Moonfall – 4K UHD Blu-ray Review
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Lionsgate Films | 2022
PG13 | 2hrs 10 min | Sci-Fi | Thriller | Adventure | Fantasy | Action
HD | 1080P | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Native 4K | 2160P | Dolby Vision | HDR 10 | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Aspect Ratio 2.39:1
Staring: Halle Berry | Patrick Wilson | John Bradley (XXIV) | Michael Peña | Charlie Plummer | Carolina Bartczak | Donald Sutherland
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 7.1 soundtrack sound like? Excellent, and the 4K HDR10 video? Very good.
Entertainment: 5-
Video: 5-
Audio: 5-
Technical Review – Native 4K UHD HDR10
Moonfall was captured digitally in the Redcode RAW codec at 8K by cinematographer Robby Baumgartner using Red Monstro cameras and DNA LFP lenses. It was finished as a 4K Digital Intermediate at the 2.39:1 aspect ratio and graded for HDR for this 4K release in both Dolby Vision and HDR10. This triple-layer BD100 disc has been well authored and shows no excessive use of noise reduction or edge sharpening and no obvious compression artifacts. The package also contains the HD version with Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1 and a redeemable digital code.
Despite comments to the contrary, I did not find this movie had an overall dark appearance. Image clarity is excellent, with an abundance of crisp detail and plenty of refined texturing. Props and costumes have textures and patterns that are virtually palpable at times. Clothing, threads and facial close-ups provide excellent detail and definition with natural skin tones and accurate rendition of pores, facial stubble, wrinkles, eyelashes, hair strands and features without any undue exaggerations. From the costumes, uniforms and space suites to the sheen off, spacecraft and moon technology, all look impressive. Even the wider valley, town and city shots with their chaos are nice and sharp.
Heavy-duty CGI special effects are generally very good, like the AI swarm and the inside of the moon. Unfortunately some of the green screen integration is less than stellar and just doesn’t blend well with the overlaid real action shots. The good news is that at least they never looked soft. Effects like fire balls, explosions, flying debris, rocks and boulders and raging seas are well integrated into the live action with no distractions.
Deep blacks abound throughout, were noise free, and showed very good low level and shadow detail as found in all the deep space and the moons surface shots, the garage and various night and inside room shots. Peak whites and overall highlights provided clean detail with no clipping, as seen on the moon, the lighting effects of moon rocks searing into the earths atmosphere and the high sheen off the various metallic surfaces of spacecraft. All providing a good dynamic contrast range and enhancing visibility of objects in both interior and exterior shots, all helping to create a good depth of image.
While not the most colorful of movies it is true to its environments. Primaries do pop out as the moon approaches earth and debris enters the atmosphere. The color fidelity showing well saturated primaries and secondaries, all having good color depth and density with hues that are vibrant and accurate. The reds of taillights, blue badges, the overall cool blue image grading, to the oranges and burgundies of the space suits and brilliant yellows, reds and oranges of the various explosions and thrusters.
This image is generally very good, providing a solid HDR10 encode that occasionally touches on reference.
Audio – Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Moonfall provides a Dolby Atmos primary audio track that defaults to a stellar Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in my system. I found the track highly engaging during all action scenes with solid bass and impactful dynamics.
The overall sound presentation is very dynamic, with excellent sub involvement and action from all surrounds. The soundstage is deep and wide, and surrounds are constantly active with ambience, directional cues and movement. From the claustrophobic atmospheres of the tightly confined spacecraft and underground bunkers to the AI-swarm of doom and the bombastic racket of explosions and collapsing buildings.
Effects placement are accurate and natural, with movement in both the rear and side surrounds together with the general environmental and room acoustics effects consistently pulling you into the many locals and environments. There is excellent movement from the swirling AI-swarm as it pans through the rears to the sides and into the front and center channels. From the silence of space to bullets fired, meteor impacts, crashing tidal waves, whirling helicopter blades, shouts and screams, all filling the surrounds helping to pull the listener further into the scene and keeping you engaged at all times.
Sub action is extensive providing a solid and extended bottom end. Certainly making itself felt during all of the action sequences, having good punch and muscle from the rockets thrusters to the thunderous and highly impactful meteor strikes. 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 more intense sonic moments with the mid-range continually providing good clarity and detail no matter how loud and aggressive the action.
Complementing the movie throughout its entire length, the films score, composed by Thomas Wander and Haraid Kloser, also featured music from various pop and classical numbers all nicely flushing out the soundscape. Hitting a good balance between the dialogue and effects the score envelopes the whole listening environment with light spill into the surrounds and effortless integration within the soundstage.
An excellent soundtrack that again managed to rise to reference potential on several occasions.
Story Overview
Moonfall revolves around the story of a mysterious force that causes the moon to be knocked out of its orbit, sending it hurtling on a collision course to earth, potentially ending all life as we know it. A few weeks before the moon is due to annihilate earth, Jocinda Fowler (Halle Berry), a NASA executive and former astronaut believes that she has found a way to save humanity. Unfortunately only one astronaut Brian Harper (Patrick Wilson) and a conspiracy theorist K.C. Houseman (John Bradley) believe in her. Together these unlikely three heroes prepare for one last-ditch mission to save the world. However, their preparation was almost in vain.
My 2 cents
Despite a number of reviews to the contrary, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and found it entertaining with excellent video and very good audio. Yes its a bit of a Sci-Fi popcorn flick but what else would you expect? Even the acting and the story kept me engaged. So hang your preconceptions up as you settle in and enjoy an entertaining ride for your eyes and ears. I am already looking forward to its second viewing.
Purchase from Amazon here.
