No on 4K Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Friends and Family know that I am a huge fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean. As soon as the trailers for the movie started to come out for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, I was already clearing space on my home video shelf for it’s inevitable release. This movie for me did not disappoint and certainly redeemed itself for some weaker story-lines and misused characters from iterations in prior years. When we were asked to review this early for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment I jumped at the assignment and present my findings below.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is out today on 4K, Blu-ray and Digital HD

“PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES”

STORYLINE:

In this latest installment of the Pirate’s of the Caribbean franchise, Johnny Depp is back as Captain Jack Sparrow, who this times is searching for the legendary trident of Poseidon, while being pursued by an undead sea captain and his ghostly crew.

VIDEO:

As an avid movie buff I of course have a 65 inch LG Ultra HD Curve TV with 3D capability to watch my collection of cinema classics, as well as all the newest flicks as they come out and join my at home library. My Samsung Ultra HD Smart Blu-ray player does not let me down in delivering the best up scaling on certain title, yet preserving and enhancing the quality of the latest HD/4K titles, because every detail matters when you’re a serious watcher.

It’s a well known fact amongst Blu-ray/4K fanatics that this film was converted to 4K from it’s 2K master, but even on the Curve, it matches the quality found in other huge blockbusters in 4K from competing studios action movies. I’d love to see a true 4K version but if I did I admit-tingly may have an overload of visual excitement, but I’m in love with this, knowing that its in its original 2.40 widescreen aspect ratio with a 2160p high-definition transfer.

Watching this movie in theater in 3D I was take aback by the same visual eye-candy I got to enjoy nearly 5 months later on 4K. The colors for starters…GORGEOUS!!! The rich blue sea, the sizzling white foam of the ocean, the multi-hued sunset filled skies and lush green forests are saturated perfectly to give you that immersive true to life feel.

“PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES”

Black levels were contrasted with care as shadows and inky black levels held their own with no variations, especially in low-light situations at night or in the bowels of the various pirate ships we saw in the movie.

The 3D for this movie was one of the best I’ve seen. I’m really a fan of classic in your face cheesy 3D and of course in recent years “3D” has really been more about depth. Well fans, I’m happy to say, you get a bit of both in this. Some of my favorite 3D moments were the long zoom ins onto the ships past sails and thru decomposed ghost pirate’s torsos, tracking shots thru the jungles brushing past foliage felt as real as if you were running alongside Capt Jack himself. When embers flew or debris exploded from canon blasts you almost were inclined to duck for the fear of being hit…YES it was that good! And of course when the ghost shark breeches Jack and Henry’s rowboat and slowly glides across screen snapping it’s jaws, it was a moment of cinematic magic that was truly in your face for all the best reasons! Just spectacular!

A note about the 1080 Blu-ray disc, it’s REGION FREE! This is great news for any International fans who may end up ordering this on-line from an American retailer to know they can watch it anywhere in the world on any Blu-ray player!

“PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES”

AUDIO

The 4K Dolby Surround Sound really showed it’s stuff on this one. Mids, Highs and Lows were perfectly balanced. The Blu-ray’s DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track is quite close in comparison, but a bit more flat and compressed sounding than the 4K

Composer Geoff Zanelli’s score was a continual reminder that this was a high-spirited adventure and just swelled and hand-held scenes when need be, matching the mood whether it was somber or an excited action scene bursting with swashbuckling at it’s best.

A movie like Pirates is brimming with sound effects, from the lightest crunch of sand beneath the boots on the beach to a roaring boom of an explosion that rattles from your walls to your bones! Deep basses danced with crisp sharp sounds of splashing water, sword hits, ghost shark teeth snapping, gold coins spilling from a runaway safe, enormous epic ship battles, creaking wood from enveloping cursed pirate ships and rushing ocean waters suspended by the magic of Poseidon’s Trident! GOD…just simply amazing. I wish I had a sound effects CD of just the foley used in this movie, they were characters of their own. Dialogue also was clear and crisp and even looped background audio from other characters, from townspeople to shiploads of pirates could had clarity and the right balance of separation.

“PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES”.

BONUS MATERIALS

There are hours of extras to explore here, from the designs of the new ships, outtakes, cast interviews, crafting the new story with existing and new characters, the creation of certain CGI effects and more…

– Dead Men Tell More Tales: The Making of a New Adventure – Get unique access into the making of this exciting new “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie with this collection of revealing and entertaining stories that you can view individually or as a “play all.”

– A Return to the Sea – Two talented filmmakers, Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, team up to bring “Pirates of the Caribbean” back to the screen. Hear how this new chapter of the tale was developed.

– Telling Tales: A Sit-down with Brenton & Kaya – Meet Brenton Thwaites and Kaya Scodelario, the young actors behind Henry and Carina. The two sit down together for a revealing conversation on becoming a part of the – “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise and its continuing legacy.

– The Matador & The Bull: Secrets of Salazar & The Silent Mary – Oscar-winner Javier Bardem reveals more about his menacing new character and the foreboding ship he helms.

– First Mate Confidential – Go on-set along with Kevin McNally, the affable actor behind the feisty Mr. Gibbs, – Captain Jack’s reliable first mate from all five movies.

Deconstructing the Ghost Sharks – Peer below the depths at how these ferocious, mythical monsters were designed and brought to life.

– Wings Over the Caribbean – Captain Jack has a memorable encounter with Sir Paul McCartney – rock ‘n’ roll royalty.

– An Enduring Legacy – Take one more look at the “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” experience and the impact of “Pirates of the Caribbean” — the movies, the ride and beyond.

– Bloopers of the Caribbean

– Jerry Bruckheimer Photo Diary

– Deleted Scenes

– Highwayman

– Henry Turner Learns a Lesson from Captain Jack

– A Whale in Poseidon’s Tomb

– Alternate Coda: Murtogg & Mullroy “Flogging”

“PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES”.

IN CLOSING:

I can only hope that somewhere down the line Disney is able to re-master their prior Pirate’s of the Caribbean titles in 4K, because to enjoy this entire series…and hopefully more to come, in this format would be a swashbuckling adventure in itself!

Head on over to Amazon.com and order yours, it’s out on home video today! Tell them Beyond the Marquee sent you!

Yo Ho Ho!!!

No on 4K Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales