Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 87
from 5 reviewers
Review Date:
Obi-Wan Kenobi offers high production value and compelling moments, with 4K Ultra HD and HDR10 elevating the experience. Worth owning in SteelBook.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 98
Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series exhibits exceptional 4K UHD Blu-ray quality, captured at 4.5K with Arri Alexa and RED Komodo cameras, and benefiting from HDR10's depth in dark scenes and color vibrancy. This release, with its superb clarity, detail, and absence of streaming artifacts, is a notable upgrade from Disney+.
Audio: 97
Obi-Wan Kenobi: The Complete Series on 4K UHD boasts a remarkable Dolby Atmos track that surpasses its streaming counterpart with immersive soundscapes, robust effects, and clear dialogue. Height channels and low-frequency elements enhance the experience, making the series' audio a standout feature.
Extra: 51
The "Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series" 4K UHD Blu-ray provides a modest collection of extras, highlighted by engaging insights into character dynamics and production design. While Director Deborah Chow's commentary on the finale offers a thoughtful perspective, the absence of the Disney+ documentary is notably disappointing.
Show: 81
Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series delivers a nostalgic yet uneven return to Star Wars, driven by Ewan McGregor's compelling reprise of the title role. Set ten years post-Revenge of the Sith, the series excels in character depth and iconic performances but suffers from pacing issues, stretching a film concept into a six-episode saga. The UHD release features striking steelbook artwork, though lacking in digital convenience.
Video: 98
"Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series" on 4K UHD Blu-ray stands as a visual triumph, achieving a remarkable synergy between cutting-edge CGI and practical footage. Presented in a 2160p HEVC/H.265 encoded transfer, it benefits significantly from its original 4.5K digital capture using Arri Alexa LF, Mini LF, and RED Komodo 6K cameras, finished as a true 4K Digital Intermediate in 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The high dynamic range (HDR10) provides an expansive color spectrum, enhancing scenes with vibrant earth tones and the iconic luminous glow of lightsabers, while also maintaining deeply detailed shadows without the black crush seen in streaming versions. The noticeable uptick in fine detail—from costumes and props to intricate skin textures—underscores the format's superiority over compressed Disney+ streams, fortifying its value as a physical collectible.
Despite occasional critiques towards the heavy use of Volume StageCraft technology, which is less discreet at the high resolution of 4K, the video presentation retains an engaging clarity across six episodes. Video data rates hovering around 60-70 Mbps contribute to a crisp, dimensionality-infused image free of notable banding or artifacting. The visual narrative supports dynamic contrasts, with the color palette adapting intuitively to diverse planetary landscapes—from Tatooine's warm oranges and cool skies to more exotic settings featuring rich greens and blues. Moreover, HDR enhances action sequences with fluidity and precision, ensuring a captivating viewing experience that justifies this media iteration over its streaming predecessors.
The 4K UHD Blu-ray excels in pushing the aesthetic boundaries of "Obi-Wan Kenobi" beyond mediocrity found in heavily compressed platforms. It's a thoroughly detailed presentation embodying Star Wars' cinematic legacy with exceptional clarity, depth, and color authenticity, elevating audience immersion to new heights.
Audio: 97
The audio presentation of "Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series" on 4K UHD Blu-ray delivers an exceptional Dolby Atmos track that stands out as a significant enhancement over its streaming counterpart. Unlike the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track on the 1080p release, the Dolby Atmos mix offers an immersive experience with distinct verticality, particularly noticeable in scenes featuring spacecraft or atmospheric effects. The sound design effectively utilizes side and rear channels for impactful effects like explosions and delivers John Williams and Natalie Holt's memorable score with rich clarity. Dialogue across all episodes remains clear and comprehensible, providing an immersive dialogue experience alongside the dynamic sound effects.
The uncompressed Atmos mix excels in delivering a full range of dynamics with a pronounced low-frequency extension. Each sound element, from alien vocalizations to droid mechanical noises, is rendered with exceptional detail, creating an engaging auditory landscape. The use of height channels adds a notable overhead presence during sequences involving flying vehicles and other large-scale actions, further enriching the viewer's sense of space and intensity. The surround channels smoothly convey Obi-Wan’s journey through ambient sounds and action sequences, ensuring listeners are fully enveloped in the series’ adventurous atmosphere.
Overall, the Dolby Atmos audio track for "Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series" offers a robust and sonically immersive experience characteristic of Star Wars productions. Complementing the pristine dialogue reproduction are optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles, as well as additional audio options in English Descriptive Audio and 5.1 Dolby Digital for French and Spanish, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for a wider audience.
