Dark Phoenix

X-Men: Dark Phoenix soars onto the 4K UHD Blu-ray scene with an exemplary visual presentation that almost makes viewers forget its intermediate was originally mastered in 2K. Fox's release harnesses a 3840 x 2160p resolution, adhering to the film’s original widescreen 2.39:1 aspect ratio. It benefits from HEVC (H.265) encoding, with lush implementations of HDR and WCG enhancing the depth and vibrancy of the color palette. Despite its 2K DI roots, the 4K upscale delivers a tangible improvement in detail and texture— from the intricate designs of the X-Men uniforms to environmental details of Genosha, adding a layer of visual finesse that is both appreciable and immersive. The disc’s utilization of HDR10+ further articulates contrasts, bringing scenes to life with richer blacks and more nuanced highlights that boost the cinematic quality of space voids and nighttime sequences, bolstering the overall visual depth.

The film's digital cinematography shines through with HDR application elevating the visual spectacle, especially in scenes showcasing the fiery Phoenix powers, Storm's electric discharges, and Cyclops' optic blasts. These elements burst on-screen with a dazzling array of colors, from deep scarlet reds to vibrant blues, underlining a vivid presentation that stands out brilliantly against the more muted tones that define much of the film’s aesthetic. Shadow detail sees marked improvement, showcasing excellent clarity in darker scenes without losing detail to murkiness, a testament to the balanced black levels and shadow gradation.

Despite its limitations stemming from a 2K digital intermediate, Dark Phoenix’s 4K presentation surpasses expectations, attributing to a slightly sharper image where fine details, such as facial textures and costume intricacies, become more pronounced. While some scenes might exhibit a softer appearance occasionally, these moments are few and far apart. Colors pop with an intensity that breathes life into Mauro Fiore's cinematography, making for a visually striking experience. The film manages to maintain its moody aesthetics while showcasing moments of vibrant brilliance, rendering this 4K UHD Blu-ray a visual treat that enhances the viewing experience with superior clarity and color fidelity.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray of "Dark Phoenix" presents an audio experience that’s quite the marvel, starting strong with its Dolby Atmos track. From the get-go, viewers are treated to an intricate aural landscape that bridges the gap between mere listening and true auditory immersion. The Atmos mix excels in its dynamic vertical placement, bringing to life elements such as a car crash, with its chaos wafting overhead, and jets zipping through the air with a realism that’s hard to ignore. Moments of dialogue clarity amidst tumultuous action further showcase the mix’s adept handling of sonic elements, ensuring that every spoken word is as clear as the action is thrilling. The LFE channels consistently impress, offering a robust and room-filling presence that complements both the subtle and over-the-top set pieces without overshadowing the film's softer, more nuanced moments.

The track’s object-based design works in tandem with precise directionality and a sprawling soundstage to create a hemispheric audio experience that’s nothing short of demo-worthy. Smaller details, like the sound of rain or bullets, are meticulously placed, creating an enveloping atmosphere that heightens each scene's tension and excitement. The soundtrack, bolstered by Hans Zimmer’s masterful score, leverages the extensive dynamic range to enhance the emotional stakes of the film, with Zimmer’s compositions getting ample room to breathe and elevate the story beyond its visual confines.

The critique isn't without its minor gripes, including a slight lean in overhead support in certain sequences. However, these are far outweighed by the overall excellence and immersive quality of the presentation. From forceful LFEs to the delicate sound of raindrops or debris echoing across the soundscape, "Dark Phoenix" employs its Dolby Atmos track to ensure that each auditory element aligns perfectly with its visual counterpart, crafting an exceptional listening experience. Echoes of Phoenix's energy, alongside meticulously crafted atmospherics in sequences like the train battle, demonstrate a commitment to an audio presentation that is as ambitious and powerful as its titular character.

The "Dark Phoenix" 4K UHD Blu-ray's extra presentations, although heavily relegated to the accompanying Blu-ray disc, offer an engaging glimpse into the movie's production. The standout is undoubtedly the audio commentary by writer-director Simon Kinberg and producer Hutch Parker, which provides intriguing insights and is available on both the 4K and Blu-ray discs. Accompanying this are nearly two hours of special features, including a comprehensive, five-part, feature-length documentary titled "Rise of the Phoenix," which delves deeply into every facet of the production from pre-production through to post-production, showcasing interviews with cast and crew along with behind-the-scenes footage. The extras are rounded out with deleted scenes featuring optional commentary, a lighthearted "How to Fly Your Jet to Space with Beast" featurette, and trailers. While the majority of these are housed on the Blu-ray disc, they collectively offer fans a detailed behind-the-scenes look at the making of "Dark Phoenix."

