Discuss North American DVDs and Blu-rays or other DVD and Blu-ray-related topics.
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mhofmann
- Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2015 7:01 pm
#1101
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by mhofmann » Mon Mar 27, 2023 3:36 pm
mhofmann wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 5:51 pm
Finch wrote: ↑Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:23 pm
kmhoffman said on the other forum he spot-checked the UK Virgin Suicides 4k and felt it was better encoded than the Criterion but turns to mush when the end credits begin.
The Studiocanal looked better to my eyes when comparing a few sequences side-by-side.
Similar to what we see on the two
The Piano or
Mulholland Drive versions: Studiocanal has more finely resolved grain, while Criterion's grain rendering looks decidedly more chunky, to the point where it could even be a bit low-pass filtered (either on purpose or due to different encoder settings).
The end credits look certainly messed up on the Studiocanal release and are fine on the Criterion.
Encoding difference depicted here:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php? ... stcount=24
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jsteffe
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 9:00 am
- Location: Atlanta, GA
#1102
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by jsteffe » Mon Mar 27, 2023 10:21 pm
Finch wrote: ↑Mon Mar 27, 2023 9:37 am
Cauldron are off to a flying start with their 4k entry, Fulci's
City of the Living Dead,
with a David M encode and here is
one of some early very positive reactions.
EDIT: 3/27/12:
second review
Finch, thanks for flagging this release! The reviews look promising. I just ordered a copy of the 3-disc edition on Diabolik.
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Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
#1103
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by Finch » Tue Mar 28, 2023 8:47 am
No problem, jsteffe!
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Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
#1104
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by Finch » Tue Mar 28, 2023 9:23 am
Geoff confirmed that the Rocky set is a mess in terms of how the films have been encoded.
For compression it goes a little something like this:
Rocky: not amazing, but decent enough
Rocky II: breaks down badly in various spots
Rocky III: wunderbar
Rocky IV theatrical: disaster zone
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M Sanderson
- Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 3:43 am
#1106
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by M Sanderson » Wed Mar 29, 2023 5:00 am
Finch wrote: ↑Tue Mar 28, 2023 9:23 am
Geoff confirmed that the Rocky set is a mess in terms of how the films have been encoded.
For compression it goes a little something like this:
Rocky: not amazing, but decent enough
Rocky II: breaks down badly in various spots
Rocky III: wunderbar
Rocky IV theatrical: disaster zone
thanks for the update. I'm going to stick with just the first film. It does look good enough (it's never even had a good Blu-ray) and with me not being a sound expert, and not using speakers (don't want to bother the neighbours) the audio issues might never affect me.
although I was curious to revisit the second one, for me a genuine Rocky film.
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Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
#1107
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by Finch » Wed Mar 29, 2023 9:09 am
88 are looking into the issues with the Hell of the Living Dead 4k as well as House on the Edge of the Park.
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Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
#1109
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by Finch » Wed Mar 29, 2023 8:50 pm
No surprise there:
Martin (Second Sight) with FiM encode and Geoff D QC'ing.
first feedback
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M Sanderson
- Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 3:43 am
#1110
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by M Sanderson » Fri Mar 31, 2023 7:19 am
Any reliable confirmation whether Blue Underground's 4ks of Jess Franco's EUGENIE and JUSTINE are good upgrades or reference discs? (apologies if I missed any earlier posts).
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Aspect
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 3:36 pm
#1111
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by Aspect » Fri Mar 31, 2023 8:45 am
I bought Eugenie (one of my absolute fav Francos) and, while I’m admittedly not a video expert, thought it looked incredible. I watched the extras on the blu ray and then sampled the movie on that disc, which looks better than ever. Then, out of curiosity, I put in the 4K and was so gobsmacked by the color and clarity (barring the baked-in out-of-focus shots) that I ended up watched the whole movie despite the late hour. Fortunately it’s short!
I’d buy it without hesitation if it’s your bag. I’d bet good money Justine looks great too, but I don’t love that one like I love Eugenie, which simply oozes cool IMO.
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M Sanderson
- Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 3:43 am
#1112
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by M Sanderson » Fri Mar 31, 2023 9:08 am
Thanks for confirming. I love EUGENIE, an absolute first rate Franco. Perverse, dark and also a lovely production. Those out of focus shots will become of interest, as some commentators have remarked that his Dracula uses this potentially as a distancing device. And his last complete film, AL PEREIRA VS ALLIGATOR LADIES, blurs the line between rehearsal, preparation & actual scene - you kind of don't know where one ends, and the other begins, including such things as wavering focus. He playfully obliterates the difference in his film-as-essay. But you wonder if at the time of EUGENIE, whether it was likely done due to rushing.
