It 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Warner Bros’ 4K UHD presentation of "IT" elevates the visual experience significantly beyond its Blu-ray counterpart, highlighting the technical prowess and careful consideration given to its HDR grading. Shot digitally with a 2K digital intermediate, the film’s upconversion to 4K may not drastically enhance detail due to its original resolution, but it's the subtle improvements that set this version apart. The HDR grading enhances depth and contrast in "IT’s" many shadow-laden scenes, such as the foreboding Denbrough basement or the dim sewers the Losers' Club navigates. These darker moments gain a new dimension, thanks to better-defined shapes and textures, which are essential to the film's eerie atmosphere. The nuanced approach to HDR ensures that colors remain true to the director’s vision, with specific attention paid to deep blacks and rich color palettes that maintain the film’s somber aesthetic while making certain elements, like Pennywise’s balloons, stand out with more intensity.

The 4K UHD version shines in its depiction of color and clarity, distinguishing itself through superior black levels and a broader color spectrum. Scenes enveloped in darkness or bathed in sunlight display a remarkable range, from the intense vibrancy of a blood-soaked bathroom to the subtle variations of dark interiors. This rendition harnesses Dolby Vision to further accentuate these qualities, offering viewers an image that is both more realistic and haunting. Despite being sourced from a 2K master, the film benefits from exceptional textural fidelity and an enhanced depth of field, presenting a level of detail in facial features, environments, and sinister clowns that surpasses expectations. The balance achieved between preserving the film's original mood and exploiting the UHD format’s strengths demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the medium.

Warner’s encode handles the film’s glossy, digital clarity without faltering, ensuring a viewing experience free of noise, aliasing, or banding. "IT’s" varied environments, whether the lush forests of Derry or its quaint town square, are rendered with precision, highlighting intricate textures in brickwork and clothing. Furthermore, the deep inkiness of black levels adds to the immersion, particularly in scenes where detail might otherwise be lost to shadows. The implementation of both HDR10 and Dolby Vision options cater to a wide range of displays, ensuring that regardless of one’s setup, the enhancements in color reproduction—especially the reds that haunt Pennywise’s balloons and eyes—remain impactful. Thus, this 4K UHD presentation not only honors the film’s original aesthetic intentions but enhances them for a visually stunning home theater experience.

The audio presentation of "It" on 4K UHD Blu-ray, boasting a Dolby Atmos track, delivers an unparalleled listening experience. Enhanced by the adept use of height and ear-level sound objects, the mix intensifies the film's already compelling soundtrack, immersing viewers in a cinematic soundscape. Ambient sounds, including the pitter-patter of rain, the chilling whispers of Pennywise from the sewers, and the eerie silence before a scare, are meticulously rendered across the soundstage. Dynamic range is showcased especially during scenes of Pennywise's terrifying appearances, with powerful LFE (Low Frequency Effects) underscoring the horror with deep, resonant bass that can truly make viewers' hearts pound. This attention to audio detail provides a rich layering that enhances both the atmospheric and intense moments, creating a sound field that envelops the audience in the story.

Warner Bros. has equipped both the UHD and Blu-ray formats with this Dolby Atmos masterpiece, though it's noted that each disc defaults to a DTS-HD MA 5.1 setup, requiring manual selection for the Atmos experience. This quirk aside, the studio’s commitment to offering a top-tier auditory experience is clear. The soundscape utilizes ambiance effectively to instill fear and provide context, from rats scurrying in the rear channels to the natural reverb of dialogue in cavernous sewers, ensuring a multi-dimensional auditory journey. Even quieter moments are weighted with anticipation, seamlessly transitioning to frightful crescendos without overpowering or causing discomfort to the listener.

Benjamin Wallfisch's score, alongside period-appropriate '80s music, complements the atmospheric tension, blending seamlessly with the film's sound effects. The dialogue remains crisp and clear amid the auditory spectacle, ensuring that the fast-paced exchanges among the cast are easily followed. Issues such as pops or hissing are notably absent, reflecting the high production values Warner Bros. has invested in this audio presentation. Overall, "It" on 4K UHD Blu-ray not only meets but exceeds expectations for an immersive horror audio experience, setting a benchmark for future releases in the genre.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "It" offers a limited yet insightful compilation of extras housed on the accompanying 1080p Blu-ray disc, flawlessly complementing the cinematic experience with a deeper exploration into the film's creation and its menacing antagonist. The highlights include "Pennywise Lives!", a featurette delving into Bill Skarsgård's transformation into the iconic Pennywise, showcasing his dedication and unique contributions to the character’s eerie persona. "The Losers’ Club" provides an intimate look at the camaraderie and growth among the young cast, enriched by their collective journey through the film's production. "Author of Fear" features Stephen King discussing the novel's origins, its thematic exploration of childhood fears, and the creation of Pennywise. Additionally, a selection of eleven deleted or extended scenes offers further narrative context. Despite the extras' relatively standard presentation, they manage to engage die-hard fans and casual viewers alike, making for a comprehensive companion to the main feature.

