John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum 4K Ultra HD

In "John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum,, the legendary super assassin, John Wick (Reeves) has a $14 million price tag on his head afer killing a member of the High Table, the shadowy international assassins' guild. Now excommunicado , and with an army of the world's most ruthless hit men and women on his trail, John must find a way to survive in this thir chapter of the adrenaline-fueled action series. (Gary Reber)

Special features include 11 featurettes: "Parabellum: Legacy Of The High Table" (HD 10:57), "Excommunicado" (HD 09:44), "Check Your Sights" (HD 09:53), "Saddle Up Wick" (HD 05:10), "Bikes, Blades, Bridges And Bits" (HD 06:35), "Continental In The Desert" (HD 10:15), "Dog Fu" (HD 08:04), "House Of Transparency" (HD 07:10), "Shot By Shot" (HD 08:57) and "Behind The Scenes Of John Wick Hex" (HD 06:54); three theatrical trailers; upfront previews and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

The 2.40:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 4K Ultra HD HDR-10/Dolby Vision picture, photographed digitally in anamorphic Master Scope using the Arri Alexa SXT Plus and Arri Alexa Mini camera systems with a 2K (not 4K) Digital Intermediate. Picture quality is absolutely superb and exhibits captivating stylization. The color palette is nicely saturated with warm beige, cool blue, purple and teal infused palette hues. Primaries are solid and vibrant. Fleshtones are healthy and natural in all respects. The wider color gamut further refines hue delineations. The HDR effect nicely enhances the bright highlights, providing increased contrast and luminance. Dark shadows are revealing, deep blacks are solid and natural lighting is often brillant. The production design is visually lush with stylized spot lighting to create an artistic palette throughout. Pouring rain plays a prominent atmospheric role, which enhances the suspense. The desert scene is beautifully shot and exhibits splendorous imagery, including the night's starry skies Grand Central Station looks spectacular and the freeway and bridge scene is amazingly captured. The stunts and visual effects also are amazing as well as the imaginative set designs, including a room of mirrors. Every scene is amazingly visual and colorful. The imagery throughout is incredibly pristine and sharp. Clarity is awesome. Resolution is incredible with exquisite textures defining various locales. Fine detail is exhibited in facial features, hair, injuries, fine tailoring, and object textures. WOW! segments start right off with Wick running through a dark alley from 04:05 to 05:20, 25:30 to 27:25, 52:00 to 54:41, 01:02:56 to 01:05:28, 01:22:56 to 01:26:32, 01:38:06 to 01:40:35, 01;45:06 to 01:40:09 and 02:00:02 to 02:01:58.

As with the previous Chapter 2, this is an incredibly vibrant and thrilling visual experience with nicely executed cinematography that is reference Ultra HD at its finest. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is well produced with powerful sound effects and defining atmospherics that are directionalized throughout the soundfield, delivering a full-on, all-channel assault. The bustling urban environment, with the sound of pouring rain, and at times thunder, is so realistic and effectively establishes the soaked soundscape of New Your City, both during daytime and nighttime scenes. The sound of knives and guns are also very realistic. Foley sound effects are perfectly in sync with the often intense action, as well as the more quieter segments, and enhance the sense of realism. The rhythmic orchestral score occupies a wide soundstage that extends to the surrounds. The music is pulsating and fills the soundfield with envelopment, as well as being of excellent recording quality. The finale is explosive with immensely exciting gun battles. bullets ricocheting everywhere in the Hotel Continental, hand punches and bone crunching body throws all enhanced with deep, at times sub-25 Hz, bass accents energizes the action. Dialogue is naturally rendered and nicely integrated spatially.

The Immersive Sound element is exciting and actively engages the height layer with an energized orchestral score that occupies the fontal channels. Atmospherics and sound effects are prominent in the height layer, particularly the rear channels. These include lots of rain fall, thunder, street chatter, gunfire, cremation apparatus, dripping water, nighttime insect ambience, bullet ricochets, sword swoops, dog barks, wind blown fabrics, Grand Central Station crowd and train ambience, underwater turbulence, glass floor breaking and effects that enhance the sense of spherical dimensionality. The height layer is effectively used to enhance overall dimensional envelopment, thus enhancing the sense of realism.

This is a superbly energetic holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack crafted with excellent fidelity and an exciting wide dynamic range that will thrill fans of John Wick. (Gary Reber)