Uncharted 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray presentation of "Uncharted" elevates the home cinema experience with its 2160p/Dolby Vision video quality, which significantly outperforms its 1080p counterpart, albeit not by an overwhelming margin. Shot digitally at 3.4K and utilizing the ARRIRAW codec with Arri Alexa cameras, the film undergoes an upscale from its 2K digital intermediate to the 4K resolution, maintaining its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio. This transformation brings forth vivid, rich colors and an impressive dynamic range courtesy of HDR10 and Dolby Vision. While there's an inherent variance in detail due to the use of anamorphic lenses and artistic choices, resulting in a slight out-of-focus effect around frame edges, this does not detract from the overall visual splendor. The film's visual aesthetic is further enhanced by the sun-drenched setting in its latter half, showcasing superb color depth and highlight rendition, all while maintaining pristine image clarity devoid of judder or grain.

Close-up shots benefit from the resolution increase, offering finer texture detail on physical features and surfaces compared to the standard Blu-ray, though some sequences may not demonstrate this upgrade as profoundly. The wide-angle daylight scenes of exotic landscapes are particularly striking, with the detailed textures on faces, clothing, and sets standing out. Despite this, some digital noise and chroma errors are noted, attributed to the source material's digital nature and the limitations of the 2K source material. Nevertheless, Sony's meticulous authoring ensures minimal compression artifacts, with average bit rates around 55 Mbps, ensuring a clean, artifact-free viewing experience.

The Dolby Vision grading provides a noticeable boost in color vibrancy and depth across various elements from vehicles to wardrobes, enhancing the film's visual flair. Black levels are deeper, and whites more brilliant in the 4K UHD version, enhancing contrast and making for a more immersive viewing experience. Skin tones appear more natural, and textural details are markedly improved, whether in facial close-ups or the nuances of sandy beaches. Despite some critiques regarding noise and consistency in fine details, largely due to the inherent challenges of upscaling from a 2K DI, "Uncharted’s" UHD presentation is a commendable effort by Sony. It might not reach the pinnacle of 4K UHD excellence but offers a visually captivating experience that represents a notable upgrade over its Blu-ray release.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Uncharted" boasts a Dolby Atmos soundtrack that elevates the audio experience significantly over the standard 5.1 mix found on the companion Blu-ray. This Atmos track impresses with its active use of the soundstage, employing overhead audio objects to create a highly immersive environment that perfectly complements the on-screen action. With a wide array of soundtrack and subtitle options, including lossless English Atmos and several DTS-HD MA 5.1 tracks in various languages, this release caters to a global audience. A rich and dynamic range characterizes the overall sound design, from Ramin Djawadi's musically deep and agile score to the precise placement of dialogue and sound effects that maintain a balanced and enveloping mix.

Listeners will find themselves squarely in the midst of sweeping action set pieces, with atmospheric sounds and discrete audio cues effectively transporting them into "Uncharted's" adventurous world. Explosions, gunfire, and intricate ambient sounds such as rushing water and the mechanical movements of ancient machinery are rendered with impressive clarity and depth. The low-end frequencies are particularly noteworthy, providing powerful yet controlled subwoofer activity that complements both the action sequences and the more subtle atmospherics. However, despite its strengths, the track occasionally exhibits restraint, holding back from unleashing its full sonic potential until key moments.

The Atmos mix creates a convincing three-dimensional soundscape, utilizing both spatial awareness and meticulous audio positioning to enhance the viewer's engagement. From the bustling energy of a dance club to the eerie quiet of underground tombs, sound elements are meticulously tailored to their environments. While dialogue remains clear and well prioritized throughout, it's the marriage of delicate atmospherics and robust action sonics that defines this audio presentation. Although sometimes criticized for not maximizing discrete overhead usage or fully embracing its aural capabilities in every scene, "Uncharted's" Dolby Atmos soundtrack offers a compelling listening experience that significantly contributes to the film's immersive qualities.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Uncharted" offers an assortment of extras that lean heavily towards short, easily digestible content, while managing to sprinkle in depth where it counts, particularly in Director Ruben Fleischer's commentary, available on both the 4K disc and standard Blu-ray. The extras collection spans a total runtime of about 47 minutes across both discs, covering a spectrum from deleted scenes to behind-the-scenes featurettes that dive into various aspects of movie-making like stunt choreography, character adaptation from game to screen, and the chemistry between leading actors. While a majority of the featurettes are brief and resemble the traditional electronic press kit content, they collectively provide a rounded glimpse into the film's production process. Highlights include an in-depth look at the stunt work in "Never a Dull Moment: Stunts & Action" and the creative journey in "Becoming Nathan Drake." Though some may find the extras lacking in substantial new insights into the film's development, there's enough here to satisfy fans looking for a peek behind the curtains of this adventurous adaptation.

