Dune (2021) – 4K Blu-ray Review
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Warner Bros | 2021
PG13 | 2hrs 35 min | Sci-Fi | Epic | Action | Fantasy | Adventure | Drama
HD | 1080P | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD7.1
Native 4K | 2160P | Dolby Vision | HDR10 | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD7.1
Aspect Ratio 2.39:1
Staring: Timothée Chalamet | Rebecca Ferguson | Óscar Isaac | Jason Momoa | Stellan Skarsgård | Stephen McKinley Henderson
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
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 quality in almost all respects, and the 7.1 soundtrack ? Reference quality to.
Entertainment: 5
Video: 5
Audio: 5+
Technical Review – Native 4K UHD HDR10
Dune (2021) was captured digitally in the ARRIRAW codec at 4.5K using Arri Alexa LF IMAX and Mini LF IMAX cameras, with Panavision H-Series and Ultra Vista lenses. The footage was then scanned out to 35 mm stock, and that film rescanned back to a digital file in native 4K. This process gives the viewer the best of both worlds, the benefits of clarity and clean detailing of digital and the look of film with controllable photochemical grain etc. The film was then completed as a 4K Digital Intermediate at the 2.39:1 aspect ratio and graded for HDR in both Dolby Vision and HDR10 for this theatrical release. The two disc package also includes the BD50 HD version together with a digital code.
This triple-layer BD-100 disc has been well authored, shows no excessive use of noise reduction or edge sharpening and no obvious compression artifacts. Its cinematography produces a very light, uniform and organic photochemical grain structure. The resulting image quality, detail and clarity are all excellent and mostly of reference quality.
Overall resolution is truly excellent, with clean fine detailing that’s visible in the sand, spice, rock, stone and skin. Clothing, uniforms and facial close-ups provide excellent detail and definition with natural skin tones and accurate rendition of pores, eyelashes, hair strands, cuts and features without any undue exaggerations. With CGI integration going unnoticed at all times.
Deep blacks abound throughout, were noise free, and showed very good low level and shadow detail as found in the night scenes, the various room and chamber sequences and the Atreides black uniforms, helping to provide a three-dimensional quality. Peak whites and specular highlights provided clean detail with no clipping; like small particles of debris, sand, spice and dust, the glare of the desert skies, costume sheen, and the high sheen off various surfaces like the sandworm mural in the Arrakeen Palace. Taken together providing a solid dynamic contrast range and enhancing visibility of objects in both interior and particularly exterior shots like the desert rock outcrops and cityscapes.
The film’s color palette is not what you would call lush, wide and colorful but it is wonderfully organic and natural. Primaries and secondaries are well saturated having good color depth and density, hues are vibrant and accurate. Interior shots are mostly of grayish stone walls and gray/black dimly-lit rooms, while many exterior shots tend to focus on the natural earth tones of stone grays and browns of the buildings and rocks to the pale creams, caramels and golden hues of the sun-baked sands, an equal match for the movies excellent detailing and dynamic range. Strong saturated primaries do erupt at times from the blood stained clothing, the intense reds, yellows and fiery oranges of the explosions, to the greens and purples of leaves and flowers.
This image is excellent on all fronts, providing a top notch HDR10 reference image. I have to assume that the Dolby Vision version will look even better on an ISF calibrated display system.
Audio – Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Dune (2021) features an outstanding Dolby Atmos mix that defaults to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in my system. This mix is excellent and compliments the reference grade visuals with a huge soundstage, excellent dynamics and foundation (or at least chair) moving bass.
The overall sound presentation is pleasingly dynamic, with excellent sub involvement and action from all surrounds, like the ornithopter dragonfly helicopters that zip across the room, the many combat scenes and debris flying in every direction. Action scenes are very impactful, exercising all speakers with canon and gunfire, explosions, chaos and crashes, all enveloping the listener. Effects placement are accurate and natural, with movement in both the rear and side surrounds and the various atmospheric effects consistently pulling you into the many locals and environments. From the silence of the vast deserts to the quieter dialogue-driven sequences and desert winds, all fill the surrounds with subtle ambient effects helping to pull the listener further into the scene.
Excellent sub action certainly makes itself known during many of the action sequences, explosions and fight scenes, with a solid and extended bottom end, having good punch and muscle plus some very solid LF rumble from explosions, canon fire, Hans Zimmer’s percussive elements and the “Voice”. Imaging continuously feels broad and expansive as action moves on and off-screen. Dialogue is always crystal clear and well detailed with solid front-center imaging and prioritization. Even during the movies more intense sonic moments the mid-range continually provides excellent clarity and detail no matter how loud and aggressive the effect.
Hans Zimmer’s musical score truly compliments the movie throughout its entire length. Music is smooth, detailed and well balanced between the dialogue and effects as his score envelopes the whole listening environment with light bleeding into the surrounds and all with effortless integration within the sound stage. From the choral chanting to steady and sometimes chair moving percussion, it provides a highly immersive sonic environment that supports the various moods of the movie.
Dune provides an outstanding reference mix that will show of the best attributes of any home theater system, especially your subs! I am also sure that those with Dolby Atmos will experience an even more enveloping and immersive sound experience.
Story Overview
The year is 10,191 and Paul Atreides (Kyle MacLachlan), a brilliant and gifted young man, is destined to travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe, Arrakis, in order to protect the future of his friends and family. This desert planet also known as Dune, has been taken over by the Harkonnens, oppressive conquerors who mine the precious spice that can only be found on this planet lying beneath Dune’s arid sands. A spice that can expand the mind and prolong life. Paul’s destiny is to lead Dunes native inhabitants, The Fremen, in an uprising against the evil Harkonnen empire and battle the giant all-eating sand worms that guard the coveted spice.
My 2 cents
This new version of Dune is actually Part 1 of a three part series, with the next two movies reportedly being named Dune: The Prophet and Dune: Messiah. If the next two movies are as well produced as Part 1 I can’t wait to see and hear them. This movie is truly terrific filmmaking on a grand scale that provides an amazing visual spectacle and aural experience ranking up there with the greats like Blade Runner and 2001. To feel the impact and cinematic scale of the movie it demands the biggest screen with the best possible sound system.
Highly Recommended, a Must Own.
Purchase from Amazon here.
