Independence Day: Resurgence 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "Independence Day: Resurgence" exhibits a significant improvement over its HD counterparts, faithfully maintaining the film's original 2.39:1 aspect ratio and using the HEVC / H.265 encoding at a 2160p resolution. Shot digitally on Red Epic Dragon and Weapon cameras in Redcode RAW format, the movie made a leap from a 6K capture to a 4K Digital Intermediate finishing, ensuring that the fine details, textures, and production design shine through with exceptional clarity. The use of 10-bit video depth, a Wider Colour Gamut (WCG), and High Dynamic Range (HDR) enhances the visual depth and contrast, displaying more nuanced hues—particularly in scenes of cosmic vastness and the intricate interior of the moon base. Despite its digital prowess, certain VFX sequences rendered at 2K betray a slight inconsistency in image quality, particularly in expansive green screen shots that come off as somewhat flat and overly contrasted, a discrepancy most notable when juxtaposed with the film's sharper real-location footage.

The combination of HDR and WCG intensifies the visual experience, offering brighter highlights, deeper blacks, and a broader spectrum of colors that are especially apparent during scenes featuring outer space and the luminous arrival of the alien ship. The HDR implementation aids in rectifying some of the shadow detail lost in the standard Blu-ray version, allowing for improved visibility in darker scenes without sacrificing the film's intended stylistic choices regarding color. However, it's worth noting that this enhancement sometimes leads to a slightly gritty texture on lighter backgrounds, a characteristic observed in other 4K UHD releases, though not detracting significantly from overall visual fidelity.

Despite occasional issues with milky blacks and contrast fluctuations that may impart a hazy appearance to certain sequences, the increased resolution and meticulous attention to color gradations elevate the viewing experience significantly. While the film's overall color palette remains deliberately subdued until action sequences erupt in vibrant explosions, such stylistic decisions do not undermine the 4K disc's performance. With minimal source noise and no significant artifacts, "Independence Day: Resurgence" stands out as a technically polished release that showcases both the strengths of modern digital cinematography and high dynamic range video in enhancing cinematic spectacle, albeit with minor reservations in consistency amid its most ambitious visual effects sequences.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Independence Day: Resurgence" comes equipped with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, delivering an audio experience that exploits the film's grandiose and destructive action sequences to maximum effect. This immersive sound design utilizes the object-based nature of Dolby Atmos, creating a vast soundstage that excels in conveying the breadth of planetary-wide devastation. The front soundstage is notably expansive, complemented by aggressive low-end frequencies and LFE channel. Precision in sound effects steering across the sound field, together with the deft use of overhead speakers, encapsulates the listener in a fully enveloping audio environment. Notably, scenes involving debris fields and dogfights demonstrate the soundscape's dynamic range, with solid impacts and fighters zooming across the room in a realistic manner. Moreover, amidst this controlled chaos, the film's score is seamlessly woven into the action, ensuring dialogue remains crystal clear and anchored to on-screen events.

The Dolby Atmos track's mastery extends to its adept handling of audio objects, presenting a mix of atmospherics, discrete effects, and musical accompaniment that enhances immersion significantly. From the intense opening segment to battles with alien invaders, the soundtrack showcases a multitude of swirling effects, pulsating music, and ambient extension that fill and rotate around the listener's space. This heightens engagement through a tangible sense of involvement that is both palpable and visceral, setting a high benchmark for auditory immersion.

The soundtrack doesn’t just impress with its immersive qualities but also stands out due to its dynamic range and fidelity. Aggressive low-frequency effects provide a significant heft to action scenes, while dialogue remains impeccably clear and directionally precise. The Atmos channels contribute to an elevated sense of immersion with overhead pans and neatly placed effects evident from the outset, enhancing pivotal battle scenes with great effect. Collectively, these attributes culminate in an audio presentation that is both technically superb and emotionally engaging, confirming "Independence Day: Resurgence" as an outstanding showcase for high-quality home theater systems.

