Bohemian Rhapsody – 4K Blu-ray Review
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Bohemian Rhapsody – 2018
20th Century Fox | 2018
PG13 | 2hrs 14 mins | Music | Biography | Drama
HD | 1080P | DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Upscaled 4K | 2160P | HDR10 | HDR10+ | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
2.39:1 Aspect Ratio
Staring: Rami Malek | Ben Hardy | Gwilym Lee | Joseph Mazzello | Allen Leech | Lucy Boynton
Directed by: Bryan Singer
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 7.1 soundtrack sound like? Very good in all respects, and the 4K HDR10 video? Also very good.
Entertainment: 5-
Video: 4+
Audio: 5-
Technical Review – Upscaled 4K UHD HDR10
Bohemian Rhapsody was primarily shot digitally in the ARRIRAW codec at 6.5K and 3.4K, using a combination of Arri Alexa 65 and SXT cameras with Hasselband Prime DNA, 65-S, and Cooke Speed Pancho lenses. It was finished (probably) as a 2K Digital Intermediate up sampled for this release and the Ultra HD presentation was graded for High Dynamic Range in both HDR and HDR10+.
The upscaled image is generally sharp and well defined and shows no obvious source noise or any significant or objectionable compression or upscalling artifacts. Close-ups provide good detail, clarity and definition with excellent skin tones. From costumes to pores, eyelashes and skin, sweat to tattoos, and fabrics to upholstered furniture, all show excellent clarity and fine detail, especially in some of the close-up shots.
Colors are well saturated with some vivid colors plus a good range of natural hues. There are a significant number of darker movie scenes where the blacks are deep and noise free and are supported by good low level shadow detail. Peak whites provide clean high level detail with no clipping, creating an overall solid dynamic range.
Generally a respectable UHD offering by Fox.
Audio – Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Bohemian Rhapsody‘s 4K version features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack that defaults to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in my system. The HD 1080P version features a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix. I listened to the entire Dolby mix and then went back and dipped into the final concert in DTS and I think that I preferred that mix – time will tell. Both mixes however are very good providing some excellent bass, great vocals and guitar work and a really powerful drum kit, all with solid stereo imaging. The surrounds get a nice workout with general environmental atmospherics, in particular during various pub and concert crowd scenes.
Dialogue and vocals were always clear and detailed with solid front-center imaging and prioritization, even during the various club, pub and concert scenes.
The musical score, primarily by Queen, and several other bands, contains thirty-five music tracks of which twenty-two are by Queen. They have all been well transferred and recorded from either live or studio sources and provide an excellent musical event, particularly the live recordings.
There is little to criticize regarding this soundtrack, providing as it does, an excellent and enjoyable mix.
Story Overview
Bohemian Rhapsody is a rousing celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Farrokh Bulsara (Freddie Mercury). It is a true story of the legendary British rock band Queen and their lead singer Freddie Mercury’s rise to fame, culminating in their famous performance at the Live Aid concert in the Wembley Stadium, UK in 1985.
Moving from Zanzibar to Kensington, London in 1964 the story chronicles lead singer Freddie Mercury’s tempestuous journey from an outcast immigrant, during a period of intolerance to people of color, and who struggles to find his place in a rejecting society, to his becoming a beloved and world-famous pop artist.
Besides a look into the British recording companies approach to handling pop groups of the time, and a glimpse into the recording of their infamous 1975 album “A Night At The Opera”, it chronicles the gay life style that Freddie Mercury eventually enveloped himself in and that resulted in his death in 1991.
My 2 Cents
As a UK university student during the 70’s and having become involved with the recording industry in the mid 70’s I watched the growth of Queen with keen interest enjoying many of their recordings and now owning several of their albums. Their rise to fame and musical talents are legendary and this movie filled in many of those historical areas that I knew little about. Depending upon your tolerance some scenes may not be to everybody’s taste. However, I think the movie is well produced, enjoyable and has a very good music soundtrack.