Extras included in this disc:

• Pennywise Lives!: Discover Bill Skarsgård's preparation for portraying Pennywise, exploring the character's background, costume, and makeup.
• The Losers’ Club: Get an up close and personal look at the teenage stars’ bonding experience during the film's production.
• Author of Fear: Stephen King reveals the inspiration behind his bestselling novel, the concept of childhood fear, and the creation of Pennywise.
• Deleted Scenes: A compilation of eleven deleted or extended scenes from the film.

Stephen King's novel "It," synonymous with terror and the supernatural, receives a contemporary cinematic transformation, ensuring its narrative remains as haunting as ever. In the small town of Derry, Maine, an ancient, shape-shifting evil emerges from the shadows every 27 years to prey on the town's children. Portrayed with unequivocal malevolence by Bill Skarsgård, Pennywise the Dancing Clown becomes the embodiment of this terror. Against this backdrop, seven young outcasts confront their worst nightmares, binding together over a harrowing summer to face the unspeakable entity. This adaptation, much like its source material, is a rich tapestry of childhood fears, camaraderie, and the stark brutality of facing one's demons head-on. Director Andrés Muschietti navigates these themes with a delicate balance of horror and heartfelt moments, marking a divergence from typical genre conventions by delivering a poignant yet terrifying narrative.

Preservation of 1980s nostalgia, a period now celebrated for its contribution to horror and adventure genres, adds layers to "It." Drawing parallels with contemporary cultural phenomena like "Stranger Things," the film thrives on its period setting without succumbing to pastiche. It instead offers a visceral experience underscored by a script that effortlessly marries terror with innocence. The young cast delivers performances that transcend mere portrayals of fear, imbuing the story with authenticity and emotional depth. The cinematographic prowess of Chung-hoon Chung adds another layer, presenting Derry in hues that blend the aesthetically pleasing with the unnervingly sinister.

Technical aspects aside, "It" confronts critics of its necessity amidst a burgeoning catalog of Stephen King adaptations. Its 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation, however,has sparked debate regarding the value of upconverting 2K digital intermediates for next-generation home video formats. While high dynamic range (HDR) typically enhances the viewing experience, some argue that "It" doesn't markedly benefit from this upgrade over its already stellar Blu-ray release. Nonetheless, this adaptation succeeds not only as a horror film but as a narrative that explores the loss of innocence and the unyielding strength found in unity. It sets a benchmark for adaptations to come, making us anticipate the concluding chapter with bated breath despite technical presentation critiques.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "It" as part of Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary Studio Collection and its standalone version have been met with varied but overall positive remarks from the technical and entertainment perspectives. The film's adaptation of Stephen King's novel has impressed with its fidelity to the source material, offering a blend of horror and humor that accentuates the story's themes and character development. The 4K presentation excels with its sparkling image quality, boasting rich detail and vibrant colors enhanced by Dolby Vision. This, coupled with the Dolby Atmos sound mix, creates an immersive audio-visual experience that arguably outperforms its Blu-ray counterpart, despite some opinions suggesting the impact between the formats is negligible. Extras included in this release are considered fair, with a selection that enticingly covers various aspects of the film's production.

While some may argue the limitations of the story are more evident in this more accurate adaptation, the remake stands out for delivering an equal measure of terror and amusement. The cast delivers genuine performances, allowing viewers to connect deeply with each character, further enhanced by an excellent soundtrack and a memorable portrayal of Pennywise. Despite being slightly light on extras, the overall package—comprising the 4K UHD disc, Blu-ray, and Digital Download—is highly recommended for its comprehensive offering that caters to both enthusiasts seeking the latest format and newcomers to Stephen King's chilling universe.

In conclusion, Warner Bros.' 4K UHD release of "It" fulfills the expectations of both technical aficionados and fans of Stephen King's work. Its top-notch video and audio presentation reaffirms the value of owning this horror/thriller in its latest format, providing an enriched viewing experience that leverages advanced home theater technologies. While debates regarding the necessity of upgrading from Blu-ray might persist, this release underscores the progress in home entertainment technology, offering compelling reasons to explore the 4K UHD format.