Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 88
from 6 reviewers
Review Date:
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One showcases superb Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, delivering top-notch action with a smart script despite its incomplete story.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 91
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One on 4K UHD impresses with its native 4K/Dolby Vision HDR presentation, offering crisp visuals, vibrant colors, deep blacks, and rich detail. Despite some criticism of the added digital grain appearing unnatural at times, overall it's a reference-quality disc that delivers a fantastic visual experience. The encode handles complex scenes well, maintains high bitrates, and shines particularly during brightly colored and high-action sequences.
Audio: 96
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One's 4K UHD Blu-ray features a Dolby Atmos track that is phenomenal, providing an intense, immersive audio experience with superb LFE usage, dynamic surround, and precise overhead contributions, making it a masterpiece of sonic excellence.
Extra: 69
While the 4K UHD release of 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' excels with its director/editor commentary and isolated score track, the extras, divided across feature film and bonus discs, including behind-the-scenes featurettes and location highlights, feel modest and omit some digital exclusives like deleted scenes.
Movie: 84
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One offers breathtaking stunts, global stakes, and gripping action in true franchise fashion; however, its overlong runtime and AI plotline sometimes dilute the tension, making it a solid but slightly less impactful entry compared to its predecessors.
Video: 91
The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation of "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" from Paramount is exceptional, boasting a native 4K resolution with Dolby Vision HDR. The disc presents the film in its original widescreen aspect ratio of 2.39:1, encoded using the HEVC (H.265) codec. This release adeptly captures the film's stunning visuals from various global locations, including Abu Dhabi, Venice, and Norway. The detail is frequently impressive, from intricate textures in costumes and environments to the spectacular desert action sequences and the intense finale. While this film is digitally filmed and features added faux grain for continuity with previous entries, some scenes exhibit a slightly flat appearance because the artificial grain doesn’t mimic natural grain perfectly.
Visually, the UHD format provides a substantial upgrade over the Blu-ray version, particularly in sharpness and color depth. The Dolby Vision color palette is rich and vibrant, enhancing everything from the golden sands of desert scenes to the neon-splashed Venice club sequence, creating a visually arresting experience. Skin tones are lifelike, black levels are deep and inky, and shadow detail is superb, allowing viewers to appreciate the minutiae of every scene. This presentation also handles dark sequences excellently, maintaining clarity without any crushing or loss of shadow detail.
Though there are minor flaws, such as slight grain inconsistencies in specific scenes like the sandstorm or smoke bomb sequences, these do not significantly detract from the overall visual excellence. Dolby Vision provides a substantial boost with bright highlights and dense black levels, contributing to an immersive viewing experience. Despite the absence of IMAX formatting, the visual impact of this release is undeniably impressive, making it a reference-quality disc that stands out in the realm of UHD presentations.
Audio: 96
The 4K UHD Blu Ray of "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" delivers an unparalleled audio experience with its Dolby Atmos track. The sound design is an exquisite symphony of immersion, leveraging 3D object-oriented audio to create a dynamically rich environment. From the outset, the track captivates with the intensity of its low-frequency effects (LFE), where the submarine sequence's bass is particularly noteworthy for its visceral impact. The ambient sounds in the sandstorm sequence engulf the listener, utilizing surrounds and overheads to produce an all-encompassing auditory landscape. Effects such as car crashes in Rome and gunshots are portrayed with brutal clarity, ensuring that the action sequences hit with remarkable precision and weight.
Throughout the film, the Dolby Atmos mix makes extensive use of all available channels, enveloping the listener in a multi-directional sound field. Distinct sounds from overhead channels, like the whirring of helicopter blades and debris falling, are precisely positioned to enhance the realism of on-screen action. The seamless balancing of dialogue against Lorne Balfe’s pulsating score ensures that every line remains clear amidst the cacophony of action. The track's fidelity extends to every layer, from the robust musical elements to the crisp dialogue, making it a masterclass in audio engineering.
The bass response deserves special mention for its sheer potency. Whether it’s the LFE rumble of a military helicopter or the thundering impact of a train sequence, the subwoofer delivers a profound sense of depth and power. Indeed, scenes like the submarine impacting the ocean floor and vehicles hurtling through action sequences are executed with enough force to reverberate through your living space. Overall, this Dolby Atmos presentation stands as a reference-grade example of immersive audio, rendering every moment with cinematic majesty and technical excellence.
Extras: 69
This 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" is technically proficient but falls short regarding its extras. While the set includes all the essentials such as an engaging commentary by director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton and an isolated score track on the 4K disc, the additional content is limited and disappointingly offers some features only as digital exclusives. The Blu-ray provides approximately 30 minutes of featurettes on various filming locations and key stunts, yet the overall offering feels sparse given the franchise's legacy. The bonus material, although informative and well-produced, lacks depth and comprehensive coverage that fans might desire. However, the slipcover and digital copy code add a nice touch to this package.
