Blu-ray 4K Review: The Great Wall
2016 – The Great Wall
Universal Studios
PG-13 | 1hr 43mins | Action | Adventure | Fantasy
HD | 1080P | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
2.40:1 Aspect Ratio
Starring: Matt Damon | Tian Jing | Willem Dafoe | Andy Lau | Pedro Pascal
Directed by: Yimou Zhang
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’.
Not having Immersive audio yet, what did the 4K version look like? Excellent, with a very solid 7.1 mix.
Entertainment: 5
Video: 5
Audio: 5
Technical Review – 4K UHD
The Great Wall really dazzles on UHD. For as good as it was on HD this presentation that was sourced from a 4K digital intermediate is significantly better. The film was shot using a variety of RED and ARRI cameras at resolutions up to 6.5K and finished as a 4K digital intermediate in a 2.39: 1 aspect ratio. This is a very colorful film with dark detailed shadows and gleaming highlights. Colors being magnificently bold and saturated. From the clay and beige colored earthy terrains, the vibrant blue skies to the brilliant blues and golds of the Nameless Orders armor. There is much detail here to feast your eyes on. Textures, detail and sharpness are all excellent throughout, like the rocks, stone, grasslands, dark armor and monsters skulls. Blacks are deep, clean and free of noise, with the bright whites and colors providing excellent contrast ratios. Overall this is a real reference quality production and is full of first rate eye candy from start to finish.
The Great Wall‘s UHD release features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack that defaults to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in my system. Complementing the eye candy, the movie comes with plenty of ear candy too! Every speaker is fully engaged. Providing smooth and lively movement of directional cues around the soundstage from flaming projectiles, arrows and screeching monsters to the clash of weaponry that surrounds and immerses you. Both multidirectional and discrete effects fill the stage in every battle scene, with Universal’s audio track being pinpoint and fun. Dialogue is clean, clear and well positioned across the front mix, with precise imaging and good depth. The LFE channel is quite active with a firm and supportive bottom end. Music is clear and well defined, expanding the stage in all directions and making full use of all the surround channels. This is first class mix and listen from Universal.
Story Overview
Pursued, and in search of the mythical black powder (gunpowder), mercenary warriors William Garin (Matt Damon) and Pero Tovar (Pedro Pascal) are attacked by a strange monster. As they flee from their pursuers, they are captured by the Nameless Order, and imprisoned within the Great Wall. While his captures, the commander of the Order, General Shao (Zhang Hanyu) and his advisors, including Lin Mae (Jing Tian), are trying to decide what to do with them, the Great Wall is attacked by thousands of the monsters that Willam Garin had killed earlier. Every sixty years these monster rise up and attack the Great Wall and it is the duty of the Nameless Order to fight them off and prevent them entering the Middle Kingdom beyond. Garin finds mutual respect with Lin, and maybe just a little romantic attraction. But when the creatures strike again, Garin must decide whether to leave with the gun-powder or fight alongside Lin, for a cause that is not his own. As wave upon wave of the beasts besiege the Great Wall, his quest for fortune turns into a journey towards heroism as he fights alongside an enormous army of highly skilled warriors confronting the unimaginable and seemingly unstoppable force.
When I first read about this movie I wasn’t sure if I had any real interest in viewing it. That was until my daughter brought home the HD version from our local library. Upon viewing it I just had to get the 4K version. Yes its another fantasy movie with plenty of action and a little romance. Is the story real or accurate, its doesn’t matter. The story is well written and there is some great action, even if some of the CGI is a little less than stellar. Overall the visuals are stunning and my whole family found the movie very entertaining and at times gripping. Tremendous eye candy in places. With the 4K version being a real visual step up from its HD sibling.
