Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi 4K Ultra HD Bluray

Video Quality

The Last Jedi is no slouch on Blu-ray, but this 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD release offers an increase, often substantial, in terms of both textural clarity and color depth and vibrancy. The film, shot on film, retains an inherently natural and beautiful grain structure, here a little more pronounced than that on the Blu-ray, but the end result is a substantial net increase in textural yield. The native 4K presentation is a sight to behold, with detail refinements abounding from beginning to end. Watching closely after the Blu-ray and making some direct scene comparisons reveal the UHD's superiority. The image is much more firm, substantially sharper, and more capable of reproducing and displaying details that are not so much lost on the Blu-ray but that are certainly lacking this level of effortless intimacy. There's a tangible depth to facial definition, costumes, and environments that the Blu-ray is incapable of revealing. Fine-point object detail on scars, hair, set piece weathering and intricate material detail, and costume density -- everything sees a generous increase in firmness and inherent complexity.

The 12-bit Dolby Vision color presentation is perhaps not quite the revelatory extreme as the transfer's textural wonders, but the increase in essential and nuanced coloring is a welcome add. The yellow "Star Wars" title card bears the first Dolby Vision fruits, beaming with increased brilliance against not a comparatively dull Blu-ray yellow but a yellow without the popping splendor Dolby provides. Natural greens on Ahch-To enjoy improved saturation. Reds are of greatly increased density, and the Dolby Vision allows for the color to boldly proclaim Johnson's vision for its symbolic use in the film. Skin tones take on a more refined, flattering coloring, presenting with increased natural definition and complimenting the enhanced detailing that comes with them. Stormtrooper whites are wonderfully brighter and more alive; white balance certainly seems to be, at this stage, amongst the most beneficial of the Dolby Vision improvements to any film. Black levels remain deep and true, whether dark star fields or black attire. This is the way to watch The Last Jedi. The disc boasts a significant increase in detail and filmic credentials while also taking full advantage of the increased color output under the Dolby Vision parameters. If for no other reason this disc is a must-buy for its reference UHD video presentation.

Credit: blu-ray.com

Audio Quality

The Last Jedi soars with a remarkable, powerful, full-featured Dolby Atmos soundtrack. But as with the companion Blu- ray's DTS 7.1 presentation, this one is best enjoyed, and fully realized, at a calibrated 0Db, whereas some other tracks may present too loudly at that setting. Regardless, once the volume is in proper position, the track produces one of the most enriching and perfectly complimentary listens on the market. Even as there are only scattered moments of discrete overhead engagement, the added fluidity, spatial volume, and total stage coverage make the Atmos track a superior to the DTS presentation. The track delivers a seemingly endless assault of musical and sound effects joy, both playing with fully engaged side and surround immersion. John Williams' score is, of course, a highlight, belting triumphant, stage-stretching and surround-encompassing goodness and rumbling support bass in deep and dense musical cues that presents essential notes and subtle support details with equal clarity. Action scenes are huge. Smaller ships zip, larger ships rumble, blaster fire penetrates the entire stage in one seamless line, and lightsabers tear about the soundstage with their distinctive, bass-heavy density, whether as Rey practices her trade on Ahch-To or during a key lightsaber battle partway through the film. Additionally, various scenes in which Ren and Rey telepathically communicate with one another see their voices swirl around the listening area with a precision that melts away the speakers, so clear and precise is the presentation. Canto Bight is home to some prodigious bass first as various racing creatures power along a racetrack and later as one of them bellows in a rumbling baritone. There's no end to the track's dominance. Every scene enjoys perfect complimentary detail, whether modest support atmospherics or large music and fluidly moving action. Dialogue is clear and precise, the final piece to an exceptionally well engineered and extremely enjoyable Star Wars sound bonanza.

4K Bluray details