Captain America – The Winter Soldier – 4K Review
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Disney / Buena Vista | 2019
PG13 | 2hrs 16 mins | Action | Adventure | Comic Book | Sci-Fi
HD | 1080P | DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Upconverted 4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Staring: Chris Evans | Samuel L. Jackson | Scarlett Johansson | Robert Redford | Sebastian Stan | Anthony Mackie
Directed by: Anthony Russo |Joe Russo
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’.
So what did the 7.1 soundtrack sound like? Almost reference in all respects and the 4K HDR10 video? Very good.
Entertainment: 5-
Video: 4+
Audio: 5-
Technical Review – Upconverted 4K UHD HDR10
Captain America – The Winter Soldier was shot digitally in the ARRIRAW codec at 2.8K and RAW codec at 5K by cinematographer Trent Opaloch using Arri Alexa Plus and Red Epic cameras with
Despite this movie being upconverted, this 4K release shows few noticeable issues, having good overall image clarity with an extensive display of crisp, sharp detail with refined texturing throughout. From the the details in background objects, the props, Helicarriers, cars and guns, to clothing, threads and facial close-ups, all providing very good detail and definition. Facial pores, beads of sweat, blood droplets, hair strands and features are all accurately rendered without any undue exaggerations. CGI and special effects integration are generally good, having realistic textures, blending well with the real action shots and never looking soft. Effects like fiery explosions, flying objects, debris and the extensive car chase are well integrated into the live action with few distractions.
Even though the movie contains a significant number of darker moments played out in various rooms, hangers and at night, contrast balance was excellent throughout, from the brilliant uncompressed whites of the daylight exterior shots and the dazzling specular highlights to the deep and noise free inky blacks that showed very good low level and shadow detail. Individual clouds, sunlight, various light sources, car metallic finishes, gun and canon blasts and missile explosions sparkle with a true-to-live realism. All creating a very good dynamic contrast range and enhancing visibility of objects in both exterior and interior shots, all creating a good depth of image.
This is not a hugely colorful movie being set in the “real” world of Washington DC, but that does not detract from the movie. Many of the shots show the daily muted colors of the gray and brown building brick and stonework, black cars and road surfaces, with the odd blue/silver modern building thrown in. Even the building internal offices and the Helicarrier hangers shots are not overly colorful. Many of the costumes are quite dark just showing a splash of color and a red or silver star. Even Captain Americas blue, red and silver shield can only muster a well worn coloring. The costumes and threads of other actors showing browns, dark maroons, light blues, dull reds, light green and the chrome silver arm of the Winter Soldier. Pops of additional color appear from the blood reds, the explosive yellow, orange and red gun shots, canon blasts and car explosions to the lush green trees and foliage. Skin tones and facial complexions throughout looking very natural.
This video is very good on all fronts, particularly for an upconverted image.
Audio – Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Captain America: The Winter Soldier‘s features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack that defaults to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in my system. Once again Disney cannot get its audio levels correct. The track lacks volume at calibrated reference levels and requires an upward volume adjustment of at least 4dB, I used 6dB, to fully enjoy. Once there, the track’s dynamics, impact, details and bass emerge. The soundtrack displays good surround action, good channel separation and a solid bottom end. The rear channels being used extensively to convey the atmospheres of various rooms and outdoor environments, supporting directional and atmospheric cues alike.
The overall sound presentation is quite dynamic, with good sub involvement and surround action. The soundstage is wide and surrounds are often active with ambience, directional cues and movement, delivering an environment that drops the listener into both calm environments and every action-packed sonic spectacle alike. Effects placement are accurate and natural, with movement in both the rear and side surrounds, together with the general environmental and room acoustics effects consistently pulling you into the many locals and environments like the; darkened passages, large and small rooms and the streets of Washington DC. From those dialogue sequences steeped in the surrounding activity of people walking and talking, the elevator fight, construction yard activity, shouts and calls, to the impactful gunfire, flying bullets and missiles, falling debris, revving engines, screeching tires, car impacts and general chaos and mayhem. All fill the surrounds pulling you into the scene and keeping you “in the mix”.
Sub action is deep, having the solid low-end extension that this movie deserves. Low frequency effects are there as required. They are extended, powerful and add tremendous weight to the flying body punches, impactful gunfire, hand wielded weapons, crashes and explosions. Imaging continuously feels broad and expansive following the action as it moves on and off-screen. Dialogue was always crystal clear and well detailed with a clear mid-range and solid front-center imaging and prioritization, providing good clarity and detail no matter how loud and aggressive the action sequences became.
Flushing out the soundscape and supporting the movie throughout its entire length, the films score, composed by Henry Jackman provides a highly supportive and well integrated mix for both the aggressive and more relaxed scenes equally well. Presenting with good bass and hitting a good balance between the dialogue and effects, the score provides a light spill into the surrounds and excellent integration within the soundstage.
An excellent audio track that compliments video in every way, being just short of reference due to its level error.
Story Overview
After fifty years of suspended animation, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) awakens with a lot more to catch up on than just pop culture, discovering a world of new threats and moral complexities. Arriving home to find Director Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson) dying in his apartment, Rogers is told that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been infiltrated by its enemies and subsequently discovers that Fury’s mysterious assassin was the Winter Soldier. Acting on Fury’s warning to trust nobody, he is branded a traitor and becomes a fugitive from the organization. Joining up with the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson ) and The Falcon (Anthony Mackie) Rogers digs deep to get to the bottom of this deadly mystery. Launching into an investigation into S.H.I.E.L.D.’s origins Rogers and the Black Widow return to the same Army base where he underwent training nearly 100 years ago. What Rogers and Romanoff discover there leads to the discovery of a very worrying development with S.H.I.E.L.D., a top secret project called “Operation Insight” and the launch of the next generation of Helicarrier. Can they stop the launch before it’s too late and why does the Winter Soldier look so familiar?
My 2 cents
Coming a little late to this release, and to my amazement, this movie was one of the best that I have viewed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Its smart, well made, has an engaging story line and good acting with plenty of “real world” action sequences. So despite its lower volume level, just crank it up, the excellent upscaled video and almost reference audio do justice to an entertaining movie.
Purchase from Amazon.
