Blu-ray 4K Review: The Greatest Showman
2017 – The Greatest Showman
20th Century Fox
PG | 1hr 45mins | Musical | Drama
HD | 1080P | DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
2.40:1 Aspect Ratio
Starring: Hugh Jackman | Michelle Williams | Zac Efron | Anne Wheeler | Jenny Lind
Directed by: Michael Gracey
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 sound like? Excellent, together with almost reference 4K UHD video.
Entertainment: 5
Video: 5
Audio: 5
Technical Review – 4K UHD
The Greatest Showman was digitally captured with a variety of Alexa cameras and finished at a 4K digital intermediate and presented in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The image is generally sharply detailed and captures the finest details from the actors faces and skin texture to intrecate details of clothing like Barnums bright red topcoat and various props. There were a few occasions were the CGI backgrounds looked a little dark and soft but that seemed to add to the almost dreamy nature of the film. Serving up several exquisitely lit scenes and a lustrous color palette, the film delivered rich and beautifully saturated colors such as the reds, purples and the soft golden/amber hue of the beachside dream like scene. Blacks were very good and together with the bright highlights created very good contrast and depth. Not quite a refence quality image, but very close. There were no noticeable compression artifacts.
The Greatest Showman features a powerful Dolby TrueHD 7.1 mix, on occasions almost becoming raucous. The score is full of ‘bottom end’ and strong percussive effects like the stomping feet. Surrounds and rears were active throughout, bristling with activity and providing an immersive sound field and directionality for various effects, such as the bar brawl and museum; to carrying a locales natural ambience, reverberation and audience reactions. Overall, there are plenty of intense elements and atmospheric support for the various environments together with an excellent dynamic range. Dialog was clear and well imaged at all times, together with a music soundtrack that really rocked on occasions with that resounding bottom end.
Story Overview
The Greatest Showman was inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum. It is an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business and tells the tale of a visionary who, from nothing, climbed up the ladder of fame, and created a spectacle that became the famous traveling Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
The Greatest Showman is a great piece of pure entertainment, flushed out with eleven memorable songs. A film that the whole family can enjoy, I know mine did.
I was very pleasantly surprised by “The Greatest Showman.” It was indeed a real viewing and listening pleasure. Ringling Brothers may have closed up shop, but Barnum lives on.