Extras included in this disc:

Deleted and Extended Scenes: Various scenes not included in the final cut of the film.

Behind the Scenes Featurettes:

• Becoming Nathan Drake: Tom Holland's transformation into the iconic character.
• Big Action Breakdown: C-17 Globemaster: A detailed analysis of crafting a key action sequence.
• Charting the Course: On Set with Ruben Fleischer: An exploration of the director's vision and on-set experiences.
• Never a Dull Moment: Stunts & Action: Focusing on the film’s stunt work and action choreography.
• The Buddy System: Highlighting the chemistry between Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg.
• Villains, Backstabbers & Accomplices: A look at the film's ensemble of characters.

Commentary with Director Ruben Fleischer: An insightful commentary track where Fleischer discusses various aspects of making "Uncharted."

Music Video: "No Mind" by Milkblood - related to the film's soundtrack.

Theatrical Marketing & Previews: A collection of inventive advertisements and additional Sony title previews.

The long-awaited screen adaptation of "Uncharted," a project notorious for its tumultuous development cycle and revolving door of talent, finally makes its cinematic debut. Casting Tom Holland as the precocious Nathan Drake and Mark Wahlberg as the seasoned Victor Sullivan, the film embarks on a globe-trotting quest inspired by the acclaimed Sony PlayStation series. The duo's mission to uncover Ferdinand Magellan's long-lost fortune is ripe with the potential for high-stakes adventure but is encumbered by a screenplay that struggles to venture beyond the shadow of its video game progenitor and a miscellany of cinematic predecessors. Despite commendable efforts from Holland and Wahlberg, their character dynamics often succumb to contrived banter and lack the depth necessary to elevate the narrative beyond familiar tropes and convoluted plot points.

The presence of Antonio Banderas as the antagonist adds a layer of gravitas, yet his character, much like the rest of the supporting cast, is thinly sketched. The film attempts a nuanced critique of cultural appropriation through his motivations, but this is undermined by its own celebratory portrayal of treasure hunting. Visually, "Uncharted" benefits from Ruben Fleischer's direction and a significant effects budget, with particular praise reserved for Ramin Djawadi's score. However, these elements cannot compensate for the film's larger issues: an uninspired adaptation that cycles through grand set pieces without truly capturing the essence or excitement of the source material. While certain sequences, notably the finale, burst with the vibrancy and thrills akin to playing the games, they are exceptions in an otherwise by-the-numbers action-adventure that leaves audiences craving for the uncharted territories it failed to explore.

The Uncharted 4K UHD Blu-ray release delivers a mixed bag that is reflective of the film's critical reception. On one hand, Sony's technical prowess shines through with a transfer that almost reaches the pinnacle of visual and sonic quality expected from a studio of its calibre. The film itself, a long-awaited adaptation of the beloved video game series, seems to fall short of its potential, eliciting a sense of unfulfilled expectation despite its rich source material. Critics and viewers alike note the film's struggle to balance its homage to the original games with the need to appeal to a broader cinematic audience. The general consensus points towards an experience that, while not lacking in grandeur or action, somehow misses the mark in capturing the essence that made the games a staple in their genre.

Technical aspects aside, the Uncharted film adaptation navigates through familiar territory without setting new benchmarks for the action-adventure genre. It finds itself caught in a limbo of trying to satisfy die-hard fans with nods to the source material while simultaneously striving for broader appeal through typical genre conventions. This endeavor results in a somewhat bland cinematic journey, underpinned by performances and plot developments that don't fully leverage the depth and dynamism of its video game counterparts. However, it's not all lost at sea; the 4K UHD release provides excellent video and audio quality that enhances the viewing experience, accompanied by an array of bonus content that, while not groundbreaking, adds value for fans and collectors alike.

In conclusion, the Uncharted 4K UHD Blu-ray stands out more for its technical merits than its cinematic achievement. The film's attempt at weaving together the rich lore and exhilarating action of its source material with the demands of mainstream cinema results in a lukewarm adaptation that struggles to leave a lasting impact. Despite this, Sony's presentation is commendable, with video and audio quality that nearly touches perfection and a selection of bonus features that complement the package. It's a must-have for enthusiasts and collectors, but those seeking a groundbreaking adaptation of the game might find themselves longing for more.