F9 – The Fast Saga – 4K UHD Blu-ray Review
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Universal Studios | 2021
PG13 | 2hrs 23 min | Action | Adventure | Drama | Crime
HD | 1080P | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Upscaled 4K | 2160P | Dolby Vision | HDR10 | HDR10+ | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Aspect Ratio 2.39:1
Staring: Vin Diesel | Michelle Rodriguez | John Cena | Jordana Brewster | Charlize Theron | Tyrese Gibson | Ludacris
Directed by: Justin Lin
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? Very good in most respects, and the 4K HDR10 video? Good.
Entertainment: 4+
Video: 4+
Audio: 5-
Technical Review – Upscaled 4K UHD HDR10
F9 – The Fast Saga, was shot mostly in the digital ARRIRAW 3.4K and 4.5K CODECS using a mix of Arri Alexa cameras with Panavision Primo lenses. Flashback scenes were captured on 35 mm photochemical film in Super 35 format using Arriflex cameras with Panavision Primo lenses. For this Ultra HD release, this film was finished as a 2K Digital Intermediate, up-converted to 4K, and graded for high dynamic range in Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HDR10+, and is presented here on a UHD 100 multi-layer disc. A UHD 100 disc is required as it supports the selection of two versions of the movie; the 143 minute Theatrical Version and the 150 minute Director’s Cut. Both versions maintain a very good image quality throughout varying a little between shots.
Clarity and resolution are good throughout, with occasional fine grain that is generally quite light, but is always natural and organic with no distracting clumping or swarming. Wide shots are sharp and well textured with few signs of edge enhancement, digital noise reduction or compression artifacts. Clothing and threads are well detailed as are hair and facial features such as pores, cuts and wrinkles.
Details and texturing are crisp and quite refined; like the car detailing, dents and scratches, but continuos camera motion reduces the viewers ability to appreciate them. The copious and often ridiculous CGI and special effects are generally well integrated into the live action shots but are often easy to make out.
The HDR treatment provides deep solid blacks with good shadow detail and specular highlights, bright luminous whites, and a solid color palette, particularly primary hues. From the striking cobalt blues to the deep blood reds and lush green vegetation. Secondary hues also are equally well represented from the purples, browns and yellows to the bright fiery oranges of the explosions and exhaust flames. Skin tones looking very natural at all times.
The movie also offers all three varieties of HDR encoding for those that have the ability to view them.
Overall a very good image but not quite edging into the reference range.
Audio – Dolby TrueHD 7.1
F9 – The Fast Saga includes a very energetic Dolby Atmos mix that defaults to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in my system providing plenty of sonic thrills. Right from the get go the sound stage is large and enveloping. The fluid and lively panning of effects produces plenty of movement between all speakers; across the front, front – rear and side to side. Debris scatters throughout the room, helicopters pass overhead, cars fly through the air, huge trucks flipping, and all while explosions, gunfire and engines roar all around. All this action creating an immersive sound field keeping you drawn well into the often never ending action, and giving your surround system a good workout from the quiet sublime atmospherics to the roaring ridiculous.
Dialogue is always clear and detailed with solid front-center imaging and prioritization. Even the mid-range provided a well detailed, rich and crystal clear clarity to all of the effects. Music is smooth and detailed, with effortless integration within the sound stage, being well balanced between the dialogue and effects as Brian Tyler’s score envelops the listener supporting both the action and filling out the quieter more atmospheric moments equally well.
Subwoofer(s) also get a good workout, though not spectacularly so. The LFE channel packs some solid punch and slam from the explosions, gunfire, engine growl and vehicular impacts and mayhem.
There is little to criticize regarding this mix, managing as it does to hit reference class.
Story Overview
In a brief opening flashback it is revealed that Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) has a brother Jakob (John Cena) from who he became estranged after the death of their father Jack, in a racing car accident. Now Dom and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) have retired to the country to raise Dom’s young son Brian. Just as this peaceful existence is starting to become burdensome Dom hears that Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell) has been involved in a plane crash in Central America while transporting the cyber-criminal Cipher (Charlize Theron). It appears that Jakob may have been involved in this accident so Dom, Letty, and the whole crew drive right back into the action and while on route discover a top secret device called Ares that can hack any computer on Earth giving its owner world-wide control and domination. The race is on to destroy the device before Jacob’s villainous criminal plot can take shape, with Dom enlisting many of his old friends and family with numerous cameos from just about everybody that has been in an F&F movie, a surprising return, plus a car ride into outer space!!
My 2 cents
Sorry, but what the *#!*#! Let me first say that I enjoyed this totally outrageous movie. If they had stretched it any further it would have snapped. The stunts, in particular the electromagnets and space jaunt, are just ridiculous, even if their integration was well done. However, once you get over just how far-fetched this movie is, and totally turn off any semblance of rational thought, taking it for what it is, a collage of outrageous stunts, then just maybe you can enjoy the special effects as there isn’t much else. Well maybe a few laughs, smiles and an eye roll or two. The movie is packed with Fast & Furious cliches and is obviously geared to all the F&F fans of which I am one.
Purchase from Amazon here.
