Tron: Ares 4K Ultra HD

Expanding upon the original Tron and Tron: Legacy series, director Joachim Rønning’s "Tron: Ares" explores the battleground between AI and humanity as a highly sophisticated program, Ares, is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission. (Gary Reber)

Special features include five featurettes: "The Journey To Tron: Ares" (HD 11:41), "Lightcycles On The Loose" (HD 06:47), "The Artistry Of Tron: Ares" (HD 06:17), "Cast Conversations" (HD 04:55) and "The Legacy Of Tron" (HD 05:12); three deleted scenes (HD 02:17) and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.39:1 HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed digitally using the Red Tron V-Raptor XL camera system and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate. A stereo conversion was performed by Outsyders Technology Inc. and DNEG but no 3D Blu-ray was provided for review. The picture is futuristic and stylized and exhibits dazzling visual effects. As well, the imagery appears nicely dimensional. The color palette exhibits strongly saturated hues, especially reds and backs, which are prominent.Yet flesh tones retain naturalness when seen in real environments. HDR contrast is excellent. Black levels are deep and solid. Shadow delineation reveals deep shadings. White levels are strongly illuminated in the computer grid and appear realistic in the real world. Resolution is superb throughout. Fine detail is exhibited in skin tones, lines, beards and hair. Costumes are well defined with surface textures vivid. Environments, structures, sets and object textures are defining. This is a high-tech, stylized depiction of the future, which is captivating. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is very dynamic sounding and driven by a high-voltage dissonant, industrial score by Nine Inch Nails. Sound effects are galore and atmospherics support spatial realism. The largely synthesizer score is spread wide and deep across the soundstage with an aggressive extension to the surrounds for an enveloping sound field. Bass energy is intense with powerful .1 LFE energy throughout. Surround envelopment is aggressive and virtually constant. Dialogue is intelligible with generally good spatial integration.

The Immersive Sound element is quite active with an aggressive extension of the score to the height layer, directional reporting announcements, din environmental sound effects, traffic sounds, helicopter sounds, crashes and action effects. The height layer treatment is motional dimensional making for an exciting enhancement to the dimensionality of the sound field.

This is a highly energized holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack that will thrill home theatre enthusiasts. (Gary Reber)