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Movie and TV Discussion => Movie reviews => Topic started by: David Vaughn on September 04, 2026, 04:32:19 PM
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(https://i.imgur.com/DsczdeR.jpeg)
Studio: Universal
Release Date: August 25, 2026
Rating: PG-13
Film: 3.5/5
Plot
If you found out we weren't alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? This summer, the truth belongs to eight billion people. Today is... Disclosure Day.
My Thoughts
I’m a fan of Spielberg’s body of work, but I have to say that I found Disclosure Day to be a mixed bag. At 145 minutes, the film is long, and it definitely drags in spots. The first 100 minutes are much stronger than the last 45, and the gap is pretty significant. Spielberg does an excellent job setting up the mystery behind the story, and the tension builds nicely in the first act. The three leads, Emily Blund, John O’Conner, and Colin Firtth, are outstanding. Blunt, in particular, delivers on of the best performances of her career, which is saying something since she’s one of the best actresses of her generation.
Unfortunately, the ending is complete letdown and massive disappointment. My wife and I were both let down with how the final act resolves the story, especially with the news commentator that’s highlighted on the national coverage. Overall though, the film isn’t terrible by any means, but it just doesn’t live up to the promise of the setup.
In addition to Blunt’s performance, I absolutely loved John Williams’ score. Even at 94 years old, the iconic composer is able to deliver an emotional tie-in to the film’s tone and enhanced the viewing experience.
The native 4K transfer is one of the film’s biggest strengths. It boasts both HDR10 and Dolby Vision encodes and it delivers excellent clarity, deep black levels, and strong shadow detail. Dark interiors, atmospheric lighting, facial textures all benefit from the increased resolution and HDR grading. Bright highlights are particularly prominent with sunshine coming through windows that help create an image with a lot of depth.
The Dolby Atmos mix is impressive from the start with crystal clear dialog, which is particularly important with the conspiracy-heavy conversations. When the action ramps up, the mix shines with aggressive environmental effects and gunshots. The fabulous score from Williams complements the onscreen action and supports the tension without overwhelming the track.
Video 9.5/10
Audio 9/10 (Dolby Atmos)
Special Features:
- Encountering the Unknown: Inside Disclosure Day
- Spielberg & Williams: A Legendary Collaboration
- UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCYT8vb2siQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCYT8vb2siQ)
Conclusion
Disclosure Day is a visually appealing film with excellent performances and a fantastic John Williams score. The first two acts are engaging, just as one would expect from a Spielberg production, but the final stretch doesn’t stick the landing. The 4K UHD looks and sounds fantastic from beginning to end and despite the flaws, the film is worth opening for Spielberg fans and sci-fi enthusiasts, but it could have ended on a better note.
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(I utilized Portrait Displays' (https://www.portrait.com/) Calman color calibration software)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Zidoo UHD8000 Media Player
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
Dual Rythmik FV15HP2
Mini DSP HD
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
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This review is kind of funny for me. I reviewed the movie for us and had very much different reaction..
https://discuss.avscience.com/index.php?topic=5054.msg32160#msg32160 (https://discuss.avscience.com/index.php?topic=5054.msg32160#msg32160)
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This review is kind of funny for me. I reviewed the movie for us and had very much different reaction..
https://discuss.avscience.com/index.php?topic=5054.msg32160#msg32160 (https://discuss.avscience.com/index.php?topic=5054.msg32160#msg32160)
Completely the opposite of us. :)