Glass
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Score: 81
from 6 reviewers
Review Date:
Glass, a complex but rewarding finale with stellar 4K and Dolby Atmos, satisfies fans despite flaws.
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Disc Release Date
Video: 90
Glass' 4K UHD Blu-ray dazzles with sharp detail, rich colors, and deep blacks, capturing Shyamalan's meticulous visual style and thematic depth.
Audio: 93
Glass boasts a captivating Dolby Atmos mix, blending clarity in dialogue with dynamic effects and immersive depth, enveloping audiences in a finely crafted auditory experience.
Extra: 78
Glass' UHD release offers a mix of short featurettes, deleted scenes, and insights into filmmaking on a tight budget, providing a glimpse into M. Night Shyamalan's unique approach.
Movie: 79
Shyamalan's 'Glass' concludes the unexpected trilogy, blending psychological depth with superhero themes, but its complexity and imperfect finale may leave fans divided.
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Video: 90
The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "Glass" showcases a remarkable blend of technical prowess and visual storytelling, with a native resolution of 3840 x 2160p that leverages a wide color gamut (WCG) and high dynamic range (HDR) to bring M. Night Shyamalan's unique vision to life. Encoded using the HEVC (H.265) codec and retaining the film's original theatrical aspect ratio of widescreen 2.39:1, the disc provides an image that's as sharp and detailed as it is evocative and atmospheric. This clarity extends to every aspect of the image, from the precisely delineated textures of clothing and environments to the subtlest nuances of facial expressions, enhancing both the immersive quality and the emotional impact of the film.
The HDR rendering is particularly effective in enhancing the film's stylized color palette, which is critical to its thematic depth. Blacks are richer and deeper, providing a solid foundation for the image without compromising detail, even in the darkest scenes. Meanwhile, contrast levels are meticulously balanced to ensure that grays, whites, and mid-tones pop in the film’s variety of lighting conditions, from the starkly lit confines of the psychiatric institution to the vibrant exterior sequences. The thoughtful application of HDR also allows for a more nuanced exploration of color, with the specific hues associated with each protagonist evolving in intensity as their character arcs progress, from subdued to vivid as they embrace their identities.
Despite being sourced from a 3.4K digital intermediate, rather than being shot in native 4K, the transfer exhibits a minor but noticeable improvement in overall definition compared to its Blu-ray counterpart. This enhancement is evident in the crispness of architectural lines and the texture of fabrics, adding a layer of realism to the film's already compelling visual style. However, it maintains a restrained approach to contrast and saturation in line with Shyamalan's cinematic vision, preserving the film's deliberately somber atmosphere while still offering moments that dazzle with their clarity and depth. The HDR10 presentation triumphs in bringing out fuller, more saturated colors, particularly in primary hues, while ensuring skin tones remain natural and consistent throughout.
Audio: 93
The Dolby Atmos audio track of "Glass" on its 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation stands out as a finely tuned soundscape that elevates the viewing experience to an immersive auditory journey. M. Night Shyamalan's meticulous attention to audio detail harnesses the full potential of Atmos, creating a vibrant, three-dimensional space where dialogue, music, and effects harmonize seamlessly. Dialogue clarity is exceptional across the board; from Bruce Willis' subdued tones to James McAvoy's diverse character voices, each word remains discernible, prioritized in the mix, and perfectly placed within the frontal soundstage. The effects utilize the Atmos array to full effect, with ambient noises such as traffic, police sirens, and a particularly immersive thunderstorm, enveloping the viewer, creating a convincing and dynamic audio environment. While the film’s score may not surpass its predecessors in impact, it recalls classic themes effectively and contributes to a reference-quality Atmos track.
The soundtrack’s capabilities extend to how it manages to interweave discrete sound elements and atmospheric effects, lending credibility to the onscreen action through well-positioned audio cues that enhance the film's immersion factor significantly. Encounters like David Dunn’s warehouse clash with The Beast benefit from this strategic sound placement, achieving an expansive soundstage that draws listeners deeper into the film’s universe. Low frequency effects are powerfully engaged, lending depth to physical confrontations and adding substantial weight to the more intense sequences without overwhelming other elements, preserving the soundtrack's balance and integrity.