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Aspect
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 3:36 pm
#1113
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by Aspect » Fri Mar 31, 2023 9:34 am
For sure. Regardless, the blurry shots add to the dreamlike atmosphere and somehow become a feature rather than a bug, especially near the beginning when Maria Rohm is reading De Sade and imagining herself participating in the story, foreshadowing her part in the climax but not able to see the twist!
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Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
#1115
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by Finch » Fri Mar 31, 2023 4:13 pm
User feedback trickling in for
The Maltese Falcon and concurring with Randy Miller's site review that FB linked to above, added to OP.
Cholly also
likes the UHD of Cool Hand Luke a lot. Be forewarned that WB did not upgrade the BD that comes with the 4k.
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ryannichols7
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:26 pm
#1116
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by ryannichols7 » Fri Mar 31, 2023 4:44 pm
Finch wrote: ↑Fri Mar 31, 2023 4:13 pm
Be forewarned that WB did not upgrade the BD that comes with the 4k.
has there been a title yet where they have? the Kubricks?
excited to see the
Rebel Without a Cause and
Rio Bravo reviews too
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Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
#1117
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by Finch » Fri Mar 31, 2023 4:55 pm
Going by the comments on BR it seems arbitrary as to which WB titles get an upgraded BD too or not. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a knockout presentation of Rio Bravo and Rebel myself.
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FrauBlucher
- Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:28 pm
- Location: Greenwich Village
#1118
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by FrauBlucher » Fri Mar 31, 2023 4:56 pm
Ryan, Unforgivin was one that they also upgraded the bluray. But that was a while ago. I think they stopped doing that
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Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
#1119
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by Finch » Sat Apr 01, 2023 7:06 pm
Eugenie is a reference disc if compared to the 2015 BD, solid upgrade if compared to the new 2023 BD (which is enclosed anyway).
Same applies to Justine.
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captveg
- Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:28 pm
#1120
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by captveg » Sun Apr 02, 2023 11:33 am
FrauBlucher wrote: ↑Fri Mar 31, 2023 4:56 pm
Ryan,
Unforgivin was one that they also upgraded the bluray. But that was a while ago. I think they stopped doing that
They recently did it for
A Christmas Story, so it still happens.
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Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
#1121
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by Finch » Sun Apr 02, 2023 8:14 pm
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Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
#1122
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by Finch » Wed Apr 05, 2023 11:42 pm
Kyle15 on Second Sight's Texas Chainsaw Massacre 4k
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therewillbeblus
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm
#1123
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by therewillbeblus » Thu Apr 06, 2023 12:02 am
Finch wrote: ↑Wed Apr 05, 2023 11:42 pm
Kyle15 on Second Sight's Texas Chainsaw Massacre 4k
Was there any word about the quality of the MPI 4K recently released in the U.S.? I know many of us have been holding out assuming SS' would be superior, but curious if there's much of a difference for the import
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Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
#1124
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by Finch » Thu Apr 06, 2023 12:29 am
I think Randy Miller said in his review of the US 4k that it was better encoded than their older Blu-ray. Most of the talk in the US 4k thread is about the Second Sight 4k instead and the Dark Sky has already seen price drops. I have no idea if the Friedkin/Hooper conversation is any good.
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Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
#1125
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by Finch » Thu Apr 06, 2023 5:33 pm
FFC's Bill Chambers reviews the Dark Sky 4k.
I know that some collectors will be holding out for the upcoming Limited Edition from UK label Second Sight, but if you can live without its hardbound book of critical essays, this is a comparatively affordable alternative that doesn't feel like a compromise.
As suspected, the Friedkin-led piece isn't sounding good.
Also new to this edition is "The Cinefamily Presents FRIEDKIN/HOOPER: A Conversation About The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" (onscreen title: "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 40th anniversary Q&A"), a 54-minute dialogue between Hooper and The Exorcist director Friedkin conducted after a screening and handprint ceremony at the Vista Theater in Los Feliz on July 21, 2014. Calling The Texas Chain Saw Massacre the scariest movie he's ever seen, Friedkin spends the hour drifting off into Trump-esque interzones of passive-aggressive hyperbole while a visibly fatigued Hooper, reaching the end of a publicity tour for the film's 2014 restoration, gives sprawling, discursive answers vaguely in sync with Friedkin's train of thought. It seems important to Hooper to get across the movie's European-ness, specifically with regards to how it drops you in the middle of a story already in progress ("It's a bad day for everybody," he says, "it's a bad day for Leatherface, believe me"), but the conversation truly is all over the place with chaos demon Friedkin in charge of it. Interestingly, Hooper confesses to seeing Frankenstein's Monster in person at a revival of James Whale's Frankenstein when he was a kid and running in terror from it. An interviewer more intimately familiar with Hooper's work would have drawn a line from this incident to his 1981 film The Funhouse, but Friedkin immediately switches gears and asks Hooper if he could still make The Texas Chain Saw Massacre "now." Which isn't a bad question in and of itself, though it backs Hooper into a corner.