Multiple Academy Award®-winning* writer-director Oliver Stone (JFK, Natural Born Killers) presents his preferred cut of the film recreating the towering, true story of Alexander the Great. Colin Farrell (The Batman) stars as the undefeated conqueror, who in the 4th Century BC, triumphed over Greece, Persia, Afghanistan, and India – 90% of the known world. Visionary, explorer, dreamer – he was also a tender son, torn by the burning love and ambition of his mother (Angelina Jolie, Eternals) and desperate for the approval of his father (Val Kilmer, The Doors). Alexander’s dream shaped the world we live in today.

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Video Quality

Alexander makes its 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut with a pretty decent 2160p Dolby Vision transfer from a new 4K master approved by director Oliver Stone. This disc presents the Final Cut of the film, which is the longest of four different cuts that have been made of this film to date. If you were to consider all of the different cuts, you have the 175-minute Theatrical Cut (2004), a 166-minute Director’s Cut (2005), a 213-minute Final Cut (2007), and a 206-minute Ultimate Cut (2014). While we appreciate that the label decided to give us the version with the most footage, it would have been incredible to get a release with multiple cuts of the film available in 4K UHD. It is also worth noting that there is no Blu-Ray of the film included in this package; the included Blu-Ray only houses supplemental features. Our only previous experience with the film was on HD-DVD, so we can only say that this disc is an improvement over that ancient release.

The 4K UHD disc does well in the context of a 2K Digital Intermediate created from a Super 35 source, which brings forth a deeper reservoir of texture and background detail. This source is somewhat difficult to evaluate, as some have mentioned that other cuts of the film have typically looked better on disc than the Final Cut, presumably because this cut was created and locked into the 2K DI while other sources were able to get more from the original film elements. There is also the fact that Stone deployed different color timing for different cuts of the film. This transfer has greater control over the film grain with less chunky blobs and noise, but the image is not as crystal clear as other upscales on the format. Some of this may be due to the lower bit rate allocated for this three-and-a-half-hour epic, but a lot of it is due to the source. Nevertheless, key details within the makeup, environments, and production design are brought more firmly into focus.

The film implements a stylized aesthetic that this disc attempts to recreate with accuracy, honoring the look concocted by director of photography Rodrigo Prieto. The Dolby Vision presentation distinguishes the palette more than ever, as you have distinct lighting choices presenting with an exceptional saturation. Highlights offer a more effortless stability without veering into blooming. The black levels are deeper which allows this transfer to provide a key level of fine detail in darker environments. The improvements in contrast and overall clarity are some of the standout aspects of the disc, especially when exploring shadowy enclaves that have previously engulfed detail. Skin tones appear natural to the locales with an honorable amount of facial detail. The 4K UHD upgrade is a winner in many regards, but it may not be the night-and-day difference that some may be hoping for in the end. We see room for improvement with more cuts spread out over multiple discs to round out the package, but we understand this historic financial disappointment might not be prime to recoup such lavish treatment.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray release boasts a brand new Dolby Atmos track in addition to the DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 lossless tracks, which bring a mighty wave to the sonic experience. My previous experience with the film was a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track, so each of these is an improvement in one form or another. When focusing on the new Atmos track, you can tell that the upgrade is a perfect fit. Action sequences are not in short supply with a thunderous sound design that springs to life without fail. The addition of the height channels conjures a three-dimensional experience that will not be forgotten quickly. The activity in the low end is a knockout and rarely falters when it comes to pure strength.

This disc effortlessly brings the pulse-pounding clashes to life with a depth and clarity of sound worthy of the experience. As swords are clanging all around you and beasts are wailing, the sounds of each space flow out of your side and rear speakers for a fully immersive experience. The track engages all of the channels with sound effects and ambient noise that unlock the soundscape. Dialogue comes through clearly in the center channel without getting overshadowed by the score or any sound effects. The score from Vangelis emanates with rich fidelity. Shout! Studios has supplied fans with a strong audio presentation that honors the grandiosity of the experience. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Audio Commentaries: There are two commentary tracks provided that approach the film from a personal standpoint as well as an analytical vantage. The older commentary track provides some great insights into the production of the film, while the new critic track gives some context to the place this holds in the career of Oliver Stone and his filmmaking techniques.

- Audio Commentary #1: Director and Co-Writer Oliver Stone

- Audio Commentary #2: Film Critic Matt Zoller Seitz

Interviews: There are three new interviews provided in which the creatives discuss the process of bringing this movie to life, working with Oliver Stone, the production challenges, the deeper themes being explored, the legacy of the film, and more.

- Director and Co-Writer Oliver Stone (14:52)

- Editor Alex Marquez (10:00)

- Visual Effects Supervisor John Scheele (8:31)

Fight Against Time – Oliver Stone’s Alexander: A 76-minute documentary is provided that delves into the production of the film from beginning to end, as captured by the director’s son.

Resurrecting Alexander: Another 27-minute archival featurette with numerous interviews that explores the creation of the film, largely from the craft perspective.

Perfect Is The Enemy Of Good: A 29-minute look at the challenges of shooting on location and bringing the ideas of Oliver Stone to life.

Vangelis Scores Alexander: A five-minute interview with the composer who discusses his score for the film.

Behind-The-Scenes Still Gallery (9:02)

Theatrical Trailers (3:40)

Final Thoughts

Alexander finds Oliver Stone once again tackling an epic figure from history, and the results are a bit more uneven than usual. As one can probably tell from the number of alternate versions created over the years, there are a ton of ideas thrown into this stew, and not all of them enrich the overall flavor. The cut provided in this release is probably the best execution that we have seen, but it would be rewarding to have all the different options in one package to compare. Even with its flaws, the talent of the ensemble is undeniable, and the scale of the set pieces will leave you in awe. If you love a historical epic, this one is better than its reputation would have you believe. Shout! Studios has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a decent A/V presentation and a fine array of legacy special features. If you are a fan of the film, this is worth an upgrade. Recommended

Alexander is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shout! Studios has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.