Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews

From acclaimed filmmaker James Cameron, Titanic is an epic tale of forbidden love and courage set against the ill-fated maiden voyage of the R.M.S. Titanic, which carried over 1,500 people to their death in the ice cold waters of the North Atlantic in the early hours of April 15, 1912. When this film was released, the hoopla surrounding it was hard to miss. It seemed like everyone was talking about it, either to complain about its syrupy love romance and lengthy run time or to marvel at its superbly crafted story and game-changing special effects. Not at all what I expected, it truly is an experience like no other. Epic in scope, grandiose in execution, it is a trans-generational film that is haunting, tragic, and engaging.

Presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, this film’s Ultra HD video rendering is a sight to behold. It’s a period-based film that relies on stylized visuals that employ stark contrasts, vivid chromatic elements and lots of CGI. With an appreciable increase in detail, and richness of color, the image appears refined and vibrant. When brought together, the combination of color and sepia is magnificent. Blacks are rich, and contrast is strong, enhancing the film’s bright and dark sequences with aplomb. The rendering of fine detail is, at times, breathtaking. Closeups are revealing of the subtle textures in facial features, hair and the beautiful costumes worn by the cast. Wide angle shots vary in terms of their depth but offer discernible degrees, and overall fidelity is excellent.

The implementation of HDR proves to be defining. This film relies on its ability to render light at differing stages, and the cinematography makes use of streaming/brilliant light which is sometimes combined with mid/low-lit backgrounds. Its application here is spot on, creating lifelike imagery with a near infinite sense of depth. Suffice it to say, this is an outstanding Ultra HD presentation.

The Dolby Atmos track is highlighted by robust dynamics and James Horner’s superlative score. The music is spread across the soundstage, blending beautifully with the film’s variety of audio effects to create a transparent, well-focused presentation. Dialogue is reproduced with exemplary clarity and room penetration. The soundstage opens up during the large-scale set pieces, delivering solid impact that underscores the disaster-based sequences.

The Ultra HD Blu-ray/digital release boasts five hours of new and legacy bonus content, including new interviews with James Cameron, Kate Winslet and producer Jon Landau. Titanic is a filmmaking achievement that is not to be missed on Ultra HD Blu-ray.

ULTRA HD 4K BLU-RAY
STUDIO: Paramount, 1997
ASPECT RATIO: 2.35:1
HDR FORMAT: Dolby Vision, HDR10
AUDIO FORMAT: Dolby Atmos with TrueHD 7.1 core
LENGTH: 194 mins., PG-13
DIRECTOR: James Cameron
STARRING: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Gloria Stuart, Bill Paxton