When Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac), a mild-mannered gift shop employee, becomes plagued with blackouts and memories of another life, he discovers he has dissociative identity disorder and shares a body with mercenary Marc Spector. As Steven/Marc’s enemies converge upon them, they must navigate their complex identities while thrust into a deadly mystery among the powerful gods of Egypt.
For in-depth thoughts on Moon Knight, please see my colleague Tia Fabi’s review from its original streaming release below:
For a look at the SteelBook packaging, please check out our video here.
Video Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Moon Knight offers an irresistible uptick in quality over the inconsistent Disney+ stream that keeps us on our toes. We are thrilled to see these MCU shows continue their run on physical media, as we believe this is the right choice for fans. The release comes with the six episodes from the first season spread across two discs without the inclusion of any additional Blu-Ray discs, so be sure you are 4K UHD capable if you are going with this format. The enriched detail in the costumes and background textures shouldn’t be missed with the goosed-up resolution tapping into something quite tactile. There are unexpected elements which you can see with more clarity here. Skin tones are also accurate and consistent with exceptional facial detail.
This format never succumbs to banding, compression artifacts, and other digital anomalies like we easily spot on the stream. The frame is replete with deep, vibrant colors that shine off the screen. The standard HDR enhancements unveil the spectacular nuances of the hues in rewarding ways. Black levels are worlds better in this presentation than the stream, never stumbling with depth and detail. Highlights are in great shape with no trace of blooming to be found. This 4K UHD presentation gives the series the life it deserves. Disney should keep up the good work by digging deeper into the untapped catalog.
Audio Quality
The set comes equipped with an unflappable Dolby Atmos presentation that orchestrates all of the sounds key to this journey just right. The Hesham Nazih score grounds the series as it permeates the room with purpose. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever being drowned out by the competing sonic elements. The sounds of the different locales draw you in and secure you in the space for a greater level of immersion. The low end comes alive to provide the necessary texture to the world.
The soundscape unlocks a standard of care that is appreciated, rendering every sound in a way that pushes the boundaries of its sonic possibilities. Sounds are intricately executed with pinpoint directionality from the myriad of bustling scenes to subdued moments of dialogue. The overhead channels complement the other channels rather than taking on all of the weight, which adds a nice sense of dimension to this outing. Ambient details are never in short supply in the rear and overhead channels. The audio track shows its worth at every turn. There are optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Egyptology: A six-minute featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the ancient mythology and how it is explored within the show.
- Gag Reel A two-minute collection of flubbed and forgotten lines, goofing around on set, ruined takes, and more that is quite delightful.
- Deleted Scenes: Two unused scenes totaling nearly four minutes are included here that are interesting even if we understand why they were cut.
- Assembled – The Making Of Moon Knight: A fantastic 65-minute documentary on the making of this series which is expertly produced and filled with interviews with the cast and creative team. You get some background details about the development of the series, how this stands apart from other corners of the MCU, the casting of the performers, the themes being explored, the creatives behind the camera, and more.
Final Thoughts
Moon Knight is the type of departure from the typical MCU formula that we tend to really welcome. Many concepts are being explored for the first time that tap into the sense of discovery we long for. Not to mention, it is almost greedy to ask for a more talented cast than this one, including personal favorites Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke. The storytelling can get somewhat murky at times, and the pacing is a bit off even with only six episodes to work with, but it works more often than it doesn’t. The future of the series seems a bit unclear, but we do hope to see more from this corner of the MCU. Disney Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a wonderful A/V presentation and a great assortment of special features. Recommended
Moon Knight will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook and Blu-Ray SteelBook on April 30, 2024.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Disney 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.