Terminator: Dark Fate 4K Ultra HD

"Terminator: Dark Fate" takes place decades after Sarah Connor (Hamilton) prevented Judgment Day. Now a lethal new Terminator is sent to eliminate the future leader of the resistance. In a fight to save mankind, battle-hardened Sarah teams up with an unexpected ally (Schwarzenegger) and an enhanced super soldier to stop the deadliest Terminator yet. Humanity's fate hangs in the balance. (Gary Reber)

Special features include six deleted and extended scenes (HD 08:54); four featurettes: "A Legend Reforged" (HD 20:11), "World Builders" (HD 32:46), "Dam Busters: The Final Showdown" (HD 08:30) and "VFX Breakdown: The Dragonfly" (HD 02:33); and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

The 2.39:1 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 LF camera system and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. Picture quality is excellent with incredible detail in numerous scenes. The flashback sequences appear a bit soft. When detail is prevalent, facial features are finely delineated, such as lines, pores, hair. and beards. Settings also appear natural during a daylight sequences in Mexico and in the desert. Night scenes, such as on a train in Mexico, appear desaturated. Fleshtones are naturally hued. The wide color gamut displays a wide range of subtle hue variations throughout for very realistic imagery in all manner of lighting conditions. HDR contrast is excellent with natural black levels, revealing shadow delineation, and natural luminance. The picture exhibits numerous atmospheric dark scenes, which create effective drama and tension. The production design delivers realism coupled with amazing visual effects that enhance the amazement. Music is superb with excellent fidelity and delineaton of instruments, as well as directionalizaton with deep powerful bass

WOW! segments are from 04:28 to 07:48, 01:23:01 to 01:24:25, 01:36:56 to 01:36:40, 01:38:2 to 01:39:30, 01:49:24 to 01:51:30 and 01:53:35 to 01:55:00.

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is strongly dynamic and is propelled with violent action initiated by AI machine sound effects, which are extremely active throughout, both in real time and during blasts forward to the future. Deep bass is powerful with energized sub-25 Hz extension that is at times intense. The bass enhances the violent action segments and sound effects. Gunfire of all manner, rocks blasts and explosions are intense. The orchestral/choral score is dynamic sounding and occupies a wide and deep soundstage with strong enveloping surround presence. Fleshtones are naturally hued throughout. Dialogue is intelligible under all conditions, and spatial integration is excellent. Music is perfectly balanced with the other sound elements. Foley sound effects are suberb.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of effective atmospheric ambiences and powerful sound effects panned throughout the height layer including thunderous gunfire, Terminator computer computation effects, electrical effects during beings arriving to the present, traffic sounds, wind turbulence, action swishes, car crashes, crowd sounds, military aircraft mayhem sounds, explosions, train sounds, intense helicopter sounds aggressively panned, intense cargo aircraft ruckus, jet engine roars, water turbulence and dripping water, panned swishing sounds and all manner of intricate nuanced sounds. This is an exciting and often intense height layer sonic that really enhances the dynamics and dimensionality.

This is a tremendously powerful holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack that is extremely dynamic with directionalized sound elements and a sweeping and immersive orchestral score. This is reference quality throughout and will be appreciated by serious home theatre enthusiasts with the finest system capable of reproducing this master creation. (Gary Reber)