Men In Black: International 4K Ultra HD

The "Men In Black" have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new "International" adventure, they tackle their biggest, most global threat to date: a mole in the Men In Black organization. Based on the Malibu Comic by Lowell Cunningham. (Gary Reber)

Special features include a gag reel (HD 02:13); "Alien Shopping Network!" (HD 02:02); nine deleted scenes (HD 11:35); eight featurettes: "New Recruits, Classic Suits" (HD 07:04), "Let's Do This! Inside The Action & Stunts" (HD 05:43), "Look Right Here: Gadgets, Weapons & Rides" (HD 04:20), "Expanding The Universe Of MIB" (HD 05:57), "Frank & Pawny's Peanut Gallery" (HD 05:36), "Les Twins Leave It On The Floor" (HD 02:22), "In Case You've Been Neuralyzed: MIB Recap" (HD 03:21) and "The MIB Meet The NBA" (HD 02:36); upfront previews and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

The 2.00:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD HDR10 picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed digitally in anamorphic Hawk Scope using the Arri Alexa 65, Arri Alexa Mini, and Arri Alexa SXT camera systems and sourced from a 2K (not 4K) master Digital Intermediate format. A 3D cinema version, with conversion by DNEG, was released but no 3D Blu-ray Disc was provided for review. The color palette exhibits pleasingly saturated hues with a wide color gamut that reveals fine hue shadings and deviations. Primaries are strong and pop. Environments look perfectly natural and realistic. The production design settings as well as the people and aliens that inhabit them are visually compelling, Fleshtones are perfectly realistic and natural in appearance. The gadgets and technologies convey incredible sheens and textural complexities. Of course, blacks are solid and deep. HDR contrast is very dynamic, especially in the "recruitment" scenes of an all-white room with the black MIB attire as a contrast. This is a very visually powerful scene that is impressively contrasted. Shadow delineation is excellent and exhibits fine details. Image depth is wonderful and virtually three-dimensional. CGI visual effects are stunning. Clarity and sharpness are exceptional. Noise is absent. Resolution is superb throughout with incredible detail and clarity exhibited. Just focusing on the degrees of image details is worth repeat viewings. Textures come to life as well as clothing and attire, and alien compositions and composures. Facial features are finely resolved down to makeup. Facial lines, pores, hair and beard stubble are all finely resolved. WOW! segments are numerous such as from 12:35 to 16:59, 21:35 to 22:50, 24:57 to 27:16, 39:32 to 43:56, 01:03:40 to 01:05:46, 01:07:06 to 01:07:57, 01:34:00 to 01:37:20 and 01:39:06 to 01:39:06. This is a visually stimulating and exciting movie with a wonderful color palette and resolution that tops all previous MIB releases. This will mesmerize fans of the franchise with its reference-quality imagery. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is quite dynamic sounding. The orchestral/choral score features superb instrumental clarity and positioning and has a constant presence. The music is at times powerful and dynamic with a wide and deep soundstage presence and enveloping extension to the four surrounds and the height layer. Atmospherics are nicely complementary to the settings, both interior and exterior. Sound effects are incredibly powerful at times with accentuated deep bass support. Bass energy is strong throughout. At times bass extension in the .1 LFE extends to sub-25 Hz frequencies for a powerful effect. The dance club scene is wonderfully active in the use of bass to create the beat. The gunfires from MIB weaponry is very powerful. Foley sound effects are in perfect sync with the action, whether intense or subtle. Dialogue is intelligible throughout, though, often forward sounding, as in ADR.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of a strong extension of the orchestral/chorus score to the height layer. Atmospherics, such as reverberant room sounds, train station sounds, and street sounds are extended. Sound effects such as lightening, thunder, wind, men yelling in a fall, whizzes, collision sounds, car pans, reverberant voices, a woman's voice saying "lockdown engaged," a hissing sound, another announcement—"express train to London...," thrusting sounds of a train, an alien voice "excuse mam," electrical shortages, car engine revs, an elevator decent and thump, women's voices, club-goers' chatter, a "help me" alien voice, yells while falling, explosion sounds, dialogue leakage and a loud woman's voice, bird chirps, Hemsworth and Thompson voices, an alien screaming and numerous other sound effects create an exciting height layer extension. This is one of the best Dolby Atmos Immersive Sound presentations.

No doubt, fans will be enthralled with this reference-quality holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack, which sports excellent clarity and spatial dimension in every scene. This is a superb soundtrack. (Gary Reber)