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PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Deadpool (4K Blu-ray) (2016)

Deadpool (4K Blu-ray) (2016)

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Released 25-May-2016

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Action Comedy Audio Commentary-“Wade”/”Deadpool”/Producer Ryan Reynolds and Screenwriters
Audio Commentary-Director Tim Miller and Deadpool Co-Creator/Comics Artist
Rating Rated MA
Year Of Production 2016
Running Time 108:06
RSDL / Flipper Dual Layered
Dual Disc Set
Cast & Crew
Start Up Menu
Region Coding 1,2,3,4,5,6 Directed By Tim Miller
Studio
Distributor
20th CENTURY FOX
Twentieth Century Fox
Starring Ryan Reynolds
Morena Baccarin
Ed Skrein
Stefan Kapicic
Brianna Hildebrand
T.J. Miller
Karan Soni
Jed Rees
Gina Carano
Leslie Uggams
Michael Benyaer
Case Standard Blu-ray
RPI $49.95 Music Junkie XL


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame None English Dolby Atmos
English Dolby TrueHD 7.1
English Descriptive Audio Dolby Atmos 5.1
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
French Dolby Digital 5.1
English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0
English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio 2.40:1
16x9 Enhancement
16x9 Enhanced
Video Format 2160p
Original Aspect Ratio 2.40:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles English
Spanish
French
English Audio Commentary
Spanish Audio Commentary
French Audio Commentary
English Audio Commentary
Spanish Audio Commentary
French Audio Commentary
Smoking No
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits Yes

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

    Cult Marvel antihero Wade Wilson/Deadpool has never been properly represented on film, with his first big-screen appearance in 2009’s indefensible X-Men Origins: Wolverine failing to do justice to the legendary Merc with a Mouth by turning him into a goofy, throwaway science project. Seven years on, and that wrong has finally been righted with 2016’s Deadpool, which gives actor Ryan Reynolds another opportunity to play the character as he was meant to be played in the first place. Written by Deadpool fans Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Zombieland), this long-gestating X-Men spinoff stays true to its comic book heritage, resulting in an action-comedy soaked in ultraviolence, pop culture references and wisecracks. And even though it’s essentially a goofy parody, the story is told with enough sincerity and gravity to allow for it to be appreciated as more than just a surface-level ride. Deadpool might in fact be the greatest romantic comedy of all time, because it is romantic, and it’s certainly hilarious.

    A rebellious, ex-special ops mercenary, Wade Wilson (Reynolds) earns a living by doing unsavoury jobs, reporting to confidant bartender Weasel (T.J. Miller) who oversees the racket. Wilson finds love in a hooker named Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), but their relationship is suddenly threatened by a late-stage cancer diagnosis. With no feasible treatment options, Wilson reluctantly leaves Vanessa and agrees to be a guinea pig for a shadowy underground organisation promising a cure for his cancer. Butting heads with scientists Ajax (Ed Skrein) - known more affectionately as Francis - and Angel Dust (Gina Carano), Wilson undergoes a series of sadistic experiments which unlock his mutant superpowers of regeneration, but leave him horrendously disfigured. Wilson manages to escape, but cannot find the confidence to go back to Vanessa, instead choosing to hunt down Francis in the hope of getting his former good looks restored. And of course, Wilson wants revenge, donning a red suit and rechristening himself as Deadpool as he kills his way up the criminal ladder. Meanwhile, X-Men members Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) pursue Deadpool, hoping to convince the vigilante crime-fighter to join their team.

    Even though he’s a cult favourite with a devoted fanbase, the character of Deadpool does work best in small doses. After all, Deadpool may be witty, funny and sarcastic, but there is always the risk of the shtick getting old. To counter this, the gonzo scenes involving Deadpool in action are intercut with the origin story, tracing Wilson as he undergoes his transformation. It also provides a refreshing change from the usual origin story format, with the fun action scenes breaking up the more sombre narrative beats. In the comics, Deadpool has always been about undercutting the seriousness of being a superhero by emphasising his vehemently antiheroic nature, on top of allowing him to break the fourth wall, and these qualities are carried over to this adaptation. The opening of Deadpool is pure perfection, starting off with a title sequence that embodies the movie’s spirit, billing the director as “An Overpaid Tool” and Reynolds as “God’s Perfect Idiot.” It’s not long before Deadpool delivers an uproarious monologue directly to the audience, while the subsequent displays of ultraviolence further underscore that this is not just another generic PG-13 offering.

