Independence Day – Resurgence – 4K Review
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20th Century Fox | 2016
PG13 | 2hrs | Action | SciFi | Adventure
HD | 1080P | DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Native 4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Staring: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Jessie T. Usher, Bill Pullman, Maika Monroe, Sela Ward
Directed by: Roland Emmerich
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? Almost reference, and the 7.1 soundtrack? Reference.
Entertainment: 4+
Video: 5-
Audio: 5
Technical Review – Native 4K UHD HDR10
Independence Day – Resurgence was captured digitally by cinematographer Markus Förderer in the Redcode RAW format at 4K and 6K using Red Epic and Weapon Dragon cameras with
The image roars onto your screen as an almost reference HDR10 presentation. While much of the movie is set in darker environments; space, aircraft hangers, inside space ships and underground rooms, it does have some eye reactive moments in the dessert at area 51 and a few outdoor shots. However, overall I did not perceive the movie as being excessively dark. With the film shot in a high resolution format, this 4K release has good overall image clarity with plenty of crisp, sharp detail with refined texturing throughout. Space ships and buildings, objects, clothing, threads and facial close-ups provide excellent detail and definition. From the uniforms detailing, various cockpit instrument dashboards to the external structures of the various spaceships and space hardware. Facial pores, stubble, wrinkles, eyelashes, hair strands and features are all accurately rendered without any undue exaggerations. CGI and special effects integration are good, having realistic textures, blending well with the real action shots and never looking soft. Effects like explosions, flying objects, debris and smoke are quite well integrated into the live action with few distractions.
Contrast balance was generally good throughout, though in a few internal poorly lit shots the blacks took on a dark charcoal gray appearance. From the brilliant uncompressed whites of several daylight exterior shots and specular highlights to the deep inky blacks of space, moon shadows and the blacks of the spaceship interiors that showed good low level and shadow detail. Peak whites and specular highlights from the twinkling stars and blazing sun, to the many light sources, various metallic objects and surfaces and explosions all sparkle with a degree of realism, with metallic surfaces offering up a glistening, realistic shine. All creating a good dynamic contrast range and enhancing visibility of objects in both exterior and interior shots, generating a good depth of field.
Although the color palette is a little subdued on occasions favoring a more neutral color scheme, all colors show good fidelity, with saturated primaries and secondaries and hues that are pleasingly accurate favoring grays, browns, tans, ambers. Not to be outdone there are plenty of, reds, fiery oranges and yellows contained in the many explosions and fires, accompanied by bright green laser blasts, with some scenes having purple, green and blue hues and exploding wavefronts displaying blue and green hues. Skin tones and facial complexions looking very natural throughout.
This video is very good on all fronts, almost providing an HDR10 reference image.
Audio – Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Independence Day – Resurgence slams into home theaters with a reference, Dolby Atmos mix that defaults to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in my system. The soundtrack was thoroughly engaging whether during an emotional drama or an action scene having room shaking bass, clarity and dynamics.
The overall sound presentation is very dynamic, with very good sub involvement and surround action. The soundstage is wide and surrounds are constantly active with ambience, directional cues and movement, delivering an active environment that drops the listener both into calm environments and action-packed sonic spectacles alike. From cockpits, various underground bunker rooms and area 51’s open spaces to the “fly by’s” and swarming fighter jets, effects placement are accurate and natural, with plenty of movement in both the rear and side surrounds. From those quieter, dialogue-heavy sequences steeped in surrounding activity to the roaring jets, laser fire, falling debris, cockpit conversations, exploding spaceships and buildings, all fill the surrounds pulling you into the scene and keeping you “in the mix”.
Sub action is very good and wall rattling, having the serious, hard hitting low-end extension that this movie deserves. Fully supporting the roar of the jet engines, laser canons, explosions, impactful weapons fire and spaceship crashes, all digging nice and deep. Imaging continuously feels broad and expansive following the action as it moves on and off-screen. Dialogue is always crystal clear and well detailed with a clean mid-range and solid front-center imaging and prioritization, providing good clarity and detail no matter how loud and aggressive the action.
Flushing out the soundscape and supporting the movie throughout its entire length, the films score, composed by Thomas Wander and Harold Kloser and accompanied by “Electric U”, performed by Kid Bloom and “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)”, performed by Annie Trousseau, offers a good supportive mix. Levels hit a good balance between the dialogue and effects providing a light spill into the surrounds and very good integration within the soundstage.
An excellent reference audio track that compliments the video in every way.
Story Overview
Two decades after the original alien invasion, the earth and its people have united and developed many new weapons and spacecraft, all from reverse engineering the technologies and techniques of the defeated invading aliens. Now, despite their original loss, the aliens return with bigger and badder technologies and crafts to core the earth in order to extract its magma for energy. Mankind once again has a fight on its hands to protect its existence in the galaxy .
My 2 cents
I have to say that to my surprise I found Independence Day: Resurgence quite an entertaining movie. It followed on nicely from the original movie using mostly the same cast, added a few newcomers and provided a different approach to the original storyline, all with some good action that looked and sounded great.
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