Ballerina

The next chapter from the World of John Wick, Ballerina follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma. Eve seeks revenge for her father’s death, and finds herself crossing paths with John Wick himself (Keanu Reeves).(Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurettes "The Making Of Ballerina" (HD 10:54), "Building A Frozen Underworld" (HD 06:09) and "The Art Of Action " (HD 11:09), seven deleted and extended scenes (HD 29:49) and a digital copy.

The 2.39:1 1080p picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed digitally in anamorphic Hawk Scope using the Arri Alexa 35 camera system and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. Picture quality is superb. Phil Ivey's production design is incredibility visually textured with stylized imagery in the John Wick genre. Romain Lacourbas' cinematography is amazing. Visual effects are perfectly integrated, This new storyline exhibits a more realistic looking palette with a huge gamut. Color fidelity exhibits saturated hues with realistic rich and warm hues. Browns and grays, as well as blacks are often prominent with blues, yellows, reds and fire orange serving as highlights. The sets appear complex with superb object texture, such as scene in a mountainous village covered in falling snow. The color gamut is wonderfully natural and nuanced in hue shadings. Flesh tones appear natural. HDR contrast is realistic throughout. Black levels are deep and solid. Shadows reveal grays and excellent depth, though dark scenes tend to slightly obscure detail. White levels are perfectly natural and exhibit brilliant illumination. The night scenes and the lightening design are visually engaging and wonderful. The flame thrower scene dramatically fills the screen with hot fiery orange intensity. The picture is sharp and clear throughout. Resolution is excellent with fine detail exhibited in every scene, particularly during closeups.. Facial features are finely detailed and reveal skin pores, lines, beards and hair. Environmental features and structural detail is realistic, Objects are perfectly detailed. This is a visually stylized production with intricate imagery throughout. The production design is wonderful. This is a spectacularly compelling dynamic picture, (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is strongly stylized with incredible bass energy and transient accents. Atmospherics set the spatial dimension of the various locations and sets. Sound effects are aggressive and dynamic. Bass support is intense and fully energized in every channel with extensive sub-25 Hz frequencies, especially during incredible explosions that excite the sound field. Gunfire is stylized with intense and powerful bass attack that energizes the sound field. Foley sound effects are also intense. The sound effects aggressively penetrate the entire sound field. There are quieter segments that reveal impressive ambiance, such as an older Eve bloodying herself as she practices ballet on the tips of her toes. The nightclub sequence is another segment of effective sonic dimension. The music is moodily stirring and occupies a wide an deep soundstage that aggressively extends to the surrounds. Imaging throughout the sound field is precise and dimensional with discrete localization and panning. Dialogue throughout remains intelligible though often ADR produced and wanting in spatial integration.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of an extension of the music to the height layer and sound effects, as flamethrower effects toward the end. That said this is a disappointing immersive treatment as there are long sections where there no signal in the height layer, not even music. With the incredible action sequences, far more treatment of the heigh layer could have been achieved.

This is an incredibly explosive holosonic® (at times spherical surround) soundtrack that delivers exciting engagement. To appreciate the full extent of the sound design, a fully capable Immersive Sound home theatre system is required. This is a standout "Wow" soundtrack that is a winner! (Gary Reber)