Interstellar: 10th Anniversary - Limited Edition 4K UHD

Full disclosure, I was one of those people. Yes. I was that person who didn’t much care for Interstellar when it first came out. Back when I was trying to run my own blog I wrote a pretty scorching review of the film. Ironically enough that review was what helped me land the gig as a staff writer here at HDD! I was hung up on the film’s marketing as the next grand leap of sci-fi cinema. I was irked by the constant weightless platitudes about the meaning of this and that. And I was also perturbed they used the explanation of traveling through space-time from Event Horizon almost word for word. While others were “oohing and aahing” I was rolling my eyes. That first viewing just didn’t stick it for me. However, as my overly pragmatic brain is want to do, I gave Nolan’s little sci-fi opus another shot. And another. Then a couple more. 

While I do agree with what my former colleague Aaron Peck had to say about the film in his Blu-ray review, my thoughts on the things that bothered me have significantly mellowed with time. Interstellar isn’t one I pull off the shelf often, but every couple of years I want to blast my eyes with the incredible visuals and blow out my eardrums with the intense sound design. For this 10th Anniversary Limited Edition review, I realized it had been since about 2018 when the film first hit 4K disc that I last watched the film so I was overdue for a view. After what was my 11th or 12th round through, I can't say this latest viewing brought anything new to light, but I’ll say I was enraptured by the visuals like it was a first-time experience. The platitudes are still a little bothersome, just too heavy-handed to be earnest, but this round I appreciated the human touches more than in previous outings. It helps that in the time between screenings, I became a father, so that angle certainly connected stronger than ever before. 

I’ll admit when I really don’t like something on a first viewing I can be a jaded SOB about it. But, that’s also why I rewatch films I love and especially rewatch the ones I ardently dislike. If I loved a movie, the second viewing might not hold up. If I hated a movie, it could be better the second time around. I might see something I missed that’ll improve or worsen the film. For Interstellar, it’s just gotten better each time I see it. 

At any rate, for a longer take, here’s what Aaron Peck had to say in his Blu-ray Review HERE: 

"That's a whole lotta movie," gasped my wife after her first viewing of Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar.'

It was my third time through, and I have to admit, she's spot on. 'Interstellar,' no matter if you love it, or hate it, is indeed a whole lotta movie. It's a continuously taut juggernaut of epic space action accompanied by Hans Zimmer's organ-infused score. There really isn't a moment within the movie that you could point to and say, "Well, that's dull." Some might take issue with the on-the-nose nature of the Nolan brothers' screenplay, but the movie never lacks excitement.

When I reviewed 'Interstellar' during its initial theatrical release I said, "While stupendously broad in scope and epic space adventure, Nolan's "Interstellar" is also frustratingly jam-packed with so much explanation that there's little left up to the imagination." After seeing it a third time I'm not so sure I feel that way anymore. Yes, it does have a tendency to over explain itself, but what stood out to me this time around was the intention of the script to throw out as many deep thoughts it possibly can within the first 40 minutes or so. Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), seems transfixed on coining a new phrase the future of the human race will use for eternity. The platitudes begin to wear thin right when the movie gets exciting, so it's easy to forget about the labored insistence of the screenplay to throw down eternally true witticisms.

The not-so-distant future is dire. Our planet is dying. America is trapped in an increasingly dangerous futuristic Dust Bowl. A blight has taken our crops.  One by one the world's major crop species are dying, leaving us hungry and relying on the last sustainable crop, corn. Though, it's just a matter of time before the world is out of food (though, curiously barley-based alcohol seems rather plentiful). What will we do then?

Cooper is a corn farmer, however, he was really born to pilot NASA rocket ships. Though when food became scarce, traveling the stars in space ships seemed like a gargantuan waste of money. His young daughter Murph (young Mackenzie Foy, older Jessica Chastain), is a stubborn, thoughtful daughter who will no doubt be the key to the story as it unfolds. The relationship between Murph and Cooper is certainly the crux of the movie. I hate to pull the "You have to be a parent card," but it's just so true here. Thinking of being separated from my son by millions of light years conjures up within me an eternal sort of dread. It's something I couldn't even fathom.

When Cooper learns that NASA has remained active, in secret, he's called upon by old friend Professor Brand (Michael Caine) to save humanity. No matter how much corn they try to grow, humankind will eventually succumb to the Earth's dusty future. Extinction of the human race is inevitable if they can't find a new place to live. A worm hole next to Saturn is discovered. Viable worlds lay in wait on the other side. Cooper, along with Brand's daughter (Anne Hathaway), and a small team set out to find out what's on the other side of the worm hole.

