Overall, and because people have reviewed this movie to death since its release in 2014, Interstellar is one of the best sci-fi films of the modern film era, if I can put it so boldly. It will have you firing up the Internet to see if what Nolan does in the film is true, while at the same time wanting badly for Cooper to make it back to his family and save the planet. It’s everything you want from a good movie and it’s a perfect template for how a science fiction film can be done right with a maximum amount of effort and attention to detail. It’s a masterpiece.
There isn’t another film on this planet (no pun intended) that screamed how much 4K UHD/HDR and it went together. This is one of those chocolate and peanut butter sorta deals. It’s a match made in heaven, both audibly and visually. Interstellar belonged on a 4K format and it needed to be done properly. Thankfully, Paramount delivered. Let’s get right into it.
The Film
The film is what keeps scientist happy and mathematicians busy as hell. Interstellar is a bold film in a day and age where the Internet is trying to prove how wrong you are in what you’re trying to do. Christopher Nolan, who always goes big or goes home, brings one of the most impressive pieces of space exploration fiction to life. He sets himself up for failure, but meticulously makes sure that everything he is trying to prove in a film about a group of astronauts trying to save the human race is correct, or at least is on track for a solid prediction. It’s a masterpiece that belongs in a film museum, where everyone can just sit back and enjoy the adventure and journey presented through the frame.
Gushing grad-like gibberish aside, Interstellar is a wonderful, emotional journey for a group of astronauts, led by Matthew McConaughey’s cowboy-farmer Cooper, truly trying to make a difference before it’s too late. Nolan presents the stakes of what could happen if the group fails and makes the right connections from earth to space through family members that are more than one-dimensional pieces set for a tear or two. What’s is spectacular about this film is the scope that Nolan presents and how he makes the presence of time an important hero and a terrible enemy through out the journey. Knowing how important those relationships on earth are and showing how easy it is for the astronauts to lose time while exploring for a new home world is nothing short of impressive, yet intense. Christopher Nolan and his brother Jonathan Nolan really put together a meaningful parallel between victims (earth folks) and heroes (astronauts) by showing how well each could help the other out. The precise storytelling and the ability to actually make both sets of characters developed is what makes this story great. It’s impressive, intense and heartbreaking at times.
Beyond story, to help add some more sincerity and drama to the mix, composer Hans Zimmer also helps to push the story along, even going as far as making it difficult to feel calm during intense scenarios presented in the film. I know that people complained about Nolan’s ‘turning it up to 11’ with Zimmer’s musical score in the theaters, but it magnifies the moments and injects real drama into the movie. It’s powerful, precise and wicked.
Overall, and because people have reviewed this movie to death since its release in 2014, Interstellar is one of the best sci-fi films of the modern film era, if I can put it so boldly. It will have you firing up the Internet to see if what Nolan does in the film is true, while at the same time wanting badly for Cooper to make it back to his family and save the planet. It’s everything you want from a good movie and it’s a perfect template for how a science fiction film can be done right with a maximum amount of effort and attention to detail. It’s a masterpiece.
The Transfer
You get a spectrum (no pun intended) of colors in the 4K upgrade that come through loud and clear, and also without any sort of graininess. The movie has no imperfection in its delivery and the blacks/whites contrast beautifully with detail, so much so that you can see how deep the journey really goes visually in nearly every haunting frame of the space adventure. It’s a spectacular transfer and an absolute must-have for any 4K owners out there looking for a good movie to show off their new 4K HDR televisions to their friends. Just a word to the wise, make sure that you have friendly neighbors who are forgiving of loud, dramatic orchestrated pieces. You’re going to get quite the bang for your buck with this one.
Features
Here’s what you’re getting for features:
• The Science of Interstellar
• Plotting an Interstellar Journey
• Life on Cooper’s Farm
• The Dust
• TARS and CASE
• The Cosmic Sounds of Interstellar
• The Space Suits
• The Endurance
• Shooting in Iceland: Miller’s Planet / Mann’s Planet
• The Ranger and the Lander
• Miniatures in Space
• The Simulation of Zero-G
• Celestial Landmarks
• Across All Dimensions and Time
• Final Thoughts
There’s a lot here, and it’s all good content, but nothing new beyond the Blu-ray release of the film. Does that devalue the 4K package? Not really, especially if you haven’t seen the Blu-ray features before. Regardless, they’re still gorgeous, but not 4K gorgeous.
