UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
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- Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:49 pm
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
I canceled my Heat preorder when I realized it wouldn't be a reference disc and decided to get BFI's Get Carter release instead. I may pick up Heat on UHD at some point in the fall.
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- Joined: Thu Mar 07, 2019 3:44 pm
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
Luckily, it looks like Polanski’s THE PIANIST (2002) is getting a full 4K rebuild right now.Unfortunately it looks like Kino were not able to improve much on the original DI master. Just another example on why to be cautionary with 4K upgrades for titles from 00s and 10s.
- therewillbeblus
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
It looks like it's good to me- but I think this poses an issue I've hesitated to bring up before and now feels worth mentioning
First, I really want to thank Finch and everyone who has put work into researching and reviewing, and keeping this list up to date. The last thing I want to do is request additional work be done! But I think I'm often at a loss for what constitutes a reference disc vs a good one. Is there a way we can get specific on what about (for instance, Heat's) UHD stops it from becoming a reference disc? I know there are occasionally some comments about "poor HDR/dolby" but maybe it would be easier if we had an idea of which UHD expert reviews are being held up as well-regarded vs others in order to prompt us to do more research ourselves when looking to buy? Like, I've heard a guy named Geoff mentioned a lot- would it be possible to link his website on the main page, if that's what these are being based on vs blu-ray.com, for example? I feel like that'd be helpful in going to the review(s) ourselves rather than requesting further embellishment from those here who are doing a lot of work to categorize, if we're wondering whether the upgrade is worth it. I've bought a few discs from the good column that I love and some that were underwhelming, and maybe that'd help forum users make up their minds- but it seems silly to cancel a preorder on a "Good" upgrade just because it's not "Great/Reference" in the eyes of some amalgamation of subjective criteria we're not quite aware of... or maybe that's just me
To summarize, I really appreciate this list, use it all the time, and would be lost without it. I'd like to have some links to where you're all finding reliable sources on discs though, if that's cool (and, I'd imagine, this would clean up people asking Why This Category? questions in the thread by linking what you're using proactively?)
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
I don't mind adding links going forward.
- senseabove
- Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2015 3:07 am
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
geoff_d doesn't have his own site; he posts his reviews in the respective disc thread on the other forum, but another user catalogs them (as well as other reputable user reviews). You can find links to those catalogs in the first post of the UHD/HDR for Dummies thread over there.
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
Geoff D is a blu-ray.com member, real name Geoff De'arth, who used to be a Digital Fix reviewer. His UHD reviews can be found on the related UHD threads on blu-ray.com. He also has worked on the Second Sight Dawn of the Dead restoration (on color grading) and has also worked on the new Videodrome restoration (if I understood correctly).
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- Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:49 pm
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
From what I understand regarding Heat on UHD, it's just not a massive upgrade over the 4K-sourced options that have been in circulation since 2017 or so. Also, they squeezed an almost 3-hour film onto a BD-66, but that seems to be the least of the question marks. Lastly, the 2017 color grading itself seems to have some naysayers.
- senseabove
- Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2015 3:07 am
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
A French label called "The Jokers" is releasing a UHD of Ophuls' Letter From an Unknown Woman in November
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
They're the French distributors of Parasite, they'll also release on UHD : JSA, Memories of Murder, the Infernal Affairs trilogy, Ring, Dark Water and Irezumi.
They seem also to be preparing a UHD release of Red Angel.
They seem also to be preparing a UHD release of Red Angel.
- andyli
- Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 4:46 pm
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
And they're all up for pre-order on Amazon... Particularly good news for Red Angel, whose Arrow transfer is good but definitely not from a 4K source.
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
I'm actually quite curious about this Red Angel announcement, precisely because the recent Arrow BD clearly wasn't from a source suitable for a UHD, and I'm not aware of a more recent remaster.
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- Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:49 pm
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
I'm always a little wary of French boutique labels given their patchy history with encodes, even if it's nice to see these sorts of titles getting premium releases. Carlotta seems to be an exception on the encode front though. The issues with the Doinel discs from them seem to be substantially source-related at least. I wouldn't expect a Criterion release to be a substantial improvement aside from being English-friendly of course. I could be wrong though.
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
Almost all Carlotta releases have been encoded by David M since 2014, this explaining that.
I don't recall The Jokers having had problematic encodes, I seem to recall their Parasite UHD being pointed as having the best encode around, but their In The Mood For Love UHD seems to have been filtered when compared to the German one.
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I don't recall The Jokers having had problematic encodes, I seem to recall their Parasite UHD being pointed as having the best encode around, but their In The Mood For Love UHD seems to have been filtered when compared to the German one.
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- Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:49 pm
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
On the Parasite front, how is Artificial Eye's encode? It appears to have the exact same bitrate as The Jokers'.
- M_A
- Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2022 2:54 pm
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
Furthermore on the Parasite front, I think the Universal 4K should be bumped down to a solid upgrade and the Artifical Eye should be placed in reference if it is the same encode as The Jokers' 4K as compression is much better.
