4K Ultra HD releases: What you may have missed in March
Amy Flower
STACK Senior Editor
There was drama both old and new, action aplenty, heroes and villains, scintillating sci-fi, and a fantasy classic got animated - this March was quite a big month for new arrivals on 4K Ultra HD!
Gladiator II
The legend continues as Ridley Scott revisits the Ancient Rome setting of his epic Gladiator with this thrilling sequel.
“Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honour to return the glory of Rome to its people.”
Coming to our screens with a native 4K transfer that’s Dolby Vision and HDR10 bolstered, every clank and wail hits our ears through the wonders of Dolby Atmos.
There’s also a bonus standard Blu-ray packed in, with over 100 minutes of extras including a selection of featurettes, a making-of, and deleted scenes.
Plus! There's a very cool JB exclusive, limited edition steelbook available - if you're quick - that'll look great in anybody's collection. Check it out here.
Se7en - JB exclusive steelbook
David Fincher’s classic serial killer cop drama, starring Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, hits 4K Ultra HD inside a stylish, JB-exclusive, limited edition steelbook.
Join Somerset and Mills as they investigate a serial murderer who’s basing their diabolical acts on the seven deadly sins.
On the technical side, expect a native 4K transfer with HDR10 visually, and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track aurally.
The two disc – one 4K, one standard Blu-ray – set also houses a host of extras, including four audio commentaries, deleted scenes, alternate endings, and several featurettes.
Hardware
Richard Stanley’s 1990 cyberpunk sci-fi horror thriller collision hits our screens like never before on 4K Ultra HD, completely uncut and uncensored.
As well as starring Dylan McDermott, the future tale of the perils of unchecked technology and the strength of humanity when faced with adversity is dripping with brilliant music, and features appearances from the likes of Iggy Pop and Motörhead’s Lemmy.
Presented in native 4K with HDR10 enhancement, the killer audio hits our eyes courtesy of DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.
The two-disc set – one 4K, one standard Blu-ray – brings a wealth of extras, including new and old audio commentaries from Stanley, interviews, a making-of, deleted and extended scenes, a selection of short films and more.
Super 8
Sci-fi superstars Steven Spielberg and JJ Abrams collaborated on this onscreen explosion of imagination from 2011.
Adding mystery and adventure to the mix, it follows a group of six friends who are busy making a Super 8 movie when they witness a terrible train accident – but that’s just the start, as something terrifying escapes the crash…
Take your pick between Dolby Vision and HDR10 on this one, with sound ably supplied via Dolby TrueHD 7.1.
Bonus goodies include an audio commentary, nine featurettes, and a selection of deleted scenes.
Vanilla Sky
Almost Famous and Jerry Maguire director Cameron Crowe’s Tom Cruise-starring sci-fi thriller finds its way to 4K Ultra HD, bringing its story of romance, comedy, suspicion, love, sex, and dreams, based on Alejandro Amenábar’s 1997 Spanish film Open Your Eyes, to us like never before.
If you haven’t had the pleasure, Cruise plays a magazine publisher who starts questioning reality after being injured in a car accident.
The native 4K transfer features both Dolby Vision and HDR10, while sonic duties are carried out efficiently by DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.
Constantine
Keanu Reeves and DC collide, in this horror-meets-superhero tale of a cynical exorcist who possesses special powers.
John Constantine can not only communicate with half angels and half demons in their true form, but he can also flit between Earth and Hell.
Thankfully the transfer is more on the heavenly side, with a native 4K restoration toting both Dolby Vision and HDR10 enhancement.
Meanwhile, The audio comes to us in a new Dolby Atmos mix. The numerous extras include audio commentaries, and a meaty collection of featurettes.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
It’s the anime fantasy film that serves as a prequel to Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies, from noted Japanese animation producer Kenji Kamiyama.
Thrill to the drama as it tells of the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan. “A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg.”
This captivating animated feast arrives on 4K Ultra HD with both Dolby Vision and HDR10 enhancement, while audio duties are ably seen to by Dolby Atmos.
Three interview-packed featurettes are also included as extras.
Collector alert! There's a stunning JB exclusive limited edition steelbook if you get in quick. Check it out here.
Kraven the Hunter
The latest in the ever-growing line of Spider-Man-adjacent spin-off movies from the Sony side of Marvel, this one’s a different kind of superhero villain tale.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as the titular baddie, as we’re privy to the origin story of just how he came to pursue a brutal path of vengeance, ultimately becoming the world’s greatest – and most feared – hunter.
As you’d expect, presentation is top-notch, with a native 4K transfer that’s bolstered with Dolby Vision and HDR10 joined by a suitably loud Dolby Atmos sound mix.
If you’re a steelbook collector then take note – there’s a JB exclusive limited edition one for Kraven the Hunter, which you can check out right here.
^Discounts apply to previous ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. As we negotiate, products will likely have been sold below ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. Prices may differ at airport stores.
