Ralph Potts reviews this original adventure that tells the story of a diverse team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers uniting to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific, as dangerous as it is beautiful.
The Review at a Glance:
(max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/UHD Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
95
Details:
Studio and Year: Warner - 2017
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Feature running time: 118 minutes
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Disc Format: BD-66
Encoding: HEVC
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 2160p/24
Audio Format(s): English Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1, DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, French/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Toby Kebbell, John Ortiz, Corey Hawkins, John C. Reilly, Jason Mitchell, Shea Wigham, Thomas Mann
Directed by: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Music by: Henry Jackman
Written by: Dan Gilroy, Max Borenstein, Derek Connolly
Region Code: A
Release Date: July 18, 2017
"We Don’t Belong Here"
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My Take:
This compelling, original adventure tells the story of a diverse team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers uniting to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific, as dangerous as it is beautiful. Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden in which humanity does not belong.
The story of King Kong has been told on the big screen on numerous occasions. Each has been good in its own right, delivering big ticket thrills via a heartwarming, beauty and the beast type story. Kong: Skull Island presents a differing take on the tale of the giant primate, bringing audiences to the mythical island in a period based story, that eschews the “romance” and return to the big city, instead, settling for a fairly straight up action/adventure story. The script is set to a brisk pace, with a light comedic tone, that quickly makes introductions before jumping into the meat of the plot.
For me movies about King Kong have always had that epic feel to them. Well derived characters, overdriven scripts and stirring finishes. Kong: Skull Island lacked the epic scope, engaging characters and meaningful storytelling. What you do get is a very decent popcorn movie, that plies you with solid action, well placed levity, and terrific production elements, that combine to make for an entertaining film experience. If you’re hoping for the next standard to go alongside the original King Kong, you’re going to be disappointed. If you’re up for a decent action/thriller Kong: Skull Island is just the ticket.
Replay Value:
Parental Guide:
The rating is for intense sequences of sci=fi violence and action, and for brief strong language.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:REFERENCE = 92-100/EXCELLENT = 83-91/GOOD = 74-82/AVERAGE = 65-73/BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
UHD Presentation: 94
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Dolby Atmos Rating: 96
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Ultra HD Blu-ray has finally been released and eager enthusiasts are ready and willing to see what it has to offer. For those not familiar with the details regarding Ultra HD Blu-ray you can refer to my article that includes some pertinent data on the subject. Here is the link:
Ultra HD Blu-ray Has Come to AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Kong: Skull Island comes to Ultra HD Blu-ray from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment featuring 2160pHEVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 65 Mbps, and lossless Dolby Atmos/TrueHD 7.1 channel sound that has an average bitrate of 4 Mbps, and DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 2.6 Mbps.
For its presentation in Ultra HD, Kong: Skull Island was derived from a 3.4K source, and rendered from a 2K DI.
This is a period based film that has a specific visual aesthetic which comes through quite naturally in this Ultra HD rendering. With a discernible increase in detail, and depth, the image appears a bit more vivid, and lifelike when compared to the 1080p version, which is excellent in its own right. Primary colors are pleasingly rich while whites appear gradational and punchy. The film contains sequences that take place in low/limited lighting, and the increased dimension in blacks and shadows is appreciable.
I find the natural rendering of light via its discernible stages and incremental highlights to be one of the presentation's big pluses. This is the case during brightly lit exteriors, such as the opening scene on the island, or when the group is making their way through the bamboo jungle. On the flip side, dark elements mixed with bright highlights look terrific. The sequence in chapter three where the fleet of helicopters flies through the electrical storm before arriving on the island, or the nighttime napalm trap, are good examples. In the former, as the choppers struggle to maintain control against the unpredictable power of the elements, the arcs of lightening light up the gray sky around them, creating a stark contrast that was stoked by the application of HDR.
The film has a variety of sequences that make use of close up camera angles that show off the superb rendering of detail. At times, the level of minutia is excellent, as even the finest nuance in the physical features, period clothing, sets, and props is resolvable. The film incorporates quite a bit of CGI, but in general I didn’t observe any odd-looking proportions or deleterious softening.
