The Lost City Of Z tells the incredible true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), who journeys into the Amazon at the dawn of the 20th century and discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region. Despite being ridiculed by the scientific establishment who regard indigenous populations as savages, the determined Fawcett, supported by his devoted wife (Sienna Miller), son (Tom Holland), and aide-de-camp (Robert Pattinson), returns time and again to his beloved jungle in an attempt to prove his case, culminating in his mysterious disappearance in 1925.

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[youtube https://youtu.be/3x0xakJG6zw?si=XAuXXtVWvMoFWamr&t=4076]

Video Quality

The Lost City Of Z has been given a 4K UHD Blu-Ray in 2160p/Dolby Vision courtesy of Shout! Studios that is noted as being derived from a remaster of the 2K Digital Intermediate. From what we can ascertain, this feature was shot on 35mm film and finished to a Digital Intermediate. There are rumors that the 4K DI is overseas so the upscaled 2K DI had to be used for this particular release. Even if we cannot verify the specifics, from what we can view on screen, this release looks very nice and improves upon the accompanying Blu-Ray derived from the same source. The film was last released on Blu-Ray in 2017 courtesy of Broad Green Pictures, but that company has since folded so it is nice to know the film will remain in print for the foreseeable future.

The implementation of Dolby Vision works wonders with this picture to capture the intended aesthetic. This transfer carries a rich golden hue that seems to be by design. Even with this warm push, there are many nuances to delight in throughout the color spectrum, especially in elements of the vegetation. The most improved elements come from the handling of the contrast. Director of Photography Darius Khondji chose to stick with natural lighting for much of the picture, causing a large part of the film to take place in shadows. These moments are more vivid and finely delineated thanks to deep black levels that are replete with detail. The highlights in the film are more crisp with whites pure and balanced with no instances of blooming.

This 4K UHD presentation does deliver gains in clarity throughout the feature. The natural world is explored in notable depth along with the plant life and the makeup effects that stand out with rich texture. This also extends to the period clothing, both high society and grimy scouting clothes, along with elements of the production design that are a treat to explore such as maps and other writing. Any instances of compression artifacts or banding present on the Blu-Ray are not present on this 4K UHD disc. Shout! Studios may have not had the ideal source for this one, but you would never guess based on the top level of quality.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray release delivers a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 lossless track that confidently brings this sprawling journey to life. The track opens up all of the channels with sound effects and ambient noise in these unique environments that really make you feel as if you are traversing this territory with the characters. The surround speakers replicate the complex soundscape for a fully three-dimensional experience. The score from Christopher Spelman anchors the mood of the story with perfect fidelity. Dialogue comes through clearly in the center channel without getting overshadowed by any particular element. Action sequences such as clashes with tribes or efforts in the war have a dynamic sound design that will shake you up. This disc showcases the wonderful sound design with nuance and clarity. The activity in the low end is a proper knockout for viewers. Shout! Studios has offered a first-rate audio experience for this film. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided on this disc.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director James Gray provides a solid commentary track in which he discusses the production of the film, adapting the source material, the casting of the ensemble, working with Director of Photography Darius Khondji, the themes of the feature, and more.

Adventure In The Jungle: A very brief nearly three-minute piece in which the cast and creative team give a brief overview of the story, the ensemble, the shooting locations, and more.

From Novel To Screen: A three-minute featurette in which the same subjects discuss the real-life figure and the journey toward telling his story.

Photo Galleries: There are photo galleries provided entitled Exploring The Journey and Creating The Journey.

Final Thoughts

The Lost City Of Z did not receive as much appreciation as it deserved when it was released in 2017, but such is the curse of the terrific James Gray. The filmmaker is able to bring such a vital voice to this period of history as he brings realism to what others have portrayed as pulpy. Charlie Hunnam gives one of his finest performances as our protagonist, and the ensemble supports him well despite not having as much to do as we may have wanted. Simply watching the film is a sensorial delight as you get to see what a first-rate filmmaker working at the height of his creative power looks like. This is why it is especially great we got such an upgrade. Shout! Studios has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a stunning A/V presentation along with some archival special features. If you have not seen this one as of yet, do yourself a favor and make it a priority. Recommended

The Lost City Of Z 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.