The Marvels – 4K UHD Review
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Disney/Buena Vista 2024
PG-13 | 1hrs 45mins | Comic Book | Fantasy | Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
HD | 1080P | DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Upscaled 4K | 2160P | HDR10 | Dolby Atmos | Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Staring: Brie Larson | Teyonah Parris | Iman Vellani | Samuel L. Jackson | Zawe Ashton | Gary Lewis
Directed by: Nia DaCosta
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’.
Not having Immersive audio yet, the 7.1 soundtrack is less than stellar, with the video almost making it to reference level.
Entertainment: B+
Video: A-
Audio: B+
Technical Review – 4K UHD HDR10
The Marvels was shot digitally by cinematographer Sean Bobbitt in the ARRIRAW format at 4.5K using ARRI ALEXA 65 cameras with Hasselblad Prime DNA lenses. The IMAX format used ARRI ALEXA LF IMAX and ALEXA Mini LF IMAX cameras with ARRI DNA LF lenses. It would appear that despite the higher resolution capture the final 2.39:1 DI was only 2K and was graded for just HDR10. Also per Disney’s current policy only the 2.39:1 framing is included on UHD and Blu-ray.
Despite the lower resolution 2K DI this upscaled version is vivid and sharp throughout, presenting a very good HDR10 presentation. This upconverted 4K release has good overall image clarity with a wide display of crisp, sharp detail with good texturing throughout. Objects, clothing, threads and facial close-ups all provide good detail and definition, from The Marvel suites, alien outfits, buildings and internal room shots to the various space vehicles and wide space shots. Even coming from a 2K DI, facial pores, wrinkles, eyelashes, hair strands and features are all accurately rendered with few undue exaggerations. CGI, green screen and special effects integration are generally good blending quite well with the real action shots and rarely looking soft. Effects like light blasts, flying objects, debris and of course explosions are well integrated into the live action with no distractions.
Contrast balance is excellent throughout, from the brilliant uncompressed whites of the daylight exterior, the light based powers and the various dazzling specular highlights to the deep and noise free inky blacks including; space, various rooms and battle environments that showed excellent low level and shadow detail. Individual clouds, sunlight, numerous light sources, metallic weapons sheen, light based powers blasts and hand held weapons’ sparkle with a true-to-live realism. All creating a very good dynamic contrast range and enhancing visibility of objects in both exterior and interior shots, creating a good depth of image.
The color palette presents with a solid array of vibrant colors, with vivid and well saturated primaries and secondary’s, all having good color depth and density, hues are bold and vibrant. From the various costumes to the rainbow bridge and the scenes set on Aladna. From the gold edging of buildings, the vegetation and earth greens, the reds of various costumes and light sources, the yellow, reds and oranges of explosions to the various purples, violet and cobalt blue highlights, almost every color pops its head up at some point in time, presenting a colorful image. Skin tones, both human and alien, and facial complexions throughout looking quite natural.
This video is very good on most fronts, providing an HDR10 reference image on a number of occasions.
Audio – Dolby TrueHD 7.1
The Marvels leap onto your screen with a potentially explosive and dynamic Dolby Atmos track, but in true Disney fashion fails the mark. Defaulting to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in my system once again I needed at least another +4dB or more to get decent dynamics and bottom end impact. I hope that the recent Disney disc mastering and manufacturing takeover by Sony fixes this issue for once and for all, as I am becoming more and more reluctant to purchasing these sub-par 4K discs. Often looking quite good, but sounding mediocre, the rear channels provide various atmospheric effects, conveying room sizes and outdoor environments and supporting directional and atmospheric cues alike. All supported by good channel separation.
The overall sound presentation was acceptably dynamic had moderate surround action and just acceptable sub involvement. The soundstage is wide and surrounds are often active with ambience, directional cues and movement, delivering an active environment that drops the listener into both the calm and active environments alike. 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, from inside space vehicles and on planets surfaces to various rooms and spaces. Not to mention the light based power blasts, impactful hand to hand combat, explosions and flying debris. All fill the surrounds pulling you into the scene and helping to keep you “in the mix”.
Sub action is missing a solid and serious low-end that this movie deserves. There are plenty of opportunities for low frequency effects but they rarely rise to the occasion. What is there, with the raised levels, adds some power and weight to the various impacts, hand wielded weapons, light based powers and weapons fire, various explosions and destructive events. Imaging continuously feels broad and expansive following the action as it moves on and off-screen and dialogue is delivered with solid front-center imaging and prioritization, good clarity and detail, no matter how loud the action sequence.
Flushing out the soundscape and supporting the movie throughout its entire length, the films score, composed by Laura Karpman provides a quite supportive and well integrated mix for both the aggressive and more relaxed scenes equally well. Its strikes a good balance between the dialogue and effects, providing a light spill into the surrounds and good integration within the soundstage.
A mediocre audio track that doesn’t do the video any favors.
Story Overview
Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) has now taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence and reclaimed her identity from the Kree. The story kicks-off with Captain Marvel (AKA Carol Danvers) working with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) keeping tabs on all of the intergalactic jump stations. After the appearance of a mysterious wormhole Captain Marvel is sent to investigate, discovering that it is linked to a renegade Kree, Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) who has located a powerful artifact and is now looking for revenge. While tying to tackle this renegade, Captain Marvels powers become intertwined with her estranged niece Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and a New Jersey teenager Kamala Kahn (Iman Vellani) AKA Ms. Marvel. These three heroes must now learn to fight together and use their light based powers in sync in order to prevent Dar-Benn and the Kree’s plans for destruction.
My 2 Cents
By now I am tired, and maybe you are too, of listening to and reading about Disney’s less than stellar audio mixes, I really hope that Sony fixes this issue.
Overall the movie was quite entertaining but I am now finding these MCU movies having less than stellar acting with generally poor character development. If this mediocrity continues I will be turning to renting for a one night watch and review!!
If you’re a fan of 4K eye candy, this title delivers, but not too much else!
Purchase from Amazon here.
