BLU-RAY REVIEW

Who Framed Roger Rabbit 4K Ultra HD

Featured In Issue 259, January/February 2022

Picture4.5
Sound4.5
Immersive3
WSR Score5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Walt Disney Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
217204
(MPAA Rating):
PG
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$34.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-66)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
104
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
(Disc Release Date):
12/7/2021
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Robert Zemeckis
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Subtitles):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):

"Who Framed Roger Rabbit" is a live action and animation adventure of an animated rabbit framed for murder, and the human detective who helps him clear his name. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary by the filmmakers; "The Roger Rabbit Shorts (HD 25:32); deleted scenes: The Pig Head Sequence (HD 05:30); five featurettes: "Who Made Roger Rabbit" (SD 10:56), "Before And After" (SD 03:07), "Toon Stand-Ins" (SD 03:14), "Behind The Ears: The True Story Of Roger Rabbit" (SD 36:37) and "On Set! Benny The Cab" (SD 04:51) and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

The 1.85:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD HDR10 picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed on Agfa and Eastman film stock using the Panavision Panaflex Gold, Panavision Panaflex Platinum and VistaVision VistaFlex camera systems and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. The imagery exhibits a wonderful balance between the live characters and the animation and is very filmic with never objectionable film grain. The picture is gorgeous with a wonderfully rich and warm color palette that jumps off the screen with vividness throughout. Hues are beautifully saturated, especially scenes in tune town. The imagery is fluid and intricate with nuanced hue shadings that enhance the production design. Human flesh tones are healthy and natural in appearance. Resolution is superb with fine detail exhibited throughout. Every frame exhibits brilliance, as in sharp and clear. The animation is terrific and extremely fast paced. Textural detail is incredible. HDR contrast is excellent. Black levels are deep and dynamic. Shadow delineation is revealing of fine shading. White levels are bright. This is an incredibly colorful picture that is so very entertaining and sure to enthrall fans of this classic. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is repurposed from the original Dolby Stereo track. The sonics are fast paced and very dynamic with incredible sound effects. Foley sound effects are incredible, never missing a nuanced movement and effect. Dynamic range is wonderful with bass effects that liven the action. Atmospherics are realistic as well. Alan Silvestri's orchestral score is active throughout with a wide and deep soundstage that extends to the surrounds. There are also wonderful jazz segments. Fidelity is excellent. Dialogue is intelligible and fun sounding with all manner of voicing. Surround envelopment is aggressive and dimensional.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of an extension of the music score and an occasional sound effect. While far more height-layer sonics could have been created, at least the music is a plus.

This is an exciting holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack that is humorous and sure to entertain the family. (Gary Reber)