BLU-RAY REVIEW

Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy 4K Ultra HD

Featured In Issue Issue 274, July/August

Picture4
Sound3.5
WSR Score3
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):
Paramount Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
3000098109
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Sexual humor, language and comic violence
(Retail Price):
$25.00
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-66)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
98
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
ABC
(Theatrical Year):
2004
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
7/2/2024
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Adam McKay
(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):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

In an age when only men anchored the news, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) and San Diego's Channel 4 news team ruled the ratings. But when Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) sets her sights on the news desk and the lead anchor position. Ron's reign may have seen its last days. "Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy" is a mildly entertaining romp through the world of broadcast journalism...a world in which you feel like you just don't get the joke. (Gary Reber)

On Disc One is the theatrical version of the film in 4K Ultra HD, Disc Two contain the Blu-ray and Disc Three is the special features, which include intro commentary with Will Farrell and Aaron Zimmerma (HD 12:00); "Wake Up Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie" (SD 01:32:55); the featurettes: "PSA" (SD 03;41), "Award Speech" (SD 03:12), "Raw Footage ;Good Takes;" "'Afternoon Delight; Recording Session" (SD 02:58), "Happy Birthday AMC Loews" (SD 03:15), "Interviews: Rebecca Romijn, Jim Caviezel, and Burt Reynolds" (SD 10:14), "Cinemax: The Making Of Anchorman (SD 09:21); "Comedy Central Reel Comedy" (SD 08:31); "A Conversation With Ron Burgundy" (SD 10:41); "Cast Auditions" (SD 13:03); "Table Read" 06/02/03 (SD 18:37); "Rehearsals" (SD 09:09); "Playback Video" (SD 05:10) and "Xommercial break" (SD 02:04); trailers and TV spots and a digital copy.

The 1.85:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 4K Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed on 35mm Kodak Vision film stock using the Panavision Panaflex Gold II and Panavision Panaflex Platinum camera systems and sourced from a remastered 4K Digital Intermediate. The picture exhibits a nicely saturated color palette with a smooth filmic grain structure. Primaries pop with brightness. Flesh tones are healthy and natural. HDR contrast is well balanced with natural black levels, revealing shadows and bright whites. While some scenes appear undefined, others are generally sharp, with satisfying detail. Resolution during close-ups reveals finely detailed facial features. Clothing fabrics are finely textured. Object textures are well defined as exhibited in the mainly interior scenes. Overall this is a pleasing and satisfying cinematic experience that lights up the lighthearted storytelling. (Gary Reber)

As with other soundtracks of this genre, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack is very basic, with a wide front stage, but little in the way of surround activity except for the music. Music is presented through each of the available channels and provides surround envelopment, but atmospherics and sound effects are generally held to the front main channels. Dialogue is production sound and ADR derived with an unnatural forward presence. LFE activity is virtually nonexistent, except for the bear den at the zoo. Overall, the soundtrack sounds more like a sitcom sound experience. (Gary Reber)