Nolan's visuals treat space as reverently and awe-inspiring as Terrance Malick's beautiful depictions of deep space during the 'Tree of Life.' There's a sequence where Cooper has to dock with a space station spinning out of control. It's executed flawlessly and is some of the most exciting action from last year. What's so great is that Nolan takes some pretty scientific elements, and creates circumstances which are thrilling and understandable even to the layperson. Not to mention that his action scenes are wonderfully framed and expertly constructed as to lead you through an experience rather than splattering you with chaos.

There are some weighty consequences too. When the crew of the Endurance visits a planet orbiting a black hole they're forced to think of time as a commodity since the Theory of Relativity states that time will slow down when one nears a black hole. It's an immensely difficult idea to get your head around, but the movie is full of those kinds of dilemmas.

The conclusions that are reached can appear hokey on the surface. There's an "I've seen this somewhere else," vibe near the end. But, with Nolan's keen directorial eye, focused on the wonder of practical special effects, and a dominating performance from McConaughey, 'Interstellar' overcomes most of its faults and satisfies in the end.

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Paramount explores the cosmos for Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar: 10th Anniversary Limited Edition. A three-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital set, the 4K is again pressed on a BD100 disc, the 1080p is pressed on a BD50, and the BD50 bonus features disc has been reauthored to include previous content but also include the new retrospective materials. The discs are housed in a hardstock gatefold book and held in place with paper sleeves. The discs slide in and out with relative ease, not enough tension to hold stuck and struggle, no glue issues on my review copy, but discs are not so loose they’re going to fly out on their own. Just don’t monkey-fist it trying to get them out and you’ll be okay. 

The set also includes a collection of crew patches that are not inside the box but stuck behind it with the info card.

A collection of mini posters.

And a booklet containing storyboards of the Miller’s Planet sequence. 

All of the pieces are held in a long rectangular paper slipcase, similar to Paramount’s domestic edition of the Star Trek: The Motion Picture Director’s Edition Complete Adventure set. So again, be careful taking things in and out and your set should remain in good shape.

As this disc offers the same HDR10 2160p transfer with shifting aspect ratio, I’ll let Mr. Duarte’s words from his 4k UHD review stand:

Nolan's ambitious sci-fi epic goes on the lofty quest for life through the Ultra HD universe with a superb, often stunning HEVC H.265 encode, surpassing the Blu-ray by light-years, though some mild turbulence keeps it shy of a perfect flight.

The movie was originally shot on a combination of traditional 35mm and IMAX 65mm film, and those elements were later mastered in a 4K digital intermediate, which we can assume was used for this transfer. The results are a decidedly significant improvement over its 1080p counterpart. Admittedly, there are a couple spots of very mild aliasing along the sharp edges of buildings, the computer monitors and spacecraft exteriors, but it's negligible enough to be missed except by the most observant of videophiles. Aside from that, the picture quality is near-reference with the IMAX footage, in particular, being absolutely phenomenal and offering plenty demo-worthy eye-candy. Each of these sequences consistently display razor-sharp details of the shuttle, the farmlands, exotic planets and in the costumes. The 35mm scenes also show outstanding definition and clarity, but it's interesting to see that it's slightly softer by comparison. Nevertheless, from the facial complexions to the fabric and stitching of clothing, the transfer is stunningly revealing with remarkable lifelike textures that will surprise viewers.

Similar to the Blu-ray, the film is presented as it was shown in IMAX auditoriums with the aspect ratio alternating between 2.39:1 and 1.78:1, which for CIH enthusiasts, might be a tad annoying but is also more immersive. The 4K presentation is simply exceptional and sensational, sparkling with brilliant whites that pop off the screen with radiant luminosity, making the entire picture from start to finish lively and energetic. Contrast is pitch-perfect throughout, giving the sky a lovely, realistic glow in the fluffy clouds while allowing remarkable visibility of the most minute feature and facet in the distance. Full-bodied black levels are silky rich and luxurious with spotless gradations between the lighter and darker portions of the frame, adding a splendid intensity to the three-dimensional image and delivering clear differences between the various shades, even during the darkest sequences. Superb specular highlights provide the edges of the marine robots with a dazzling, realistic shine while various light sources radiate with a tighter, revealing glow. The eyes of the cast come with a lovely, glistening twinkle, and viewers can practically count the sparkling, flickering stars against the pitch-blackness of space.  

