4K Ultra HD – Edition EN – Sony Pictures – 148 min – 27 April 2022
Video format
• Intermediate Master: 2K
• Standard HDR: Dolby Vision
• Ratio: 2.39
Soundtrack
• English Dolby Atmos
• English DTS-HD MA 5.1
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 – The fan service canvas
After the events related to the confrontation with Mysteryio, Spider-Man's secret identity was revealed. He is being prosecuted by the US government, which accuses him of the murder of Mysteryrio, and is being hunted by the media. This event also has terrible consequences for the life of his girlfriend M.J. and his best friend Ned. When Peter Parker was in disarray, he asked Dr Strange for help. The latter casts a spell for everyone to forget that Peter is Spider-Man. But things are not happening as planned, and this action alters the stability of space-time. This opens the « Multiverse »A terrifying concept of which they know almost nothing...
Inoffensive and artistically feigning, this « Final » Nostalgic to ambitions too great for him (writing is bankal) struggles to make such a meeting of actors live. And even if he confronts (finally) his superhero with a real awareness (the inevitable and painful passage to adulthood), his insipid form (except for the race-continuation in the mirror dimension), his scriptural facilities (conceiving improbable decisions and abandoning many inconsistencies) and his often parasitic humour (I can make valves, like all the time?) arouse frustration before so much wasted potential.
But this pure entertainment (to be seen as a family) is rhythmic enough (the action scenes are not lacking) and friendly (a real fan's fantasy) so that its terrible lack of flavors (if this is the melancholy felt in the last minutes) can be tolerated. The MCU now has to get out of its comfort zone.
IMAGE – Incursion in the multiverse
Captured in 4.5K before being supervised in 2K during the creation of the intermediate master, the images of this superproduction find in this UHD Dolby Vision transfer an ally of weight... Although the absence of the IMAX Enchanted label (present on Bravia Core) will have caused ink to flow to some technophiles.
It is a problem to pass by because beyond the promise of mercantile, this third opus of the saga Home was shot digitally without the use of IMAX cameras. It is therefore an open matte version 1.90 that is proposed on the streaming platform and not the 2.39 format validated by the Ops leader. What is more, to offer the « best visual experience » instigators of this programme « correct » photography (colours are changed and a house DNR is applied) for an additional restitution (more realistic according to IMAX technicians) that replaces original artistic choices. In short, Sony editor made the right choice by leaving this gadget (limited to HDR10) away from physical support. Let's go back to our spiders!
If the contribution on the side of the definition (no drop in diet) and the (naturally raised) pitch remains moderate (more precise textures on the costumes and decors), it is by looking at the WCG and HDR technologies that the difference with the excellent Blu-ray increases significantly. For information, the CGIs have all been reworked for this video release with a key, a much less cheap rendering on the screen (Lizard and Man Sable now look like something).
The colorimetric palette at the Marvel (rather fade if you prefer) is granted more bold primary (notably on the costumes of the three Spider-Man and Dr Strange), the light sources display a completely different intensity (the lightnings of Electro, the sunrise at the end, the reflections on the bodywork), and the contrasts are distinguished by whites of greater clarity (the clouds) and blacks with a great density (cf. the crypt of the sacred sanctuary).
SON – The Weaver's jokes
Far from the timidity of some of the MCU's films, the present edition being not Disney's work, this Dolby Atmos soundtrack reserved for the VO (even if limited to the horizontal plane, the VF lossless sends as much wood!) does not lack power or multichannel activity to follow the movements, not only aerial, of Spidey and his « friends ».
Immersive to desire and provided with a stunning dynamic, it leaves effects/ambiences particularly well distributed in the acoustic space (a special mention to the tentacular arms of Octopus) but also physical bass that feel as soon as the action comes (explosions, blows carried). The voices that are not limited to the power station are crystal clear, the rear scene does not spare its activity (notably during the confrontation on the bridge), the score of Michael Giacchino is well enveloping and the verticality of the mixing simmers regularly (starting with the jet glider of the Green Bouffon).
CONCLUSION – Great power, zero responsibility!
While he is entangled in the canvas of the Marvel film universe, the spider man finds the desire to fly in front of this 4K Ultra HD calibrated for the (very) great show!
Artistic note
6
Video quality
9.5
Audio quality
10
0
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