Every couple of months, a new 4k UHD release arrives, that is of such superior quality, in its reproduction of the look of cinema, that it needs to be highlighted.
Black Hawk Down, the 2001 Ridley Scott production, concerning U.S. forces in Somalia, under attack by a local war lord is such a release.
A film needs to be photographed in a style, and of high enough resolution, to be a candidate for 4k release.
Most are not.
Black Hawk Down is however, one of the poster children for the format, that once seen, can send home theater enthusiasts on the fence about moving up to 4k, to pull the trigger (no pun intended).
Photographed in S35 by Slawomir Idziak, in stark, realistic terms, this is perfect 4k fodder.
The film holds up beautifully, and two versions are available on the 4k disc – 144 and 152 minutes.
The track, originally in 8-channel SDDS, is beautifully rendered in Dolby Atmos, with some startling effects.
As an aside, as you inventory the actors, and faces, it might be the perfect time to do a bit of research on casting director supreme, Bonnie Timmermann.
Unlike the majority of 4k releases, Black Hawk Down is the real thing, and deserves to be in any serious library.
Image – 5
Audio – 5 (Dolby Atmos)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Upgrade from Blu-ray – Absolutely
Highly Recommended
RAH
Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.
His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.
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