Planes, Trains & Automobiles 4K UHD Screenshots (Patreon)

Video

Paramount's master is an odd one. It's bad, but not the worst case scenario. Strangely, it's a mixture between well rendered and horrendously DNR'd to death. There's clear grain left in the imagery, and at times, this looks wholly natural. And then in close, the suspicions grow, muddying the fidelity as unnatural smoothness begins to erode definition. Grain forms weird pockets of digital data, buzzing on faces, smearing, and smothering backgrounds.

Overall, Planes, Train & Automobiles fails to capture the film stock's natural clarity. Low fidelity and dull crispness make for limited improvements over the HD release. Dolby Vision doesn't bring any genuine spark, whether referring to the color or contrast. It's as if Paramount forgot to master that part entirely, with little to no gains made. Pale flesh tones appear dated and flat. Primaries sag.

Audio

Planes, Trains & Automobiles opens on a studio logo that capture vehicles panning to the sides, through the surrounds, or a combination or directions. The effect is cute, and doesn’t reveal any artificial elements. Despite a lack of modern fidelity, it comes out naturally, and that’s pretty much it.

Vehicles are a constant presence, always doing something outside of the center. Music will pop at its peak with minimal push into the surrounds, enough that you’d notice were it gone, but not enough that you’ll take heed while it’s happening.

Crowded airports do nothing interesting, with respect to a likely mono or stereo source. That’s fine were the mix not trying hard to break free of the center elsewhere. In fact, it comes across as flat. There’s nothing inherently wrong, and flaws on the track itself are non-existent. Planes, Trains & Automobiles only grabs for opportunity at random.