Underworld: 5-Movie Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The "Underworld: 5-Movie Collection" in its 4K UHD format provides a fairly remarkable upgrade, although with some notable variations in video quality across the films. "Underworld" and "Underworld: Evolution," while upscaled from 2K digital intermediates, show a marked improvement in contrast and detail. The iconic blues and immersive blacks stand out, lending to a satisfying viewing experience with increased definition, although some minor aliasing and soft moments are present. The HDR10 application infuses the presentation with vibrant reds and blues, adding depth to the film’s inherent color palette. Grain remains film-like and consistent with the series’ dark aesthetic.

"Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" is perhaps the least impressive transfer, despite the benefits of HDR. Originally shot on earlier digital cameras, this movie struggles with appearing more video-like than filmic. The HDR enhances the otherwise limited color space and helps achieve better contrast, but shadow detail remains somewhat compromised, creating a less dynamic visual depth compared to its predecessors.

Conversely, "Underworld: Awakening" stands out as the most visually striking of the set. Filmed in 5K and utilizing dual-strip 3D technology, its upscaled presentation is nothing short of spectacular. The razor-sharp details and vividly saturated color reproduction demonstrate Sony's adeptness at 4K upscaling from a 2K DI. It promises deep blacks and intricate detailing that enriches the overall viewing experience, albeit for a film often considered mediocre in content.

"Underworld: Blood Wars," captured in native 4K, offers superb clarity, although its deep blacks can occasionally obscure shadow detail. While color vibrancy may not surpass its predecessors due to creative choices, it delivers high-definition precision in textures and intricate costume work. Despite lacking a 3D Blu-ray option, this final installment maintains a visual consistency worthy of closing the collection.

The audio presentation of the "Underworld: 5-Movie Collection" on 4K UHD Blu-ray delivers an engaging and technically robust Dolby Atmos experience across all five films, with significant improvements over prior Blu-ray releases. The collection employs a Dolby Atmos soundtrack with a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core, granting an immersive soundfield that expertly utilizes ceiling speakers for directional effects. In each installment, ambient sounds and action effects engage the listener with enveloping, dome-like dynamics. The use of heights is particularly effective for enhancing atmospheric effects such as rain, thunder, and combat sequences.

Individual films within the collection showcase unique audio strengths. "Underworld" features a dynamic soundstage where dialogue remains intelligible amid intense action. However, it struggles slightly with mid-range clarity during peak moments. "Underworld: Evolution" improves upon its predecessor with a robust mid-bass and impressive soundfield detailing. "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" continues this trend by providing commanding bass presence and detailed mid-range frequencies. The series’ fourth installment, "Underworld: Awakening," and fifth, "Underworld: Blood Wars," maintain high standards in audio fidelity, leveraging the Dolby Atmos format to provide rich, room-shaking low frequencies, crystal-clear dialogue, and seamless audio transitions.

Throughout the collection, the sound designers adeptly balance dialogue within loud action sequences across the center channel, ensuring clarity and priority. Bass performance varies between films, but trends toward delivering an impactful low-end presence. Overall, the soundtrack mixes leverage ample dynamic range and significant LFE activity to enhance the viewing experience substantially, confirming this release as an essential upgrade for audiophiles seeking a formidable demonstration of object-based audio technology in home theater environments.

The "Underworld: 5-Movie Collection" on 4K UHD Blu-ray offers a comprehensive suite of extras, effectively combining both existing and new materials. The UHD discs include several new film-related features like alternate flashbacks and trailers, while the Blu-ray discs carry over the rich set of bonus content from previous editions. Commentary from directors and cast, a series of engaging featurettes covering topics from creature effects to production design, as well as music videos and documentaries, bolster the package. Fans of the franchise will find particular enjoyment in the detailed exploration of each film's conceptual, visual, and musical elements, ensuring an immersive viewing experience. The inclusion of director insights and behind-the-scenes footage enhances the understanding of the franchise's evolution, providing valuable context and depth.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insights from directors and cast across various films.
• Featurettes: Production design, creature effects, and more.
• Music Videos: Songs by Finch, Atreyu, and others.
• Animated Series: "Underworld: Endless War".
• Documentaries: "Fang vs. Fiction" and others.
• Blooper Reel: Laughter-inducing behind-the-scenes moments.
• Storyboard Comparisons: Visual evolution insights.
• Trailers: Theatrical and teaser trailers.

The "Underworld: 5-Movie Collection" 4K UHD Blu Ray release is a highly anticipated upgrade for fans of the saga, offering significant improvements in video and audio quality across all five films. Each title benefits from a 2160p/HDR video presentation paired with immersive Dolby Atmos audio. Sony has ensured that the visual aesthetic, particularly the gothic and action-heavy elements the series is known for, looks incredibly striking on this format. Additionally, the films come in sleek black 4K UHD Viva Elite cases with glossy slipcovers, adding to the appeal for collectors. Some new extras are peppered throughout, though most accompanying material is on the bundled Blu-ray discs.

The series kicked off with "Underworld," which strikes a balance between action and horror with stylish visuals, albeit sometimes faltering in emotional depth. Kate Beckinsale's portrayal of Selene is a constant highlight, bringing a stoic yet engaging performance. "Underworld: Evolution," despite having increased ambition and continuity, struggles with a convoluted plot and lacks emotional resonance. The prequel "Rise of the Lycans" is noted for its action-packed narrative and delivers the promised Romeo and Juliet storyline more effectively, benefiting from Michael Sheen’s strong performance.

"Underworld: Awakening" injects new stakes into the series, offering intense action sequences but skimming on deeper storytelling. Finally, "Underworld: Blood Wars" attempts to breathe fresh life into the franchise but suffers from a recycled plot and an over-complicated narrative. Despite these criticisms, the series overall provides thrilling sequences that cater to its action-horror audience, becoming more about visceral spectacle as it progresses. For enthusiasts of the genre, this set is a worthwhile investment, boasting technical quality enhancements that showcase the films in their best light to date.

The "Underworld: 5-Movie Collection" on 4K UHD Blu-ray presents a commendable offering for fans and newcomers alike. The collection boasts all five films in pristine 2160p resolution with HDR enhancement, complemented by Dolby Atmos audio tracks. This enhances the viewer’s experience with vivid visual quality and immersive soundscapes. A major highlight is the inclusion of the extended cut of the original "Underworld" in 4K, now achieved through seamless branching—a significant improvement from prior releases where the theatrical version was exclusive to 4K and the extended cut remained on Blu-ray. Additionally, the set maintains its allure with a visually appealing box design that exudes premium quality, housing each film in individual cases.

The package extends beyond just visual and auditory upgrades, incorporating legacy Blu-ray extras and some fresh additions. Though the additional content may seem minor to some, they provide refreshing elements for those who have followed the series closely. For collectors, the set includes ten discs, where each movie is methodically separated into its casing, avoiding the pitfalls of cumbersome cardboard sleeves or flip cases. Despite the sagging narrative over the series, enthusiasts will appreciate the franchise's stylish gothic aesthetic and intense storytelling, now rejuvenated with advanced home viewing technology.

Conclusively, this boxed set is not only an audio-visual upgrade but a collector's delight. While new extras fall short of being groundbreaking, they complement the overall high-quality presentation. With recommendations coming in strong for dedicated series aficionados desiring a comprehensive package, others might consider the set a worthy addition to their 4K library pending potential individual film releases. As a whole, this collection effectively enhances the "Underworld" viewing experience on modern home theater systems, delivering both nostalgia and newness in one cohesive offering.