Extras included in this disc:
- Commentary: Director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton provide full-spectrum insights.
- Isolated Score Track: Watch the film with its score in Dolby Digital 5.1.
- Abu Dhabi: Insight into filming in the desert and at an international airport.
- Rome: Behind-the-scenes of the car chase featuring Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell.
- Venice: Footage of shooting in Venice and the challenges faced.
- Freefall: Look at the big motorcycle jump stunt and its preparation.
- Speed Flying: Explores incorporating Tom Cruise's hobby of speed flying into the film.
- Train: Details on the impressive train sequence in the finale.
Movie: 84
As expected from the Mission: Impossible franchise, "Dead Reckoning Part One" showcases a masterful blend of high-octane action and intricate espionage. Director Christopher McQuarrie continues his successful streak, crafting an ambitious narrative focused on a rogue AI, “The Entity,” which poses a formidable threat to global security. This film introduces complex new plot elements, such as an underwater submarine subplot and an AI-gone-rogue scenario, while retaining fans' favorite elements—intense car chases, daring motorcycle stunts, and meticulously choreographed fight sequences. Tom Cruise exemplifies commitment and charisma, performing death-defying stunts with seamless effort, while Hayley Atwell and Pom Klementieff deliver standout performances, adding fresh energy to the ensemble cast.
Technically, this installment is impeccable. The practical effects are stunning, especially given the film's decision to utilize fewer CGI elements, thus enhancing the “real-feel” of the stunts. Cruise’s motorcycle leap off a cliff, although perhaps less visually grand than previous feats like scaling the Burj Khalifa, is executed with thrilling precision within the movie's emotional stakes. Moreover, the film’s sound design and cinematography amplify its intense sequences, creating immersive experiences like the climactic train battle. Henry Czerny returns as Kittridge, offering nostalgia while maintaining character consistency.
Despite its achievements, "Dead Reckoning Part One" faces criticism for occasionally succumbing to narrative predictability inherent in mid-saga entries—viewers are aware that key resolutions are reserved for the concluding part. The nearly three-hour runtime tests endurance, although it is packed with relentless action that keeps pace brisk. Additionally, some humor scenes—such as the yellow Fiat chase—feel tonally inconsistent compared to the previous serious entries. Nevertheless, this film successfully maintains the franchise’s exceptional standards and sets a high bar for its following sequel, making it an impactful and exhilarating addition to the Mission: Impossible saga.
Total: 88
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One is an ambitious entry in the renowned franchise, delivering high-stakes action and suspenseful thrills. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, it boasts an impressive cast led by Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, and Ving Rhames. While it faces scrutiny for utilizing a maguffin-like super intelligent AI, the film succeeds in providing a compelling narrative that sets the stage for its Part Two. The movie thrives on its meticulously constructed stunt sequences, which are some of the most memorable in the series. Despite concerns about being a "Part One," it finds a satisfying breakpoint in the storyline, making it a standout among other multi-part releases this year.
Paramount’s 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release for Dead Reckoning Part One is technically superior, featuring native 4K Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. The aspect ratio is presented in 2.39:1 HEVC, ensuring an optimal visual experience. The disc supports multiple audio languages and subtitles, catering to diverse audiences. From the clarity of the visuals to the immersive sound design, this UHD release offers an exceptional home theater experience. The bonus content, although limited in quantity, is rich in quality, focusing on the film's intricate action sequences and providing insightful commentary.
In conclusion, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One will only truly earn its final appraisal once Part Two is released and the saga is complete. Nevertheless, it stands as one of the more satisfying entries this year, outperforming other Part Ones like Fast X and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Paramount’s 4K release is highly recommended for fans and collectors, bringing top-tier visuals and audio into your living room, making it a must-have for any home entertainment setup.
avforums review by Casimir HarlowRead review here
Video: 90
Complaints of utterly experience-ruining, unwieldy, digital grain and an encode which can't cope with the content feel like standard clickbait soundbites - bitrates were healthy throughout and, sure, the...
Audio: 100
It's a thrumming, thunderous, frenzy of a soundtrack, absolutely pounding with some of the most impressive LFE usage of any disc in 2023, precision-engineered to bring the full Dead Reckoning experience...
Extras: 60
a decent salvo EDIT - Dead Reckoning is available in a number of different formats, including a standard 4K release as well as two different Steelbook editions, the latter two of which appear to have exactly...
Movie: 90
Dead Reckoning's box office further hit by no revenue in some territories - like Russia - shockingly the steepest drop-off on domestic returns, and the ensuing strikes, all seeing the part-shot Part 2...
Total: 90
precision-engineered to bring the full Dead Reckoning experience into your home Paramount's UK 4K release of Dead Reckoning boasts excellent demo video and audio - that affords plenty of reference material...
