BLU-RAY REVIEW

Matilda 4K Ultra HD

Featured In Issue 269, September/October 2023

Picture5
Sound5
Immersive4.5
WSR Score5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
11966961
(MPAA Rating):
PG
(Rating Reason):
Elements of exaggerated meanness and ridicule, and for some mild language
(Retail Price):
$45.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-66)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
98
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
ABC
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
9/5/2023
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Danny DeVito
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

See the world from a kid's-eye view with "Matilda," a modern fairytale that mixes hilarious humor with the magical message of love. Matilda (Mara Wilson) is a super-smart little girl who's woefully misunderstood by her parents (Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman), her brother, and an evil school principal. But with the help of a brave best friend and a wonderful teacher, Matilda discovers she doesn't have to get mad to get even. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director Danny DeVito; five featurettes: "Afternoon Tea: A Matilda Reunion" (HD 21:01), "Matilda’s Movie Magic!" (HD 16:14), "A Children’s Guide To Good Manners" (HD 03:12), "Escape To The Library" (HD 05:48) and "My Movie About Making Matilda By Mara Wilson" (HD 06:27), theatrical trailer and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 4K Ultra HD HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed on in Super 35 on Eastman film stock using the Arriflex 435 camera system and sourced from a 4K Digital Intermediate. Film grain is barely visable and smooth. Picture quality is wonderful with a intensely vivid color palette with beautifully nuanced hues throughout every set piece. The set pieces are elaborate in their dressings with wonderful textural color fidelity. Reds really pop as do a fabulous rainbow of other primaries. Flesh tones appear perfectly natural. The lighting design is bright and visually attractive. HDR contrast is excellent. Blacks are naturally deep. Shadows are well delineated. White levels are brilliantly illuminated. The imagery is consistently sharp and clear. Resolution is superb with fine detail exhibited in facial features such as skin pores, lines, makeup and hair; clothing textures, and textural-revealing objects. Skin textures in particular, from the clean, smooth Miss Honey to the hardened, worn-down Trunchbull, appear naturally detailed in every scene. As well, houses and the school's classroom and auditorium look incredible.This 4K Ultra HD restoration is amazing, particularly its vivid color palette. Reference quality throughout and a very funny beloved film to be enjoyed by the entire family. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is wonderfully dynamic with an extensively constant orchestral score by David Newman with superb instrumental clarity and a wide and deep soundstage that aggressively envelops the soundfield as well as an excellent low end accompaniment. Atmospherics effectively enhance the realism. Sound effects are extremely diversified and powerful. Bass extension is deep and full sounding, but always natural. Foley sound effects are superb and always realistic during the fast moving character actions. Dialogue, both on-set captured and ADR, sounds natural with realistic spatial integration. Danny Devito's narration is clear and perfectly forward sounding.

The Immersive Sound element features the wonderful orchestral score that is aggressively positioned, some dialogue effects, atmospherics and strong and panned sound effects. This is a stellar music showcase for the height layer and an overall effective element that enhances the sense of spatial dimensionality.

This is a wonderfully holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack with a terrific music score and precise sound effects. (Gary Reber)