UHD Titles Worth/Not Worth Upgrading [Archive]

[nicolas]

What is everyone's opinion on Criterion's The Rules of the game and Curzons The double life of Veronique? Can we add these to the lists as either reference or solid upgrade?

CC's Rules of the Game UHD is not appreciably better than BFI's Blu-ray. Curzon's Veronique UHD is worth importing

I‘d add to this that the French UHD (contains English subtitles) is an improvement over both the BFI BD and the Criterion UHD if forced from HDR into SDR by your player, such as the Panasonic ones. The HDR on the disc is not a real grade but a mistake by the authoring house which should ideally be “corrected” when you put in the disc in order to get the intended image.

[therewillbeblus]

CC's Rules of the Game UHD is not appreciably better than BFI's Blu-ray. Curzon's Veronique UHD is worth importing

I‘d add to this that the French UHD (contains English subtitles) is an improvement over both the BFI BD and the Criterion UHD if forced from HDR into SDR by your player, such as the Panasonic ones.

Is this an anomaly pertaining to this release, or a thing that Panasonic UHD players do with a variety of discs? This is the first I've heard of it..

[nicolas]

CC's Rules of the Game UHD is not appreciably better than BFI's Blu-ray. Curzon's Veronique UHD is worth importing

I‘d add to this that the French UHD (contains English subtitles) is an improvement over both the BFI BD and the Criterion UHD if forced from HDR into SDR by your player, such as the Panasonic ones.

Is this an anomaly pertaining to this release, or a thing that Panasonic UHD players do with a variety of discs? This is the first I've heard of it..

Yes, it’s thankfully an anomaly. As far as I know, the person who did the Rules of the Game encoding received the correct 4K Master in SDR but seemingly put it into a HDR container just like you’re able to force Dolby Vision onto pretty much anything by 4K players like Sony’s. It’s technically no big deal but the forced HDR causes black crush and destabilizes the intended contrast in SDR. It’s not unwatchable in HDR but also not ideal. I haven’t forced it into SDR until M A on the forum here pointed it out and it’s truly a wonderful image once I did. Unfortunately I got the Criterion UHD before having done this, but I’m keeping it for the extras. The French UHD (in SDR) looks better as it lacks the Criterion’s low-pass filter.

[M-A]

Yes, it’s thankfully an anomaly. As far as I know, the person who did the Rules of the Game encoding received the correct 4K Master in SDR but seemingly put it into a HDR container just like you’re able to force Dolby Vision onto pretty much anything by 4K players like Sony’s. It’s technically no big deal but the forced HDR causes black crush and destabilizes the intended contrast in SDR. It’s not unwatchable in HDR but also not ideal. I haven’t forced it into SDR until M A on the forum here pointed it out and it’s truly a wonderful image once I did. Unfortunately I got the Criterion UHD before having done this, but I’m keeping it for the extras. The French UHD (in SDR) looks better as it lacks the Criterion’s low-pass filter.

I'm not sure it's quite as clear cut as that. It seems to me to be a case similar to that of Wings of Desire 4K and Le Cercle Rouge 4K where the Criterion has the low-pass filter, but looks better in places where the encode on the other disc becomes quite messy, for example:

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=2&x=37 ... &i=14&go=1

Of course, it is hard to compare exactly how the grain differs due to the increased contrast on the French disc with the current caps

[nicolas]

Yes, it’s thankfully an anomaly. As far as I know, the person who did the Rules of the Game encoding received the correct 4K Master in SDR but seemingly put it into a HDR container just like you’re able to force Dolby Vision onto pretty much anything by 4K players like Sony’s. It’s technically no big deal but the forced HDR causes black crush and destabilizes the intended contrast in SDR. It’s not unwatchable in HDR but also not ideal. I haven’t forced it into SDR until M A on the forum here pointed it out and it’s truly a wonderful image once I did. Unfortunately I got the Criterion UHD before having done this, but I’m keeping it for the extras. The French UHD (in SDR) looks better as it lacks the Criterion’s low-pass filter.

I'm not sure it's quite as clear cut as that. It seems to me to be a case similar to that of Wings of Desire 4K and Le Cercle Rouge 4K where the Criterion has the low-pass filter, but looks better in places where the encode on the other disc becomes quite messy, for example:

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=2&x=37 ... &i=14&go=1

Of course, it is hard to compare exactly how the grain differs due to the increased contrast on the French disc with the current caps

You’re right. I haven’t noticed this as I haven’t seen the entire film, only a few select moments. Those I saw looked good to my eyes and usually I prefer looking at a presentation like this with no apparent filtering but occasional macroblocking than those Criterion puts out unless there are drastic examples like Le Cercle Rouge. I’d also take Curzon’s UHDs over Criterion’s for example if there are no better alternatives (Fidelity in Motion, Plaion etc.)

