Epic - Elvis Presley in Concert: The Myth Revived in 4K

Rather than recounting Elvis Presley's biography, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert chooses to transport the viewer back to the stage, to the place where the singer became a legend. Conceived by Baz Luhrmann as an ideal complement to the film Elvis, this documentary stems from the recovery of a vast archive of films, audio recordings, and interviews that remained unused for years.

The focus is primarily on the period between 1969 and 1977, when Presley dominated the scene across Las Vegas, Hawaii, and the rest of the United States. The editing delivers a surprisingly fluid experience: materials from different eras and media blend into a single narrative, highlighting his magnetic presence.

The Legend of Elvis Revived in 4K

The private aspects of his life, from his relationship with Colonel Parker to his marriage to Priscilla, passing through his years in the army and his Hollywood stint, deliberately remain in the background. These are elements that help contextualize the character, but without detracting from the artistic dimension.

The narrative is often guided by Elvis's own voice, recovered from original recordings, which accompanies the viewer through personal reflections and memories. What emerges is the portrait of an artist capable of naturally transitioning from rock to gospel, even indulging in unexpected improvisations. For fans, it's primarily an opportunity to rediscover the energy and charisma of one of the greatest performers of 20th-century music.

From a technical standpoint, Epic: Elvis Presley in Concert represents a remarkable restoration effort. Image format 1.78:1 (3840 x 2160/23.97p), HEVC encoding on a triple-layer BD-100. The original 16mm and 8mm negatives underwent a lengthy restoration process supervised by Baz Luhrmann and Peter Jackson, resulting in cleaner images, vibrant colors, and surprising definition considering the original technical basis. Elvis's iconic white jumpsuits stand out with particular brilliance, while photographic grain has been significantly reduced without compromising the readability of the footage.

The very nature of the materials didn't allow for much more, so they were forced to forego HDR support (the HDR-10 indicated on the product is a misprint), a choice that certainly limited the impact of the dynamic range, but then again, these are dangerous pieces of information and reworkings to entrust to AI, so applause remains for the unadulterated recovery process. Non-professional and such old films present other minor limitations, such as occasional and non-invasive slight vertical stretching of the visual frame. Included is the BD-50 with the 2K version of the work.

The sound compartment is of absolute top-tier. The audio restoration offers an immersive experience, capable of recreating the atmosphere of a live concert, thanks to the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (24 bit) track, which allowed each instrument to find its own space in the mix, from James Burton's guitar to Ronnie Tutt's drums, while Elvis's voice maintains presence, dynamics, and naturalness. A second LPCM 2.0 (48Khz/24bit) track with audio description for the visually impaired is present. Language is English only, with Italian subtitles.

An essential edition lacking extras, where we believe many would have appreciated commentary from Luhrmann and Jackson. Beyond the very spartan menus, a richer chapter selection could have been created.