Midway 4K Ultra HD

"Midway" centers on the Battle of Midway, a clash between the American fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy, which marked a pivotal turning point in the Pacific Theater during WWII. The movie, based on the real-life events of this heroic feat, tells the story of the leaders and soldiers who used their instincts, fortitude, and bravery to overcome the odds. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary by Director Roland Emmerich; six featurettes: "Getting It Right: The Making Of Midway" (HD 14:16), "The Men Of Midway" (HD 12:24), "Roland Emmerich: Man On A Mission" (HD 04:57), "Turning Point: The Legacy Of Midway" (HD 15:00), "Joe Rochefort: Breaking The Japanese Code" (HD 06:14) and "We Met At Midway: Two Survivors Remember" (HD 09:29); the theatrical trailer; upfront previews and a 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 Red Digital and Panavision Millennium DXL2 camera systems (8K) and sourced from a 2K (not 4K) master Digital Intermediate format. As the 2K Digital Intermediate has been upconverted to 2160p, there is no real gain in native resolution. The picture is wonderfully filmic in appearance. The imagery is very natural. The color palette is rich and warm with excellent natural saturation. The wide color gamut exhibits a convincing realistic range of nuanced hues depicting Navy uniforms and attire, as well as ships and aircraft. Dress uniforms are stunningly white and the brown uniforms are warmly hued. Daylight scenes at Pearl Harbor are at times brilliant. The scenes of destruction are filled with dark smoke and are realistic. Spots of color adorn the women and various interior environments. The Japanese uniforms are dark-blue and nicely saturated. Flesh tones are perfectly natural. HDR contrast is perfectly natural and well balanced with realistic black levels, saturation delineation, and lighting. Spotlighting is effectively dramatic. Resolution is excellent with fine detail exhibited throughout. Facial features exhibit fine detail, as well as clothing, and object textures, including ships and planes. WOW! segments are from 12:22 to 13:56, 15:42 to 16:50, 35:07 to 39:33, 01:22:07 to 01:24:14, 01:32:19 to 01:37:41 and 01:52:57 to 01:55:10. This is an incredibly engaging visual experience and amazing image capture that delivers a sense of war realism that will stir emotion. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is effectively dynamic with directionalized panning and powerful surround energy. The soundstage is wide and soundfield dimensionality is spatially defining. Sound effects are galore and are panned and directionalized throughout the soundfield with the flying of planes as they rip through the skies under constant artillery fire. Gunfire and explosions are prominent during the action scenes. Atmospherics enhance the realism of each scene with constant variations appropriate to the scene. Bass energy is powerful, with extension to sub-25 Hz, and provides substantial weight to the war scenes. The orchestral score is wide and deep within the soundstage, effectively enveloping the soundfield. The music sounds dynamic and in the quieter moments nicely nuanced. Dialogue is intelligible and with generally good spatial integration.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of numerous sound effects including Roosevelt's voice from the radio, intense wind, a prop plane landing on the aircraft carrier, panned aircraft swoops, gunfire from planes, intense explosions, an alarm siren, men running in the office hallway, a battleship sinking, below-deck carrier engine sounds, dock activity sounds, whooshing artillery fire, revving prop engines, water spray, depth charge ruckus, and other effects that intensify the event. The music also is extended to the height layer to enhance dimension.

This is an incredibly powerful and dynamic-sounding holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack with astonishing dimensional sonics. This is a reference experience throughout that is mesmerizing. (Gary Reber)