Extras: 51
The Extras section of the 4K UHD Blu Ray for "Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series" is engaging, albeit limited in scope, providing roughly 35 minutes of featurettes plus a director's commentary. "Duels of Fate: Obi-Wan vs. Vader" presents an insightful exploration of the iconic lightsaber duels between Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, showcasing both historical clips from the original Star Wars and new training footage. "The Dark Times: Villains" delves into the adaptation of classic and new antagonists, although some may find the treatment of the Inquisitors lacking depth. "Designing the Galaxy" highlights the extraordinary production design work led by Doug Chiang. The audio commentary for Part VI by Director Deborah Chow offers a detailed analysis of her directorial vision for the finale. Unfortunately, notable omissions like the Disney+ documentary "Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi’s Return" stand out, hinting at Disney+ exclusivity strategies.
Extras included in this disc:
- Duels of Fate: Obi-Wan vs. Vader: Insight into the lightsaber battles incorporating past and present perspectives.
- The Dark Times: Villains: Exploration of series villains' adaptation from various Star Wars media.
- Designing the Galaxy: Examination of production design elements including set and character design.
- Audio Commentary on Part VI by Director Deborah Chow: Analysis and insights from director Deborah Chow on the series finale.
Show: 81
"Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series" on 4K UHD Blu-ray delivers an intriguing experience, steeped in nostalgia, yet hampered by an inconsistent pace. Set a decade after "Revenge of the Sith," the series revisits familiar terrains and characters, with Ewan McGregor reprising his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi with renewed depth. McGregor's performance is compelling, as he portrays the Jedi Master grappling with past failures and the haunting presence of former apprentice Anakin Skywalker, now Darth Vader. Hayden Christensen's return as Vader provides a palpable menace, skillfully exploring the inner turmoil beneath the fearsome exterior. Despite an occasional loss of narrative momentum, these performances capture and expand the essence of their characters.
The series navigates the delicate balance between new storytelling and continuity within the iconic Star Wars franchise. While embracing the legend status of its leads, "Obi-Wan Kenobi" introduces fresh elements and returning faces that aim to enrich the Star Wars saga. The miniseries charts a poignant journey through its six episodes, primarily driven by a storyline where Obi-Wan is coaxed out of hiding by Leia's abduction—a plot threaded with ties to canonical events and emotional stakes heightened by McGregor and Blair's portrayals. However, the transition from a planned feature film to stretched episodic storytelling occasionally disrupts the pacing.
Technically, the 4K release is commendable, split over two discs in a visually striking Steelbook presentation. Despite some odd packaging choices like unnecessary art cards, the vivid imagery and sound design reflect the galactic grandeur expected from Star Wars productions. Although pacing issues persist, fans are rewarded with a series that deftly bridges critical epochs in the Star Wars lore, punctuated by magnificent performances and satisfying, if somewhat uneven, narrative arcs.
Total: 87
"Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series" on 4K UHD Blu-ray offers a visually enhanced continuation of the iconic Jedi and Sith storyline post "Revenge of the Sith." The 4K image, bolstered by HDR10, elevates the viewing experience with striking clarity, while the Dolby Atmos audio ensures immersive soundscapes that heighten key emotional moments. Despite some critiques about pacing and script cohesion, these are overshadowed by Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen's compelling performances. The SteelBook packaging adds a collectible allure that complements the technical excellence of the set.
Fans of the franchise will appreciate the depth added to Kenobi’s character, providing closure to his narrative arc. Moments with a young Leia and the return of Darth Vader add layers of intrigue. Yet, there’s an acknowledgment of the series occasionally falling prey to a formulaic narrative style that contrasts with its otherwise compelling concepts. The supplemental materials, though limited, offer additional insights worth exploring, amplifying the series’ value.
In conclusion, "Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series" is a testament to Star Wars' allure and depth. It delivers on nostalgic fronts and technical brilliance, making it a must-have for collectors and enthusiasts. While it may not consistently achieve greatness across all creative aspects, the high production values and performances ensure a rewarding engagement for audiences. Recommended for fans seeking both nostalgia and new narratives in stunning Ultra HD.
Blu-ray.com review by Jeffrey KauffmanRead review here
Video: 100
Quite a few episodes feature Obi-Wan moving through rather dark or dimly lit environments, and one of the improvements in this 4K outing is some noticeable if subtle addition to shadow detail courtesy...
Audio: 100
I can't frankly complain about the 1080's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which is consistently immersive and rather nicely layered and detailed throughout the six episodes, but that said the Dolby Atmos...
Extras: 60
The front panel offers Obi-Wan and Darth facing off with a smaller image of Obi-Wan and his royal charge (that would be Princess Leia) in between the two combatants....
Movie: 80
It's always hard to tell from PR spin just how long a "limited series" was supposed to last, and with the added data point that Obi-Wan Kenobi was sparked at least in part by a jettisoned feature film,...
