BLU-RAY REVIEW

The Green Mile 4K Ultra HD

Featured In Issue 259, January/February 2022

Picture5
Sound5
Immersive4
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):
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
3000088967
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Violence, language, and some sex related material
(Retail Price):
$$24.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-66)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
189
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
ABC
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
Yes
(Disc Release Date):
2/22/2022
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Frank Darabont
(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):
(Subtitles):

"The Green Mile" is a film about miracles and the power of redemption. Prison Guard Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) and his fellow guards discover something very unusual about John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), a giant of a man in their charge. A black man convicted for the sadistic murder and rape of two young girls, but behaving almost like a child himself, Coffey Seems to have a mysterious supernatural gift of healing living things. Expectations are turned upside down and the guards' sense of humanity is awakened in this adaptation of Stephen Kings 1996 compelling novel. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary by Director/Screenplay Writer Frank Darabont, The featurettes "Walking The Mile" (SD 25:30) and "Miracles And Mystery: Creating The Green Mile" (SD 01:42:54), three deleted scenes (SD 03:38), six additional scenes on Blu-ray, 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 on Eastman film stock using the Panavision Panaflex Platinum camera systems and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. Picture quality is excellent with a virtually imperceptible thin grain structure. The color palette exhibits perfectly balanced warm and rich hues, with a stylized honey brown cast to the overall appearance. The green mile flooring in the prison is a pale lime hue. Other hues are essentially bland except for the deep navy blue uniforms of the prison officers and the red rain slicker worn by old Mr. Edgecomb Flesh tones are naturally hued with faces in the prison displaying beads of sweat. Hue shadings are wonderful, especially on the numerous facial and figure closeups. HDR contrast is terrific with a perfectly natural balance of lighting and intensity of black and shadow levels and white levels. During some segments whites are brightly illuminated. Resolution is incredible with fine detail exhibited in facial features such as skin pores, lines and hair, especially during closeups. Object textures are sharp and clear for a realistic period setting. This is a beautiful filmic experience of a true classic that has never looked better. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby 7.1-channel soundtrack is often dynamic sounding with strong sound effects such as intense thunder and lightening, supported with deep, natural sounding, sub-25 Hz bass. The electrocution sound effects are gripping. The surround channels nearly always deliver subtle ambient sounds such as pouring rain, thunder claps, birds chirp, electricity zizzes and other realistic atmospherics. Thomas Newman's orchestral score is wonderful and beautiful. The music is spread wide and deep across the soundstage with enveloping extension to the surrounds. Foley sound effects are accurate throughout and enhance the realism. Dialogue is impressively integrated spatially, not ADR produced.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of the extension of the orchestral score and numerous sound effects such as thunder claps, lightening, rain, prison gang singing, axes clanking, outdoor atmospherics, electrical shock sounds, little girls talking and screaming, light fixture blasts and other effects, all of which create an effective height layer dimension.

This is a superb holosoniic® spherical surround soundtrack that delivers excellent fidelity and sonic realism. Reference quality throughout. (Gary Reber)