Elysium – 4K UHD Blu-ray Review
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Sony Pictures | 2013
R | 1hrs 49 min | Sci-Fi | Thriller | Action
HD | 1080P | DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Native 4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1 | DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Aspect Ratio 2.39:1
Staring: Matt Damon | Jodie Foster | Sharlto Copley | Alice Braga | Diego Luna | Wagner Moura
Directed by: Neill Blomkamp
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? Excellent in most respects, and the 4K HDR10 video? Also excellent.
Entertainment: 5
Video: 5-
Audio: 5-
Technical Review – Native 4K UHD HDR10
Elysium was captured digitally using Red Epic cameras with Panavision Primo and Nikkor lenses. It was shot in 3.3K using the Recode RAW codec and finished as a 4K Digital Intermediate at 2.39:1. VFX where rendered in 2K video and up-sampled. For this release on Ultra HD, the 4K DI was graded for high dynamic range in HDR10.
The whole video and audio experience is a significant step-up from the Blu-ray HD version and in my opinion worth purchasing even if you own the HD version. The image quality, detail and clarity are all excellent and on many occasions reference quality. The only slightly softer moments are during the opening scenes where Max and Frey recount their early childhood. Many of the shots provide exceptional clarity and detail, like those of Elysium itself and the various transport and medical craft. This triple-layer disc has been well authored and shows no excessive use of noise reduction or edge sharpening. Deep blacks abounded throughout showing excellent low level detail in many of the lower lit rooms, and in particular the noise free blacks of space. Peak whites provided plenty of clean high level detail with no clipping like the Elysium master control center, while improved specular highlights added more twinkle to metallic surfaces and brilliant sparks from weapons, all creating to a terrific dynamic contrast range.
Facial close-ups, provide excellent detail, clarity and definition with natural skin tones and accurate rendition of pores, eyelashes, hair strands, cuts, bruises and features without any undue exaggerations. Costume fabrics are well-defined as are the exteriors of all the ships and structures, in particular the opening closeup shots of the Elysium structure and various shuttle craft. Even though CG effects and integration are very good, all is not perfect. There are a couple of instances where the CG visuals show aliasing along some buildings edges, and some Elysium display flickering. These are fleeting moments and do not detract from the movies enjoyment.
Color fidelity is excellent with well saturated primaries and secondaries, having good color depth and density as well as accurate flesh tones. While the sun-baked earthly scenes exhibit a more mono-tonal and desaturated brown and grey appearance, the craft and blood reds and building yellows are deeply saturated and bright, with the lush and vibrant environments of Elysium exhibiting a steely blue palette with well saturated lush vegetation greens and full-bodied pastels.
Overall an excellent and impressive image that contains many scenes that rise to reference quality.
NOTE: ALL of my HD (4) and 4K (3) copies create a repeatable green blocking problem for several frames starting at 42 minutes and 42 seconds on ALL my Oppo, Denon and Panasonic players. This issue is even present on my original 2013 HD Blu-ray release and can be seen on both my JVC RS640 projector and Panasonic Plasma display. I would be interested to hear from anybody that also sees this problem as I would not have expected to see it carry through to the new native 4K version and I have seen no complaints from consumers or other reviewers.
Audio – Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Elysium offers both a new Dolby Atmos and the original DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 audio mix. As always, my system defaults to the 7.1 mix. In this case I tried the Dolby mix as I was familiar with the DTS mix having watched the HD version many times. I can’t say that the Dolby 7.1 mix was any better than the DTS 7.1 mix at delivering an enjoyable, dynamic and fully enveloping surround sound experience, both were excellent, but I think I preferred the DTS mix. Both are supported by several scenes with room flexing bass that digs well below 20Hz.
The overall sound presentation is dynamic but not aggressively so, with good sub involvement and action from all surrounds, like the Spacecraft that zip across the room, the many combat scenes, the chaos and alarms aboard Elysium, and debris flying in every direction. Effects placement are accurate and natural, with movement in both the rear and side surrounds, with the various atmospheric effects consistently pulling you into the many locals and environments. Action scenes are generally impactful, exercising all speakers with gunfire, chaos, pops, bangs and crashes, all enveloping the listener. Even the quieter dialogue-driven sequences come with subtle ambient effects together with low levels of Ryan Amon’s musical score and the many musical tracks radiating from the surrounds, all helping to maintain a strong enveloping presence.
Good sub action certainly makes itself known during many of the action sequences, explosions and firefights, with a solid and extended bottom end, having good punch and muscle where required plus some solid LF rumble. Imaging continuously feels broad and expansive as action moves on and off-screen, with dialogue always clear and detailed with solid front-center imaging and prioritization, even during the movies more intense sonic moments. Music is smooth and detailed, with a tight and deep low end support and effortless integration within the sound stage.
There is nothing to criticize regarding this soundtrack, providing as it does, an almost reference mix.
Story Overview
Elysium is set in Los Angeles in the mid-22nd century when the world has become overpopulated, disease-ridden, and social inequality has pushed the wealthiest 1% to live free of the worlds’s unhealthy environment and preserve their utopian lifestyle on a luxury space habitat orbiting the earth called Elysium.
Max Da Costa (Matt Damon), is one of the millions left behind on earth growing up in one of the many LA slums. He manages to leave his life of crime behind him and get a position on a factory line that manufactures robots and advanced weaponry. After an accident exposes him to a lethal dose of radiation his only hope of surviving is to reach Elysium to use their advanced medical technology. Turning to his old criminal friends, Max enlists the help of Julio (Diego Luna) to get to Elysium; the price, just one last job. A fight ensues and Max has to enlist the help of his childhood friend Frey (Alice Braga), now a nurse, pulling her and her daughter into his quest to return to Elysium. Now Max has to battle his way through Elysium’s defenses, its aggressive defense secretary Jessica Delacourt (Jodie Foster) and her vicious sleeper agent back on earth Kruger (Sharlto Copley). So the fight for a better, more equitable and socially just future begins, but there is a heart rendering price to pay for success.
My 2 cents
Despite my disc(s) technical issues Elysium is a very enjoyable science fiction action film, with strong characters and a relatable story that brings into light some of todays current important sociopolitical issues and concerns.
So almost ten years after its original release it is still an entertaining movie, even more so now with its excellent 4K HDR10 video presentation and choice of either the new Atmos or the original DTS-HD 7.1 soundtracks. A worthwhile upgrade over the original Sony Blu-ray HD release for all fans of the movie. Recommended.