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 90
The film sports a really sharp and clean look, with amazing colors, great contrast and amazing detail levels. The end confrontation on the trail is especially rich and vibrant, with bright reds and golds and blues depending on the car that they’re in
Audio: 100
Dead Reckoning is a true MONSTER audio mix. Fully immersive, it hits from all angles with the Dolby Atmos mixing
Extras: 70
Movie: 80
However, the AI somehow figured out a way to rewrite itself, giving autonomy where none was meant to exist, and then systematically went rouge during a test of a soviet submarine in an effort to gauge...
Total: 80
The audio and video are simply superb though, and while this doesn’t have a ton of extras, the ones included are pretty meaty....
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 100
The image bolsters the film's visuals quite nicely over the concurrently released Blu-ray, perhaps not in a truly dramatic fashion but certainly with enough added visual excellence to make the upcharge...
Audio: 90
Whether that is the widely engaging and perfectly clear music, the excellently balanced sound effects, the prodigious yet even and accurate bass, or the wonderful action elements that engage the stage...
Extras: 100
Rome (1080p, 4:12): Taking advantage of the great, yet challenging, Rome setting for a practical and stunning vehicle chase sequence....
Movie: 90
Even before the movie's release, with the names Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie once again attached to the project, audiences knew this was going to be a tremendous movie: tremendous in scope, scale,...
Total: 60
That's why these movies continue to play so well after nearly three decades of faithful film service....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 80
Generally, Dead Reckoning doesn’t pose any major concerns visually aside from the messy added grain, which is a constant....
Audio: 100
The opening scene takes place onboard a Russian submarine, with all of the mesmerizing audio design that comes with....
Extras: 60
Director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton provide commentary alongside the 4K presentation....
Movie: 80
When it matters though, and characters fight, shoot, and kill over the single key that can end this, Dead Reckoning knows how to thrill, and a physical brawl on top of a speeding train is the best of action...
Total: 80
Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning is among the least memorable of the MI films, but contains a handful of stellar stunt sequences to make itself worthwhile....
Home Theater Forum review by Neil MiddlemissRead review here
Video: 100
While colors aren’t particularly bold in the palette, when there are the greens of trees, the blues of skies, the black and greys of rocks, or the yellows of the sands and rich blue lights at night, there’s...
Audio: 100
The train sequence is very impressive, the car chase in Italy a cacophony of crashes and tire squeals and revving engines pulling you into the sequence....
Extras: 70
I love an isolated score track and hearing from directors in commentary tracks that I admire is nothing to turn your nose up at, but a film of this pedigree from this storied franchise deserved something...
Movie: 90
Action without grounding or rational orientation for the audience to ‘feel,’ is also empty, a challenge that CGI abundant films are contending with, but the Mission: Impossible series has always managed...
Total: 90
With a worldwide gross of around $567MM, the film will need a miraculous performance on home video and streaming revenues to make up for it, but that box office challenge isn’t a reflection of the film’s...
Why So Blu? review by Brandon PetersRead review here
Video: 100
Black Levels: Blacks are natural and very deep and accentuate many good nighttime or darkened room sequences, contrasting to really bring out the colors in a scene....
Audio: 100
Low Frequency Extension: The subwoofer hits with wonderful impact here in terms of crashing, exploding, engines roaring, guns firing, clubs bouncing and much more....
Extras: 60
Aside from the Commentary and Isolated Score track, all bonus material is found on the standard Blu-ray disc.4K UHDAudio Commentaryby director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie HamiltonIsolated Score...
Movie: 80
Dead Reckoning feels like it is taking some of the work in previous films and trying to heighten things and make them bigger or more breathtaking than before....
Total: 80
There are a nice handful of extras focusing on the specific action sequences and a commentary, but it feels like there could have been more done here....
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Actors: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames
PlotEthan Hunt, an elite IMF operative, is thrust into a global crisis when a dangerous piece of technology falls into the wrong hands. The fallout from Hunt's past missions comes back to haunt him, threatening not just his life but the balance of world power. Hunt's loyalty to the IMF is tested as he clashes with political forces and former allies. With a world at the brink of chaos, he must rely on his wits, physical prowess, and dedication to his team to contend with a new breed of adversary who operates beyond the reach of conventional law.
Hunt and his team embark on a high-stakes mission spanning across diverse global locales. They are joined by a resourceful operative who brings unique skills to the team, even as her true allegiance remains in question. Betrayals and shifting alliances put Hunt's resolve to the ultimate test. In a race against time, they must uncover a conspiracy that ties back to the sins of his past and prevent a catastrophe that could alter the course of history. The stakes have never been higher, and every action, every decision, brings them closer to a potentially irreversible choice that could redefine not just their own destinies, but the future of the impossible mission force itself.
Writers: Bruce Geller, Christopher McQuarrie, Erik Jendresen
Release Date: 12 Jul 2023
Runtime: 163 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States
Language: English, French, Italian, Russian