A unique and dynamic fusion of large-scale excitement with touching personal storylines, the film depicts humanity’s response as a comet hurtles through space on a collision course with Earth. Directed by Mimi Leder and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, the film features an all-star cast including Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni, Elijah Wood, Vanessa Redgrave, Leelee Sobieski, Blair Underwood, Maximilian Schell, and Morgan Freeman.
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Video Quality
Deep Impact makes its much-anticipated 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut with a really strong 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that allows the film to achieve quite a substantial upgrade. The previous Paramount Blu-Ray release from well over a decade ago, also included in this release for the special features, has never been the knockout release that this film deserves. While not flawless, this new 4K UHD release gets closer to perfection than ever with a multitude of lovely improvements.
This new 4K UHD Blu-Ray retains a good amount of natural film grain which reveals a lot of pleasing texture and detail within the transfer. For the first time on home entertainment, you can clearly see specific details in the production design and landscapes. There appears to be minor spots that have been cleaned up a bit too aggressively, and some of the grain can be a bit static and splotchy instead of resolving naturally. Bright skies tend to reveal the worst instances of this process. The Dolby Vision layer is good at cleaning up some of the most egregious downturns in quality.
The image presents with a grand amount of depth that makes the locations feel more three dimensional than ever before. The improvements in contrast and overall clarity are outstanding, especially when you look at the interior of the space shuttle and the outfits of various characters. Character makeup also feels more textured and natural than ever before. The special effects can look a little less convincing with the increase in resolution, but Paramount has thankfully not been overly aggressive when it comes to using DNR trying to blend things in a blunt manner. We much rather things look like they do on this disc than some ugly, smeary mess we have seen elsewhere.
The UHD disc contains very deep colors throughout which unlocks more of the natural splendor of the visual palette. The Dolby Vision shows its worth with the black levels that exercise a much greater depth and control than the thin looking Blu-Ray release. The picture maintains an excellent amount of detail in darker environments and nighttime scenes. The release is not completely free of black crush, but mostly things resolve well. White levels are much more robust and stable without veering into blooming. Skin tones look more natural even with the distinct color temperature throughout the film. The clarity of the transfer gives you a great amount of facial detail, and nearly all print damage has been eliminated. This transfer easily bests any previous release of the film, and fans should be pleased to witness it despite some lingering flaws.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track instead of getting an upgrade to Dolby Atmos like some fans probably wish it did. This is not a dealbreaker since the original track is far from a disappointment and it aligns with the original creative intent, but it is worth noting. This track brings this experience to life pretty well sonically. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without sound effects or the score overshadowing important information. Even relatively minor scenes utilize distinct sounds that creep through the surrounds to provide some visceral ambient details. All of the sounds in the mix seem considerately placed so that nothing ever feels askew. The subwoofer is put to work with some kinetic set pieces, but it feels like it could dig a bit deeper when things really start to hit the fan. The impacts, screams and other sounds are given some appreciable weight within the mix, but it just does not spring to life as it should. The soundtrack comes through favorably without overwhelming the other more subtle elements. While there is room for improvement, this track does a pretty solid job of bringing this one to life.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Mimi Leder and Visual Effects Supervisor Scott Farrar provide an informative track which delves into the development of the film, the shooting locations, the visual effects in the film, their experiences with the performers, the evolution of the script, the marketing on behalf of Paramount and more.
- Preparing For The End: A nine-minute archival featurette which takes a look at the origins of the idea for the narrative, the ways in which it was attempted to be grounded in science, the motivations behind the script structure, the direction of Mimi Leder and more.
- Making An Impact: A 12-minute archival featurette which discusses the process of shooting on location, creating some of the big special effects sequences, the model work and more.
- Creating The Perfect Traffic Jam: A six-minute archival look at the mammoth challenge of arranging the huge third act traffic jam on a fairly practical level.
- Parting Thoughts: A final five-minute archival piece in which the creative team discusses the test screenings, some of the deleted sequences, the loss of cinematographer Dietrich Lohmann and more.
- Photo Gallery: A collection of stills and behind-the-scenes photos from the production.
- Trailers: This disc provides the Teaser Trailer (2:06) and the Theatrical Trailer (3:42).
Final Thoughts
Deep Impact suffers from attempting to cram too many (misguided) storylines into one narrative, but the plot threads that do hit are very entertaining. We appreciate the direction of Mimi Leder, as she attempts to keep the story grounded in character moments to accentuate the emotional impact of the impending disaster. Unfortunately, the script does not give her the substance she needs to thrive. While an ensemble this talented should yield better results, the film remains an entertaining disaster film. Paramount Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray which offers a solid A/V presentation and its original legacy special features. Fans of the film should appreciate the noteworthy upgrade offered here. Recommended
Deep Impact is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Paramount Home Entertainment 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.