The Super Mario Bros. Movie 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Universal's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" delivers a visually exemplary 2160p UHD presentation, featuring a Dolby Vision enhancement that augments colors for a compellingly rich and dynamic viewing experience. Rendered from a 2K Digital Intermediate and up-converted to 4K, the resolution offers appreciably finer texture over the 1080p version. The visual pop is substantial, with expanded color gamuts and emboldened dynamic ranges capturing the film’s vibrant palette and meticulous contrast. The cart encounter in chapter 14, particularly, is highlighted for its impressive visual appeal.

Dolby Vision's grading deepens the color intensity, making hues like Peach's pink, Luigi's green, and Mario's red stand out with remarkable vibrancy and contrast precision. The film's attention to detail is clear; intricate visual elements such as fabric textures, mustaches, and environmental minutiae are crisply rendered. Colors balance well without appearing overly dark or cartoonish, achieving an ideal blend of depth, vitality, and nuanced intensity.

Black levels are impressively deep and consistent, maintaining texture and fine details without crushing. The HDR and Dolby Vision enhancements ensure that scenes involving light, such as those with fire or flashlights, exhibit excellent brightness and dynamic range. Notably, sequences like the Rainbow Road chase offer reference-level color and contrast intensity. The encoding handles slight grain filters impeccably, preserving the film's tight texture with no issues of banding, aliasing, or video noise. This presentation stands out as a top-tier animated UHD release.

The Dolby Atmos surround mix provided on the 4K UHD Blu Ray of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" is a delightfully robust and immersive experience. The well-balanced use of audio objects placed above, including atmospheric effects, music, and discrete sound effects, effectively supports the film's thematic tone. Notable sequences, such as the arena showdown between Mario and Donkey Kong, exemplify the mix's ability to heighten immersion by tactfully placing effects within the soundstage. The overhead elements often rely more on subtlety than aggressiveness, but their presence undoubtedly enriches the overall auditory fullness. Whether it's Bowser’s ship or a kart race on Rainbow Road, the blend of dynamic directional cues, sweeping movement, and naturally discrete placements ensures a captivating experience.

The track demonstrates exceptional clarity and fidelity across a wide array of auditory components—from the richly nostalgic Mario sound effects to the vibrant musical score. Dialogue is consistently presented with perfect clarity and centrality, while the front speakers carry the bulk of the musical engagement complemented fully by surrounds. Low-frequency extension is notable for its precise, impactful rumbles that underscore peak moments, such as fire, thunder, and stomps, without ever veering into instability. Additionally, height speakers effectively deliver debris, fireballs, and other iconic sound effects with precision.

This Dolby Atmos mix also excels in its dynamic range and room utilization, with sound effects transitioning smoothly across all speakers. The surround and stereo channels track voices, sound effects, and ambiance meticulously, creating an expansive and lively sound field whether the scene is set in New York or the Mushroom Kingdom. The dialogue reproduction remains clear and crisp throughout. Altogether, this Dolby Atmos presentation offers an ideal complement to the film’s visuals, providing an engaging and thoroughly entertaining listening experience that will resonate with both new viewers and long-time fans of the franchise.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" boasts a suite of well-crafted extras that thoroughly enrich the viewing experience. Emphasizing a professional production quality, these extras dive deep into the film's creation and character development. Notable highlights include an in-depth six-part feature on the film's making, comprehensive behind-the-scenes insights, and a lyrical performance by Jack Black. The technical prowess of the UHD format enhances the visual and auditory enjoyment of these extras.

Extras included in this disc:

• Getting to Know the Cast: Engaging views of cast members discussing their characters and affinity for the franchise.
• Leveling Up: Making The Super Mario Bros. Movie: A detailed six-part featurette covering various aspects of production from design to easter eggs.
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie Field Guide: A walkthrough of iconic locations, sounds, and references.
• “Peaches” Lyric Video: Jack Black performing as Bowser.
• Leadership Lessons with Anya Taylor-Joy: Insights from Anya Taylor-Joy on leadership inspired by her role as Princess Peach.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie serves as a vibrant homage to Nintendo's iconic game series, while incorporating modern animation and storytelling techniques. The film follows brothers Mario and Luigi, New York-based plumbers who find themselves in the fantastical Mushroom Kingdom after a plumbing mishap. Here, Mario teams up with Princess Peach and Toad to rescue Luigi and thwart Bowser's sinister plans. The narrative, albeit straightforward, features a multitude of references and homages to over three decades of Mario games, delighting long-time fans with familiar characters and settings. This work’s animation is particularly noteworthy, bringing to life the exuberant and colorful world of Mario with impressive detail and lush visuals reflective of the more recent 3D games, while also nodding to the classic side-scrolling adventures.

Voice casting has been a contentious point among fans, especially with Chris Pratt as Mario. Although his performance is serviceable, it lacks the spark typically associated with the character's traditional voice actor, Charles Martinet. Jack Black, however, excels as Bowser, delivering an energetic, standout performance that enhances the film's entertainment value. The ensemble cast, including Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach and Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, fits well into their roles, contributing to the overall lively atmosphere of the film.

Despite its critical reception being polarizing, the film’s success is evident with its engaging, fast-paced narrative that appeals especially to children and nostalgic gamers alike. The Super Mario Bros. Movie embraces its roots while pushing the boundaries of visual spectacle in animated films. It also sidesteps the pitfalls of its '90s live-action predecessor by staying true to the playful essence of the source material. While some may find it hollow or overly reliant on fan service, it unmistakably captures the thrill of a Mario game brought to life on the big screen.

"The Super Mario Bros. Movie" successfully translates the beloved video game series into a visually stunning and entertaining film. Illumination and Nintendo have created a colorful world that faithfully captures the essence of the game, even if the storyline veers towards the familiar. Nevertheless, this cinematic adventure is a fun and engaging journey through the vibrant landscapes of Mario's universe, making it a landmark adaptation within an otherwise underwhelming genre. The UHD release serves up an impressive array of visual and audio delights, with top-notch Dolby Vision picture quality and an immersive Dolby Atmos sound mix.

While some might see "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" as an exercise in corporate branding, it excels at pleasing its target audience. The filmmakers have included a robust storyline, beloved characters, and ample setup for a potential blockbuster franchise. The 4K UHD presentation stands out with demo-worthy visuals that are sure to impress both casual viewers and avid enthusiasts. The inclusion of bonus features adds further value, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

In conclusion, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" represents a strong start for Nintendo's cinematic endeavors. The UHD Blu-ray release provides a premium home viewing experience that showcases the film's high production standards. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the franchise, this release is highly recommended for its superb audiovisual quality and engaging content.