Furthermore, this Dolby Atmos mix excels in capturing nuanced ambient sounds that contribute to a lively and realistic backdrop. From city atmospherics to the subtleties of indoor environments, where voices echo and music fills spaces realistically, the soundscape demonstrates impressive fidelity and detail throughout its range. Bass response is robust, enhancing action scenes with palpable force while maintaining a consistent level that supports rather than dominates. Despite its front-heavy mix due to the film’s dialogic nature, spatial balance is maintained with a spacious feel and convincing directional transitions. The careful integration and occasional silence in surround usage appear deliberate, enhancing significant moments or settings such as those within the institution or during pivotal dialogues, contributing to an engaging audio experience that fully utilizes the Atmos format to complement the film's visual storytelling.
Extra: 78
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of "Glass" presents an eclectic mix of bonus materials, highlighting a blend of deleted scenes, a captivating alternate opening, and a spectrum of twelve featurettes. Although not exhaustive, the content skims over an hour, offering a peek into the creative process behind the film. These bonus features unravel aspects such as character deep dives, the nuances of stunt choreography under budgetary constrictions, and M. Night Shyamalan's distinctive directorial vision, coupled with insights into the trilogy's thematic continuity and aesthetic choices. Noteworthy is the digital and practical effects discourse, underscoring the challenge of competing with larger franchises on a slender budget. Moreover, the inclusion of content on both the UHD and Blu-ray editions enriches the viewing experience. However, the brevity of each featurette might leave aficionados yearning for more in-depth exploration. With introductions by Shyamalan himself for select scenes, this compilation, albeit fragmented, serves as a testament to Universal's commitment to offering a multifaceted home cinema experience.
Extras included in this disc:
Alternate Opening: A different start to the film with director M. Night Shyamalan's introduction.
Deleted Scenes: An assortment of scenes removed from the final cut, featuring introductions by Shyamalan.
The Collection of Main Characters: Insights into the pivotal characters and the actors who portray them.
A Conversation with James McAvoy and M. Night Shyamalan: A dialogue between the star and director on the film's essence.
Bringing the Team Back Together: Recounts the camaraderie and longstanding partnerships in Shyamalan's projects.
David Dunn vs. The Beast: An examination of the climactic showdown.
Glass Decoded: Shyamalan discusses thematic continuity and stylistic choices across the trilogy.
Breaking Glass: The Stunts: Behind-the-scenes look into stunt work, focusing on The Beast's superhuman strength.
Connecting the Glass Universe: Explores how the trilogy is linked, both narratively and stylistically.
M. Night Shyamalan: Behind the Lens: Cast and crew share their experiences working with Shyamalan.
The Sound of Glass: Composer West Dylan Thordson discusses creating tension through the score.
Enhancing the Spectacle: Insights from the VFX team on achieving dramatic effects on a budget.
Raven Hill Memorial: Features the eerie hospital location as a character within the film.
Night Vision: A look at early stages of production through storyboards compared to the final shots.
Movie: 79
M. Night Shyamalan's "Glass" skillfully concludes the unexpected trilogy that began with "Unbreakable" and was ingeniously tied to "Split", merging the worlds of David Dunn (Bruce Willis), Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), and Elijah Price, aka Mr. Glass (Samuel L. Jackson). While the film might slightly buckle under the immense weight of concluding a saga two decades in the making, it adeptly navigates through its narrative labyrinth, offering viewers a complex, character-driven piece that defies the conventional action-packed spectacle of contemporary superhero films. Shyamalan's focus on character depth over grandiose action scenes, facilitated by stellar performances, notably from McAvoy and Jackson, crafts a narrative that is simultaneously intimate and expansive.
The movie's technical aspects, particularly its 4K UHD presentation, elevate the viewing experience to a remarkable level of clarity and immersion. Mastered from a 3.4K source, the 4K resolution accentuates the intricate nuances of the film's visual design, from the textural details of the environments to the nuanced facial expressions of its characters. The HDR enhancement further complements this by offering a vivid contrast between deep blacks and vibrant highlights, thereby enriching the film's color palette and atmospheric tension. This technologically advanced presentation not only underscores Shyamalan’s meticulous attention to visual storytelling but also ensures that "Glass" stands out as a visually stunning addition to the trilogy.
