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Release Date: July 18th, 2017 Movie Release Year: 2017

Kong: Skull Island - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Overview -

When a scientific expedition to an uncharted island awakens titanic forces of nature, a mission of discovery becomes an explosive war between monster and man. Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman and John C. Reilly star in a thrilling and original new adventure that reveals the untold story of how Kong became King.

OVERALL:
Worth a Look
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
Region Free
Video Resolution/Codec:
2160p HEVC/H.265
Length:
118
Aspect Ratio(s):
2.40:1
Audio Formats:
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles/Captions:
English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Special Features:
UltraViolet Digital Copy
Release Date:
July 18th, 2017

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

Kong: Skull Island opens in 1944 with a pair of fighter pilots parachuting onto an unnamed island and their battle to the death is interrupted by a giant gorilla, giving audiences a teaser of things to come. Unfortunately, there was nothing particularly exciting or memorable of the entire sequence aside from a brief glimpse of the classic monster, followed by the remainder of a standard but somewhat slow first act introducing pertinent details and characters. However, the moment that finally sold me was a squadron of military helicopters thirty years later flying onto the same mysterious island while blasting Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" through loudspeakers. Immediately, the scene plays like a quirky, if not also a bit goofy, allusion to Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now with a deliberately knowing and lighthearted tone. We are meant to make the connection, even as soldiers drop seismic charges and Samuel L. Jackson chews up the scenery as the surly, embittered Lt. Colonel Preston Packard. For the next ninety minutes, don't take anything too serious and simply enjoy a throwback to the classic adventure tale.

Making that particular song all the more humorous choice is that it foreshadows the obsessive, manic behavior of two notable characters: Jackson's Packard and John Goodman's Bill Randa. While Packard leads the soldiers escorting a group of explorers through the uncharted island, Randa is supposed to be in charge of the expedition. But as we slowly discover, neither man is ultimately in control of diddly squat in a strange, mystical land where animals grow to the size of buildings and nightmarish monsters roam freely. Interesting, however, is how these two seemingly contrasting men's response to the island appears similar yet very different. Both men feel the need to be vindicated of some perceived loss of purpose and worth. Feeling as though the Vietnam War was not lost but abandoned, Packard's Captain Ahab-like fixation is on avenging fallen soldiers against an uncivilized but misunderstood monster. Under the guise of surveying the island before the Russians do, Randa is haunted by a terrifying experience from his youth no one believes, and Kong is the evidence that'll prove his version of those events.

Screengrab is 4K but not HDR

Caught in the middle of these men's obsession are volunteers with different goals for the island in mind and a company of hardened soldiers who'd much rather go home now that the war is finally ended. Guiding everyone through the island is skilled tracker and former British officer Captain James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston doing excellent at removing traces of his Loki performance) while famed photojournalist Mason Weaver (Brie Larson) attempts to document the discovery but better succeeds at butting heads with everyone else, especially the soldiers. The filmmakers smartly only teased at a possible budding romance between these two and instead, keep our attention on the race to leave the island. Although the small group of soldiers and scientists are given some amusing screen time, they are on this voyage ultimately as red shirts, fodder for the carnage, and occasionally allude to other adventure actioners like James Cameron's Aliens and John McTiernan's Predator. In fact, Jackson shares a great moment towards the end of the second act where he stands opposite Kong that practically screams a similar showdown between Schwarzenegger and the extraterrestrial trophy hunter Yautja.

By proudly wearing his love of other films, particularly classic creature-features, director Jordan Vogt-Roberts and his crew make Kong: Skull Island a fun, straightforward monster movie that feels reminiscent of classic matinee adventure flicks. And with John C. Reilly bringing a great deal of humor as the aforementioned WWII fighter pilot who's sadly lost a few marbles in the three decades he's lived on the island, the big-budgeted production also comes with an offbeat B-movie quality that's energetic and well-paced. A couple, questionable moments feel as though dragging its knuckles through the mud, but the overall plot is concise with a specific objective in mind, a larger end goal that should excite monster-movie fans everywhere. This Kong, who's tripled in size from his original 1933 design, exists in the same universe as 2014's Godzilla. Only, Vogt-Roberts film is more of a prequel to Gareth Edwards's remake, putting into motion an eventually meeting where the two classic monsters will duke it out with other familiar creatures of the Toho kingdom. Fans should wait for a post-credits surprise mentioning which of those monsters we could see next.

Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray

Warner Home Video and Legendary Pictures bring Kong: Skull Island to Ultra HD Blu-ray on a two-disc combo pack with a code for an UltraViolet Digital Copy. When redeeming said code via WB.com and VUDU, it includes the SD, HDX (1080p) and UHD with Dolby Vision. The dual-layered UHD66 disc sits comfortably opposite a Region Free, BD50 disc, and both are housed inside a black, eco-cutout case. At startup, viewers are taken to a generic static screen with options and music. 

Video Review

Ranking:
Screengrab is 4K but not HDR

Kong swings to Ultra HD home theaters with a great-looking and often beautiful H.265 encode in HDR10, which sadly doesn't offer the seismic leap over the Blu-ray one would have hoped for. It was rumored the disc might have come with a Dolby Vision option, but such was not the case. Nevertheless, for those interested, Michael Palmer's thoughts on the Dolby Vision version available only as a digital copy can be read HERE.

