Remove ads with our VIP Service
- The Amazing Spider-Man 2 [2014]
- Chappie [2015]
- Hancock [2008]
- The Pineapple Express [2008]
- Salt [2010]
- The Smurfs 2 [2013]
Add Your Comments
Home Video Articles
- How to Watch the Academy Award Winners in Theaters and at Home [Mar 11]
- Save 20% on Movies at Target - expires Dec 30, 2023 [Dec 29, 2023]
- What's Your Favorite Holiday Movie? Check This List for Contenders! [Dec 20, 2023]
- Movies Released on This Day in History - December 15 [Dec 15, 2023]
- Remastered in 4K, 'The Abyss' Returns to Theaters for One Night Only, Finally Coming to Home Video [Nov 14, 2023]
- Read more »
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment announced recently its first slate of movies that will be available on the 4K Ultra HD disc format. Unfortunately, none of them are high-profile titles, and none (save for one) are known for their achievements in spectacular cinematography or sound. This makes them odd choices to roll out the new format, especially from a company that has titles in its library that would be more obvious choices.
- The Amazing Spider-Man 2
- Salt (nominated for sound mixing)
- Hancock
- Chappie
- The Pineapple Express
- The Smurfs 2
No exact release schedule was provided, only that they would appear in "early 2016."
This list is disappointing to say the least, but even more so, given that the company just released three movies (The Fifth Element, Leon: The Professional, and Bram Stoker's Dracula) on Blu-ray with new remastered video and Dolby Atmos sound, which garnered positive reviews from critics and enthusiasts alike. The press release name-drops several other movie titles in the Sony library that they list as "4K content," but no commitment of release dates was provided.
A slightly lesser disappointment is that the sound aspect of the announced titles was detailed only as "Many titles will also support next-generation immersive audio formats" so we have no idea which immersive format they will support or if some of the titles will simply not feature immersive soundtracks. I say that this is a lesser disappointment because none of the movies listed above were originally mixed in Dolby Atmos or DTS:X.
The upmix conversions that were done for other movies have gotten good reviews for the job that was done, so my concern about the quality of such conversions appear to have been unfounded so far. One would hope that, at the very least, the three movies that have already been released with Atmos upmixes as well as any new movies that were released theatrically in Atmos or DTS:X will be released on 4K Ultra HD (and Blu-ray) in those formats.
The 4K Ultra HD format will have a resolution of 3840x2160, which is four times that of the HD format that is available on current Blu-ray discs. High Dynamic Range (HDR) is an option of the format, which offers more range between the brightest and the darkest colors. Immersive sound formats, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are also optional, but when available, make it possible to have sounds above the listener as well as around them in so-equipped home theaters.
In September, Samsung unveiled its first Ultra HD Blu-ray player, with a planned release for "some time in 2016," and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment also announced that they will be supporting the new format with a batch of releases that includes Kingsman: The Secret Service, Fantastic Four, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Life of Pi, The Maze Runner, Exodus: Gods and Kings, and Wild.
Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Press Release
Please note: If you purchase through the links above, we may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for supporting The BigScreen Cinema Guide!
Remove ads with our VIP Service
- The Amazing Spider-Man 2 [2014]
- Chappie [2015]
- Hancock [2008]
- The Pineapple Express [2008]
- Salt [2010]
- The Smurfs 2 [2013]
Add Your Comments
Home Video Articles
- How to Watch the Academy Award Winners in Theaters and at Home [Mar 11]
- Save 20% on Movies at Target - expires Dec 30, 2023 [Dec 29, 2023]
- What's Your Favorite Holiday Movie? Check This List for Contenders! [Dec 20, 2023]
- Movies Released on This Day in History - December 15 [Dec 15, 2023]
- Remastered in 4K, 'The Abyss' Returns to Theaters for One Night Only, Finally Coming to Home Video [Nov 14, 2023]
- Read more »
Add Your Comments
Reader Comments
No comments found. Be the first and let us know what you think!
Add Your Comments
Please login or register a new account before continuing.
Already Registered?
Not Registered? Create a New Account!
Our registered members enjoy more features, including:
- Save Your Location -- the site remembers your location, no having to re-enter it each time you visit
- Favorite Theaters List -- keep a handy list of the theaters you attend
- Favorite Movies List - movies you want to see, all in one place
- Write Movie Reviews -- share your opinions of the movies you see
- Block Ads with VIP Service -- view this site ad free (subscription req'd)
Basic accounts are free -- sign up today!
Concerned About Privacy?
So are we! We won't sell, trade, or share your personal information with anyone unless required by law. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy.
News Headlines - Theaters - Movies - Reader Reviews - Movie Links
Your Account - VIP Service
The BigScreen Cinema Guide is a service of SVJ Designs LLC. All graphics, layout, and structure of this service (unless otherwise specified) are Copyright © 1995-2024, SVJ Designs. The BigScreen Cinema Guide is a trademark of SVJ Designs. All rights reserved. 'ACADEMY AWARDS®' and 'OSCAR®' are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. |