The Mummy Ultimate Trilogy 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu Ray video presentation of "The Mummy Ultimate Trilogy" brings varying degrees of visual enhancement across its titles, largely benefiting from HEVC H.265 encodes. While not all titles may offer a dramatic upgrade over prior HD releases, each features noteworthy improvements.

For "The Mummy," the upconversion from an HD source is noticeable, with a modest enhancement that delivers a broader color palette and more refined definition. The film's visuals gain from an uplift in primaries, particularly under daylight exteriors. However, some interior sequences remain poorly resolved, potentially due to lighting conditions. Contrast offers better highlights but at times loses finer shadow details. Overall, the 4K presentation is satisfactory but lacks in transformative clarity.

The sequel, "The Mummy Returns," sees a significant leap forward with its 2160p video, providing enhanced detail in Egyptian architecture and a natural lifelike texture in facial close-ups. While contrast isn’t significantly improved, whites are given a punchier impact, and secondary colors benefit from the wider color gamut, enriching the cinematic experience. Nighttime sequences, especially those set in ancient Egypt, capitalize on this enhancement with authentic glow and deeper shadows.

"The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" provides the most striking upgrade, perhaps aided by its comparatively newer source material. Vastly improved clarity and detail are apparent in the ornate costumes of Chinese settings and the intricate textures of both living tissues and mythical creatures. The brighter contrast adds to dynamic whites and enhances the vibrant primary colors during high-action sequences like the Shanghai street chase. Despite occasional issues with skin tones, the overall 4K presentation is superbly rich, offering a luxurious visual experience that stands out among the trilogy.

The "Mummy Ultimate Trilogy" offers an exhilarating audio presentation across its DTS:X soundtracks, enhancing the films with distinctly immersive and dynamic soundscapes. Beginning with "The Mummy," the upgrade to DTS:X, defaulting to DTS-HD MA 7.1 for non-equipped setups, elevates the auditory experience. This format delivers an engaging soundfield, effectively utilizing lateral atmospherics to enrich action sequences. However, ceiling channels are underused, with overhead effects sparsely employed yet convincingly executed when present. Dialogue clarity remains strong throughout, supported by a potent low-end that endows every explosion and gust of Imhotep's sand magic with substantial weight.

In "The Mummy Returns," the DTS:X track is particularly impressive, aligning Silvestri’s grand score with superb spatial balance and resonance. The mix's dynamism is pronounced during action-packed sequences, notably in the climactic battle against the Scorpion King where debris and sound effects encapsulate the viewing space. While ceiling speakers are sparingly activated, the overall sonic experience stays thrilling, underpinned by a palpable low-end depth. Dialogue remains clear and is seamlessly integrated into the vigorous sound design.

"The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" presents a vibrant and aggressive DTS:X soundtrack, characterizing its soundstage with stellar panning and utilization of all speaker channels. Overheads are more actively involved here, with activities like bullets and fireworks dynamically moving through space. The enhanced mid-range delivers rich details, and the substantial low-end impact provides a vigorous foundation for action sequences. Amidst this auditory chaos, dialogue clarity remains intact, marking the soundtrack as exceptionally coherent and thoroughly engaging. This installment exemplifies the trilogy's high-caliber audio fidelity with remarkable immersive qualities.

