ADDITION: Arrow 4K UHD (October 2022): Arrow's are releasing Michael Mann's "Blackhat" to 4K UHD. The package offers 4K (2160p) UHD presentations in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of both the "US" and "International" versions of the film (seamlessly branched) plus a second disc Blu-ray of the "Director's Cut". We reviewed the Universal 2015 Blu-ray HERE. It was shot with a Arri Alexa XT (and other digital cameras.)

NOTE: The International Version on the Arrow 4K UHD contains a slightly shortened dialogue exchange (18 seconds around the 26-minute mark) regarding a suspect that the FBI is investigating and has ties to a "Los Zapotecas" gang. Mann's Director's Cut (the Blu-ray) version runs 2:12:08.

The 2160P image is a decided improvement with richer colors, deeper black levels (slightly darker interiors and slightly brighter daylight scenes when compared to the 2015 Blu-ray) and the higher resolution exports sharper more detailed visuals and effects (close-ups of electronic surges etc.) See our comparison captures below.

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

NOTE: 32 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages recently: Mark of the Devil (software uniformly simulated HDR), Barbarella (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Last Picture Show (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Man Who Knew Too Much (software uniformly simulated HDR), Rope (software uniformly simulated HDR), Frenzy (software uniformly simulated HDR), American Graffiti (software uniformly simulated HDR), East End Hustle (software uniformly simulated HDR), Three Days of the Condor (software uniformly simulated HDR), Witness (software uniformly simulated HDR), Fascination (software uniformly simulated HDR), Lips of Blood (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Others (no HDR), It Came From Outer Space (software uniformly simulated HDR), Don't Look Now (software uniformly simulated HDR), Rosemary's Baby (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Last Wave (no HDR), The Train (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Trial (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Walkabout (software uniformly simulated HDR), Black Magic Rites, The Night of the Hunted (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Rape of the Vampire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Gorgo (software uniformly simulated HDR), Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Man From Hong Kong (software uniformly simulated HDR), One False Move, The Tall T (software uniformly simulated HDR), Cold Eyes of Fear (software uniformly simulated HDR), Rules of the Game (no HDR), The Manchurian Candidate (software uniformly simulated HDR), After Hours, Rain Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Changeling (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Night of the Hunter (software uniformly simulated HDR), 12 Angry Men (software uniformly simulated HDR), Branded to Kill (no HDR), Picnic at Hanging Rock (software uniformly simulated HDR), Two Orphan Vampires (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Shiver of the Vampires, Drowning By Number (software uniformly simulated HDR), Serpico (software uniformly simulated HDR), Cool Hand Luke (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Seventh Seal (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Maltese Falcon (software uniformly simulated HDR).

On their 4K UHD, Arrow use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original English language (with some Mandarin and Spanish.) The audio track is a barn-burner utilizing a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround at a robust 3449 kbps. Effects come out of all corners with intense depth, but the track still sounds controlled and brooding as if holding some strength in its ambience. We get a cornucopia of music with a score by Harry Gregson-Williams (Full Body Massage, Veronica Guerin, The Town, Unstoppable, Domino, Gone Baby Gone, The Number 23, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Spy Game, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian) Atticus Ross (Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) + Leopold Ross (The Book of Eli) as well as some music from Neill Blomkamp's 2013 Elysium and more. It all sounds intense - tight and crisp with impressive bass and ringing high-end. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles on the region FREE, 4K UHD and Blu-ray, discs.

There are plentiful extras on the 4K UHD disc with a new commentary by critics Bryan Reesman and Max Evry. They immediately describe "Blackhat" as the "black sheep" of Michael Mann's filmography. They comment on how, in 2014, Sony was hacked before the release of the film. The comment on the opening evoking 1982's TRON, and later with the nuclear plant meltdown, the mini-series Chernobyl, and, with the hacking topic, Sneakers plus they refer to the notorious hacker Albert Gonzalez, terrorist hacking examples, provide details of the title and descriptions of 'white hat' and 'grey hat' activities. It's a long film at 2 1/4 hours but they fill the time with production details, the performers used in the film and technical data on "Blackhat"s subject matter. Very good, guys. There is a new 20-minute video interview with cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh entitled Firewall. He was born in London, England and has been the cinematographer for Once Were Warriors, The Piano (1993), An Angel at My Table (1990) and many other lauded films. Zero Day Threat is a new 1/2 hour video interview with production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas (Inception.) There is an image gallery and Arrow include archival extras found on the previous BD; The Cyber Threat runs almost 1/4 hour and delves into the cyber warfare angle of the film and its potential in today's world. On Location Around the World is almost 10-minutes and features some of the film's exotic locations in Jakarta, Indonesia, Klang, Malaysia and other spots on the globe. Creating Reality is 17-minutes and a bit more production-based. The package has a sixteen page liner notes booklet with an essay by Andrew Graves.

Michael Mann went to great lengths to make "Blackhat" as authentic as possible. He was inspired by the 2010 disclosure of Stuxnet - a malicious computer worm believed to be responsible for causing substantial damage to the nuclear program of Iran. It was filmed in Los Angeles, California; Hong Kong; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and in Jakarta, Indonesia. While "Blackhat" may not work for some - it is a competent thriller with some subtle themes seething beneath its surface. The action is abundant, if perhaps, eclipsing the narrative. Still, it's a deeper, richer film than would appear on the surface - I am glad I revisited "Blackhat" via Arrow's new 4K UHD, as the film's topic has only gown in importance in our ultra-connected world. Plus the 2160P video and new extras helped garner more appreciation. I like it more each time I see it. Critics may have missed some of the film's value and I recommend that the director's fanbase definitely give it subsequent spins.

Gary Tooze