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

[Robert Harris]

I'm a huge fan of Richard Curtis' work, whether as producer, writer or director.

Think Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jone's Diary, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, and in this case...

Love Actually.

I actually love this film - no pun intended.

Its multiple storylines, great cast, and just warm and wonderful atmosphere, set it apart from say - Steve Wick IV, or whatever - which has neither warmth, nor storyline.

I'd not seen this in several years, but earlier thoughts returned - the comparisons to films like Nashville, or Mad, Mad World, albeit with neither Ethel Merman, walnuts nor a W of trees.

I see bits of The Graduate, Napoleon (1927) and Risky Business.

Universal has given us a very nice 4k rendering, even though I'm not certain how much is gained by it over Blu-ray. Data throughput is fine for the look and textures of the film, which nicely reproduce it on disc.

Color, density, black levels, grain - everything is in place.

Audio is beautifully rendered as Dolby Atmos.

And the cast, all in their own story lines, until they converge is a cornucopia of UK talent, along with a few representatives of the Colonies.

Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Martin Freeman, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, Rowan Atkinson, Jeanne Moreau, and Billy Bob Thornton (as the ugly American) et al.

For those who have not experience Mr. Curtis' delightful Christmas hors d'oeuvre, consider it a delicate little Holiday treat.

Image – 10 (HDR)

Audio – 10 (Dolby Atmos)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 6

Upgrade from Blu-ray - why not?

Worth your attention - 10

Slipcover rating - 3

Very Highly Recommended

RAH


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[B-ROLL]

...

I'd not seen this in several years, but earlier thoughts returned - the comparisons to films like Nashville, or Mad, Mad World, albeit with neither Ethel Merman, walnuts nor a W of trees....

I had no idea Ethel Merman was in Nashville ... I know her last film performance was in Airplane! ....

 

[Robert Harris]

I had no idea Ethel Merman was in Nashville ... I know her last film performance was in Airplane! ....

Groupie #4

 

[Colin Jacobson]

I'm a huge fan of Richard Curtis' work, whether as producer, writer or director.

Think Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jone's Diary, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, and in this case...

Love Actually.

I actually love this film - no pun intended.

Its multiple storylines, great cast, and just warm and wonderful atmosphere, set it apart from say - Steve Wick IV, or whatever - which has neither warmth, nor storyline.

I'd not seen this in several years, but earlier thoughts returned - the comparisons to films like Nashville, or Mad, Mad World, albeit with neither Ethel Merman, walnuts nor a W of trees.

I see bits of The Graduate, Napoleon (1927) and Risky Business.

Universal has given us a very nice 4k rendering, even though I'm not certain how much is gained by it over Blu-ray. Data throughput is fine for the look and textures of the film, which nicely reproduce it on disc.

Color, density, black levels, grain - everything is in place.

Audio is beautifully rendered as Dolby Atmos.

And the cast, all in their own story lines, until they converge is a cornucopia of UK talent, along with a few representatives of the Colonies.

Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Martin Freeman, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, Rowan Atkinson, Jeanne Moreau, and Billy Bob Thornton (as the ugly American) et al.

For those who have not experience Mr. Curtis' delightful Christmas hors d'oeuvre, consider it a delicate little Holiday treat.

Image – 10 (HDR)

Audio – 10 (Dolby Atmos)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 6

Upgrade from Blu-ray - if you love the film

Worth your attention - 10

Slipcover rating - 3

Very Highly Recommended

RAH

I never saw the film until I got the 4K so I watched the included BD first.

I think the 4K is a big step up.

The BD looks mushy and flat to me.

 

[Robert Harris]

I never saw the film until I got the 4K so I watched the included BD first.

I think the 4K is a big step up.

The BD looks mushy and flat to me.

Probably the old transfer

 

[Colin Jacobson]

Probably the old transfer

There's a new BD?

 

[Robert Harris]

There's a new BD?

Comes with BD and code.

 

[Colin Jacobson]

Comes with BD and code.

The BD I watched - and thought looked blah - is the one included with the 4K.

I don't think it uses the same scan as the 4K.

It lacks the new retrospective featurette on the 4K, which also implies it's an old disc.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Something is lost in translation because both of you are saying the same thing. The included Blu-ray with the 4K disc is not derived from the new 4K scan used for the 4K disc. It's the old Blu-ray!

 

[Jeffrey D]

Is the commentary in this new release, and if so, which disc?

 

[Tino]

I never saw the film until I got the 4K so I watched the included BD first.

Why watch the Blu first?

 

[Robert Harris]

Something is lost in translation because both of you are saying the same thing. The included Blu-ray with the 4K disc is not derived from the new 4K scan used for the 4K disc. It's the old Blu-ray!

Thank you for Crawford Translate. Appreciated!

 

[Colin Jacobson]

Why watch the Blu first?

Because I never reviewed the movie and I wanted to put a comparison between BD and 4K in the review.

I want to say whether the 4K is an upgrade, and it makes sense to do that in the 4K review.

Can't comment on whether it's an upgrade if I've not already reviewed the BD.

 

[Tino]

Because I never reviewed the movie and I wanted to put a comparison between BD and 4K in the review.

I want to say whether the 4K is an upgrade, and it makes sense to do that in the 4K review.

Can't comment on whether it's an upgrade if I've not already reviewed the BD.

I get that but why not just watch the 4K first and then watch and compare the Blu ray second?

 

[Colin Jacobson]

I get that but why not just watch the 4K first and then watch and compare the Blu ray second?

Because it makes sense to watch the older product first?

I need to run the BD review first. I then compare 4K to BD.

Why in the world would I watch the 4K and then go BD?

And why do you care?

 

[JohnRice]

Someone might ask the same question of you.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Please, can we move on!

 

[Hank E]

The "other site" has been reporting some significant compression issues as well as a smaller bit rate and file size for the U.S. disc (possibly an error by setting blu-ray specs before encoding), but the French disc is encoded correctly.

 

[Robert Harris]

I checked data throughput, which while not where we might wish it to be seemed to have minimal affect, especially for a scope film.

 

[Noel Aguirre]

Interesting. I was on the fence with buying this one (which I streamed last week) as many reviewers were saying the PQ left a lot to be desired. However I trust the Master’s opinion here above all others and will now buy. It’s a classic.