The difference between viewing Kong: Skull Island in high definition, and Ultra HD isn't night and day, but it benefitted from the increase in resolution, and high dynamic range treatment. I was extremely pleased with this presentation.
In listening to the Dolby Atmos surround mix I found it to be an entertaining listening experience that made excellent use of the platform. The immersive mix compliments the already top-notch soundtrack, and enhances the experience of watching the film. The attention to detail here is noticeably on display, and I have to tip my cap to the sound mixer. You get a taste of what is to come with the opening sequence that takes place on the beach on Skull Island. The use of audio objects placed above, and at ear level is a mix of atmospherics, discrete effects, and music. This is done to excellent effect and creates a tangible level of immersion that coincides with the onscreen events. The film’s active moments, swallow you up as the revolving, rotating and all-encompassing surround sound comes at you from all sides.
There is also much to enjoy in scenes that aren’t actively intense as smaller elements in the background are articulated and dimensionally full. In general, this Dolby Atmos mix made for an involving surround sound experience. I enjoyed the balance of atmosphere and discrete object placement.
Blu-ray Video:
Video: 94
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Audio: 96
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Kong: Skull Island comes to Blu-ray Disc from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 30 Mbps and lossless Dolby Atmos/TrueHD 7.1 channel sound that has an average bitrate of 4 Mbps, and DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 2.6 Mbps.
This is an excellent high definition rendering that sports plenty of fine detail and crisp definition that provides discerning dimensional perspective. Colors range from warm and vivid to cool, reserved and almost tonally neutral. This is obviously a creative decision that draws definitive visual boundaries and works quite well. Contrast is strong and blacks are deep without compromise to delineation. Shadowy areas exhibit excellent depth of field and visible gradational stages. The various wide-angle shots of Skull Island look terrific. I didn’t see any signs of video degrading artifacts or extraneous compression related noise. Kong: Skull Island looks great on Blu-ray.
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack (as well as the 7.1 Dolby True HD Atmos core) feature crystal clear dialog, robust dynamics and when called upon, an engaging surround sound mix. I was impressed with the implementation of both spacial dimension, and directional effects. This worked hand in hand with a resonating low end, and rousing music, that underscored the film’s thematic tone. I found this to be an engaging audio presentation that complimented the video resulting in an involving and evocative viewing experience that enhanced the source material. For those so equipped, I preferred the 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD sound over the 5.1 channel mix.
** It should be noted that the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio soundtrack is the default audio option. Listening to the Dolby Atmos mix requires entering the audio set up menu and manually selecting it.**
Bonus Features:
Kong: Skull Island doesn’t quite live up to its source material’s legacy on film, but there is no denying that it makes for an excellent popcorn flick. It comes to Blu-ray from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment in this Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack featuring reference quality Ultra HD video, excellent high definition audio/video, a terrific Dolby Atmos sound mix, and a fair supplemental set. For those that enjoy its genre, Kong: Skull Island is simply a must have. If you’re equipped for Ultra HD Blu-ray and immersive sound, you’re in for a treat.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS500 3D/4K Ready High Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Calman 5 & C6-HDR Meter from Spectracal )
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100” 16x9 Screen
Carada Masquerade Electronic Horizontal Masking System
Marantz AV8802A 13.2 Channel Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo UDP-203 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" and Canton In-Ceiling Series Speakers
SVS Ultra Surrounds (Gloss Finish in Bipolar Configuration)
SVS PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
SVS SB-13 Ultra (Piano Gloss finish)
Panamax M5400-PM Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package
The Review at a Glance:
(max score: 5 )
Film:
( Max score: 100 )
95
Details:
Studio and Year: Warner - 2017
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Feature running time: 118 minutes
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Disc Format: BD-66
Encoding: HEVC
Video Aspect: 2.40:1
Resolution: 2160p/24
Audio Format(s): English Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1, DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, French/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Toby Kebbell, John Ortiz, Corey Hawkins, John C. Reilly, Jason Mitchell, Shea Wigham, Thomas Mann
Directed by: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Music by: Henry Jackman
Written by: Dan Gilroy, Max Borenstein, Derek Connolly
Region Code: A
Release Date: July 18, 2017
"We Don’t Belong Here"
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My Take:
This compelling, original adventure tells the story of a diverse team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers uniting to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific, as dangerous as it is beautiful. Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden in which humanity does not belong.