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
If anyone can confirm the AE UHD has the best encode or matches the French one, I'll update.
- EddieLarkin
- Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:25 am
- therewillbeblus
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
Thanks! Very detailed and impartial, I can see why folks flock to this poster
- The Fanciful Norwegian
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:24 pm
- Location: Teegeeack
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
This article from last December says that Imagica were working on a 4K remaster at the time of the author's visit, with the involvement of the cinematographer. Unfortunate timing for Arrow (did Kadokawa not bother informing them it was in line for a new master?). The article says Fires on the Plain and Satan's Sword are getting the 4K treatment as well.
- annakarina
- Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2022 7:29 pm
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
Here's a couple omissions from the list that I'm curious about how they'd be categorized: the Arrow Academy 'Cinema Paradiso' release, and the French 'La Haine' release that has English subtitles.
- M_A
- Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2022 2:54 pm
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
Don't know about Cinema Paradiso, but La Haine would probably be solid over the BFI blu and reference over the Criterion blu. I believe someone said that the German 4K of La Haine (without subtitles) has a better encode but I am not sure.annakarina wrote: ↑Wed Aug 10, 2022 11:58 amHere's a couple omissions from the list that I'm curious about how they'd be categorized: the Arrow Academy 'Cinema Paradiso' release, and the French 'La Haine' release that has English subtitles.
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
Cinema Paradiso added and the UHD advances significantly over Arrow's BD, let alone every other release of the film
La Haine (French import)
Event Horizon (Paramount) (if compared to the Scream Factory BD)
Early feedback on Scream's Child's Play 1-3 is strong but I gather MGM kept these films in very good shape so these probably fall into the second rather than the top category.
La Haine (French import)
Event Horizon (Paramount) (if compared to the Scream Factory BD)
Early feedback on Scream's Child's Play 1-3 is strong but I gather MGM kept these films in very good shape so these probably fall into the second rather than the top category.
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
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- Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2013 10:46 pm
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
This thread is a godsend. Special thanks to Finch, Tenia and EddieLarkin. I've been independently attracted to Geoff D's comments for years now, but admittedly very unorganized in my keeping track. After reading this entire thread this evening I'm very excited (if not bummed for the number of 4K -> 4K upgrades I'll be making). After years of collecting UHD titles I finally have a 4K display coming. John at Value Electronics is calibrating a 65" Sony A90J and it should be at my house in 3 weeks. I have the same panel that I purchased as a demo model from Best Buy last weekend... its insanely good, even uncalibrated, but it has image retention and DSE so its going back. Watching a few films was enough to know that I needed to splurge and go all in with Robert and John at VE.
I saw the notes of apprehension about newer releases not necessarily being desired. If I may, I'd love to start some chatter about the 4K titles available from Darren Aronofsky, Neill Blomkamp, and in general anything from A24. Am I alone, or do these appeal, as mainstream as they are, to fellow CC enthusiasts? I think they fit the theme as much as things like Alligator. I think both the Aronofsky titles and Blomkamp titles are ripe for debate. Ive seen mixed reviews if memory serves. I currently own them all on bluray, but with the new equipment incoming I'd really like to upgrade if they are "solid" or "reference" tier. Especially Requiem for a Dream and District 9.
Hopefully once my set comes in and I have my audio system calibrated I can hang out and contribute more! I'll likely have the ability to switch back and forth between my Oppo BDP-103 and a hopeful Panasonic UB-9000 to get a feel for BD vs 4KUHD BD.
I saw the notes of apprehension about newer releases not necessarily being desired. If I may, I'd love to start some chatter about the 4K titles available from Darren Aronofsky, Neill Blomkamp, and in general anything from A24. Am I alone, or do these appeal, as mainstream as they are, to fellow CC enthusiasts? I think they fit the theme as much as things like Alligator. I think both the Aronofsky titles and Blomkamp titles are ripe for debate. Ive seen mixed reviews if memory serves. I currently own them all on bluray, but with the new equipment incoming I'd really like to upgrade if they are "solid" or "reference" tier. Especially Requiem for a Dream and District 9.
Hopefully once my set comes in and I have my audio system calibrated I can hang out and contribute more! I'll likely have the ability to switch back and forth between my Oppo BDP-103 and a hopeful Panasonic UB-9000 to get a feel for BD vs 4KUHD BD.
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading
If people are curious about contemporary titles, post them and I'll try collate what I can.
Requiem for a Dream (Lionsgate) Bryant Frazer reviews at FFC
District 9 (Sony) Pyoko capsule review at Blu-Ray.com
Be aware that the UHD (not sure about the BD) has a glitch akin to the 12 Monkeys error and Sony are apparently still investigating, so no official word about a replacement of this release.
Requiem for a Dream (Lionsgate) Bryant Frazer reviews at FFC
District 9 (Sony) Pyoko capsule review at Blu-Ray.com
Be aware that the UHD (not sure about the BD) has a glitch akin to the 12 Monkeys error and Sony are apparently still investigating, so no official word about a replacement of this release.