSGATE
- DVD Release Date: March 1, 2016
- Run Time: 114 minutes
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