As it stands, the picture quality isn't really any sharper than the BD though there are moments when viewers will note a nice uptick. Originally shot on digital cameras that max at 3.4K resolution, the veins of leaves and the tiny pebbles of dirt remain plainly visible while the cracks and fractures lining the dark, rough bark of every tree are distinct. Individual hairs on Kong's body are striking and definite, moving independently of each other, while each scar and injury remain unmistakable beneath the fur. One area showing some noteworthy improvements is in the clothing and knapsacks showing a bit more detailing in every thread and stitch, and the debris flying everywhere during action sequences more clear and distinct here. Facial complexions are noticeably warmer with a light reddish sunburnt feel and highly revealing, lifelike textures. On the flip side, the 4K presentation comes with several soft sequences throughout, especially during some of the CG-heavy sequences, which are either due to the original photography or the result of possibly being an upconvert.

Where the picture offers a more worthwhile upgrade over the HD SDR is the overall palette. The 2160p video is continuously showered with an extravagant array of colors, providing the whole 70s style photography a hip and groovy energy. The neon-puke green haze hovering over the ape graveyard is of a softer, distinctly different shade than the brightly animated green smoke from the toxic poison grenades. The array of red, yellow and orange in explosions light up the entire screen while that same set of colors radiate the entire 2.40:1 frame during the many wide shots of the sunset with realistic hints of purplish blues and magentas in the clouds. The garments and body paint of the locals inhabiting the island also display more variance with sumptuous yellows, reds and blues.

The stylized cinematography of Larry Fong is also made all the more apparent here, showing more of those same yellowish earth tones, giving the presentation an antiquated feel, while contrast is deliberately restrained. Several sequences come with a grayish overcast appeal, but whites nonetheless appear slightly brighter and crisper than its HD SDR counterpart. Specular highlights are not particularly standout, but light sources seem tighter with a bit more detailing in the brightest spots and the sunlight shimmers off various objects with a realistic glow, exposing little tiny beads of sweat or every rust stain on Hank Marlow's makeshift boat. Brightness levels also display a notable improvement in the many nighttime sequences, revealing more background info in the darkest portions of the frame. Blacks appear at tad richer with excellent gradational differences between the various shades along Kong's body and the soldiers' guns. In the end, the improved black levels provide several moments with an appreciable three-dimensional feel and a more cinematic quality compared to the Blu-ray.

Audio Review

Ranking:
Screengrab is 4K but not HDR

Kong roars into battle with an often exhilarating Dolby Atmos soundtrack that leaps into action right from the opening moments. It's also featured on the standard Blu-ray. Interestingly, Warner has decided to also include a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 version of the design for those not yet equipped for the object-based audio format. But owners of this UHD be warned, the disc automatically defaults to the DTS-HD option and Atmos must be selected.

Immediately throwing viewers into the thick of the action, the throaty grumbling engines of two fighter planes feel as though flying above the listening area. They first start moving from the rear heights to the front heights and come crashing down on the beach at the screen. Later, when a helicopter squadron tears through the otherwise calm skies of the island, the chopper's rotors are clearly heard above, and many of the flying creatures living there also traveling from one channel to the next with flawless panning. Kong's familiar roar echoes throughout the entire room, spreading into the sides and rears while also filling the space overhead. Quieter scenes are arguably a bit lacking, creating some noticeable pockets of silence, but occasionally, a few creatures suddenly make a noise that sprawls across the ceiling speakers.

Nevertheless, the soundstage and front heights are continuously kept active with a variety of background noise and Henry Jackman's score, displaying a highly-engaging soundfield and exhibiting superb, crystal-clear clarity in the mid-range. A thunderous, monstrous low-end delivers plentiful oomph to the explosions, gunfire and monster mayhem, providing the design with a terrific sense of presence. There are a few room-rattling, booming effects that dig into the ultra-low depths, occasionally hitting deep as low as 8Hz and 12Hz (bass chart). Even at its loudest and most tumultuous, the object-based mix maintains the priority of the vocals.

Special Features

Ranking:
Screengrab is 4K but not HDR

Audio Commentary: Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts rides solo through this decently informative if also pretty dry journey that touches on various aspects of the production while also sharing some amusing anecdotes.

Creating a King (HD): Pair of featurettes collecting cast & crew interviews looking at designing Kong, the various film iterations since its introduction in 1933 and how this modern version differs from the rest.

Summoning a God (13 min).

Realizing an Icon (12 min).

Monarch Files 2.0 (HD, 8 min): Companion piece functioning as a faux secret archived documentary.

The Intrepid Traveler (HD, 7 min): Star Tom Hiddleston takes viewers on a tour of the shooting locations.

On Location: Vietnam (HD, 6 min): Discussion on filming in the country with interviews and BTS footage.

Through the Lens (HD, 2 min): On Brie Larson's character and her real photographs seen in the film.

Deleted Scenes (HD, 4 min).

Final Thoughts

Screengrab is 4K but not HDR

Functioning like a prequel to 2014's Godzilla, Jordan Vogt-Roberts's Kong: Skull Island is a fun, straightforward monster movie that feels reminiscent of classic matinee adventure flicks. With a great deal of humor, excitement and excellent performances by an large ensemble cast, the big-budgeted production also comes with an offbeat B-movie quality that's energetic and well-paced, adding to the anticipation of seeing the two classic monsters eventually going toe-to-toe. The Ultra HD Blu-ray arrives with a great-looking 4K presentation that offers a nice step up over its HD SDR counterpart. With the same highly-satisfying Dolby Atmos soundtrack and small set of supplements as the Blu-ray, the overall package is worth a look for monster collectors.