Total: 80
Star Wars fans will of course most likely geek out a little to see McGregor and Christensen back in action, and if that's the perceived "calling card" of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the good news is that the series...
The Digital Bits review by Bill HuntRead review here
Video: 100
As is the case with the other recent Disney+ 4K releases, the resulting image quality is fantastic and a massive improvement over the steaming version....
Audio: 95
All the dynamics are present, with pleasing LFE and immersive use of the height and surround channels....
Extras: 60
It includes a look back at the fight training that McGregor and Christensen did for the prequel films, compared with the new training for this series....
Movie: 70
Revenge of the Sith, Deborah Chow’s Obi-Wan Kenobi finds its title character (played by Ewan McGregor) in hiding, living a modest life on Tatooine as he watches over young Luke Skywalker, who lives with...
Total: 81
I really hope there’s some kind of internal assessment happening at the company, because it feels like whoever’s been making the decisions up there until now isn’t especially good at reading the room—knowing...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 100
This video presentation isn't leaps and bounds better than the Disney+ stream, but it is noticeable and looks excellent with the HDR10 revving its engines during the action beats....
Audio: 100
The height speakers bring in inclement weather, and other sound effects from above, especially when someone is using the force to fight....
Extras: 40
- A lot of the set design, vehicles, alien life forms, and more are explored in this featurette....
Movie: 80
With the biggest fan base in the world, and arguably the most boisterous, it was only a matter of time before fan-favorite characters would return for their own series, which is why Obi-Wan Kenobi entered...
Total: 80
still, the 4K image with HDR10 looks amazing and is a great upgrade from the streaming service option, and the Dolby Atmos audio track is fantastic....
Home Theater Forum review by Todd ErwinRead review here
Video: 100
The six episodes are spread out over two BD100 discs (three episodes each) and are presented in 2160p HEVC encodes with HDR10 and are major improvements over the bitrate-starved streaming versions....
Audio: 100
These mixes are highly immersive, from the rustling winds of Tatooine and the songbirds of Alderaan to the bustling traffic noises in the skies of Daiyu....
Extras: 60
The Dark Times: Villains (1080p; 11:46): As the title implies, this featurette takes a look at the villains at hand in the series....
Movie: 80
As a six-episode series (originally conceived as a feature film), it is a nostalgic return to the George Lucas-era of Star Wars that helps to fill in some of the character gaps between Revenge of the Sith...
Total: 90
Obi-Wan Kenobi is an entertaining continuation of Obi-Wan and Darth Vader’s journey after the events of Revenge of the Sith....
Why So Blu?Read review here
Video: 100
The added resolution and HDR color spectrum can also reveal the budgetary limitations of the CGI at play....
Audio: 100
Clarity and pitch are top tier and there is plenty of surround and bass activity to enjoy also!Height: Height channels carry action and ambience with equal measure....
Extras: 40
The Dark Times: Villains – Uncover the lore of the deadly Inquisitors, and Darth Vader’s iconic look....
Movie: 100
Total: 100
Pair that with a precocious child Leia, the return of Darth Vader in a younger state and some solid attention grabbing writing and visual flair and you have another Star Wars series masterpiece....
Director: N/A
Actors: Ewan McGregor, Moses Ingram, Vivien Lyra Blair
PlotSet a decade after the fall of the Jedi Order and the rise of the Galactic Empire, a former Jedi Master now lives in exile, haunted by the past and watchful over a young boy from afar on a desert planet. Trying to keep a low profile, he grapples with his failure to protect his former pupil, who has turned into a menacing force within the Empire. Meanwhile, the Empire's relentless Inquisitors scour the galaxy, hunting down the remaining Jedi who escaped execution. One particularly driven Inquisitor, ambitious and skilled, sets her sights on drawing the elusive ex-master out of hiding using any means necessary, determined to prove herself. Amidst all this, the Jedi's mundane routine is shattered when an old ally makes contact through unexpected means, begging for aid beyond just the safety of the boy.
Threats escalate as a plea for help drags the reluctant ex-Jedi into an adventure that spans across desolate lands and bustling underworlds. Encountering both new allies and formidable foes, he learns of the harsh consequences of his past decisions and the dim light of hope that his actions could reignite. Along this journey, he struggles with rebuilding his connection to a mystic energy they once wielded so effortlessly. His internal struggle parallels the looming conflict against the encroaching darkness, as he confronts not only enemies but also guilt, redemption, and what it truly means to become a protector again. As events unfold, revelations surface about those who hunt him and those he seeks to protect, setting the stage for unexpected confrontations that will challenge everything he believes in.
Writers: Joby Harold
Release Date: 27 May 2022
Runtime: N/A
Rating: TV-14
Country: United States
Language: English