Highlander 4K UHD Screenshots (Patreon)

Video

Lionsgate's encode is a messy one, the only impediment to this otherwise superb presentation. Smoke and haze invites far too much chroma noise, struggling to resolve complex imagery (which Highlander features much of). This leads to a clear reduction in fidelity, even in close.

This 4K scan otherwise succeeds, misgivings about flesh tones (in places) aside. Grading carries the slightest digital tinge, almost a glow really in certain scenes. Highlander's boldness comes through from intense orange sunsets and vivid blue skylines.

Crush factors in during the darkest scenes. It's nominal loss. Intense contrast utilizes the Dolby Vision pass appropriately, without clipping.

Audio

Stereo and 5.1 tracks appear in the menu. The best bet is the stereo. In surround, the exaggerated and piercingly loud rear channels hog the attention. It sounds fine during the opening Queen number, with music bouncing around the soundstage. Soon, the parking garage sword fight begins cutting into the fun, the sound too much and overbearing, which includes the muddy, puffy bass.

In 2.0, life is better, mastered well and accurately. The audio design resolved naturally, and offers a stereo split to add some directionality into the mix. Maybe the range isn't impressive, but that's better than the bloated attempt to make some in the 5.1 option. Fidelity does take a hit though, and at times, that's a significant lapse. Scratchy, coarse dialog sounds as if totally unrestored, keeping static and hiss on the track.