Source France | Publisher : Disney | Release date : 05 June 2024
Video format
2160p24 – Ratio 2.39
HDR10 / BT.2020 – HEVC encoding
Master intermediate 4K
Soundtrack
English Dolby Atmos
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Subtitles
English
French
Rated 4 out of 5
Artistic : 7 | Video : 9 | Audio : 9.5
It is brought to the attention of our dear readers that, in addition to the specified and used viewing equipment, the rendering may differ from one installation to another, whether or not it is calibrated, as well as personal preferences and expectations may influence notation. Moreover, the images in the article are not representative of the edition tested.
Test equipment and condition (Config. HP: 5.1.4)
Video broadcaster : Sony Bravia XR-65A95L (Professional HDR)
Sources : Oppo UDP-203 Audiocom Reference | Zappiti Reference
Pregnant : Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max (Dolby Atmos | Dolby Surround), SVS SB-4000
WORK - We have to save little Leia.
Ten years after the execution of Order 66 and the fall of order Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi closed himself to the Force and led a hermit life on the planet Tatooine by discreetly looking after young Luke. But when Princess Leia gets kidnapped, Kenobi will be forced to leave her hiding place...
Located between the 3rd and the 4th the saga, this mini-series carried by a Ewan McGregor who has lost nothing of his charisma mastered his fan service but gives in to the screenplay facilities of a story too stretched (recalling that at the base, the project should have been a film) and the lack of scope of a plan-plan staging (the tight budget being cruelly felt). Fortunately, the DNA of the Prelogy is of the journey, the relationship between the characters (of which a Dark Vader more terrifying than ever) evolves intelligently, the emotion is well transcribed and the rebounds work (in respect of the cannon). Yes, the Force is still here!
« I'm not your failure Obi-Wan. You didn't kill Anakin Skywalker, I did. »
IMAGE - From darkness arises light
Captured numerically in 4.5K and finalized in 4K, the image finds in this UHD HDR10 transfer an exemplary stability (to a handful of planes with an apparent tingling in the 6th and last episode) a valuable help so that the many dark, or weakly lit environments of the series, reveal themselves otherwise better than on Disney+ where the low compression eclipsed the details in low light, now significantly improved.
The definition is more assertive (no more softness can be seen in the distance), the piqué gains in refinement (the close-ups on the faces, practical objects, costumes and other accessories), the rich and varied colorimetric palette (heaty or cold depending on the places visited) enjoys a more striking vivacity (the greenery on Alderaan, the blue sky of Tatooine, the neons of the commercial signs on Daiyu) and the contrasts, otherwise bolder, shows deeply cossuous shadows (the blacks blocked are ancient history) as well as light sources with the raised vitality (cf. the unreal shine of the laser sabres).
SON - Hello there
Flanking a nasty râclée to the streaming version (notably along the power side), the sample and immersive VO Dolby Atmos benefits from high quality spatialization and a guaranteed dynamic (and measurable from the beginning with flashback in the Jedi temple).
The front scene is striking, the lateral and rear channels are regularly exploited (wind on Tatooine, blasters firing), the verticality of the mixing is notable (birds on Alderaan, air traffic on Daiyu), the score signed Natalie Holt (excluding the theme of Obi-Wan composed by John Williams) takes its ease in the acoustic space, dialogues are understandable throughout and the LFE channel knocks when necessary (explosions, use of Force).
The VF, which must be satisfied with a simple Dolby Digital 5.1, is clearly lacking in precision (even if the effects go well through the five enclosures) and in amplitude due to too much compression compared to its 3D consœur. The dubbing, which is rather good, integrates well with the original sound elements.
CONCLUSION - Counterattack Prelogy
Assuming the Prequel Trilogy to the end, the mini-series Obi-Wan Kenobi which is the natural extension of it clarifies some dark points of the saga during a period until then little documented in the cannon... While Vador is trying to bury his past of Jedi for good, his former Master is at the same time seeking redemption. A story of mourning and reconstruction addressed above all to fans that the present 4K Ultra HD, supported by star A/V performances, comes to subscribe beyond the limits of SVOD!
... of the cyborg that breaks any possibility of stress. You can smell the feel good fiber of the last Star Wars. A process afflicting good feelings and repulsive of first choice to remove [...]