    Due to its restricted rating, Deadpool was not blessed with a blank cheque from Fox, who were wary of producing the movie in the first place, unsure of its box office potential (how ironic, looking back). First-time director Tim Miller (a long-time video game and CGI veteran) had a meagre $58 million to work with, with the budget necessitating rewrites to cut costs as much as possible. As a result, Deadpool is not a truly epic deconstruction of the superhero genre, but it does work exceptionally well on its own merits, finding Miller and co. making the most of their limited resources. The set-pieces are lively and fierce, peppered with suitable moments of humour to ensure the mayhem is pitched at the right tone. And despite the excessive violence, the production does exhibit a certain degree of restraint - Miller never tries to shock beyond what is actually necessary, and the chaos never feels uncomfortable or mean-spirited. It really is a testament to the filmmakers, who also manage to find moments of genuine emotion to bolster the movie above the level of empty calories. In fact, there is sensitivity here to complement all the bloodletting, and the love story really hits its mark rather than coming off as a perfunctory distraction.

    Big explosive climaxes have become the order of the day in superhero movies, which can harm otherwise taut movies by feeling incredibly forced. Deadpool eventually culminates with such a climax, but Miller never lets the picture out of his control, maintaining the humour and furious pacing. Furthermore, the stakes are more personal than usual: the world is not in danger here, as Wilson is simply out to save his girl. It’s a nice twist on the ordinary, and it makes for a more involving climactic showdown. Deadpool is not perfect, of course - digital effects are spotty, with bits and pieces that look too artificial, which is probably a reflection on the budget. Added to this, a couple of additional sequences featuring the titular anti-hero being his usual self might have been beneficial. Still, these are minor nit-picks.

    Reynolds might have struck out with a lifeless performance in 2011’s Green Lantern, but he was simply born to play the role of Deadpool. The actor is firmly in his element here, given the freedom to deliver uproarious wisecracks, one-liners and self-referential jokes (one particular punchline about the limitations of the budget is gold). Just as Robert Downey Jr. owns the role of Tony Stark, it’s legitimately hard to imagine any other actor nailing the role of Deadpool as perfectly as Reynolds, who even takes a dig at his own acting ability at one point. But more than just a comedic firecracker, Reynolds is also a solid anchor, ably carrying out leading man duties with confidence. He’s well-matched with Baccarin, who stands above the usual standard for generic love interests.

    Although the story’s X-Men connection does seem contrived, putting Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead in the movie turns out to be a masterstroke. Colossus spends his time trying to convince Deadpool to give up his violent ways and become a more conventional superhero, and his resistance does indeed mirror the stance of the movie itself. Meanwhile, Negasonic is a jaded character who “gets” Deadpool but doesn’t find him very appealing. It’s doubtful that anybody expected this movie to take the p*** out of its own comedy routine, making Negasonic’s attitude all the more refreshing. Performances are strong, too; T.J. Miller deserves a special mention, as his interactions with Reynolds are a constant source of amusement. Skrein is a perfectly serviceable bad guy, and Karan Soni is appealing as a gracious Indian cab driver.

    It’s not revelatory and it doesn’t quite reach greatness, but Deadpool is the right movie at the right time, an astute side project in the X-Men universe which only aspires to provide easy-going entertainment with its adult rating and mischievous, devil-may-care audacity. With its crude sense of humour, enjoyable action scenes and shrewd deconstruction of the superhero genre, it’s a shot to the arm that was absolutely necessary in today’s cinematic climate. It’s just about everything that fans could have wanted from a Deadpool movie.

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Transfer Quality

Video

    And here we are, this site's first 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray review. Fox brings their mega superhero hit to the format with a HEVC / H.265-encoded, 2160p presentation which effortlessly surpasses its standard Blu-ray counterpart in almost every department. Placed on a BD-66, the presentation benefits from a generous bitrate to make for the best image possible. Shot digitally, Deadpool was reportedly finished at 4K, thus this isn't just an upscale like a number of other 4K Blu-rays on the market. The benefits of Ultra HD are visible from the very beginning; this disc looks simply flawless on my LG OLED display.

