Captain America: Civil War appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.40:1 on this 4K UHD Disc. This became a positive presentation.
Sharpness looked solid. Virtually no softness materialized in this tight and concise image.
Neither jagged edges nor moiré effects created concerns. I witnessed no signs of edge haloes or print flaws.
Like most modern action flicks, Civil War opted for a teal and orange orientation. These tendencies didn’t overwhelm, but they dominated, and the movie displayed them in an appropriate manner. HDR added impact to the hues.
Blacks came across as deep and firm, while low-light shots presented clear imagery. Both whites and contrast got a boost from HDR. The movie brought us a solid transfer.
Downconverted to Dolby TrueHD 7.1, the movie’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack delivered the expected dynamic material. With tons of action, the soundscape used all the channels on a frequent basis. This led us to an exciting sonic experience from start to finish.
The various speakers provided lots of information that filled out the movie and blended together in a seamless manner. Bullets, explosions, vehicles – you name it and it blasted all around us. This formed a dynamic soundfield with a lot to offer.
In addition, audio quality seemed strong. Music was bold and full, and even with a lot of looped lines, dialogue remained crisp and natural. Effects appeared lively and vivid, with clear highs and deep lows. I felt pleased with this impressive soundtrack.
How did the 4K UHD compare to the Blu-ray edition? The Atmos mix here added some involvement and zing.
Though taken from a 2K source, the 4K UHD offered superior delineation, colors and blacks. It delivered a nice visual upgrade over the already-solid Blu-ray.
To complicate matters, Civil War also appears as a 3D Blu-ray. Which worked better?
I’d vote for the 4K, as the 3D didn’t come with much more than a decent sense of depth. The 3D lacked sizzle, so the picture quality upgrade of the 4K makes it the one to pick.
Note that in the 3D version, the aforementioned major action sequence offered one change from the 2D disc: a different aspect ratio. Shot on digital IMAX cameras, the hero-on-hero fight opened up to 1.90:1 on IMAX screens, and it did the same only for that 3D presentation.
It disappoints me that the 4K continued to ignore the IMAX ratio for that scene. However, the 4Ks visuals positives still made it preferre – unless you just can’t live without the single 1.90:1 sequence.
No extras appear on the 4K disc, but we find a mix on the included Blu-ray copy, where we open with an audio commentary from directors Anthony and Joe Russo and writers Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus. All four sit together for this running, screen-specific discussion of story/character areas and influences/inspirations, stunts and action, cast and performances, sets and locations, various effects, music and editing, and connected subjects.
This foursome of filmmakers did a terrific commentary for Winter Soldier, and that winning streak continues here. Given the personnel, we get an emphasis on story/screenplay/character domains, and we locate plenty of great insights there. Other topics flesh out the piece and help it become informative and enjoyable.
Under the banner United We Stand, Divided We Fall, two featurettes appear. Together these last 45 minutes, 43 seconds and offer details from Anthony and Joe Russo, McFeely, Markus, producer Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios co-president Louis D’Esposito, fight coordinator James Young, executive producers Victoria Alonso and Nate Moore, stunt coordinator Stan Hargrave, prop master Russell Bobbitt, head of visual development Ryan Meinerding, visual effects supervisor Dan DeLeeuw, and actors Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, William Hurt, Don Cheadle, Paul Bettany, Chadwick Boseman, Daniel Bruhl and Tom Holland.
“Fall” looks at story/character areas and connections to the other Marvel films, cast and performances, the Russos’ impact on the production, stunts and action, sets and locations, costumes/effects, and related topics.
Though somewhat breathless in tone, “Fall” still manages to cover a good array of subjects. We find a solid mix of insights in this useful pair of programs.
Two more pieces pop up under The Road to Civil War, as we find “Captain America” (4:11) and “Iron Man” (4:27). Across these, we hear from Joe and Anthony Russo, Evans, Downey, Feige, and Moore.
The segments offer general thoughts about the characters in question. Both feel fairly superficial.
More of a promo than a featurette, Open Your Mind goes for four minutes, two seconds and offers an “exclusive sneak peek” at November 2016’s Doctor Strange movie.
The program gives us remarks from Feige, director Scott Derrickson, executive producer Stephen Broussard, and actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelson and Tilda Swinton. Don’t expect anything more than a long advertisement.
Four Deleted and Extended Scenes go for a total of seven minutes, 52 seconds. We find “Extended Peggy’s Funeral” (5:57), “Zemo Meets Doctor Broussard” (0:33), “’You Are Not Used to the Truth’” (0:53) and “’Gotta Get Me One of Those’” (0:19).
As the longest sequence, one might expect major changes for “Funeral”, but it doesn’t do a whole lot to alter the existing scene, as it throws out short expository beats but nothing major.
Of the other three, “Truth” adds a little to a new character and becomes the most worthwhile of the bunch. The other two lack much to them.
Finally, we get a two-minute, 53-second Gag Reel. It delivers the usual roster of mistakes and laughs. It’s nothing much but it’s short enough that it doesn’t wear out its welcome.
The Blu-ray opens with ads for Doctor Strange and Marvel: Contest of Champions. No trailer for Civil War appears here.
With the third film in the series, Captain America: Civil War offers another winner. Rich, exciting and dramatic, the movie continues the franchise well. The 4K UHD delivers very good picture and audio along with supplements highlighted by a strong commentary. Civil War becomes a top-notch superhero adventure.
To rate this film visit the 2D review of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR