ADDITION: Universal 4K UHD (July 2020): Universal transferred Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus to 4K UHD. It features HDR. This utilizes the same 2015 digital restoration 6k Scan From Original Large Format Technirama Film Elements 4k Color Correction and Digital Restoration 7.1 Channel Audio by NBC Universal Studio Post, as per the 2015 Blu-ray reviewed HERE. Spartacus always looked impressive but it really shines here in the 4K UHD format. It follows the colors scheme of the 2015 BD but with more intensity - richer deeper colors plus there are tighter lines in the higher resolution - incredibly impressive detail in close-ups where you frequently see Kirk's skin pores. Fabulous contrast and grain support. On my system it looks frequently stunning.    

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: 82 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 to date: Jaws (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Invisible Man, (software uniformly simulated HDR), Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds (software uniformly simulated HDR), Lucio Fulci's 1979 Zombie  (software uniformly simulated HDR),, 2004's Van Helsining (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Shallows (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Bridge on the River Kwai (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Deer Hunter (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Elephant Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), A Quiet Place (software uniformly simulated HDR), Easy Rider (software uniformly simulated HDR), Suspiria (software uniformly simulated HDR), Pan's Labyrinth (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Wizard of Oz, (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Shining, (software uniformly simulated HDR), Batman Returns (software uniformly simulated HDR), Don't Look Now (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Man Who Killed Killed and then The Bigfoot  (software uniformly simulated HDR),,  Bram Stoker's Dracula (software uniformly simulated HDR), Lucy (software uniformly simulated HDR), They Live (software uniformly simulated HDR),  Shutter Island (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Matrix (software uniformly simulated HDR), Alien (software uniformly simulated HDR), Toy Story (software uniformly simulated HDR),  A Few Good Men (software uniformly simulated HDR),  2001: A Space Odyssey (HDR caps udated), Schindler's List (simulated HDR), The Neon Demon (No HDR), Dawn of the Dead (No HDR), Saving Private Ryan (simulated HDR and 'raw' captures), Suspiria (No HDR), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (No HDR), The Big Lebowski, and I Am Legend (simulated and 'raw' HDR captures).

Universal's 4K UHD offers only a very robust DTS 7.1 channel track (24-bit) similar to the 2015 BD (as well as some foreign language DUBs). Gladiatorial and battle audio effects fill the room beautifully and the, iconic, sore by accomplished composer Alex North (Under the Volcano, Viva Zapata, Man With the Gun, Man With the Gun, A Streetcar Named Desire and more) with heart-wrenching violins strings is beautifully realized here. There are subtitle options including English and as with all 4K UHD discs, this Universal package is Region 'Free' (included Blu-ray too!) playable worldwide. 

NOTE: This also has the Opening, Entr'acte, Intermission score interludes.

Universal's 4K UHD disc has the same supplements as seen on most of the past digital discs and the last Blu-ray (see our comparison HERE.) Notable are Deleted Scenes, Archival Interviews with Ustinov and Simmons, Behind-The-Scenes Footage, 5 Vintage Newsreels, and I Am Spartacus: A Conversation with Kirk Douglas spends 10 touching minutes with the actor about Spartacus plus 9-minutes on Restoring Spartacus which will fill in some technical details of the 2015 process. The package includes a Blu-ray. These extras are on both the 4K UHD and the included Blu-ray disc. There is a digital copy code (leaflet).

Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus is an unequivocal masterpiece and seeing it in 4K UHD seems essential for serious cinephiles. The major theme of personal freedom will always remain universal. It's a must-own and will make it's way to our Desert Island selection in the next update. This is one package I hold tightly with two hands. It has our highest recommendation! 

Gary Tooze