Annihilation Blu-ray Review 4K Update
Annihilation
Paramount Pictures | 2018
R | 1hr 55 mins | Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
HD | 1080P | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Vision | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
2.39:1 Aspect Ratio
Starring: Natalie Portman | Jennifer Jason Leigh | Gina Rodriguez | Tessa Thompson | Tuva Novotny | Oscar Isaac
Directed by: Alex Garland
Ratings & Reviews
Please see here for my comments on reviewing movies.
My ratings are simple being marked out of a maximum of 5+. My reviews are biased towards the technical production aspects of the film with brief comments about the story line. Extras, sorry, that’s just not my ‘bag’.
After a less than stellar review of the HD version I was sent a copy of the 4K version. Yes, the image is improved overall, but that is where it all stops!
Entertainment: 4
Video: 4
Audio: 3+
Technical Review – 4K Blu-ray HDR10
Quote from my HD Blu-ray review: “This Paramount Blu-ray feature provides a respectable 1080P transfer but I have read that it pales when compared to its 4K UHD sister image.”
The term “pales” is definitely an exaggeration.
This movie is full of visual detail but with all the environmental atmospherics like smoke and fog, and with the image being generally dimly lit, it is often difficult to appreciate the detail. The resulting image can appear soft and out of focus creating a generally etherial quality to it, creating a soft and gentle texturing. Even in 4K this movie rarely provides visual dazzle, with the Shimmer, a dazzling array of colors and motions, and the closing light house scenes providing some excellent HDR images ranging from exquisite pastel shades to vivid colors and high contrast. Blacks can be quite deep but the continued use of smoke adds a touch of gray that negatively impacts the image contrast ratio. There are several scenes of trees, vegetation and flowers that provide rich, vivid and well saturated colors. Costumes were generally well detailed and skin tones and texture were realistic without being over saturated, with some excellent facial close ups. No compression artifacts were seen. The image doesn’t “throw” itself at you, it more wraps itself around you like a pastel painting in motion.
The mix is a perfect match for the video – less than spectacular. Imaging was precise with dialogue always clear and well defined. The music sound track was quite adequate with a couple of classic tracks from Crosby, Stills and Nash, but it never really came to life, providing a subtle background to most of the movie. The rear and side surrounds are well exercised during a number of action sequences with helicopters, flying bullets, animalistic sounds and general environmental chaos. . They also provided a good ambience for the atmospheric sense of space within the Shimmer’s forest environment. This is not an aggressive mix and provides minimal subwoofer action. That being said, the tracks sonic subtleties are a good match to the story and action sequences.
For further details see my original HD Blu-ray review here.
Story Overview
See my original HD Blu-ray review here.
Annihilation had a great premise, but I still feel that it was poorly executed. There were some good ideas but they just didn’t seem to be well realized. I felt that the continuous flash backs and story telling caused the movie to become disjointed. Nor did I feel that the script or acting were particularly stellar.
If you are going to purchase this movie, the 4K version is definitely the better image. However, I still feel that the HD version is worth borrowing and viewing before you rush out to buy the 4K version.
Good review, Paul.
I heard this movie was nominated for an Oscar in a new category called “What were they thinking?” And Jennifer Jason Leigh for Worst Supportimg Actress – Ever.