The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

Culture

It’s a Wonderful Life 4K Ultra HD review

It’s a Wonderful Life 4K Ultra HD review
15 November 2019
The editorial unit
Avatar
The editorial unit
15 November 2019

Movie and show review

The editorial unit

It's a Wonderful Life

★★★★★

Frank Capra’s super classic Christmas film has been restored from its original nitrate negative, as well as two fine-grain masters from the 1940s. The process took over a year, making the most of the 13 reels (out of 14) that have survived. We take a look at the 4K Ultra HD disc which has just been released.

The film

Being one of the world’s most-watched films, there’s not much to say about the story of It’s a Wonderful Life. An angel named Clarence comes to earth to help George, a young man overwhelmed by a sense of duty that has prevented him from pursuing his ambitions. The guardian angel shows George how his hometown would have suffered without his contribution.

The quality

The 4K UHD format makes it possible to appreciate the huge amount of work that has been put in to preserve the grainy look of the original film. The fact the restoration is based on three different sources won’t go unnoticed but most of the material is drawn from the negative. The level of detail emerging from the costumes and the set design is jaw-dropping. Dolby Vision is key to the beauty of this picture as it provides metadata scene by scene, helping to further homogenise the look of the different sources. The audio track is strong and clear, but the limited depth of the original mono soundtrack can only be enhanced to some extent.

The bonus features

Paramount’s impressive restoration work can be appreciated thanks to the Restoring a Beloved Classic feature clip, which offers a very close look to the entire process. There are two further pieces of bonus content: Secrets from the Vault: It’s a Wonderful Life and It’s a Wonderful Wrap Party.

★★★★★

The editorial unit

It’s a Wonderful Life is available in 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD from 4th November 2019.

Related Itemsreview

More in Cinema & Tv

Ride or Die

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More

Ip Man: Kung Fu Master

★★★★★
Jim Compton-Hall
Read More

For the Sake of Vicious

★★★★★
Lilly Subbotin
Read More

Mare of Easttown

★★★★★
Jonathan Marshall
Read More

I Blame Society

★★★★★
Ben Flanagan
Read More

Why Did You Kill Me?

★★★★★
Emma Kiely
Read More

Me You Madness

★★★★★
Emma Kiely
Read More

Portal

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Movie and show review

The editorial unit

It's a Wonderful Life

★★★★★

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • London’s best pizzas for takeaway and delivery
    Food & Drinks
  • The Year Earth Changed
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Syml – Dim EP
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • London’s Michelin-starred restaurants open al fresco right now – and all those re-opening in May
    Food & Drinks
  • Ride or Die
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!
    ★★★★★
    netflix
  • Live from the Barbican: Moses Boyd
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Weezer with the LA Philharmonic and YOLA at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • London’s Michelin-starred restaurants open al fresco right now – and all those re-opening in May
    Food & Drinks
  • Live from the Barbican: Moses Boyd
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Secret Connection – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

The Amazing Johnathan Documentary | Movie review
Little Monsters | Movie review