Godzilla 4K Ultra HD

"Godzilla" takes places following a French atomic bomb test in the South Pacific. When an unknown fire-breathing creature is spotted passing through the Panama Canal, scientist Dr. Niko Tatopoulos (Broderick) is called in to investigate the matter, and he quickly arrives at the conclusion that a giant, irradiated lizard has been created by the explosions. Godzilla then makes its way north, landing in Manhattan with its babies hatching in Madison Square Garden to begin wreaking havoc in New York City. (Gary Reber)

Special features include visual effects commentary, the featurettes "Behind The Scenes Of Godzilla With Charles Caiman" (HD 06:58) and "All-Time Best-Of-Godzilla Fight Scenes" (SD 10:14), the "Heroes" music video by The Wallflowers (SD 04:11), The Ultimate Multi-Player Trivia Game, the theatrical trailer, teaser trailers, upfront previews, BD-Live and Movies Anywhere digital code

The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD HDR10 picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed on Kodak Vision film stock with Panavision cameras in Super 35 and sourced from a 4K remastered Digital Intermediate format from the original camera negative. This new remastered edition of "Godzilla" far surpasses the picture quality of all previously released editions on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, delivering dramatically improved sharpness and detail as well as color fidelity. Resolution reveals fine facial features and object textures throughout. Color fidelity is excellent, displaying accurate fleshtones, vivid and saturated colors, and deep, solid black levels. Colors are nicely saturated and exhibit a superbly natural rendering. The wider color gamut (WCG) provides dramatic hue shadings that effectively enhance realism, dimensional depth and textural character, such as exhibited in skies, terrains, waters and costumes. Though much of the film is set in an environment of gray, overcast city locations during the day and dark and dreary nighttime exteriors and interiors where illumination is at a premium, this new edition effectively resolves the imagery as never before with striking image clarity. New York City backdrops, as well as street pavings, building facades and cars are realistically rendered. Film grain and noise is virtually unnoticeable. HDR contrast heightens deep black levels contrasted with stylized lighting effects. Shadow delineation is excellent. The imagery is nicely dimensional as well. Sharpness is superb throughout. Resolution is revealing of fine detail in facial features, hair, beards, clothing and object texture. WOW! segments are from 08:00 to 09:18, 09:50 to 11:16, 17:25 to 20:18. 23:54 to 26:25, 29:20 to 30:51, 44:00 to 47:00, 48:44 to 50:38, 01:00:50 to 01:01;35, 01:18:11 to 01:21:00, 01:22:15 to 01:24:26, 01:21:10 to 01:36:08, 01:43:24 to 01:35:52 and 01:51:08 to 01:52:43.

This is overall a dark film that should be viewed in a darkened room, preferably a black room, to optimize blacks and shadow depth. Stylized throughout, the picture is sure to challenge the best display systems. The picture does not disappoint, delivering a stellar remastered visual experience. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack was remastered from the original multi-channel elements. The sound is impressively dynamic, and often the SPL is system threatening as sound effects stomp and blast throughout the soundfield. The sound is loud, with a theme park attitude that produces a sonically exciting soundfield experience. David Arnold's orchestral/choral score is wide and deep and expansive. The soundfield is aggressively enveloping with dimensionally discrete directionality. There is always a surround presence that is effectively enveloping, with excellent sidewall imaging and directionality. Bass extension is deep and powerful to sub-25 Hz frequencies, especially in the .1 LFE channel. Thunder cracks and rolls throughout the soundstage while a steady, heavy barrage of falling rain drenches the soundstage with unusually impressive envelopment and an almost constant height layer component. Godzilla screeches and roars with power. An early scene in which Godzilla tears into the hull of a ship during an intense storm creates sonic chaos as water spills in and the ship sinks. In other scenes, Apache helicopters rush about the stage with seamless directionality and pans. All the mayhem is supported by precision atmospherics. Throughout, dialogue sounds generally natural, though, dialogue has been extensively ADR produced, but with generally good spatial integration.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of a powerful and dynamic orchestral/choral score, which is enhanced with the addition of height extension. Other elements are voices, powerful thunder and lightening effects, rain, ocean splashes, "Singin' In The Rain" on the radio, helicopter sounds, prop airplane swoops, bird chirps, dialogue outside during discovery of Godzilla's tracks, helicopter flybys, voice chatter in an office setting, creaking sounds around fishing boats and Godzilla attacks on hulls and rushing sinking sounds, ambient storm sounds, mayhem destruction on the streets of New York City, the mayor's speech welcoming crowds and more Godzilla ruckus, reverberant voices in a tunnel, Godzilla growls, Godzilla stomping through the streets of New York City, Godzilla devouring a pile of fish on the street, gunfire and blasts, destruction of skyscrapers, more helicopter pans and destruction mayhem, solider chatter, dripping water, Godzilla growling overhead the subway tunnel, growls and concrete destruction in the tunnel, rocket fire, explosions, a submarine siren, torpedo explosions, screams of Godzilla's babies, crashes in sealed doors, light fixture crashes, jet fighter attacks and explosions, and so much more. This is a constant height layer barrage at loud levels, which effectively creates an exciting height layer experience. This is the way the height layer should be cast. BRAVO!

This is an absolute thrilling Holosonic® spherical surround reference-quality soundtrack that will challenge the most capable home theatre sound systems. Fans will be enthralled with the ensuing mayhem. (Gary Reber)