Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade 4K Ultra HD

"Indiana Jones" (Ford) goes on "The Last Crusade" in search of The Holy Grail, only this time his feisty father (Sean Connery) and old pals Dr. Brody (Denholm Elliott) and Sallah (John Rhys-Davies) are along for the ride. (Gary Reber)

Special features include two trailers and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

The 2.35:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed on Eastman film stock in anamorphic Panavision® using the Panavision Panaflex Gold II and Panavision Panaflex Platinum camera systems and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. Film grain is well managed and fine in texture but never objectionable. Color fidelity and fleshtones are perfect, as is the color balance from scene to scene with rich, warm, vibrant hues exhibited throughout. Depth and tonal definition are excellent as exhibited in bold blue skies, natural greenery and red Nazi armbands, flags, and banners. HDR contrast is well balanced with deep blacks and superb visual information revealed in the darker shadowy scenes. White levels are bright and pure. Resolution is exceptional, with sharp, fine detail evidenced throughout in facial features, such as skin pores, wrinkles and hair, clothing, and object texture. This is true for the various locations such as Venice exteriors or the dark rat-infested catacombs below the library. The textural clarity exhibited in The Holly Grail allows it to actually be read. The impressive definition and clarity is as it should be and is what a quality presentation is all about. (Gary Reber)

As with the previous newly repurposed THX®-certified DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack, this repurposed Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack offers an even more superlative listening experience, if only for the very reason that it offers engaging, purely involving surround sound and dimensional height. Fidelity sounds more recent than the first two installments in the "Indiana Jones" collection. John Williams' orchestral score retains its prominently placed positioning throughout the listening space. The soundstage is wide and deep with effective envelopment extension to the surrounds. Deep bass is characteristically clean and articulate, especially with the music, offering powerful low-end extension in all channels, including the LFE. Sound effects, such as gunfire and explosions, are lively. There is also the presence of some directional on-screen Foley and dialogue. Like the first two installments, atmospheric effects have been impressively placed all around. Nuances can be heard throughout, which heightens the experience. The original mix was created with stereo surrounds, and the surround left and right channels for this soundtrack are certainly separated. During the many periods of active, intense activity, the soundtrack dramatically enlivens and really excites the listening experience.

The Immersive Sound element features the extension of the orchestral score. There are atmospheric effects and some subtle dialogue leakage. steam train sounds, intense whistling wind, rain and thunder and crashing waves off the Portuguese coast, a school bell, pounding sounds, scrambling rats, powerful water and fire sounds, people in plaza sounds, speed boat sounds, explosions, crashing through glass, fire, gunfire, motorcycle noises, a bird chirping, a parade for Hitler sounds and book burnings, directionalized prop airplane dives and pans, plane machine gun fire, Nazi tank sounds, shelling and gun blasts, screams, falling columns and numerous other atmospherics and sound effects. This makes for an exciting and satisfying height layer enhancement.

This repurposed holosonic® spherical surround sound mix serves as an exciting and satisfying testament to the creators of the original well-created soundtrack. (Gary Reber)