Wesley’s (James McAvoy) life is over — his pathetic, old one, anyway. Fortunately, it is all because of a girl. Enter sizzling-hot Fox (Angelina Jolie), who crashes into his life and introduces him to the Fraternity, a secret society of assassins, led by the enigmatic Sloan (Morgan Freeman). It seems Wes’ long-lost father was killed while working for the Fraternity … and Wes has been selected to target the rogue member who murdered him. But before he can complete his assignment, Wes must first uncover the dark secrets behind the Fraternity in order to determine his own destiny.

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Video Quality

Wanted makes its 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut with an impressive 2160p Dolby Vision transfer from a new 4K master. The new release allows the film to easily look the best it ever has on home entertainment. The original Universal Blu-Ray released nearly 16 years ago looked excellent for the time, but this new disc offers welcome improvements across the board. The 4K UHD disc gets the most out of the 2K Digital Intermediate created from a Super 35 source showcasing a world of pleasing texture and background detail. You can more easily appreciate the naturally filmic quality with a refined grain structure that enhances these elements. Specific details within the makeup, environments, and production design are brought to the forefront.

The film implements a stylized aesthetic which this disc recreates with accuracy, honoring the comic book influence on the film. The Dolby Vision presentation dials in the palette more than ever, as you have distinct lighting choices presenting with a lovely saturation. Highlights offer a more formidable stability without veering into blooming. The black levels are deeper which allows this transfer to provide a pleasing 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 environments that have previously engulfed detail. Skin tones appear natural with an impeccable amount of facial detail. The 4K UHD upgrade honors this film with a dynamite presentation that should please fans.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray release boasts both a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 lossless track which handily brings this world to your living room. While some may be left wishing for a Dolby Atmos upgrade, the reality is that this presentation is no slouch. This disc capably brings the pulse-pounding thrills to life with a depth and clarity of sound worthy of the experience. As Wesley is shaken out of his routine and enters a whole new world, the sounds of each environment 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 open up the soundscape.

Action sequences are in heavy supply with a terrific sound design that springs to life without fail. The activity in the low end is substantial and rarely stumbles when it comes to pure strength. Dialogue comes through clearly in the center channel without getting overwhelmed by the music or any sound effects. The score from Danny Elfman emanates with a rich fidelity. Shout! Studios has supplied fans with a strong audio presentation that honors the grandiosity of the experience. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided on this disc.

Special Features

Alternate Opening: A nearly three-minute alternate opening is provided that delves more into the ancient lore.

Extended Scene: A two-minute extended scene is provided of Wesley freaking out over an ethical issue.

Cast and Characters: A 20-minute featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the characters, their place in the world, the performers who bring them to life, and much more.

Stunts on the L Train: A two-and-a-half-minute look at some of the stunt work arranged to execute the bridge jump.

Special Effects – The Art of Impossible: A nearly nine-minute look at how special effects are used to bring this world to life on screen.

Wanted – Motion Comics: A 14-minute collection of excerpts from the graphic novel that are very close to scenes in the film.

Groundbreaking Visual Effects – From Imagination To Execution: An eight-minute featurette that explores some of the digital effects implemented in this story.

Origins Of Wanted – Bringing The Graphic Novel To Life: An eight-minute piece that looks at the process of adapting the Mark Millar source material for the screen.

Through The Eyes of Visionary Director Timur Bekmambetov: A nine-minute spotlight on the special qualities of the filmmaker at the helm, how he pushes the boundaries of what is possible, and more.

Final Thoughts

Wanted is one of the better Mark Millar adaptations to hit the screen. As with most of his work, some dated elements in the material will cause you to roll your eyes, but much of this has been refined along the journey to the screen. A large part of what makes this film work so well is the grand vision of Timur Bekmambetov, who blends style with function with such an assured hand. This is elevated further by a terrific ensemble that lends some gravitas to this heightened reality. The action is fun and inventive even if the pacing leans almost too brisk when it comes to landing the character moments. Even with some nitpicks, this film remains a blast. Shout! Studios has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a great 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

Wanted 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.