BLU-RAY REVIEW

Jojo Rabbit 4K Ultra HD

Featured In Issue 248, February/March 2020

Picture4.5
Sound4.5
WSR Score5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
2363484
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Mature thematic content, some disturbing images, violence and language
(Retail Price):
$45.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-66)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
108
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
2/18/2020
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Taika Waititi
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Subtitles):

"Jojo Rabbit" is a World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy (Davis) whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother (Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl (McKenzie) in their attic. In spite of his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (Waititi), Jojo confronts his blind nationalism. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary by Director Taika Waititi, the featurette "Inside Jojo Rabbit" (HD 29:46), three deleted scenes (HD 08:57) outtakes (HD 03:26), theatrical trailers and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

The 1.85:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD HDR10 picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed digitally using the Arri Alexa Mini and Arri Alexa SXT camera systems and sourced from a 2K (not 4K) master Digital Intermediate format. As the 2K Digital Intermediate has been upconverted to 2160p, there is no real gain in native resolution. The imaginary is engaging with a saturated color palette. Production design is superb. The interior of Jojo's home exhibits a warm and rich color palette with bright color accents. The brown shirt attire of the Nazis is rich and striking, as are the colorful accents. Jojo's Hitler Youth uniform is visually stunning. The exterior scenes are perfectly natural with pleasant village houses, streets and earthy countryside. Fleshtones are naturally hued and striking. The wide color gamut displays a wide range of distinguished hues, which enhances the palette. HDR contrast is perfectly balanced with deep blacks, revealing shadow delineation, and natural highlights. Resolution is generally excellent, but facial features are softly rendered, lacking in fine detail. Perhaps this is a stylization decision. Still object textures and clothing are well defined, though, subtle digital grain can be discerned. No particular WOW! segments jump out. The picture is captivating throughout with compelling imagery and vivid color and contrasts that celebrate humanity and coming of age. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack, while dialogue focused, is propelled by a mixture of genres and at times by a sort-of folksy music score that is joyful and at other times orchestral and vocal that is far more somber. The music occupies a wide and deep soundstage that extends to the surrounds. Atmospherics nicely define the village and exterior scenes. Foley sound effects are perfectly accurate and enhance the scenes' realism. Sound effects in the final scenes of the American and Russian advances display an array of gunfire, machine gun fire, bomb explosions, debris scatter, and the sounds of destructive mayhem. Dialogue is intelligible throughout, though, ADR, which is prevalent, is wanting in spatial delineation. Overall, the soundtrack is compelling and works great. This is an immensely satisfying soundtrack. (Gary Reber)