Grease 4K (1978) Ultra HD 2160p REMUX

Good girl Sandy and greaser Danny fell in love over the summer. When they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance?

Grease 4K (1978) Ultra HD 2160p REMUX Review
Grease's 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD presentation makes for a solid, occasionally even huge, step forward over the standard 1080p Blu-ray, which by all accounts is sourced from the same restored image as this. "The original negative was scanned and received extensive clean up and color correction using previously unavailable digital restoration tools such as high dynamic range technology," Paramount boasts in its press release. The improvement in clarity and color alike are obvious from the get-go, viewing the 4K presentation almost immediately following a 1080p screening. Grain is a little more pronounced on the UHD, extending a more dynamically enjoyable filmic appearance that wasn't quite so prominent on the Blu-ray. Textures are much more complex, and usually significantly so. Skin details are particularly revealing, but so too are costumes and various environments, from dark exteriors to well-lit gymnasium interiors where, for example, its polished floors seen during the dance sequence in chapter 10, as the students arrive for the National Bandstand gig, is highly impressive in terms of its ability to convey the shine and wooden textured surface. Various shots come across as somewhat pasty by comparison to the naturally sharp elements that dominate. Some of the drive-in shots in chapter 13 look a little smooth and artificial, as Danny and Sandy sit in the parked car, with Danny looking for a way to get his arm around his date. But when the image is on, it looks incredible. Sharpness is unparalleled, clarity and textural refinement are striking, and while some softer-focus edges are readily apparent throughout, such are inherent to the film proper.

Color dynamics are wonderful, and the Dolby Vision enhancement allows for some significant pop and expert balance. Whites are a major highlight. The "Beauty School Dropout" song in chapter nine, with white backgrounds, white salon chairs, and silvery and off-white attire, dazzles in terms of its brilliance and stability (it's also one of the most inherently sharp stretches in the movie, a definite reference moment for both clarity and color on this UHD). White T-shirts under black jackets are also superb examples of white refinement in the movie. More robust colors are otherwise very well saturated. Depth is improved over the Blu-ray, and there's a greater sense of color nuance and intensity in play on the UHD. Reds are bolder and deeper, blues more lively, pinks more showy. Black level depth is a strength, and examples of crush are minimal. This is a considerably more enjoyable image compared to the Blu-ray, which is largely fine but cannot match the color intensity or structural integrity the UHD offers. UHD makes the image sing, so to speak (and apropos to the movie), and fans are going to be ecstatic with the 2160p/Dolby Vision presentation. This is far and away the best Grease has ever looked at home, easily besting even the brand-new companion Blu-ray by a healthy margin.

For its 40th Anniversary UHD release, Paramount has not changed the encode or channel configuration from the 2009 Blu-ray, but the studio has nevertheless tinkered with the track. For this new take on the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack, "audio was enhanced from a six-track mix created for an original 70mm release." The track is hardly a revelation, but it offers a solid enough foundational listen. The track is fairly front-heavy, but the musical numbers are satisfyingly rich and wide. The American Bandstand segment in chapter 11 stretches the system and offers impressive instrumental clarity throughout the range. There's not much immersion, even as surrounds are engaged (though listeners would be hard-pressed to really notice), but the aggressive frontside push minimizes the missing impact of a more effective wraparound sensation. A few basic sound effects present with enough distinction and stage presence to please, such as deep, rumbly engine revs during the race near film's end. Dialogue is largely fine and sonically defines much of the movie beyond song and dance numbers interspersed throughout. That said, it does have its moments of struggle, perhaps the most notable coming just prior to that aforementioned race where words are notably harsh-edged and slightly garbled. Much like the video presentation, this is an imperfect soundtrack, but it certainly serves the film well enough, and during its critical music moments in particular.

Grease has to be the best musical off all the time. The wonderful actors and actress' give there characters all they've got and bring out a wonderful performance all the way through the movie especially John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing and Didi Conn. And, who can forget the music. Absolutely amazing. It's no wonder that the Grease soundtrack in the best selling musical soundrack ever. (It sure is brilliant.) Grease really is the word. It's fantastic. 10/10