Some of us, this writer included, remember growing up with VHS copies of our favourite films, and the game-changing uptick in quality that came with the advent of DVD. However, that did not prepare us for the HD revolution, and the subsequent clarity of fidelity that came with 4K Blu-ray™. Being able to accurately represent the cinema experience at home is something truly special.
Now, the movies we love have never looked better, and a decent 4K setup will allow you to revel in the vivid colours and crisp detail you previously only got on the big screen. In re-watching some of my favourites in this format, I’ve noticed so much more, and become more engaged as the images on screen were brought to life. There are no streaming bitrate dips, 720p caps or internet drop outs – it’s a heady, genuinely exciting experience every time.
Inspired by the current Epic Movies 4K physical disc promotion, we’ve chosen our favourite moments from films that are among those involved. You’ll have your own favourite moments, and trust us – they’ll look better than ever in this format.
The Marvel Moment
The Multiversal, multimovie multimedia extravaganza that is the MCU has been the defining force in the early 21st Century Western movie making. But in this new era, with story arcs that have been played out over multiple films coming to their end, actors seeking new opportunities and narrative cohesion becoming increasingly frayed, the Marvel Cinematic Universe needed to re-establish itself as it entered its new era.
Then these two walk onto the scene…
Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine was a huge hit, and brought together many of the dangling strands of the MCU into one messy, marvellous movie. Surprises, shock cameos and character returns aside, it was a film that showed off the superheroes in style.
The moment that made it so was the one hinted at above. The Deadpool Destruction Derby, played out in gory detail to the tune of Like A Prayer. It was coordinated chaos like never before, and revisiting this one in 4K means you can pick out every tiny moment in perfect clarity.
I mean – who wouldn’t want to see this moment again in the best possible quality?
Aliens, Predators and Apes – Oh My!
There’s a definite theme in this section, with new entrants in beloved franchises reigniting the excitement for the fans. First up we have the best Alien film in years, with Fede Álvarez’s dynamic and inventive Alien: Romulus.
What Álvarez does with some of the series’ most terrifying elements makes us more afraid of them than ever. The claustrophobic panic of the Alien sequences and the revelatory nature of Gravity-based set piece are high points, but our favourite moment is the dreaded trek through a hallway full of facehuggers. These nascent creepy-crawlies have plagued arachnophobic cinema-goers since the beginning, but in Alien: Romulus their sheer numbers and speed make for an incredible, and terrifying experience.
Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator prequel Prey was a massive hit, and a welcome return to the sci-fi series’ roots. The wide open desolate lands of the Northern Great Plains play host to a truly incredible hunt, while telling a compelling coming of age story.
Family likewise plays a huge part of the latest entry to the modern Apes series, with Wes Ball taking the series to new heights with the thrilling Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Our favourite moment from the film comes at the film’s climax, with the fight between Noa and Proximus Caesar for the future of the planet.
The work of WETA and the VFX teams has continuously astonished movie-goers since Rise of the Planet of the Apes burst onto the scene in 2011. This film looks better than ever, with the care and attention never more visible on screen than we enjoy with 4K.
Galaxies Far, Far Away
The first film I bought on Blu-ray™ was James Cameron’s Avatar, and I can still remember seeing the glory of Pandora revealed in jaw-dropping detail. The colours and the composition shone from the screen so brightly I knew I’d never want to see it any other way. Well… enter 4K, and the 2022 sequel: Avatar: The Way of Water.
Cameron takes us further into Pandora, and the shores of the sea where the Metkayina tribe make their home. His ecologically-aware, man vs machine theme comes to the fore in the astonishing work of the Reef Chase.
It is a chase scene unlike anything seen before, as the young Na’vi are pursued through a magical underwater world by their would-be captors. The level of detail is incredible, the filmmaking from Cameron & Co. is impeccable. It looks real – and better than ever in 4K.
Another of the irresistible offerings is Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. It comes as we are about to enjoy the final series of Andor, with Tony Gilroy completing an unofficial Andor-centric trilogy that is the easily the best Star Wars since the original three films.
Our favourite moment to enjoy in 4K is the climatic battle of Scarif. From the tense fighting on the ground to the mammoth fleets of starships ripping chunks of each other, this is one of the finest space battles in cinema history. It is a perfect moment of high stakes courage and catastrophe, unrivalled in the entire Star Wars canon.
And of course there’s this moment…
…in 4K!
Those are our favourite moments we want to savour in 4K. Look for the promotion wherever you buy your discs – and enjoy every moment.
The Epic Movies promotion is available now at Amazon, HMV, Rarewaves and Zavvi.
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