Despite its ambitious narrative and complex character explorations, "Glass" remains grounded in Shyamalan's signature storytelling style, blending psychological depth with supernatural elements in a way that challenges and expands the superhero genre. The film, while not without its flaws, provokes thought about the essence of heroism and villainy, making it a fitting and substantive conclusion to a series that has persistently pondered the real-world implications of extraordinary abilities. Through its deliberate pacing and emphasis on character over spectacle, "Glass" may divide audiences but undeniably cements Shyamalan's trilogy as a unique venture in the crowded superhero landscape.
Total: 81
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Glass" offers a divisive yet technically magnificent home viewing experience. As the unexpected conclusion to M. Night Shyamalan's superhero trilogy, the film delivers a complex narrative and character exploration that may not satisfy all viewers, especially when compared to its predecessors, "Unbreakable" and "Split". Despite its narrative challenges, including a finale that leaves audiences divided with its dual twists, "Glass" shines through its technical execution. The UK 4K release boasts exceptional native 4K video clarity and a superb Dolby Atmos soundtrack, enhancing the atmospheric tension and bringing the character-driven showdown to life with outstanding audiovisual quality.
Viewers will appreciate the significant improvements in detail and color over the standard Blu-ray edition. The HDR10 presentation elevates the visual storytelling, ensuring every frame highlights the cinematic craft behind Shyamalan's vision. The accompanying plethora of short extras adds value, offering insights into the trilogy's culmination and beyond. However, it's crucial to manage expectations regarding the film's narrative and thematic ambitions. "Glass" plays internally, focusing on its characters more than external spectacle, which may contrast starkly with mainstream superhero movies yet fits perfectly within the trilogy's overarching themes.
In conclusion, while "Glass" may polarize fans of the franchise with its narrative choices and culmination of long-running themes, its 4K UHD Blu-ray release stands out as a technical marvel. It offers viewers the best possible presentation in terms of both audio and visual quality, making it a worthy addition for collectors and fans alike. The film invites repeated viewings, potentially enriching one's appreciation for Shyamalan's unique storytelling approach within the superhero genre. Whether you're drawn to "Glass" for its narrative or its exceptional home theater presentation, this release underscores the importance of technical quality in experiencing cinema at home.
avforums review by Casimir HarlowRead review here
Video: 90
Audio: 100
Glass comes to UK Ultra HD Blu-ray courtesy of Walt Disney and Buena Vista, although the disc looks to be likely identical to the US release from Universal, delivering a suitably stunning native 4K presentation....
Effects enjoy the brooding Horde, the various key setpieces and confrontations (which are better in the first half) and surrounding noises of police, traffic, screaming and a wondrously immersive thunderstorm,...
Extra: 60
Movie: 70
Hardly comprehensive, but far from bare bones too The mere fact that there are a dozen Featurettes means that each is going to be just a few minutes in length, but still there are some nice background...
Although clearly back working his magic once again, Shyamalan is also his own worst enemy, losing sight of the simple endgame he plotted out in Split, failing to make good on the tremendous stinger offered...
Total: 80
Glass is unnecessarily complicated but a decent enough addition to the franchise that nobody saw coming The UK 4K Blu-ray release of Glass delivers outstanding native 4K video and excellent Dolby Atmos...
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 90
Audio: 100
Choose any shot, scene, or sequence and find a UHD that offers perceptible and purposeful textural increases that serve the movie well, particularly with the number of near actor head-on shots Shyamalan...
Music flows freely along the front and engages the rears in balance, while dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and center focused with a few good examples off reverberation as the situation allows....
Extra: 100
Movie: 80
A Conversation with James McAvoy and M. Night Shyamalan (2160p/SDR, 5:10): The actor and writer/director cover a few basics, including the film's genre, the film's tone, character evolutions, transitioning...
It's instead a gradual reveal through and beyond the film's unexpected climax that rewrites the characters, their purpose, and the state of the world Shyamalan has constructed around them....
Total: 50
This film builds and plays internally much more than it does externally, and it's a welcome escape from so many of the more superficial (yet often still very good) superhero movies which are so dominant...
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 100
Audio: 100
That’s followed by marvelous ambiance throughout, creating a lively city atmosphere with train horns, rain, and blasts of thunder panning around....
