Watching Oppenheimer ? How to have an Oscar Worthy viewing experience
By: Mia Francis
With Oppenheimer taking home 7 Oscar wins for Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Score, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Picture, at this evening’s 96th Academy Awards, there will undoubtedly be a reinvigorated interest in enjoying this gem of modern cinema at home. While there are many ways to view Oppenheimer, all are not created equal.
Join me as I review my experience watching Oppenheimer via streaming, digital, 4K Bluray, and another source that delivers the ultimate home media experience, Kaleidescape.
Peacock
Video- 4K Dolby Vision
Sound- 5.1- Dolby Digital Plus 5.1
Sources
Apple TV- Multi-channel In
Nvidia Shield- Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 (up-mixed to Dolby +)
Video quality lacks definition of finer details, and lacks proper color gradation. Sound quality is flat & muddled in comparison to even the digital version. Lacking spatiality and a sense of grandeur.
Apple - Digital (2.84 GB Movie)/Vudu (2.2GB Movie)-w/extras (6.94gb)
Video- 4K Dolby Vision
Sound- Dolby Digital Plus 5.1
Sources
Apple TV- Multi-channel In
Nvidia Shield- Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 (up-mixed to Dolby +)
There is some improvement over the Peacock stream however there is still noticeable compression that affects the visual quality creating a loss of detail in finer details though there is a slight improvement in color. The sound quality gains a slight improvement in spatiality but still lacks detail in the mids as well as the bass/low-end extension.
4K Bluray - (100GB Movie & Extras)
Video- 4K Dolby Vision
Sound- DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 ( Upmixed to Neural-X)
Source
Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray Player
This 4K Bluray is the shining example of why physical media is a quintessential necessity for the success of media after its theatrical release. The visual quality draws you into the mind of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the sound quality immerses you into the tumultuous thoughts therein.
Kaleidescape - (91.9 GB Movie only)
Video- 4K Dolby Vision
Sound- DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 ( Upmixed to Neural X)
Source
Kaleidescape Strato Player
This experience is the standard above all others. Though the 4K Bluray is phenomenal, the quality of Kaleidescape is unmatched and is a ‘tour de force’ of home cinema experience. For most people, this viewing experience is an unlikely treat, however, to those who can and have experienced this film via Kaleidescape, I know you would all agree.