Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes 4K Ultra HD

Set generations after Caesar’s reign in a world where apes are the dominant species, "Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes" follows an ape named Noa and a human named Mae as they emerge to define the future of how apes and humans will coexist. Apes are living harmoniously as the dominant species — and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike. (Gary Reber)

Special features include (Blu-ray) “Inside the Lens: The Raw Cut,” a full-length alternative cut with a split-screen comparison between the final cut of the film and a version with unfinished VFX with optional audio commentary by Director Wes Ball, Editor Dan Zimmerman and VFX Supervisor Erik Winquist (HD 02:24:47), the featurette "Inside The Forbidden Zone: Making Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes" (HD 23:25), 14 deleted/extended scenes with optional commentary by Director Ball (HD 32:15) and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 4K Ultra HD HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed digitally in anamorphic Panavision® using the Arri Alexa LF, Arri Alexa Mini LF and Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro camera systems and sourced from a 4K Digital Intermediate. The picture, crafted by Director Wes Ball and cinematographer Gyula Pados, HCA, is a jaw-dropping cinematically gorgeous spectacle with a stunning color palette exhibiting naturalness and realism throughout. The forested ape environment exhibits earthly green and brown hues. Fire is prominent as a visual element during violent ape attacks and as heart for the ape community. The color palette exhibits nuanced hue shadings that enhance the realism of the environments and the apes orangutan and gorillas, as well as the humans. Human flesh tones appear accurate. Visually, the imagery is spectacular. HDR contrast is perfectly executed with deep, natural black levels, deep shadows, and natural white levels, all of which present a vividly natural picture palette. The evening scenes set by the warming fires are wonderfully dynamic. The daylight scenes, including those along a river waterway are visually compelling. The production design delivers spectacular visuals throughout. Silverback gorilla Proximus Caesar’s village along a coast exhibits a complex set design. Resolution is amazing, especially during closeups of ape, orangutan and gorilla faces, which exhibit age, lines skin texture, and facial and body hair, which all appear perfectly realistic. Humans also exhibit fine facial features. Costume design is incredible with fabrics finely detailed. Objects exhibit fine textural detail. This is a beautiful visual experience that has been precisely crafted. The picture is a visual masterpiece. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is virtually limited to ear-level sonics absent a height layer. Atmospherics are wonderfully realistic and impressively nuanced throughout. Likewise, sound effects are impressive and at times powerfully energized, such as during intense violent segments. Sound effects are often enhanced with powerful .1 LFE bass that extends to deep frequencies. This is effective in enhancing the hoof sounds of galloping horses. The sounds of raging water currents are powerful. The power of the "say his words" scene with the apes speaking in unison in the gorilla seaside village is unbelievably powerful. Explosions are intense, especially in in the silverback Proximus Caesar village when the ocean floods a relic science human building. John Paesano's orchestral score in sweepingly powerful with an enveloping wide and deep soundstage that extends to the four surrounds. Dialogue is remarkably well integrated spatially, even though often ADR produced. And the dialogue is so realistically voiced.

The Immersive Sound element is virtually non-existent with just two instances of two or three seconds. Not even the orchestral score was extended to the height layer. With the height layer absent this is a tragic disappoint for such an otherwise superb sound design. This should have never been credited as a Dolby Atmos soundtrack!

This is a spectacular holosonic® soundtrack that is dynamic sounding and spatially dimensional at ear level. Home theatre enthusiasts will be thrilled by this reference quality dimensional enveloping soundtrack. (Gary Reber)