The story of King Kong has been told on the big screen on numerous occasions. Each has been good in its own right, delivering big ticket thrills via a heartwarming, beauty and the beast type story. Kong: Skull Island presents a differing take on the tale of the giant primate, bringing audiences to the mythical island in a period based story, that eschews the “romance” and return to the big city, instead, settling for a fairly straight up action/adventure story. The script is set to a brisk pace, with a light comedic tone, that quickly makes introductions before jumping into the meat of the plot.
For me movies about King Kong have always had that epic feel to them. Well derived characters, overdriven scripts and stirring finishes. Kong: Skull Island lacked the epic scope, engaging characters and meaningful storytelling. What you do get is a very decent popcorn movie, that plies you with solid action, well placed levity, and terrific production elements, that combine to make for an entertaining film experience. If you’re hoping for the next standard to go alongside the original King Kong, you’re going to be disappointed. If you’re up for a decent action/thriller Kong: Skull Island is just the ticket.
Replay Value:
The rating is for intense sequences of sci=fi violence and action, and for brief strong language.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:REFERENCE = 92-100/EXCELLENT = 83-91/GOOD = 74-82/AVERAGE = 65-73/BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
UHD Presentation: 94
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- HDR: Dark Highlights:
- HDR: Bright Highlights:
- HDR: Expanded Color:
- Resolution:
- Visual Impact:
Dolby Atmos Rating: 96
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Level of immersion:
- Soundstage integration:
- Audio object placement:
- Effectiveness of Atmos platform:
- Entertainment factor:
Ultra HD Blu-ray has finally been released and eager enthusiasts are ready and willing to see what it has to offer. For those not familiar with the details regarding Ultra HD Blu-ray you can refer to my article that includes some pertinent data on the subject. Here is the link:
Ultra HD Blu-ray Has Come to AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Kong: Skull Island comes to Ultra HD Blu-ray from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment featuring 2160pHEVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 65 Mbps, and lossless Dolby Atmos/TrueHD 7.1 channel sound that has an average bitrate of 4 Mbps, and DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 2.6 Mbps.
For its presentation in Ultra HD, Kong: Skull Island was derived from a 3.4K source, and rendered from a 2K DI.
This is a period based film that has a specific visual aesthetic which comes through quite naturally in this Ultra HD rendering. With a discernible increase in detail, and depth, the image appears a bit more vivid, and lifelike when compared to the 1080p version, which is excellent in its own right. Primary colors are pleasingly rich while whites appear gradational and punchy. The film contains sequences that take place in low/limited lighting, and the increased dimension in blacks and shadows is appreciable.
I find the natural rendering of light via its discernible stages and incremental highlights to be one of the presentation's big pluses. This is the case during brightly lit exteriors, such as the opening scene on the island, or when the group is making their way through the bamboo jungle. On the flip side, dark elements mixed with bright highlights look terrific. The sequence in chapter three where the fleet of helicopters flies through the electrical storm before arriving on the island, or the nighttime napalm trap, are good examples. In the former, as the choppers struggle to maintain control against the unpredictable power of the elements, the arcs of lightening light up the gray sky around them, creating a stark contrast that was stoked by the application of HDR.
The film has a variety of sequences that make use of close up camera angles that show off the superb rendering of detail. At times, the level of minutia is excellent, as even the finest nuance in the physical features, period clothing, sets, and props is resolvable. The film incorporates quite a bit of CGI, but in general I didn’t observe any odd-looking proportions or deleterious softening.
