Top Secret! 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Paramount's 2160p/Dolby Vision presentation of "Top Secret!" on 4K UHD Blu-ray provides a notable, albeit modest, upgrade from its lackluster Blu-ray predecessor. The UHD rendition displays a more filmic nature, with real grain and natural texture rather than the soft, processed visuals found on the 1080p release. Detail is enhanced, showing a crisper and more tangible realism, especially in areas like faces, clothes, and complex visual elements such as a suitcase full of watches at the 12-minute mark. This is a substantial improvement from the previous fuzzy depiction, elevating the definition across varied content without reaching the pinnacle of the UHD experience.

The Dolby Vision color grading enhances the presentation significantly over the Blu-ray, though it does not achieve standout status compared to other UHD offerings. Colors remain firm and pleasing without pushing into overly vivid territory, maintaining stability and solidification suitable for the title’s visual tone. The palette exhibits satisfying accuracy, with well-saturated tones aligned with the film’s intended aesthetic, ensuring realistic depictions of clothes and facial features. Black levels are commendably solid, providing depth in low-light scenes and rendering elements like black German military uniforms effectively. White balance sees a marked improvement, particularly evident in clothing.

Overall, the video quality is free from severe print issues or encode artifacts, offering fans an appreciable upgrade despite not being among the top-tier releases in 4K UHD. The scan likely originates from a 2K source, displaying adequate definition, but may not warrant an upgrade from the Blu-ray alone for discerning viewers seeking state-of-the-art video quality. Though Dolby Vision introduces minimal enhancements in spark and not extraordinary increments in brightness, the enhanced black levels ensure a more stable viewing experience.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Top Secret!" features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that has been directly ported from its 2022 Blu-ray edition. The audio presentation, though existing for some time, retains a modern quality in dialogue clarity. The crispness and purity of the vocal delivery offer an impressive listening experience despite the unavoidable dated sound effects.

Musical sequences, particularly those involving Val Kilmer, stand out with their bold and resonant quality. The audio craftsmanship in these sequences provides a robust low-end response, adding depth and immersion to the musical numbers. The surround sound capabilities are effectively utilized, particularly during concert scenes, enveloping the listener in an engaging soundfield. Action scenes and crowd noises also benefit from pleasing extensions into the rear channels, enhancing overall auditory dynamics without excessive motion distractions.

Overall, the DTS-HD 5.1 track ensures that while the film's comedic and musical elements are brought to life with vigor and clarity, the spatial ambience created through the surround channels adds a layer of immersion that enhances the viewer's experience without overshadowing the film's vintage charm.

The 4K UHD Blu Ray release of "Top Secret!" offers a nostalgic glance into its production through a selection of extras that are ported from the original Blu-ray. This collection does not showcase new content but retains the charm of the original, providing an insightful behind-the-scenes look that fans will appreciate. The audio commentary features directors Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, with producers Jon Davison and Hunt Lowry, moderated by Fred Rubin. It offers an engaging exploration of the film's creation and the creative decisions made throughout. Additionally, alternate scenes alongside a featurette dedicated to the inventive bookstore scene provide a glimpse into creative processes. Completing the package is the original theatrical trailer, capturing the essence of its initial release period.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insightful discussion with directors and producers.
• Alternate Scenes: Additional perspectives into filmmaking.
• Bookstore Backwards: Detailed look at a creative scene.
• Top Secret! Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional footage.

Paramount has updated the 1984 comedy 'Top Secret!' to the 4K UHD Blu-Ray format, offering a 2160p/Dolby Vision video upgrade, while retaining its original DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack from the 2022 Blu-ray release. This standard UHD release lacks new extras, but includes the 2022 Blu-ray which houses previous special features. The release is currently exclusive to the ZAZ: The Collection! set alongside UHD updates for "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad."

'Top Secret!', crafted by the trio of Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, delivers an onslaught of visual gags and absurd humor. Though it doesn't quite reach the comedic zenith of 'Airplane!' or 'Naked Gun', its ambition shines through innovative sequences such as the reverse-shot bookstore gag featuring Peter Cushing and an underwater bar fight climax with Val Kilmer. Kilmer adeptly plays a satirical Elvis knock-off, thrust into war-torn Germany, challenging societal norms with subversive humor that draws parallels between dismissive parents of rock music and Nazi ideologies.

The film thrives on portraying the Nazi party as ineffectual caricatures, consistently outsmarted by their own incompetence, in stark contrast to the barely more capable resistance fighters — a slapstick hallmark that revels in ambiguity and sheer absurdism. Unlike many modern comedies, 'Top Secret!' avoids an overreliance on contemporary cultural references, instead opting for a timeless style of humor. While certain nods—such as a nod to singer Mel Torme—may seem dated, most of its nonsensical comedy remains fresh and endearing. This enduring comedic approach demonstrates an expert balance of cleverness and silliness, a feat not easily replicated.

Paramount's adaptation of "Top Secret!" to 4K UHD Blu-ray delivers a substantial visual improvement over earlier Blu-ray versions, specifically addressing prior inconsistencies. The enhanced resolution offers sharper detail, which is vital in complementing the film's absurd comedic style that relies heavily on visual gags. Colors are vibrant with a noticeable increase in depth and clarity, enhancing the viewing experience significantly.

However, the lack of a new audio track and the absence of additional content are missed opportunities. The existing audio, while serviceable, could have benefited from an upgrade to match the visual quality. Despite these limitations, the 4K transfer alone bolsters the film’s replay value, ensuring fans can rediscover its humor with superior image quality.

To summarize, although Paramount's effort could have been more comprehensive in terms of audio and extras, the significant visual enhancements on "Top Secret!" make it a worthy addition for aficionados of the ZAZ collection. This release ensures that the wit and silliness intrinsic to this cult classic are fully appreciated, justifying the investment despite its package limitations.