Deadpool And Wolverine – 4K Review
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Disney/Buena Vista | 2024
R | 2hrs 8mins | Comic Book | Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
Native 4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Vision | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Staring: Ryan Reynolds | Hugh Jackman | Emma Corrin | Matthew Macfadyen | Dafne Keen | Jon Favreau
Directed by: Shawn Levy
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 4K HDR10 video look like? Reference, and the Dolby TrueHD 7.1 soundtrack? Reference also.
Entertainment: 4+
Video: 5
Audio: 5
Technical Review – Native 4K HDR10
Deadpool And Wolverine was shot digitally by cinematographer George Richmond using the ARRIRAW codec with
The image is vivid and sharp throughout, having excellent resolution, and presents as a reference HDR10 source. With the film shot in a high resolution format this 4K release has very good overall image clarity with a wide display of crisp, razor sharp detail with refined texturing throughout. Objects, clothing, threads, facial close-ups and landscapes all provide very good detail and definition. From the clean fine detailing that’s visible in Dogpool’s long tongue, bricks, rocks, sand, skin and stone, beads of sweat and squirting blood, to the detailed textures of clothing stitching, buildings, weapons, vehicles, and fireworks. Facial pores, stubble, wrinkles, eyelashes, hair strands and features are all accurately rendered with few undue exaggerations. CGI and special effects integration are generally very good blending well with the real action shots and never looking soft. Effects like weapons, bodily impacts, flying objects, debris, explosions and of course the gallons of blood splatter are well integrated into the live action with few distractions.
Contrast balance is excellent throughout, from the brilliant uncompressed whites of the daylight exterior shots and various dazzling specular highlights to the deep and noise free inky blacks including; various night sequences and Blades outfit that showed excellent low level and shadow detail. Individual clouds, sunlight, numerous light sources, the sheen of metallic weapons, knifes, costumes and vehicles all sparkle with a true-to-live realism. All creating a solid dynamic contrast range, enhancing visibility of objects in both exterior and interior shots and providing a good depth of image.
The color palette presents with a solid array of vibrant colors, with vivid and well saturated primaries and secondary’s, all having good color depth and density, hues are bold and vibrant and exhibit lovely nuance. From the dark reds, golds, browns, and ambers of the time-variant office, the various red shades in the Deadpool costumes along with the bright yellow and blue colors in Wolverine’s outfit, to the blue skies, green pastures, and the purple and grey tones of the smoke monster. Not forgetting the never ending use of red blood splatters and those golden guns. Skin tones and facial complexions throughout looking perfectly natural.
This video is excellent on all fronts, providing a reference HDR10 image.
Audio – Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Deadpool And Wolverine bursts into home theaters with an excellent Dolby Atmos mix that defaults to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in my system, and in true Disney style I had to add +4dB to my level in order to get the “right” impact. The soundtrack was thoroughly engaging whether during an emotional drama or an action scene, having solid bass, clarity and good dynamics. The rear and surround channels being used to fill out the sound field and to convey the atmospheres of various rooms and indoor/outdoor environments and to support various directional cues like in the epic battle in the dilapidated car between Deadpool and Wolverine, the showdown in the Void and final multi-Deadpool battle climax.
The overall sound presentation is quite dynamic, with sufficient sub involvement and surround action. The soundstage is wide and surrounds are active with directional information and ambience, delivering an active environment that drops the listener into both the quieter and active environments alike. From the quiet of vehicle interiors to the final battle sequence, effects placement feel quite natural, having good support from both the rear and side surrounds. From those quieter, dialogue-heavy sequences with surround activity inside a vehicle to the various battle and fight sequences and impactful hand to hand combat, all are expanded to fill the surrounds helping to keep you engaged in the mix.
Sub action is good during the action sequences supporting; the gun blasts, bazooka explosions, sword showdowns various weapons fire, impacts and numerous explosions. Imaging continuously feels broad and expansive following the action as it moves on and off-screen. Dialogue is always clear and well detailed with solid front-center imaging and prioritization, providing excellent clarity and detail even during the more active scenes.
Flushing out the soundscape and supporting the movie throughout its entire length, the films thumping score, composed by Rob Simonsen plus numerous other popular tracks offers a good supportive mix. Levels hit a good balance between the dialogue and effects providing a very light spill into the surrounds and good overall soundstage integration.
The audio track makes reference providing a good accompaniment to the video.
Story Overview
After the events of the first two films, Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) aka Deadpool has sunk to the bottom, having given up his superhero persona to try and find a new existence after breaking up with his girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) and being rejected by the Avengers. Unbeknownst to him, the Time Variance Authority (TVA) has been watching him and TVA rogue agent Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) brings him in offering him the chance to join the Avengers sacred timeline. However, in order to do so he must help them prune his current timeline in which Logan (Hugh Jackman) aka Wolverine has died, deeming that timeline to be no longer relevant and using a device called the Time Ripper to destroy it quickly. Distraught at the thought of losing his friends, he refuses and jumps timelines in the hopes of finding a Logan variant that will help him. When he brings one back to the TVA, they’re both cast into the Void. There, they meet its deadly overseer, Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), a powerful mind reader with an army of rejected variants at her command. However, the real threat will be whether Wade and Logan will be able to stand each other long enough to survive and potentially save the world.
My 2 cents
To be honest I have do idea what to expect with this movie so I borrowed a 4K version from my local library. Was it entertaining? Yes, if you are a fan and of an age to watch R rated movies, because it was defiantly R rated for this old guy!! The story and acting were both okay but the script left a little to be desired with almost every other word beginning with “F”. Now I am no prude, but with virtually every sentence containing the F#CK word, it became less and less entertaining as the movie wore on, well at least to me. The visuals and CGI integration were very good, as was the overall video and audio quality that was mostly hitting reference throughout.
Will I buy it? Well maybe when it drops to a lower price. Is it a hit? Surely yes, and I am sure that fans of this genre and this Marvel comic book series will relish in the action of two (or more) of their favorite characters.
Recommended for all fans.
Purchase from Amazon here.
