UHD Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ - Civil War -- in 4k UHD (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

Alex Garland's Civil War has made it to 4k UHD via Lionsgate, and I viewed the film on a Amazon purchased copy that will be returned as defective.

Hopefully, my copy is a rare case, but it went through numerous fits and starts of freezing and digitizing of the image. Actually rather attractive in some cases.

I may have missed some minor dialogue, but I came away impressed, as the film is not at all what I had presumed it (think trailers) to be.

I read reviews after viewing, and concur with Matt Zoller Seitz's words here, on the Ebert site:

Civil War movie review & film summary (2024) | Roger Ebert

Whatever you're expecting, this movie will give you something else.

www.rogerebert.com

Whether one sees this a the future of America in the extremely near political situation, as just a loud and violent popcorn movie, or as MZS does - as something else, I'm seeing it as a very personal tale of a young woman in her twenties, played by Cailee Spaeny, who some may have seen in Priscilla, who desperately wants to work under the tutelage of her journalistic god played by Kirsten Dunst.

The civil war seems more a background to all this.

Many people will be attracted to the metallic and lime green slipcover. It's shiny.

I found this A24 release via Lionsgate to be incredibly gorgeous 4k UHD fodder for the format, inclusive of Dolby Vision and Atmos. We're talking reference quality.

Image (Dolby Vision)

Forensic - 10
NSD - 10

Audio – 10 (Dolby Atmos)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 9.5

Worth your attention - Yes

Slipcover rating - 3

Highly Recommended


RAH


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[JohnRice]

I received my 4K in April and watched it shortly after, with no problems. I always clean new 4K discs with a microfiber cloth.

I think it's an excellent example of the tendency of viewers not allowing a movie to "be what it is." Those who go with it and allow it to just be what it is will probably find it extremely compelling, as well as a bit mysterious. I love movies that just show the audience pieces of the bigger picture, as opposed to spelling everything out for them.

I will watch anything Alex Garland is involved in.

 

[titch]

Saw the new Kate Winslet picture Lee, last week. The main character in Civil War is obviously inspired by her.

 

[Robert Harris]

Saw the new Kate Winslet picture Lee, last week. The main character in Civil War is obviously inspired by her.
View attachment 234380

Ellen Kuras is a superb cinematographer

 

[JohnRice]

Ellen Kuras is a superb cinematographer

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Such fabulous practical effects, and generally ingenious visuals.

 

[Citizen87645]

I watched this on the plane (definitely not in 4K) and read reviews from my usual go-to sites. I agree with Robert that Seitz got things spot on, but I may be biased by my journalism degree and one-time interest in being a photojournalist. I think the movie would be a great discussion piece for aspiring journalism students. In that regard the modern civil war plot is a distraction, which is unfortunate. While it probably got some people in to the see the movie, who otherwise wouldn't, it basically sends them down the wrong path for what the movie is (mostly) about.