Wicked: Part I 4K Ultra HD Theatrical Version + Sing-Along

Originally produced on Broadway, "Wicked: Part I" is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is a misunderstood young woman who has yet to discover her true power, and Glinda (Ariana Grande) is a popular young woman who has yet to discover her true heart. The two meet at SHIZ University and forge an unlikely friendship –– before their lives take different paths following an encounter with ?The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. There extraordinary adventure will ultimately see them fulfill their destines as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director Jon M. Chu; commentary with stars Cyntha Erivo and Ariana Grande; "Sing-Along (Alternate Feature Length Version); 10 deleted and extended scenes (HD 15:36); the featurettes "Making Wicked" (HD 45:45), "Welcome To SHIZ" (HD 08:02), "A Wicked Legacy" (HD 04:20) and "The Wonderful Wizard" (HD 03:34) and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed digitally in anamorphic Ultra Panavision 70 using the Arri Alexa 65 camera system and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. Alice Brooks cinematography is amazing as well as the visual effects! Christopher Scott's choreography is also visually stunning. The production design is spectacular as are the costumes, all reproduced with an amazing color palette that exhibits warm and rich saturated hues. Colors are vibrant with excellent depth. Colors throughout the hue spectrum appear perfectly natural and realistic. The color palette further exhibits a wonderful wide color gamut. Flesh tones are nature with the contrast between Galinda's white skin and Elphaba's green skin. HDR contrast is superb. Blacks are perfectly natural with deep extensions. Shadows are well delineated. White levels appear natural with instances of brilliant illumination. Resolution is fantastic with the finest detail revealed in facial features such as skin pores, complexions, hair and beards; clothing fabrics and jewelry; earth landscapes and structural architecture; and objects of all description. The sets are spectacular as are the characters, both human and animal, that flow within them. This is a fabulous filmic production that ranks right up there with the finest picture quality achieved thus far on the 4K Ultra HD format. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is consistently active with all sound elements engaged. Atmospherics are perfectly descriptive. Sound effects are both bold and nuanced and perfectly activated. Foley sound effects are intricate and perfectly in sync with on-screen movement. The strongest elements are the music, singing and dance, and dialogue. The orchestral/chorus music is virtually constant as support for the singing and dancing, or as its own independent element. In either case the music occupies a wide and deep soundstage that aggressively extends to the surrounds, the height layer and envelops the soundfield. \Surround energy is strong thanks to the excellent sound design. Deep bass sounds fully natural and articulate. Dialogue is intelligible throughout with generally good spatial integration.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of both an aggressive and nuanced extension of the midrange to high frequency spectrum of the orchestral/chorus music; flying monkeys sounds; an occasional sound effect such as thunder, magic book disturbance, hot air balloon effects and turbulent winds. This is a very effective height layer complement to the ear level dynamics that enhances the spherical dimensions of the soundfield. Other filmmakers should learn by this.

This is a wonderful holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack that will light up every home theatre system with dynamics, superb fidelity and immersive dimensionality. Reference quality throughout. (Gary Reber)