Cliffhanger UHD Review

Although not mentioned on the cover artwork, Sony celebrates the 25^th anniversary of Cliffhanger by releasing it on 4K UHD Blu-ray with updated picture and sound.

The Production: 4/5

The plot of Cliffhanger is fairly simple. After ranger Gabe Walker (Sylvester Stallone) tragically fails to save fellow ranger Hal Tucker’s (Michael Rooker) girlfriend Sarah (Michelle Joiner) after the two are stranded on a mountain peak in the Colorado Rockies, he takes a leave of absence and decides to retire, asking his girlfriend and helicopter pilot Jessie Deighan (Janine Turner) to join him as the next tourist season begins. Meanwhile, a plane transferring $100 million of unmarked bills is hijacked by a team led by Eric Qualen (John Lithgow) and crashes into the Rockies. Sending out a distress call, Gabe comes to their rescue, only to become a tour guide of sorts as he helps them hunt down the missing money against his will.

I admit, I’ve never been a big fan of Stallone, but of all of his movies, this is, perhaps, my favorite. It has a sense of fun, never takes itself too seriously, and has another great villain played by John Lithgow who delights in just chewing the scenery in almost every frame. Sure, the stunts are over the top (no pun intended), but audiences have come to expect that from both Stallone and director Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2: Die Harder, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and Deep Blue Sea).

Video: 5/5

3D Rating: NA

This is another exemplary effort on a catalog title by the folks at Sony. This new 2160p transfer in the film’s original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.40:1 is absolutely gorgeous, and the use of HDR10 high dynamic range helps tremendously. Clarity is simply breathtaking, from the spacious views of mountain ranges to the fine details of actor close-ups, revealing the most minute of details such as gravel, layers of snow, and weathered skin. So much so, that if you look close enough, you can see some of the safety wires used during the simulated freehand rock climbing sequences. Contrast gets a nice boost, assisting in the revelation of much of the fine detail in the snow-covered landscapes that often appear a bit washed out on prior home video releases of this title. Colors are more vivid and natural, as well.

Audio: 5/5

Sony has included a new Dolby Atmos mix with this 4K UHD release, and is does not disappoint. The opening helicopter flyover, long a staple of home theater demos, as hard is it may be to believe, even more impressive as it much more seamlessly travels from behind, over, and in front of the audience. Surround activity is, overall, better balanced than ever before with atmospherics and other background noises are more pronounced without being distracting, and LFE is much more lively. Dialogue remains clear and understandable throughout. Sony has also included the same DTS-HD Master Adio 5.1 track from the previous Blu-ray release.

Special Features: 3/5

The 4K UHD disc of Cliffhanger contains no special features whatsoever. Instead, Sony has included the previous Blu-ray release from 2010 which included the following special features:

Audio Commentary with Director Renny Harlin and Actor Sylverster Stallone

Audio Commentary with Technical Crew

A Personal Introduction from Renny Harlin (480i; 4:53)

Deleted Scenes (480i; 8;18)

Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger (480i; 20:03)

Special Effects (480i; 7:24)

Storyboard Comparisons (480i; 12:01)

Original Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 1:57)

Original Theatrical Trailer Introduction by Renny Harlin (480i; 3:26)

Digital Copy: An insert contains a code to redeem a digital copy (in UHD where available) on Movies Anywhere.

Overall: 4.5/5

Cliffhanger arrives on 4K UHD Blu-ray from Sony with exceptional picture and sound, but no new extras.

Todd Erwin

Todd Erwin has been a reviewer at Home Theater Forum since 2008. His love of movies began as a young child, first showing Super 8 movies in his backyard during the summer to friends and neighbors at age 10. He also received his first movie camera that year, a hand-crank Wollensak 8mm with three fixed lenses. In 1980, he graduated to "talkies" with his award-winning short The Ape-Man, followed by the cult favorite The Adventures of Terrific Man two years later. Other films include Myth or Fact: The Talbert Terror and Warren's Revenge (which is currently being restored). In addition to movie reviews, Todd has written many articles for Home Theater Forum centering mostly on streaming as well as an occasional hardware review, is the host of his own video podcast Streaming News & Views on YouTube and is a frequent guest on the Home Theater United podcast.