Gemini Man 4K Ultra HD

"Gemini Man" stars Will Smith as retired hitman Henry Brogan, forced on the run by a young, highly skilled operative who will stop at nothing to eliminate his target. Now on a race around the globe, Henry must outsmart the mysterious assassin at every step––but how far will he go once they finally come face to face? (Gary Reber)

Special features include an alternate opening (HD 05:49); two deleted scenes (HD 04:34); six featurettes: "The Genesis of Gemini Man" (HD 02:54), "Facing Your Younger Self" (HD 05:40), "The Future Is Now" (HD 18:32), "Setting The Action" (HD 15:46), "Next Level Detail" (HD 03:45) and "The Vision Of Ang Lee" (HD 06:04); Visual Effect Progression by WETA in 60 FPS Ultra HD and HDR (03:02); and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

The 1.85:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD HDR10/Dolby Vision picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed digitally using the Arri Alexa SXT-M and Phantom Flex 4K camera systems and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format and presented at 60 frames per second (fps). The movie was also produced in the Stereotec native dual-strip 3D format created by Legend 3D and StereoD, but unfortunately no 3D Blu-ray Disc was provided for review. This is not a movie, this is real life––visually. The realism is incredible, no doubt due to the 60 fps capture. Color fidelity is exceptional with absolute naturalness throughout. Colors pop throughout. Nothing is out of place or exaggerated and saturation is perfect. The wide color gamut is revealing of the finest nuanced hue shadings and textures. Color depth is impressive. Fleshtones are perfectly natural throughout. HDR contrast is superb with deep, natural black levels, revealing shadow delineation and an amazing range of white levels that are perfectly natural and not exaggerated. The production design is visually stunning with numerous global locations and use of creative lighting in the darker scenes. Resolution is superb and simply unbelievable. Fine detail is exquisite in terms of facial features, skin pores, lines, makeup, beard stubble, hair, clothing fabrics, and object textures throughout exterior settings and interiors, and on the water. The imagery is spatially dimensional, no doubt due to the 3D composition.

WOW! segments are just about in every scene with standouts from 34:10 to 38:10, 50:30 to 53:18, 01:04:41 to 01:07:40, 01:27:40 to 01:28:55 and 01:43:40 to 01:45:04.

This is unlike any other movie shot digitally or on film, exhibiting a heightened realistic picture that is sure to stir conversation. It sets a new standard for reference quality. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic sounding throughout with amazing attention to atmospherics that enhance the visual realism. Atmospherics impressively define every scene with natural, recognizable sounds. Sound effects are aggressively pronounced, at times enhanced with bass support. Gunfire, both pistol and automatic, never sounds exaggerated. Both atmospherics and sound effects are directionalized throughout the soundfield, often aggressively with effective panning motion in some segments. Background voices in some scenes are casted discretely to the surround and back channels. Bass extension is deep and at times powerful, with extension to sub-25 Hz frequencies, such as foundational segments and explosions. Dialogue is intelligible throughout with good spatial delineation. The orchestral score is dynamic and powerful with a strong presence that spans wide and deep across the soundstage and aggressively extends to the surrounds. There is a very strong deep bass foundation to the music as well.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of the orchestral score, aggressively extended to the height layer. Strong ambiences are heard throughout, which enhances the realism of the soundscapes associated with each scene. Sound effects are not as prevalent as possible, with the music providing the accentuated cues for the action, including gunfire and fighting action. There are a few effects that are heard such as reverberant dialogue extension in the Budapest catacombs, a gate opening, the rip out of an electrical panel, gravel sounds in the catacombs, bubbling submersed water, footsteps on a metal roof, an explosion, a fire-ignited water sprinkler, and other very subtle sounds. It is the music and atmospherics that really enhance the sense of height. Sound effects could have been used more effectively but obviously this was not a creative decision.

This is a powerfully dynamic holosonic® soundtrack with at times very effective spherical surround elements providing enhanced dimension and an overall engaging presentation. (Gary Reber)