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- Bumblebee, back to the 80...
4K Ultra HD – Edition FR – Paramount Pictures – 114 min – 30 April 2019
Video format
• Intermediate Master: 2K
• Standard HDR: Dolby Vision
• Ratio: 1.78
Soundtrack
• English Dolby Atmos
• Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Subtitles
• English
• French
It is brought to the attention of our dear readers as well as the viewing equipment specified and used by each tester of the MaG team, the rendering may differ from one installation to another, whether or not it is calibrated, as well as personal preferences and expectations may influence the rating. Moreover, the images in the article are not representative of the edition tested.
WORK – A fresh start
In 1987, while on the run, the Autobot Bumblebee found refuge in the landfill of a small seaside town in California. He is discovered, broken and covered with war wounds, by Charlie, a teenager who approaches his 18th birthday and seeks his place in the world. And when she starts it, she quickly realizes that it's not an ordinary yellow car...
Tender, moving and much less focused on special effects than the rest of the franchise, this friendship story that « Roll » between a young girl and a small car (the characters are endearing) is a Transformers different (less action, more emotions), who regained his childhood soul and capped the nostalgic of the 1980s.
IMAGE – Back to the Eighties
The images of this UHD Dolby Vision transfer (an all-time treat) exploit the capabilities of the 4K Ultra HD format in the near-perfection (2-3 planes allow a digital grain to be detected) as shown in 1.78 open matte format.
Digitally captured (Arri Alexa Mini, SXT Plus and XT Plus) under the California sun, they display a definition of reinforced concrete and an enchanting level of detail (a special mention to CGI quality).
And magnified by a tastyly 80-inch vintage look, they enjoy a wide colorimetric palette (a real orgy during the passage to the fairground) that explodes the primaries (especially the reds and blues) and gives more body to the yellow body of Bumblebee, even more sharp contrasts (cf. the realism of the blacks) for a feeling of increased relief during the dark scenes (the end takes advantage of it), and light sources with unusual shine (light of the day, night lights, metallic reflections, control screens, the sight in mode « combatant » of B-127).
SON – Radio Nostalgie
Enjoying a big dynamic and excellent spatialization, this Atmos mixing rhythmically by a fabulous retro soundtrack (Lets of The Cars, Dance Hall Days by Wang Chung, I can't drive 55 of Sammy Hagar, Save to pay for me of Duran Duran, Runaway of Bon Jovi, The payback James Brown, Bigmouth Strikes Again The smiths group, etc.) widely distributed in the acoustic space, does not lesine on the pyrotechnic effects (it fuses from everywhere) or on explosions (monstrous basses) during the action scenes.
The rest of the time, it delivers clear dialogues and immersive atmospheres. As for the air component, it never forgets to activate when the need makes it felt (the battle of intro, the transformations, the flying vehicles and the passing).
Well distributed even if less precise, the small VF remains no less strong and convincing.
CONCLUSION – Does the yellow robot give the bumblebee?
By returning to the bases of the saga, this spin-off of Transformers buys a ride... Even better supervised on 4K Ultra HD support!
Nyctalope like Riddick and with a very good hearing, I am ready to jump on physical editions and SVOD platforms. But if the quality isn't on the rendezvous, stop at the bite! #WeLovePhysicalMedia
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