Extra: 40
Movie: 40
However, other than a sit down with McAvoy and Shyamalan (five minutes) the rest of these bonuses only reach throwaway tier in their value....
That’s where the HDR hits in full, not discredit, say, the opening scenes in an abandoned warehouse where the depth of black creates needed tone and fear, sans crush....
Total: 70
Glass lacks the needed answers, and closes on dual twists that solve nothing while leaving the world of this series flat....
High-Def Digest review by M. Enois DuarteRead review here
Video: 80
Audio: 90
The superhero drama was originally shot on the Arri Alexa camera system capable of 3.4K resolution but later mastered to a 4K digital intermediate, and the results are a mix of minor, yet appreciable,...
Nevertheless, the soundstage continuously feels spacious and broad with plenty of background activity filling the off-screen space while maintaining outstanding balance and convincing movement between...
Extra: 30
Movie: 70
Bringing the Team Back Together (HD, 3 min): Interviews with the cast & crew sharing anecdotes about working with Shyamalan, some since the making of Unbreakable....
Frankly, the ease with which the characters struggle with uncertainty appears true to the implicit meaning of the film's title while also serving as a reminder of the story's focus, a character who arguably...
Total: 70
Featuring a highly-satisfying Dolby Atmos soundtrack and the same bonus materials as the Blu-ray, the overall UHD package is recommended and makes a nice addition to the HDR library....
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 94
Audio: 94
Shot digitally, the image has a smooth aesthetic, with clean delineation that draws out plenty of detail, in both close-up and wide-angle camera shots....
There are many instances, such as David’s warehouse encounter with The Beast, that show off the track’s thematic blend of music and, well placed object sounds that create a wonderfully involving listening...
Extra: 90
Movie: 60
• Connecting the Glass Universe - Explore M. Night Shyamalan's stylistic approach to the Glass trilogy and the unconventional concept of a comic book movie grounded in reality....
offers a closer look at the world of the Elijah Price, also known as Mr. Glass (Jackson), David Dunn (Willis), and...
Total: 85
It comes to Blu-ray from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment in this Ultra HD Combo Pack featuring excellent overall image quality, terrific lossless surround sound, including an invigorating Dolby Atmos...
Why So Blu?Read review here
Video: 100
Audio: 100
M. Night talks about them in one of the extras below, but wow they are bold and bright and almost like their own character throughout....
Surround Sound Presentation: Equally impressive is the immersion throughout here thanks to the surrounds and rears serving you endless ambiance such as city sounds, rain, thunder, the Beast growling and...
Extra: 60
Movie: 70
Here you get to roam the long corridors of Raven Hill Memorial Hospital, a defunct and abandoned medical hospital, and see why the cast and crew describe the eerie location as its own character in the...
Little do both these men know though is the fact that Elijah Price is in the mix too and he has a serious fetish for rich, complex comic book stories....
Total: 80
So take these words as caution and go into Glass on 4K disc knowing you’re getting the best bang for your buck presentation-wise and you’re seeing an original tale different from everything you’d expect.*DISCLAIMER:...
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Actors: James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson
PlotThree disparate individuals with extraordinary abilities find their lives irrevocably intertwined in a tale that challenges the boundaries between heroism, villainy, and the extraordinary. David Dunn, a security guard with unbreakable skin and superhuman strength, is on a mission to use his powers for vigilance. He is on the trail of Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man with dissociative identity disorder who harbors 24 distinct personalities, the most dangerous of which is a superhumanly powerful entity known as The Beast. Their cat-and-mouse game leads to an encounter that results in both being apprehended by the authorities.
Both men are detained in a psychiatric facility where they meet Elijah Price, an intellectual with fragile bones and a complex understanding of comic book lore, who holds secrets about both Dunn and Crumb. The three are subjected to the studies of Dr. Ellie Staple, a psychiatrist specializing in individuals who believe they are superhuman beings. As she attempts to dissect and dampen their perceived delusions of grandeur, tensions escalate, and the line between delusion and reality begins to blur, setting the stage for a confrontation that threatens to redefine the nature of heroism and the potential existent within every human being.
MoreWriters: M. Night Shyamalan
Release Date: 18 Jan 2019
Runtime: 129 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States, China
Language: English, Spanish