BLU-RAY REVIEW

Punisher, The 4K Ultra HD

Featured In Issue 259, January/February 2022

Picture4
Sound5
Immersive4.5
WSR Score4
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):
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
59666
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Pervasive brutal violence, language and brief nudity
(Retail Price):
$27.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-100)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
123
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
ABC
(Theatrical Year):
2004
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
1/25/2022
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Jonathan Hensleigh
(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):
Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

They came in with guns blazing and took away everything he loved, and now all Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) wants in return is revenge. After miraculously surviving a trip to his own early grave, Frank goes after Howard Saint (John Travolta), the man responsible for his family's murders, and transforms himself into The Punisher, a killer with a vengeance that won't be stopped. Based on the Marvel comic book character. (Tricia Spears)

Special features include commentary with Director Jonathan Henleigh, two deleted scenes (HD 03:12), the featurettes "Keepin' It Real: Punisher Stunts" (HD 27:45), "Army Of One: Punisher Origins" (HD 12:55) and "War Journal: On The Set Of The Punisher" (HD 29:59), all-new artwork from Orlando Arocena and a digital code.

The 2.35:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed in Super 35 on Kodak Vision 2383 film stock using Panavision cameras and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. Film grain is noticeable at times but never objectionable. The picture is naturally rendered with a realistic color palette and natural flesh tones. Hues are well balanced and never exaggerated. Hue shadings are nicely delineated. HDR contrast is excellent with deep, solid black levels, revealing shadow delineation, and brightly, but naturally illuminated white levels. Resolution is superb with fine detail exhibited in facial features, including skin pores, lines, makeup, hair, beards and sweat. Clothing is finely presented. Object texture is realistic. This is definitely the reference for this energized thriller and is sure to please fans of the Marvel character. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack, repurposed from the sound elements used to create the DTS ES 6.1-channel soundtrack on the previous Blu-ray, is impressively dynamic sounding with great sound effects such as intense and punishing gunfire, crashes, and explosions, etc. Atmospherics are realistic throughout in every environmental setting. Foley sound effects are spot on. Dialogue is delivered with generally good spatial integration as well as ADR. The orchestral score is quite active with a wide and deep soundstage that aggressively extends to the surround field. Surrounds are aggressively energized and at times directionalized.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of various elements including the extension of the music score, subtle atmospherics, and sound effects such as a helicopter, police sirens, selected dialogue, surf sounds, church bells, explosions, crowd noises, thunder, a moving train, din and The Punisher narration. This is a very effective height layer and wonderfully enhances the spatial dimensionality.

This is an exciting and dynamic holosonic® spherical
surround soundtrack that is thrilling. (Gary Reber)