Captain Phillips 4K Ultra HD SteelBook

"Captain Phillips" is a multi-layered examination of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates. Based on a true story, the film focuses on the Alabama’s commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks), and the Somali pirate captain, Muse (Barkhad Abdi), who takes him hostage. The two men are set on an unstoppable collision course when Muse and his crew target Phillips’ unarmed ship; in the ensuing standoff, both men will find themselves at the mercy of forces beyond their control. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director Paul Greengrass, the three-part featurette "Capturing Captain Phillips" (HD 58:16), theatrical trailer, upfront previews and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.39:1 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 film stock in Super 35 and sourced from a 4K Digital Intermediate. Film grain is smooth and never distracts. The picture is superbly realistic and crafted with excellent attention to textural detail. Image clarity is excellent. Color fidelity exhibits rich and warm natural hues that are strongly saturated and bright. The ocean water reflects the blue skies and the interior of the cargo ship exhibits a wide range of steal and other metallic hues and textures. The colors in the ship's hull and its cargo containers appear vivid. The orange life boat on the ocean waters pops. Flesh tones appear natural with excellent complexion definition. HDR contrast is excellent with generally deep black levels, revealing shadows, even in the Alabama's powered-down and low-light engine room, and bright white levels. Resolution exhibits fine detail in facial features such as skin pores, lines, beads of sweat, beard stubble, beards, hair and teeth. Marine wares, including uniforms, are well defined, as well as the rags worn by the Somali pirates. Object and ship structural aspects are finely detailed. This is a very compelling filmic visual experience that evokes terror at sea. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic sounding with realistic environmental atmospherics and powerful sound effects associated with the working sounds of a very large cargo ship and destroyer at sea and an intimate life boat interior. Sound effects are supported and enhanced with powerful deep bass that can extend to vibrational sub-25 Hz frequencies. Gunfire sound realistic. This powerful bass is a prominent sound element. Foley sound effects are powerful as well and effectively enhance the realism and the excitement. The pirate attacks deliver tremendous sonic intensity, supported with heavy splashing water and hard-pushing engine sounds. Henry Jackman's orchestral score is also powerful sounding with a deep bass foundation. The music occupies a wide frontal and surround soundstage with aggressive surround envelopment. Dialogue is intelligible with generally good spatial integration and supported with English subtitles when spoken in Somali.

The Immersive Sound element is very comprehensive and includes not only an aggressive extension of the orchestral score to the height layer but effective environmental atmospherics, powerful sound effects such as airplanes, shipyard sounds, ship engines, rudder turbulence, ocean waves, a drone, helicopter, Navy ship horns, and more, and subtle dialogue. This is a thrillingly effective height layer that enhances spatial dimensionality.

This is a powerful and intense holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack that is very dynamic sounding and bass heavy that home theatre enthusiasts will by thrilled by but that will challenge playback on lesser home theatre systems. (Gary Reber)