Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom 4K Ultra HD

In "Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom," having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurettes "Atlantean Blood Is Thicker Than Water" (HD 04:17), "Finding The Lost Kingdom" (HD 21:22), "Aquaman: Worlds Above And Below" (HD 09:38), "It’s A Manta World" (HD 10:08), "Necrus, The Lost Black City?" (HD 05:51), "Escape From The Deserter World" (HD 08:05), "Brawling At Kingfish’s Lair?" (HD 04:07) and "Oh TOPO!?" (HD 02"12) and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 1.78:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 4K Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photograph digitally using the Panavision Millennium DXL2 IMAX camera system and sourced from a 4K Digital Intermediate. The picture is full of visual effects that paint the picture's visual characteristics. Picture quality is excellent with stunning visual effects and unusual characters and beings. The color palette is nicely saturated and exhibits a wide spectrum with nuanced hue shadings. Color shadings dominant the under water scenes, such as yellows, greens and blues. Flesh tones retain naturalness throughout. The production design is extremely elaborate as are the underwater propelled machines. The set designs are very elaborate such as the sunken citadel. HDR contrast is superb with excellent black levels, revealing shadows and creatively illuminated white levels. Resolution is superb with the finest detail exhibited in facial features, creature features, machines and underwater crafts, underwater settings, landscapes and the most detailed object nuances. Costumes are stunning in detail. This is an extraordinary sharp visual experience that will thrill Aquaman fans. (Gary Reber).

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is extremely dynamic sounding and delivers an impressive sonic landscape. Atmospherics sound realistic and convincing as a sound element. Sound effects are a constant stable of the proceeding. They are uniquely varied, directionalized and supported with transient bass. Bass extension frequently enhances the sound effects with sub-25 Hz bass extension. The amount and diversity of sound effect is extraordinary. Surround envelopment is aggressive and with directional elements jumping throughout the soundfield. The orchestral/choral score is positioned as a background element within the soundtrack with a wide an deep soundstage that extends to the sides and the surround channels. Dialogue is largely ADR produced and forward sounding.

The Immersive Sound element is an absolute disappoint. There are just a few sporadic, brief and distant sounding instances of an extension of the orchestral/choral score, increasing during the ending scene and a few instances of a synthesizer sound effect. Other than that the sound designers have miserly failed to enhance spherical surround dimensionality, yet this soundtrack was perfectly ripe for an aggressive height layer treatment. So much for the "Dolby Atmos" credit.

This is a very loud and aggressive sounding holosonic® soundtrack with extremely diverse sound effects and a very dynamic and ear level dimensional presence that requires a very capable home theatre system to be fully realized as the filmmakers designed it. (Gary Reber)

Overall, this is a very active holosonic® ear level soundtrack that will please fans of Aquaman. (Gary Reber)