Extras included in this disc:

AUDIO COMMENTARY: Commentary track with Simon Kinberg and Hutch Parker, available on both the 4K UHD and Blu-ray discs.

RISE OF THE PHOENIX: THE MAKING OF DARK PHOENIX: A detailed, five-part documentary exploring the production process, totaling around 81 minutes.

HOW TO FLY YOUR JET TO SPACE WITH BEAST: A brief, humorous featurette featuring Nicholas Hoult.

DELETED SCENES WITH OPTIONAL COMMENTARY: A collection of scenes not included in the final cut of the movie, with commentary by Kinberg and Parker.

TRAILERS: Promotional trailers for the film.

Dark Phoenix," the final entry in Fox's long-running X-Men saga, emerges as a complex film marked by both notable achievements and distinct shortcomings. The movie, which delves into the cataclysmic transformation of Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) into the Dark Phoenix, attempts a nuanced exploration of its protagonist's inner turmoil and power dynamics within the X-Men. However, it stumbles in fully realizing the depth and potential of the Dark Phoenix storyline previously unexploited in "X-Men: The Last Stand." Despite its attempts at crafting a somber narrative filled with impending doom, significant reshoots and a reworked third act—prompted by peculiar similarities to contemporary superhero films—leave its narrative ambition undercooked.

The ensemble cast, featuring McAvoy, Fassbender, Lawrence, Hoult, and Turner, strives to infuse gravitas into their roles, grappling with themes of control, betrayal, and redemption. Turner, in particular, delivers a commendable performance, navigating Jean Grey's tumultuous journey with emotional intensity. Yet, the film falters in its ensemble approach, failing to anchor the story firmly on its central character's struggle, often shifting focus among its star-studded cast. This dilutes the emotional weight of Jean's storyline, making her transformative arc feel secondary to broader franchise concerns. Additionally, while the film aims to critique aspects like unchecked power and moral ambivalence through characters like Professor Xavier, these reflections seem muddled alongside the action spectacle.

Technically, "Dark Phoenix" showcases compelling visuals and offers moments of thrilling action sequences, such as the spectacular train attack, underscoring Kinberg's direction and the series' penchant for visual opulence. Yet, these strengths can't fully overshadow its narrative weaknesses—namely an underdeveloped antagonist in Vuk (Jessica Chastain) and a lack of coherent central thrust. The movie's aspirations for closure for this iteration of the X-Men universe come across as conflicted, caught between the desire for thematic depth and the requirements of blockbuster spectacle. As such, "Dark Phoenix" serves as a bittersweet farewell to Fox's X-Men series; it's a film that reaches ambitiously but grasps inconsistently, embodying both the potential and pitfalls of its source material and cinematic lineage.

Dark Phoenix," the latest and potentially last installment in the current X-Men film saga, lands on 4K UHD Blu-ray with a presentation that might just exceed the film's reception itself. The Ultra HD video quality and Dolby Atmos audio are characterized as excellent, offering an engaging experience that far surpasses its Blu-ray counterpart. Despite a script that struggles to invigorate its audience and a portrayal of Jean Grey's transformation into Phoenix that feels both rehashed and underwhelming, the technical prowess of this release cannot be ignored. Hans Zimmer's score is highlighted as a powerful beacon that somewhat elevates the narrative above its flaws, especially during the more visually striking sequences. The performances of James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are commendable, showcasing their talents in what is otherwise seen as a missed opportunity to fully explore the "Dark Phoenix" saga.

The supplemental features included with the 4K UHD disc, though deemed somewhat disappointing in breadth, alongside nearly two hours of extras on the accompanying Blu-ray, offer completionists and fans of the franchise a reason to consider this a worthy addition to their collection. There is an acknowledgment among reviewers that while the film might fail to fully connect with its core lore or offer a convincing personal story amidst its sci-fi superhero epic ambitions, the home release stands out for its reference-quality audiovisual presentation. The feminist undertones and exploration of psychological themes noted by some underline attempts to infuse depth into the storyline, despite a consensus on its execution falling short.

In conclusion, "Dark Phoenix" on 4K UHD Blu-ray presents a compelling case for audiophiles and videophiles, delivering standout video and audio quality that may entice even the most hesitant of fans. While it fails to rectify the narrative and character missteps fully, it offers a visually and acoustically rich experience that highlights what could have been if the story matched the technical execution. For collectors and enthusiasts inclined towards completing their X-Men saga collection or those drawn to superior home theater experiences, this release, despite its narrative shortcomings, proves to be an essential, albeit bittersweet, addition.