The difference between viewing Kong: Skull Island in high definition, and Ultra HD isn't night and day, but it benefitted from the increase in resolution, and high dynamic range treatment. I was extremely pleased with this presentation.
In listening to the Dolby Atmos surround mix I found it to be an entertaining listening experience that made excellent use of the platform. The immersive mix compliments the already top-notch soundtrack, and enhances the experience of watching the film. The attention to detail here is noticeably on display, and I have to tip my cap to the sound mixer. You get a taste of what is to come with the opening sequence that takes place on the beach on Skull Island. The use of audio objects placed above, and at ear level is a mix of atmospherics, discrete effects, and music. This is done to excellent effect and creates a tangible level of immersion that coincides with the onscreen events. The film’s active moments, swallow you up as the revolving, rotating and all-encompassing surround sound comes at you from all sides.
There is also much to enjoy in scenes that aren’t actively intense as smaller elements in the background are articulated and dimensionally full. In general, this Dolby Atmos mix made for an involving surround sound experience. I enjoyed the balance of atmosphere and discrete object placement.
Blu-ray Video:
Video: 94
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black Level/Shadow Detail:
- Color Reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
Audio: 96
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency effects:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
Kong: Skull Island comes to Blu-ray Disc from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 30 Mbps and lossless Dolby Atmos/TrueHD 7.1 channel sound that has an average bitrate of 4 Mbps, and DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 2.6 Mbps.
This is an excellent high definition rendering that sports plenty of fine detail and crisp definition that provides discerning dimensional perspective. Colors range from warm and vivid to cool, reserved and almost tonally neutral. This is obviously a creative decision that draws definitive visual boundaries and works quite well. Contrast is strong and blacks are deep without compromise to delineation. Shadowy areas exhibit excellent depth of field and visible gradational stages. The various wide-angle shots of Skull Island look terrific. I didn’t see any signs of video degrading artifacts or extraneous compression related noise. Kong: Skull Island looks great on Blu-ray.
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack (as well as the 7.1 Dolby True HD Atmos core) feature crystal clear dialog, robust dynamics and when called upon, an engaging surround sound mix. I was impressed with the implementation of both spacial dimension, and directional effects. This worked hand in hand with a resonating low end, and rousing music, that underscored the film’s thematic tone. I found this to be an engaging audio presentation that complimented the video resulting in an involving and evocative viewing experience that enhanced the source material. For those so equipped, I preferred the 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD sound over the 5.1 channel mix.
** It should be noted that the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio soundtrack is the default audio option. Listening to the Dolby Atmos mix requires entering the audio set up menu and manually selecting it.**
Bonus Features:
- Disc 1: Kong: Skull Island Ultra HD Blu-ray
Disc 2: Kong: Skull Island Blu-ray
• Director’s Commentary
• Creating a King: Realizing an Icon
• Creating a King: Summoning a God
• Monarch Files 2.0
• Tom Hiddleston: The Intrepid Traveler
• Through the Lens: Brie Larson’s Photography
• On Location: Vietnam
• Deleted Scenes - Digital HD Copy
Kong: Skull Island doesn’t quite live up to its source material’s legacy on film, but there is no denying that it makes for an excellent popcorn flick. It comes to Blu-ray from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment in this Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack featuring reference quality Ultra HD video, excellent high definition audio/video, a terrific Dolby Atmos sound mix, and a fair supplemental set. For those that enjoy its genre, Kong: Skull Island is simply a must have. If you’re equipped for Ultra HD Blu-ray and immersive sound, you’re in for a treat.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS500 3D/4K Ready High Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Calman 5 & C6-HDR Meter from Spectracal )
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100” 16x9 Screen
Carada Masquerade Electronic Horizontal Masking System
Marantz AV8802A 13.2 Channel Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo UDP-203 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" and Canton In-Ceiling Series Speakers
SVS Ultra Surrounds (Gloss Finish in Bipolar Configuration)
SVS PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
SVS SB-13 Ultra (Piano Gloss finish)
Panamax M5400-PM Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package