The Blu-Ray Upcoming, News & Info Thread

[JAWS]

Box much nicer than what I was expecting!

Arrow Boxes Rule!

 

[choombaz]

Reviews of the JC physical 4K
As expected, thanks to much higher bit rate, they are much improved, although sounds like they got better at the algorithm processing as they went so True Lies being the first, comes across as the worst.

https://thedigitalbits.com/item/aliens-2024-uhd

https://thedigitalbits.com/item/abyss-the-2024-uhd

https://thedigitalbits.com/item/true-lies-2024-uhd

 

[Rotfish]

I checked out the 4K digital version of Aliens a few weeks ago and as the review says, I can't say the color grading looks different than the Blu-Ray without a side-by-side comparison. Thankfully I dig it.

Guess Cameron's not into the purple-gray of the DVD (and the theatrical if I'm not mistaken). Also seems he has a problem with film grain. That last part is actually a bummer; no better way to preserve detail in an older film than to leave the grain alone.

 

[choombaz]

I checked out the 4K digital version of Aliens a few weeks ago and as the review says, I can't say the color grading looks different than the Blu-Ray without a side-by-side comparison. Thankfully I dig it.

Guess Cameron's not into the purple-gray of the DVD (and the theatrical if I'm not mistaken). Also seems he has a problem with film grain. That last part is actually a bummer; no better way to preserve detail in an older film than to leave the grain alone.

Yeah I love the grainy look of Aliens and while I am excited to see the 4K I’m terrified based on what I have read. Each iteration has less grain. Maybe I should hang onto this …

 

[jye4ever]

Yep, I was watching a movie at choombaz house it looked good..

 

[choombaz]

Yep, I was watching a movie at choombaz house it looked good..

View attachment 692985

I’m sure it’s fine

 

[JAWS]

How are people feeling about the new Cameron 4k films.

Lots of controversy here. All the grain has been scrubbed away under James Cameron’s supervision.

Results are mixed. Some shots have more detail and some get waxy looking.

I looked at Aliens last night and some shots look amazing! Some shots a bit soft and waxy. The film looks like it was made this year but purists are gonna want that grain.

True Lies does fair as well. Lots of wax in that one.

The Abyss looks brand new also but I can’t say how the overall look is as I am not as familiar with that one as the other 2

 

[SwedishHeat]

How are people feeling about the new Cameron 4k films.

Lots of controversy here. All the grain has been scrubbed away under James Cameron’s supervision.

Results are mixed. Some shots have more detail and some get waxy looking.

I looked at Aliens last night and some shots look amazing! Some shots a bit soft and waxy. The film looks like it was made this year but purists are gonna want that grain.

True Lies does fair as well. Lots of wax in that one.

The Abyss looks brand new also but I can’t say how the overall look is as I am not as familiar with that one as the other 2

I haven't seen them yet, but I remember watching the semi-recent 4k of T2 and noticed the 'waxy' look. It didn't bother me really, but I noticed it. I'd read that the enhancement there was cranked too high, so that's why I was interested in seeing it.

It's a very mixed bag for me when they remaster these films. The Godfather for example, I watch the older Coppola Restoration and the grain almost blends in with the "lower resolution" of the image. But in the new 4k set, the grain is very apparent and distracting, particularly in the opening sequence. Same thing with Ghostbusters, I think it's the scene with Louis Tully and Dana talking in the apartment hallway. There's so much grain on the walls it looks like bugs crawling. It's like they're enhancing the entire image, and making the grain more prominent, which I don't think is ideal.

I think, overall, I'd prefer them remove the grain "tastefully".

 

[JAWS]

I haven't seen them yet, but I remember watching the semi-recent 4k of T2 and noticed the 'waxy' look. It didn't bother me really, but I noticed it. I'd read that the enhancement there was cranked too high, so that's why I was interested in seeing it.

It's a very mixed bag for me when they remaster these films. The Godfather for example, I watch the older Coppola Restoration and the grain almost blends in with the "lower resolution" of the image. But in the new 4k set, the grain is very apparent and distracting, particularly in the opening sequence. Same thing with Ghostbusters, I think it's the scene with Louis Tully and Dana talking in the apartment hallway. There's so much grain on the walls it looks like bugs crawling. It's like they're enhancing the entire image, and making the grain more prominent, which I don't think is ideal.

I think, overall, I'd prefer them remove the grain "tastefully".

