X-Men: Apocalypse

X-Men: Apocalypse follows Apocalypse—the world's first and most powerful mutant, who has awakened after thousands of years to find a world led by humans. Intent on cleansing the Earth of mankind, he recruits a group of mutants to create a new world order. In a desperate race to save humanity, Professor X (McAvoy) leads the X-Men in an epic showdown—against an unstoppable enemy—that will determine the fate of the world. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary by Director Bryan Singer and Simon Kinberg, the X-Men: Apocalypse Unearthed documentary (HD 63:58), 12 deleted/extended scenes with optional introductions by Director Singer (HD 23:08), a gag reel (HD 08:20), a wrap-party video (HD 04:46), concept art, a photo gallery, theatrical trailers, and a digital copy. Also available as a 4K UltraHD release.

The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture is superb, with nicely integrated live action and accompanying CGI renderings. The color palette is strongly saturated with rich and warm hues, and solid primaries. Earthy greens are vivid and colorful, highlighted throughout in object textures. The opening sequence is beautifully rich in color and shadings. Fleshtones are generally natural, though, at times exhibit a bit of red push. Hues are stylized throughout, often exhibiting cool blues, yellowish ambers. Contrast is excellent with deep, solid black levels and well-lit shadows. The lighting design is quite intricate as well as the production design, which makes for a captivating visual experience. The lighting contrasts are quite dramatic. Resolution is stunning throughout, though, at times CGI effects are softer in appearance. Facial features and skin pores are nicely defined, especially during close-ups, as well as hair, clothing, and extensive object textures. This is a wonderfully colorful and visually dynamic picture that is reference quality throughout. (Gary Reber)

The Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio™ 7.1-channel soundtrack is quite dynamic, with effective deep bass extension in all channels, with the heavy boost delivered by strong .1 LFE energy. Explosions and vast destruction rumble through the soundfield. This low-end foundation is impressively prevalent throughout and enhances the directional atmospherics and powerful sound effects. The sound effects pan through the soundfield and occupy momentary positions within the soundfield, creating an impressive holosonic® effect. The sound effects effectively complement the production design set pieces with a wonderful sound design. The orchestral score is dynamic sounding and occupies a wide and deep soundstage that, at times, extends aggressively to the surrounds. Dialogue is intelligible throughout and natural sounding, with good spatial integration, even in the loudest sequences. This is a masterful soundtrack with well-integrated sound elements that create an engaging holosonic experience. (Gary Reber)