Star Trek – Into Darkness – 4K Blu-ray Review
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Paramount Picture | 2013
PG 13 | 2hrs 11 min | Sci-Fi | Fantasy | Adventure
HD | 1080P | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Upscaled 4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Aspect Ratio 2.40 & 1.78:1
Staring: Chris Pine | Zachary Quinto | Zoe Saldana | Karl Urban | Simon Pegg | John Cho
Directed by: J.J.Abrams
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 all respects, and the 4K HDR10 video? Also excellent especially considering it was upscaled.
Entertainment: 5
Video: 5+
Audio: 5+
More differed gratification, but all 4K comes to those who wait. It was so worth it!
Technical Review – Upscaled 4K UHD HDR10
Star Trek Into Darkness was shot mostly on photochemical film using Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2 & Arriflex 435 ES cameras (35mm anamorphic) with Panavision Primo, C-/E-Series, ATZ and AWZ2 lenses, and large format 65mm IMAX MSM 9802 & Iwerks MSM 8870 cameras with Hasselblad Lenses. This release includes the film in a variable aspect ratio format that mirrors the IMAX theatrical presentation, shifting from 2.39:1 to 1.78:1 during the specific IMAX-filmed sequences. It was finished as a 2K Digital Intermediate, up-sampled to 4K and given an HDR color timing pass for this Ultra HD release. This UHD presentation shines at every turn, the imaging is simply beautiful, and I saw no evidence of any compression artifacts. Integration between close-ups provide outstanding levels of detail, clarity and definition like the “3D” face paint on the Nibiru aliens and the general great skin tones. From costumes to pores and stubble, eyelashes and skin, tattoos and scars, all show amazing clarity and detail. Surface details are also wonderfully captured from the bridges control consoles to the scuffs and scratches on various shuttles and craft. Despite the amazing detail and clarity there were no issues noted with the integration between real and digital.
Colors are wonderfully saturated with a huge range of hues all being vibrant and richly exquisite, without being overdone. From the red-tinted forests of Nibiru, the nebula star field backgrounds, closing credit graphics and Jupiters swirling red spot, all provide impressive and natural colors and hues.
There is less lens flaring in this film than Star Trek, but when they do appear your eyes reaction to the brightness still allows you to see fine detail, even in the brightest of imagery.
Blacks are deep and noise free, supported by excellent low level detail. Peak whites provide clean detail with no obvious clipping, creating a terrific dynamic range.
This is one of the better looking 4K Ultra HD film images that I have seen. Despite it not being in native 4K, it definitely belongs in the reference category.
Audio – Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Star Trek Into Darkness is presented with an updated Dolby Atmos mix that defaults to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in my system, this new mix sounds terrific. With its wide sound stage and detailed surround effects, the 7.1 mix abounds with atmosphere especially during the quieter moments, but really heating up during some of the more impactful action moments. Action sequences provide plenty of punch from the various weapons and intense explosions. Action scenes come to life with remarkable dynamics, weight, and detail, whether it’s a firefight on Kronos or combat between spaceships. Effects placement are accurate and natural, with movement in both the rear and side surrounds and various atmospheric effects consistently pulling you into the various locals and environments.
Good sub action certainly makes itself known during the action sequences, explosions and firefights, with a solid and extended bottom end having good punch and muscle where required. Dialogue is always clear and detailed with solid front-center imaging and prioritization.
Music is smooth and detailed, with a tight and deep low end support, effortless integration within the sound stage, and perfect clarity to every note.
There is nothing to criticize regarding this soundtrack, providing as it does, a reference mix.
Story Overview
Star Trek Into Darkness is set about 1 year after the events of Star Trek. Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) is repremanded by Starfleet Command after a first contact incident where he manages to save both the indigenous population of the planet Nibiru, and Spock’s (Zach Quinto) life, but in doing so breaks the Prime Directive. Upon the crews return a force of terror within the organization destroys the fleet and everything that it stands for, leaving earth in chaos. Punished for his Prime Directive infraction Captain Kirk looses his command of the Enterprise to his mentor Admiral Pike (Bruce Greenwood) who manages to keep him on as his First Officer. Now with a personnel score to settle Kirk leads his team on a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction before all of the earth is laid to waste.
My 2 cents
Was the 4K release worth waiting for? A resounding yes, especially for $7.96. This is a fun and entertaining movie and this 4K version provides an astonishing video and audio experience. While there are few improvements to the 7.1 mix, Star Trek Into Darkness looks and sounds terrific. Whether you are a Star Trek fan or not, this is definitely the way to view it at home.