The Independence Day: Resurgence 4K UHD Blu-ray set enriches the viewing experience with a treasure trove of extras focused on expanding the cinematic universe and exploring the film's creation, housed predominantly on the included 1080p Blu-ray disc. The comprehensive collection includes intriguing deleted scenes with optional director commentary by Roland Emmerich, offering insights into the editing process and reasons behind each cut. Fans are treated to a unique faux TV program, "The War of 1996," which bridges the events between the original film and its sequel, alongside a humorous morning show parody featuring key cast members. The centerpiece, "Another Day: The Making of Independence Day: Resurgence," is an extensive four-part documentary that delves deep into the production challenges and achievements, despite the film's critical reception. Additional highlights include a gag reel showcasing cast antics, detailed concept art galleries, and theatrical trailers that encapsulate the movie's promotional journey. An audio commentary track with Emmerich provides further depth, revealing the filmmaker’s optimism and dedication.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Eight scenes with optional commentary by Roland Emmerich.
• The War of 1996: A faux TV program connecting the original film and sequel.
• It's Early ABQ!: A fake morning show interview with key actors.
• Another Day: The Making of Independence Day: Resurgence: A four-part documentary on the film's production.
• Gag Reel: Cast bloopers and ad-libbed moments.
• Concept Art: Pre-production artwork of Aliens, AI, Humans, Locations, and Original Presentation Images.
• Trailers: Two theatrical trailers and one TV spot.
• Audio Commentary: Commentary track by director Roland Emmerich.

"Independence Day: Resurgence," despite the high expectations set by its predecessor, struggles to recapture the magic and success of the original film. Set two decades after the events of "Independence Day," the sequel ambitiously attempts to elevate the sense of global catastrophe through the use of recovered alien technology and a united Earth's defense program. However, the execution falls short of delivering a coherent and engaging narrative, plagued by a bland storyline and an overcrowded cast lacking in depth and development. The absence of Will Smith is deeply felt, as the new additions to the ensemble, including Liam Hemsworth and Jessie Usher, despite their efforts, fail to fill the charismatic void left behind. Jeff Goldblum and Brent Spiner return, offering some familiarity, but they alone cannot steer this sequel back to its former glory.

Technically, the film ambitiously scales up the alien threat to an unprecedented level, with a single ship spanning almost two continents, aiming to core the Earth for its energy. While this setup promises immense spectacle, the execution of special effects is inconsistent, ranging from impressive to noticeably subpar, particularly in scenes reliant on extensive green screen work. The action sequences, although sporadically entertaining, are too few and far between, with many potentially captivating moments disrupted by an overcrowded and underdeveloped cast. The humor and heart that punctuated the original film are sorely missing here, leaving the sequel feeling hollow and emotionally unengaging.

Furthermore, "Independence Day: Resurgence" stumbles in delivering a convincing global threat, limiting much of the conflict to a select group of US personnel rather than showcasing a truly unified global front against the alien invaders. This narrow focus diminishes the sense of global stakes established in the first film, making the sequel's premise feel less grand and imminent. The film's attempt to suck up to the Chinese market is transparent and detracts from its narrative integrity. Despite some interesting ideas sprinkled throughout, they are either not fully realized or merely mentioned in passing, contributing to a script that feels rushed and uneven. Overall, "Independence Day: Resurgence," while ambitious in scope and visuals, ultimately fails to recapture the essence and enjoyment of its predecessor, coming across as a missed opportunity in reviving the franchise.

"In the highly anticipated follow-up to its predecessor, Independence Day: Resurgence is met with mixed feelings. As a sequel and potential franchise reboot, it aims high but falls short, disappointing fans and critics alike. The exclusion of Will Smith leaves a noticeable void, though Jeff Goldblum's return is a welcome sight. Despite this, the film succumbs to recycled themes from the original, diluted further by excessive plot holes and an over-reliance on CGI that often detracts rather than adds to the visual spectacle. The narrative is besieged by a sense of déjà vu, lacking the originality and depth expected from a two-decade hiatus, presenting what could be described as a missed opportunity to revive the beloved franchise.

Technically, the 4K UHD Blu-ray release stands in stark contrast to the film's reception. The transfer boasts an impressive display of fine detail and vivid colors, attributed to its true 4K digital intermediate. Although certain VFX scenes rendered in 2k and stylistically muted colors occasionally mar the experience, the overall image quality showcases deep blacks and brilliant brights which are commendable. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is another high point, offering an immersive audio experience with clear, dynamic sounds that complement the on-screen action effectively. The supplemental features provide some behind-the-scenes insights without addressing notable absences such as Will Smith's.

Conclusively, while Independence Day: Resurgence struggles narratively and fails to capture the spirit of its predecessor, its 4K UHD Blu-ray release shines in technical execution. The impressive visuals and robust audio make it a worthwhile addition for enthusiasts equipped with compatible home theater setups. For those seeking to experience every bit of detail and sound in what could have been a monumental sequel, this release delivers on those fronts, despite the film's overarching narrative and creative shortcomings."