The "Mummy Ultimate Trilogy" 4K UHD Blu-ray extras are a robust collection of legacy content, though lacking in new material. Users should be aware of the Neopack-style packaging issues, which could lead to scratched discs or playback problems. Each film's disc maintains original audio commentaries and includes substantial supplementary content previously available. The Mummy features engaging commentary tracks, though might be improved by editing, complemented by a Picture-in-Picture commentary and an informative "Building a Better Mummy" documentary focused on CGI. Effects and storyboard comparisons add depth, but deleted scenes offer minimal intrigue. The Mummy Returns' highlights include Stephen Sommers' audio commentary and comprehensive Visual Effects Formations. While the Spotlight on Location promotional feature predictably lacks behind-the-scenes depth, it offers entertainment value. Tomb of the Dragon Emperor mainly features director Rob Cohen's technical commentary and the U-Control interactive suite, with insightful looks at set design in its additional features.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentaries: Insightful discussions with directors and editors across the trilogy.
• Picture-in-Picture Commentary: Offers behind-the-scenes videos overlaid on film sequences.
• Building a Better Mummy: Explores CGI development and filmmaking process.
• Visual and Special Effects Formulations: Various stages of effects for multiple scenes.
• Storyboard-to-Screen Comparisons: Side-by-side analysis for select scenes.
• Spotlight on Location: On-set promotional interviews and insights.
• Outtake Reel: Light-hearted behind-the-scenes moments.
• Music Video: "Forever May Not Be Long Enough" by LIVE.
• U-Control Features: Interactive viewing options on Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
• The Making of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor: Overview of production elements.
• From City to Desert / Legacy of Terra Cotta: Focus on production design and cultural inspirations.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Mummy Ultimate Trilogy" presents a visually stunning improvement over previous editions, with 4K/HDR enhancements breathing new life into the iconic franchise. Comprised of "The Mummy," "The Mummy Returns," and "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," the set excludes any spin-off films, maintaining its focus on the core series. Each film boasts DTS:X soundtracks, contributing to a more immersive audio experience that complements the visual upgrades. While the set is impressive technically, early packaging issues led to widespread complaints about disc scratching, although these have ostensibly been addressed by Universal with revised packaging solutions.

"The Mummy," starring Brendan Fraser, stands out with its seamless integration of CGI effects that, while extensive, are outshined by the talented cast's performance. Stephen Sommers’ direction leans heavily into spectacle, occasionally at the expense of narrative depth, yet Fraser's charismatic portrayal and the chemistry shared with Rachel Weisz and John Hannah manage to keep the film engaging despite its digital saturation. "The Mummy Returns" follows in similar footsteps, characterized by fast-paced action and heightened digital effects that, while appearing dated, do little to detract from its entertaining premise. The sequel thrives on its enthusiastic delivery, even if it lacks the originality of the first installment.

Concluding with "Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," a shift in direction and setting offers potential for freshness but fails to deliver due to underdeveloped storylines and an over-reliance on subpar CGI. Rob Cohen's entry feels cluttered, filled with grandiose set pieces that overshadow character development. Despite these flaws, the trilogy remains an enjoyable watch for fans, thanks in large part to the charm and humor injected by its leading performers. Universal’s 4K release overall marks a notable enhancement, aligning these nostalgic favorites with modern home cinema expectations.

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray release of "The Mummy Ultimate Trilogy" by Universal is a mixed bag of impressive technical execution marred by flawed packaging design. Visually, the trilogy benefits significantly from its Ultra HD transfer, delivering crisp details and vibrant colors that breathe new life into these beloved films. The new soundtracks enhance the immersive experience, making each action-packed moment more thrilling. However, despite these technical triumphs, some of the old supplementary materials, although present on the recycled Blu-ray discs, do not offer anything new for longtime fans.

The content of the films continues to evoke mixed feelings. Stephen Sommers' remake injects a sense of swashbuckling adventure into the classic horror narrative, redefining it as a blockbuster hit. The transition from the atmospheric terror of the original Boris Karloff film to a more modern action spectacle becomes evident but retains a high entertainment value. While the sequel maintains this excitement and heroism, it slightly falters in effectiveness. The third installment lacks the charisma and novelty of its predecessors, feeling repetitive and uninspired.

In conclusion, this UHD release underscores Universal's adeptness in delivering high-quality video and audio content, making it a worthwhile pick for 4K enthusiasts who can overlook its packaging flaws. The discrepancies in film quality across the trilogy are balanced by the overall audio-visual enhancement, making it a satisfying collection for collectors. Nevertheless, the set's potential is constrained by its non-functional packaging, inhibiting what could have been a highly recommended release. It is highly suggested for fans to consider acquiring this collection if Universal addresses these packaging issues.