Welcome to a bonus version of my Blu-ray Bounty column, the place I check the most recent bodily media movie releases to see which make nice showcases in your setup.
Usually, the Bounty arrives on the finish of the month, however in celebration of Blu-ray’s twentieth anniversary (on twentieth June), I believed I’d try just a few discs launched in 2026 that didn’t make it into the Blu-ray Bounty the primary time. For those who’re considering it simply seems like I needed to search out an excuse to observe some cool motion pictures whereas at work… nicely, no remark.
As traditional, I’ll be utilizing a setup consisting of one of many best OLED TVs of 2025 the LG G5, together with the Panasonic DP-UB820 that we price because the best 4K Blu-ray player available on the market, plus Samsung HW-Q990C Dolby Atmos soundbar encompass system.
As traditional, I don’t assessment the films themselves right here, simply the audio and video high quality of the disc.
One Battle After One other (Warner Bros.)
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One Battle After One other tells the story of Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio), a washed-up revolutionary who lives off grid along with his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti). He should face his previous when his nemesis Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) resurfaces and his daughter goes lacking.
Visually, One Battle After One other is a putting film. Textures are crisp all through, wanting each 3D-like and true to life. There are many high-contrast scenes that showcase wealthy black tones with punchy highlights, particularly throughout evening scenes the place robust shadows are solid. Colours are pure, with the inexperienced grass of fields and the intense, blue sky all wanting pure all through the film.
With a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, this disc sounds unbelievable. Explosions and gunfire have loads of affect and energy, demonstrating nicely managed bass tones. This balances properly with the film’s extra intricate sound results, comparable to the click of a gun’s chamber and flippantly treading footsteps. There’s an excellent use of top channels too, as military helicopters fly overhead, creating an immersive ambiance.
Turning into Led Zeppelin (Sony Photos Classics)
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Turning into Led Zeppelin is a documentary that explores the origins of the enduring rock band, from the members’ youth to the peak of the band, together with never-before-seen footage and modern-day interviews with the band.
The place else to begin than with audio? There are two soundtrack choices: DTS-HD 5.1 MA and DTS-HD 2.0 MA. Performed by way of our soundbar, the 5.1 combine sounded unbelievable. When Good Occasions, Dangerous Occasions kicks in, John Bonham’s thumping drums sound very good by way of the subwoofer: tightly managed, detailed and meaty. Jimmy Web page and John-Paul Jones’ guitars are refined, dynamic and complicated. Lastly, Plant’s vocals are clear, punchy and as highly effective as you possibly can hope for.
Different highlights embrace Babe, I’m Gonna Go away You because the band recounts their first US tour in 1968, the place Web page’s delicate taking part in sounds crisp and clear and Plant’s haunting vocals are attractive and shortly after a dwell model of Communication Breakdown sounds uncooked, punchy and completely balanced, with each instrument given room to breathe.
Visually, the disc is 4K SDR. Whereas there’s not an awesome deal to indicate off right here, as a lot of the documentary is made up of outdated footage and talking-heads with the band, what’s current is clear and reveals nice element. A few of the footage has been upscaled properly and a few left deliberately grainy, however it’s nonetheless a superb presentation general.
This Is Spinal Faucet (Sony Photos)
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This Is Spinal Faucet is a mockumentary in regards to the fictional rock band Spinal Faucet on their 1982 US tour. The film stars Christopher Visitor as Nigel Tufnel, Michel McKean as David St Hubbins and Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls. Rob Reiner directs and stars because the filmmaker Marty Di Bergi.
The film comes with two DTS-HD MA soundtracks 5.1 and a couple of.0. The 5.1 combine sounds very good, significantly throughout the dwell live performance sequences. Guitars are crunchy and detailed, drums and bass are meaty and supply a pleasant exercise in your subwoofer. The combo is extraordinarily nicely balanced with a large soundstage, giving every instrument ample room. Vocals are clear throughout dwell sections and speech is evident throughout dialogue scenes. The notorious ‘Stonehenge’ scene specifically sounds unbelievable.
Visually, the film helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient and appears excellent. Colours have loads of punch, from the band’s loud, vivid costumes on stage to the extra pure environments with bushes and timber, there’s a very nice steadiness of coloration. Darkish tones are deep and wealthy and textures look lifelike. Whereas it doesn’t have the extent of upscaling I’ve seen in some motion pictures, pores and skin, hair and clothes have been sharpened up. Cinephiles will probably be proud of the extent of movie grain retained right here and whereas some scenes have extra grain than others, it fits the mockumentary model of the film.
All The President’s Males (Warner Bros.)
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All The President’s Males follows the story of two reporters from The Washington Publish, Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) and Bob Woodward (Robert Redford), who examine the Watergate scandal. The film is predicated on the non-fiction e-book of the identical title.
All The President’s Males appears to be like nice in 4K. Watching in Dolby Imaginative and prescient, the image is vivid and detailed, with crisp textures all through. Clothes and hair are refined and colours are daring and vibrant, proven on the brightly coloured off chairs and desks in The Washington Publish workplace. The inexperienced timber and grass surrounding the courthouse look pure and punchy. Evening scenes exhibiting deep blacks with robust distinction, proven as automobiles drive by way of the town. There’s loads of grain retained which cinephiles will probably be proud of, however there’s some good upscaling too.
The disc has a DTS-HD 2.0 soundtrack and all through the film, speech is evident with good element. Delicate results comparable to radios and voices on a phone and the scratching of a reporter’s pencil have an excellent quantity of element. Whereas there’s nothing to actually showcase your sound system such as you’d get from an action-packed blockbuster, it’s an awesome general soundtrack.
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