That seems to be what these new releases are going for… Tastefully removing the grain.

I tend to fall on the “if the grain is there due to being shot on film then it should be left there” it’s what gives films that film look.

However there are moments in Aliens when there is far more detail in the new restoration then the old.

Seems there should be a happy medium in there somewhere.

I never seen T2 4k due to the hate heaped on it.

I know the SE of Predator was awful with all the DNR they used. The grainy 4k was far superior.

I haven’t had a chance to sit and watch any of the films all the way through yet so I won’t make any harsh judgments yet.

 

[Gates70]

Just snagged a pre order for the Manta Lab Batman begins full slipView attachment 692627View attachment 692628

Ordered the One-click of this, cannot wait. Dark Knight should be up soon I imagine.

 

[slynger]

I currently have the Sony UPB-X700. For some reason, it has problems with most of my DVDs and even some Blu discs. My 4k discs seem to play alright.

I realize it’s 5 years old and was wondering if someone could recommend a solid player for a variety of discs. Don’t care about streaming, just good physical media player.

 

[choombaz]

I currently have the Sony UPB-X700. For some reason, it has problems with most of my DVDs and even some Blu discs. My 4k discs seem to play alright.

I realize it’s 5 years old and was wondering if someone could recommend a solid player for a variety of discs. Don’t care about streaming, just good physical media player.

Is there firmware up to date?

I have a Panasonic Dp-Ub820 and have zero issues with it. Plays really old Dvds and blu no b issues. It’s probably nearly as old as yours though.

 

[Khev]

That seems to be what these new releases are going for… Tastefully removing the grain.

I tend to fall on the “if the grain is there due to being shot on film then it should be left there” it’s what gives films that film look.

However there are moments in Aliens when there is far more detail in the new restoration then the old.

Seems there should be a happy medium in there somewhere.

I never seen T2 4k due to the hate heaped on it.

I know the SE of Predator was awful with all the DNR they used. The grainy 4k was far superior.

I haven’t had a chance to sit and watch any of the films all the way through yet so I won’t make any harsh judgments yet.

The second 4K Predator release with the grain is the gold standard for how 80's/90's action films should look on disc IMO.

 

[Wor-Gar]

3D bluray Predator was excellent!

 

[Jroug]

The problem with these restorations is that the big films get released first, but the software and process still isn't 100% there yet. They should just sit back and let the process mature before doing the restorations. Doesn't surprise me that Cameron woud be an early adopter of restoration, or that his results would be mixed. What a shame - it means they may not do these films properly, ever.

 

[choombaz]

https://thedigitalbits.com/columns/my-two-cents/031524-1430

Some more great announcements

Criterion 4k upgrades of Blue Velvet and Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas, also Bound 4k

Plus Glory 4k

Also for those couple of live action Super Mario Bros movie fans, there is an insane looking Australian 4k release

And in the article above Bill Hunt talks about how the demand for the Cameron 4k’s have outstripped the supply and Disney are racing to get more produced. Despite the apparent quality problems it’s good to see people are still keen on buying physical media.

 

[jye4ever]

Crap crap crap!

Where are my 4K of

Blade 2
Commando
Forbidden Planet
Hero
House of Flying Daggers
Invasion USA
Kingdom of Heaven directors cut
Legend Directors Cut
Punisher Jane extended cut
Superman 78 Special Edition
T1 with corrected audio
T2 without wax monster
The Hidden
The Rock
Troy Directors Cut
The Thing 1950’s

 

[choombaz]

Crap crap crap!

Where are my 4K of

Blade 2
Commando
Forbidden Planet
Hero
House of Flying Daggers
Invasion USA
Kingdom of Heaven directors cut
Legend Directors Cut
Punisher Jane extended cut
Superman 78 Special Edition

Most of these yes please. I still haven’t seen Kingdom of Heaven and when I heard the DC was so much better I held off watching until the 4k came out but …

T1 with corrected audio

Pretty sure that’s coming this year

T2 without wax monster

Yes please

The Hidden

Yes please

The Rock

Yes please

 

[jye4ever]

 

[Rotfish]

We definitely need a 4K cut of Troy, but for the love of Hector, can we get a theatrical cut to go along with it?

I'm all about the 2.4:1 ultra-wide, personally. Black bars be damned, it just feels more expansive, more cinematic. Saw Dune: Part Two in IMAX first, will see it a second time in a Dolby theater which is really my preferred venue.