From the Deep South to the California coast and back, the hunt is on in this provocative race-against-time suspenser based on the best-selling novel by James Patterson. Ashley Judd plays resourceful, strong-willed McTiernan. She’s the lone escapee from a mad man’s hidden lair and is determined to rescue the fellow captives she left behind. Morgan Freeman is Alex Cross, a master at solving the unsolvable. But there’s more than his reputation at stake: This time one of the victims is his niece. Available for the first time ever in 4K Ultra HD, the 90s thriller sensation KISS THE GIRLS is guaranteed to captivate and enthrall.
For thoughts on Kiss The Girls, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/NtnntbeGwqs?si=hRkov48RL0S6ENMm&t=1461]
Video Quality
Kiss The Girls makes its 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut courtesy of Paramount with a rock solid 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that is sure to please fans. The film was first released on Blu-Ray in 2015 by Warner Bros., but as has become somewhat of a trend, there is not a copy bundled in this latest release – only the 4K UHD Blu-Ray. Due to this, we cannot make direct comparisons to say the level of upgrade this is, but this is likely the best the film has looked since debuting in theaters, if not better. This new 4K UHD Blu-Ray retains most of the natural film grain which reveals a great amount of pleasing texture and detail within the transfer. You do not have to look too closely to see subtle elements of the costumes, production design and landscapes.
The clarity of the transfer reveals a nice amount of facial detail, never allowing the performers to come off as waxy or unnatural in any way. Moments such as walking through the woods showcase the amount of depth on display which makes the experience feel so much more three-dimensional. The implementation of Dolby Vision in this presentation is a major benefit, even if the film is not the most visually dynamic. The greatest gain comes from the black levels, which allow shadowy scenes to present more distinct details. Highlights are stable without veering into blooming. This environment and lighting deliver very deep, nuanced colors throughout. The transfer is absent of nearly all print damage for a pleasant viewing experience. It is not a showcase for the format, but this presentation allows the film to look like the best version of itself.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray provides the same DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that appeared on the Blu-Ray release, and it is a track that represents the film well. All of the sounds in the mix seem carefully placed so that nothing ever feels erroneously positioned. Environmental details are not implemented in a showy manner, but this track allows the world to feel natural and three-dimensional. Even more mundane scenes in the precinct utilize a din of sound that permeates the surrounds to provide some rich ambient details.
The tense score from Mark Isham sounds terrific as it permeates the room with top-notch fidelity. This is not an action-packed extravaganza, but some altercations bring some much-needed heft to the low end. The subwoofer digs deep when the scene calls for it, but it is not the focus of the show. Dialogue comes through clearly without any sound effects or the score overshadowing important information. Paramount has delivered a great audio presentation for this title. There are optional English and English SDH subtitles provided.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on this disc.
Final Thoughts
Kiss The Girls is a pretty standard crime tale which you will probably unravel well before the movie shows its hand, but it is executed effectively enough to keep things interesting. We have had a great time with the increase in limited series crime dramas over the last decade, but there is something satisfying about sitting down for a feature-length tale and getting a complete story in one sitting. The performances elevate this one quite a bit with Morgan Freeman still indicating quality at this point in his career and Ashley Judd reminding you what a disappointment it was that her career was kneecapped. Paramount Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray which offers a very good A/V presentation but no special features. If you are a fan of crime dramas, this one is good popcorn fun. Recommended
Kiss The Girls can be purchased on 4K UHD Blu-Ray directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers
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.