    As to be expected from the increase in resolution, detail across the board is simply staggering. See the close-up shot of Deadpool as he lies in the garbage truck - the texture is so palpable it feels as if you're looking through a window. Every single minutiae of his intricate outfit is brought out, while every pore and wrinkle on the faces of the actors can be marvelled at. Even in wide shots, detail remains highly palpable, and the transfer's sharpness is simply extraordinary. The HDR grading provides an incredible improvement in colour. Indeed, colours are bold and lifelike, consistently leaping off the screen. Digital productions tend to look a bit flat or too smooth on disc, but no such issues exist here. I viewed Deadpool multiple times at the cinema, and this UHD presentation provides the most faithful reproduction I have ever seen on disc.

    Deadpool is a downright revelation on 4K Blu-ray, and I don't think I'll ever be able to return to the standard Blu-ray, which itself is certainly no slouch. I just can't accept anything less than this. The only minor shortcomings in the transfer trace back to the source - some of the digital effects shots and green screen backgrounds look a touch soft. But hey, it looked precisely like this on the big screen during its theatrical run. With the source in mind, Deadpool will never look better.

    A handful of subtitle options are available.

    Note: Ultra HD is a new technology, and to get the most out of it, you need the proper equipment. Beyond the obvious UHD TV and 4K Blu-ray player, you also need to upgrade to HDMI 2.0 cables which are fast enough to accommodate the high bitrate, and support HDR. Some UHD televisions - as paradoxical as it sounds - don't even have HDMI 2.0 ports (buy Hisense at your own risk), so shop around before you buy. In addition to this, to get the most out of the viewing experience, your TV needs to be able to support HDR10 and/or Dolby Vision. Not all UHD TVs are created equally. Shop wisely, my friends.


Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    Whereas the standard Blu-ray features a DTS-HD MA 7.1 soundtrack, Fox have equipped this 4K release with a Dolby Atmos track which defaults to a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 mix for those without an Atmos setup. Since I am not Atmos-compatible, I could only sample this 7.1 track, and for all intents and purposes, it's identical to the 7.1 mix on the standard Blu-ray. My thoughts therefore remain unchanged.

    First things first: Dialogue is never an issue, given proper prioritisation to keep all the chatter comprehensible despite how loud the music or sound effects may get. The track even brings out Deadpool’s amusingly wimpy screams during the bombastic climax. Music is crisp and involving, while sound effects pack plenty of impact. The subwoofer is constantly put to great use whenever Deadpool fires a bullet or causes an explosion. It’s hugely aggressive.

    Surround channels are used wisely, even exhibiting panning, making for an immersive track that replicates the cinema experience with ease. No complaints from me.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

    The 4K disc only contains two audio commentary tracks. Luckily, the standard Blu-ray is included with this set, which houses plenty of supplements.

Audio Commentary with “Wade”/”Deadpool”/Producer Ryan Reynolds and Screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick

    Alas, Reynolds is not in-character here, which is a bit of a missed opportunity, but this is nevertheless a fun, entertaining track that’s mostly scene-specific. The trio are lively and witty, making plenty of jokes along the way, and telling numerous amusing anecdotes (including one about the masturbatory unicorn toy). Other topics include excised scenes and beats, scrapped ideas, and so on.

Audio Commentary with Director Tim Miller and Deadpool Co-Creator/Comics Artist Rob Liefeld

    Up next is a more focused commentary about the filmmaking process and Deadpool in general. A number of interesting topics are covered, including some fun directorial anecdotes - at times, Miller forgot he was directing and would crack up during a take. This isn’t as lively as the previous commentary track, but it’s still worth a listen.

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

    All editions worldwide seem to be identical.

Summary

    It's amazing enough that Deadpool finally got made after years of wanting, but who knew it would turn out to be a very good movie and a wild commercial success? This is one of 2016's cinema high points.

    Fox's 4K Blu-ray is excellent. The increased resolution reveals an incredible amount of detail, and the HDR makes for a rich colour palette. Black levels are flawless and the presentation is consistently sharp. The audio remains top-flight, too. It's a bit disappointing that the disc only contains two audio commentaries, but the standard Blu-ray is included, which contains plenty of additional supplements. Highly recommended.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Callum Knox (I studied biology)
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Review Equipment
DVDSamsung UBD-K8500 4K HDR Blu-Ray Player, using HDMI output
DisplayLG OLED55C6T. This display device has not been calibrated. This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 2160p.
Audio DecoderBuilt in to amplifier/receiver. This audio decoder/receiver has not been calibrated.
AmplificationLG BH7520TW
SpeakersLG Tall Boy speakers, 5.1 set-up, 180W

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