Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) UHD 4K REMUX HDR10

A veteran secret agent takes a young upstart under his wing. Based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons.
For more about Kingsman: The Secret Service 4K and the Kingsman: The Secret Service 4K Blu-ray remux release, see Kingsman: The Secret Service 4K Blu-ray Review published by Jeffrey Kauffman on February 24, 2016 where this Blu-ray release scored 3.5 out of 5.

Kingsman: The Secret Service Review
Kingsman: The Secret Service 4K is presented on 4K UHD Blu-ray with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. As I mentioned in my Exodus: Gods and Kings 4K Blu-ray review, the provenance of capture, DI and ultimate master formats begins to become more important with the advent of this increased resolution. According to the IMDb, Kingsman was captured at a source 2.8K resolution and then had a 2K DI prepared, which I assume in turn was used for the master. It may seem counterintuitive that Kingsman, captured at circa 3K, should offer similar levels of detail to Exodus, which was captured at circa 5K (even given the identical 2K DIs both received), but that turns out to be largely the case here. The uptick in detail levels is immediately apparent from the get go on this release, with (to cite just one early example) the swirls of dust and grit in the opening sequence much more clearly defined and delineated in the 2160p version.

The fussy production design of the film bursts with new immediacy now, with clarity extending far back into the frame, and with the HDR offering all sorts of new nuanced color, especially in some of the interior shots, where elements like the green wallpaper in the Kingsman offices looks almost palpable a lot of the time. Shadow detail is also increased, notably in moments like the training sequence with Eggsy on the subway tracks. Close-ups offer astounding levels of detail, especially with regard to faces (something that also struck me immediately about Exodus).

I was somewhat less impressed with some of the big set pieces in the film, some of which (like the big church massacre) involve lots of step printing and other bells and whistles. Sharpness and clarity take at least a bit of a downturn in these moments, but by incremental steps.

I'm still experiencing a kind of quasi-judder like I mentioned in the Exodus: Gods and Kings 4K Blu-ray review (something that may be ameliorated by my upcoming calibration). For me, this was obvious right out of the gate as the camera tracks back from the boombox in the film's opening moments. Later, as the camera pans past the sign identifying Savile Row, it reared its shaky head again, and I noticed it throughout several sequences that featured either vertical or horizontal pans. It's never horrible, but for the moment at least, it's there and worth mentioning.

This is another film where the numerical score may be a work in progress. I frankly want to see some 4K UHD releases that are sourced from higher resolution masters just to see if there's any noticeable difference. For that reason, I'm giving myself a bit of "wiggle room" here, but for all intents and purposes, this is a major upgrade and fans of the film should be very well pleased.


Kingsman: The Secret Service 4K Blu-ray, Audio Quality 5.0 of 5


This release utilizes the same audio as that discussed in our original Kingsman: The Secret Service Blu-ray review. (This seems at least a little odd, in that the IMDb lists this as having had a Dolby Atmos release theatrically. None of this first wave of Fox releases offers either Dolby Atmos or DTS:X.)