Physical Media – The Fast and the Furious 4K Review

With Fast X just around the corner why not review the franchised physical media discs that have already been released previously? The Fast and the Furious is an iconic movie targeted towards petrolheads that continues to captivate audiences to this day with its over-the-top and ridiculous action pieces. It’s not just a story about fast cars and vehicular mayhem; it’s an excuse to see all of that and make it look cool with some racing here and there. 

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has brought this classic movie to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, and the results are pretty impressive. At startup, the disc takes you straight to the usual menu window, where you can find all the options you need. The movie itself has been given a makeover, thanks in large part to a fresh paint job of a great-looking HEVC H.265 encode. While the definition may not have made the nice, clean jump that fans were likely hoping for, it’s still an improvement over the original and Blu-ray physical media format. Viewers can better make out the cool design and features of each car, every nook and cranny of the Toretto house is exposed, and facial complexions are revealed with excellent lifelike textures during close-ups.

The film was originally shot in traditional 35mm film, and the 2160p transfer comes with its fair share of soft, somewhat poorly-resolved moments. However, it’s nothing too egregious, and the picture is awash in a thin layer of natural grain, giving it a nice film-like appearance. Black levels are also notably richer, giving several of the vehicles a silky, eye-catching polish, especially Dominic’s 1970 Dodge Charger. Strong shadow detailing also provides appreciable dimensionality, making the overall picture quality an improvement over the original.

Presented in its original 2.39:1 image, the 4K presentation displays outstanding contrast compared to the Blu-ray. Many of the vehicles, in particular, come with an awesome gloss that beams in the sun while the shiny, gray-lining of decals have a brilliant glaze. The specular highlights are one of the most attractive features of this HDR10 video, providing those cars, their decals, and metal trimmings with a radiant, glistening sparkle without sacrificing the finer details. Meanwhile, the various colors of the supped-up cars shine and pop with intense brilliance. The greens, reds, and blues dazzle the screen with a richer, sumptuous glow than its HD SDR counterpart. At the same time, secondary hues also appear more resplendent with a bit more variation in the palette, and the tangerine oranges, butter yellows, chartreuse greens, and cerulean blues of cars are some of the movie’s flashiest moments while flesh tones appear rosier and more natural to the Southern California climate.

Visuals Review: 4/5

The Ultra HD physical media version of this high-octane action flick comes with an impressive DTS:X soundtrack that enhances the overall viewing experience and makes you feel as if you are in the boy racer zooming around. However, compared to its DTS-HD MA predecessor, it falls short in some aspects. Despite this, the sound quality is still impressive and satisfies the listener. The track does offer some improvements, with atmospheric sound effects traveling to the ceiling channels, creating a subtle but immersive hemispheric sound field. Although it’s not consistent throughout the movie, the surround sound effects flawlessly pan from the front to the sides and rear, creating a better listening experience.

The soundstage of the movie benefits from a more spacious and broader presence, with background activity moving convincingly across the screen. The ambient noise and roaring engines running through the streets expand into the front heights, creating a unique half-dome effect that adds to the immersive experience. The mid-range comes with more clarity and separation during the louder segments, while the music and song selections are of outstanding quality. Dialogue is crystal clear and never drowned out by intense vehicular action. In regards to the low-end frequencies that doesn’t see much improvement, which is not a bad thing since the booming engines and explosions come with satisfyingly heavy vibrations and a punchy, bombastic oomph that adds to the excitement.

Sound Review: 4.5/5

The first film in this franchise is very simple and not so over the top when it comes to the screenplay, however, The Fast and the Furious is a great way to see lots of boy racers, vehicular mayhem and make the street racing look like something from the video game Need for Speed. The Fast and the Furious is still an entertaining watch after all these years with a fantastic cast and soundtrack, the 4K Ultra HD makeover does the film justice offering an enhanced and tuned up vehicle that leaves its Blu-Ray predecessor in the rear view mirror. The 4K UHD physical media disc is a must-own for any fan of this franchise.

7.5/10