Arguably, one area the UHD doesn't show a massive jump from the Blu-ray is the color palette, which was intentionally restrained while favoring a grayer colder mood to better complement the plot and its visual themes. Nevertheless, the gorgeous, awe-inspiring photography of Hoyte van Hoytema definitely benefits, showcasing intensely-animated reds and true-to-life blues in the skies. Vivid, richly-saturated greens seem to pop out the most during the farmlands scenes and aboard the space station orbiting Saturn, but secondary pastel hues are also brimming with a boldness throughout. The yellow ring circling Gargantua dazzles and illuminates the 2160p video with sumptuous brilliance and energy while showing light rays of fiery orange in the outer areas. And the computer screens show a brighter greenish cyan. Flesh tones also come with a more realistic reddish hue while Mr. McConaughey looks much tanner than before, especially when sharing screen-time with the younger Murphy. Overall, despite the deliberate cinematography limiting the palette, the 4K presentation is simply phenomenal and continuously jaw-dropping. 

Likewise, the same excellent DTS-HD MA 5.1 track returns. Since Nolan doesn’t dabble in Dolby Atmos, this is as good as it gets and it’s still a banger of a sound mix, fully immersive, fully engaging, and will blast your ears out in all the best ways imaginable. 

After 'Interstellar's initial release, much was made about the decision – which turned out to be a conscience one – to have Hans Zimmer's score at times drown out the movie's dialogue. Interviews with Nolan after the fact shed some light on the perceived bad sound design. Nolan assured audiences that the soundtrack – however loud and overbearing – was supposed to sound exactly like that. So, like it or not 'Interstellar's brash, often distracting organ-centered score mirrors the filmmaker's intent. It's important to keep that at the forefront of your mind during this review.

While I personally found the sheer loudness of Zimmer's score to be irritating in the theater, I found that my home viewing experience was much better. The scenes in question – like when the team ventures through the worm hole – are still really loud, but the dialogue is still intelligible. I actually quite liked the engulfing, entrancing quality of Zimmer's score this time around. I also immensely enjoyed the heaps of bass thundering forth from my sub. If you're a fan of low-end sonics, then this is surely the sound mix for you.

Yes, dialogue can be muffled at times, but it's by design. Surround effects are crisp and lively. Zimmer's score plays effectively throughout the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound field. While one might expect a heftier 7.1 mix here, honestly, you can't really tell the difference. It sounds phenomenal most of the time.

Interstellar already had a pretty terrific in-depth collection of bonus features. Paramount could have just rested and repurposed those, they did, but they also added to the package. We have a new retrospective with the cast and crew, and filmmakers like Denis Villeneuve, Peter Jackson, and other various personalities like Kip Thorne make appearances. It can feel a little back-patting, a little fluffed up, but it’s also cool to see/hear these perspectives. The two new Roundtables are relatively brief, barely 20 minutes combined, but have some interesting tidbits about how Nolan and the cast got involved with the film and shooting it. The second is much more of a “wow look what we did” piece, it’s earnest, but again, pretty fluffy-puffy. After that, the same excellent deep dives into the science and the making of the film return for well over three hours of total bonus content. 

• NEW The Future is Now: A Look Back at Interstellar (HD 23:16)
• NEW Roundtables:
• Creating Interstellar (HD 13:56)
• Experiencing Interstellar (HD 6:12)
• The Science of Interstellar (HD 50:20)
• Inside Interstellar:
• Plotting an Interstellar Journey
• Life on Cooper’s Farm
• The Dust
• Tars and Case
• The Cosmic Sounds of Interstellar
• The Space Suits
• The Endurance
• Shooting in Iceland: Miller’s Planet / Mann’s Planet
• The Ranger and the Lander
• Miniatures in Space
• The Simulation of Zero-G
• Celestial Landmarks
• Across All Dimensions and Time
• Final Thoughts
• Trailers

Interstellar was something of a challenge for some folks when it came out. While many loved it and were in awe of Nolan’s accomplishment, there were people like me who were decidedly non-plussed. If time can heal wounds it can also change perspectives. Subsequent viewings softened my initial harsh reaction towards the film and I’ve grown to appreciate more of what it does right than focus on small quibbles or inconsequential idiosyncrasies in the plot or dialog. I won’t go so far as to call it a “masterpiece” but it is a masterclass in science fiction filmmaking utilizing more practical effects, sets, real-world science, and human characters rather than focusing on wiz-bang spectacle. Now, ten years later, we have a new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Limited Edition to ponder over. We don’t get a new A/V experience, but we do pick up a couple of new extras to dig into on top of a bunch of pretty cool swag items. If swag isn’t your thing and don’t really need a half hour of new extras, the previous 4K set will likely serve you just fine for the foreseeable future. However, if you haven’t added this film to the 4K collection, this Limited Edition is a Highly Recommended contender for consideration.