Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews

A Minecraft Movie follows the adventure of four misfits who find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they'll have to master this world while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected expert crafter named Steve. Together, their adventure will challenge all five to be bold and to reconnect with the qualities that make each of them uniquely creative . . . the very skills they need to thrive back in the real world.

After watching the teaser trailer, and having no experience with the Minecraft game, I wasn't eager to devote my time to the film but couldn't help being curious, so I went ahead and requested it for review.

If I am being honest, this isn't an especially good movie. The storyline is elementary, inane, and lacks a spirited sense of humor. Despite this, I must admit to finding it a tad more entertaining than I thought it would be. I think much of this is because it never takes itself too seriously and succeeds at generating what I would imagine to be a fun sense of nostalgia by bringing the video game to life for those who remember it.

In that regard, I enjoyed the film's implementation and entertaining production elements. It appeared to me that the cast had a great time making it as well. At the end of the day, A Minecraft Movie is pretty much what you would expect, but don't be surprised if, after giving it a shot, you don't dislike it as much as you may have initially thought.

The Ultra HD video was rendered from 4.6K sources, finished on a 4K digital intermediate, and graded in Dolby Vision HDR.

This fantasy film presents extremely well, featuring boldly applied color, stylized visuals that employ stark contrast, and lots of CGI. Images on‑screen reveal sparkling detail and emboldened highlights. Contrast abounds but not at the expense of fidelity, as light and dark elements are dimensional and dynamic. I found the application of high dynamic range to be quite complementary. There are a host of sequences that deliver opulent visuals that combine brilliant color and specular highlights.

The Dolby Atmos sound is equally excellent. Dialogue is well‑articulated, so that even subtle changes in the inflection of the voices among the cast are detectable. Sound effects are accurately placed within the soundfield, establishing a tight correlation between the on‑screen information and what is being heard within the listening environment. During the track's more active moments, there are a host of sounds that rotate and revolve around the soundstage. I appreciated the balance of clarity, dynamism, sound‑object placement, and room‑shuddering bass. This one was lots of fun.

Bonus features comprise five featurettes:

* Building the World of Minecraft: Block Party (14:19)
* Creepers, Zombies, and Endermen, Oh My! (13:14)
* A Minecraft Movie: Block Beats (9:01)
* A Minecraft Movie: Pixel Pals (14:02)
* Marlene + Nitwit (5:07)

These pieces look behind the scenes and include interviews with the cast, costume design, production notes, and the film's music. A digital code is included.

A Minecraft Movie is an erratic, slightly overlong comedy that offers little in the way of a gratifying film experience. There is some merit to be found in its light‑hearted approach, nostalgic subject matter, and excellent production elements. Its 4K/Dolby Atmos presentation on Ultra HD Blu‑ray is top‑notch.

Ralph Potts