[nicolas]

Caps for Capelight’s The Apartment UHD are up: https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=1&x=33 ... &i=11&go=1

As expected, Kino’s encoding is better.

[jheez]

I'd recommend skipping Paramount's UHD of Hustle & Flow. It adds lossless audio, but grain/detail is smeary and the contrast is super dreary in motion. The ancient 16 year old blu-ray looks surprisingly great in comparison. Disappointed.

[Finch]

Bride of Chucky (Scream Factory)

[kniselyb]

so is the Criterion Rules of the Game worth getting if you already own the older bluray?

[kniselyb]

If I buy the french import of the rules of the game my sony player lets me set HDR output to off and dolby vision to off. Would this be enough to watch the movie correctly?

[ryannichols7]

I own no previous editions of Close Encounters and am picking it up in preparation for a rewatch for our 1977 project. is it really true that the super cheap UHD edition comes with all of the on-disc extras that came with the previous Blurays (three cuts, feature length making of)? or do I have to buy up to the deluxe edition to get all the previous extras. listings seem kinda unclear and I wanna make sure before I buy

Curzon's Veronique UHD is worth importing

have been weighing this, since I already own the Criterion BD. all of the extras already appeared on the CC, no? just want to be sure

[Drucker]

I own no previous editions of Close Encounters and am picking it up in preparation for a rewatch for our 1977 project. is it really true that the super cheap UHD edition comes with all of the on-disc extras that came with the previous Blurays (three cuts, feature length making of)? or do I have to buy up to the deluxe edition to get all the previous extras. listings seem kinda unclear and I wanna make sure before I buy

Curzon's Veronique UHD is worth importing

have been weighing this, since I already own the Criterion BD. all of the extras already appeared on the CC, no? just want to be sure

Would love to know about the audio on the UHD. I re-watched my blu ray recently which looks great, but I have to suspect the audio has been futzed with a little. The best evidence I have is some of the muscular auto sounds I would expect from fast driving cars in a 1970s flick (think the police chasing the alien early in the film, driving through the tolls) but the engines just aren't that loud or powerful. Is there an original mono mix for this?

[therewillbeblus]

I own no previous editions of Close Encounters and am picking it up in preparation for a rewatch for our 1977 project. is it really true that the super cheap UHD edition comes with all of the on-disc extras that came with the previous Blurays (three cuts, feature length making of)? or do I have to buy up to the deluxe edition to get all the previous extras. listings seem kinda unclear and I wanna make sure before I buy

Yes, if you're talking about the 40th Anniversary Edition, which I got for super cheap. I'm not sure what "cheap" vs "deluxe" editions you're looking at though - only see two different versions released: two seemingly-identical releases of the 40th anniversary and a gift set, which also looks kinda like the same thing, only maybe deluxe packaging?

[ryannichols7]

I own no previous editions of Close Encounters and am picking it up in preparation for a rewatch for our 1977 project. is it really true that the super cheap UHD edition comes with all of the on-disc extras that came with the previous Blurays (three cuts, feature length making of)? or do I have to buy up to the deluxe edition to get all the previous extras. listings seem kinda unclear and I wanna make sure before I buy

Yes, if you're talking about the 40th Anniversary Edition, which I got for super cheap. I'm not sure what "cheap" vs "deluxe" editions you're looking at though - only see two different versions released: two seemingly-identical releases of the 40th anniversary and a gift set, which also looks kinda like the same thing, only maybe deluxe packaging?

yes, the "cheap" one = seems to be the 40th anniversary release with all disc content the same, three cuts on UHD (seamless branching?) and the "deluxe" = that, but with a gift set box and studio flimsy booklet. just wanna make sure all the disc content is the same. it's $9.99 pretty regularly for the "cheap" one, and as long as it has the same disc content I'm in, just didn't wanna miss out on anything aside from the packaging and booklet

[therewillbeblus]

Yeah, I have the cheap one and it's got it all. Looks great too.

[swo17]

But have you really experienced the film if you haven't seen the box light up and play the theme at the touch of a button?

[kniselyb]

What is the consensus on Total Recall by Lionsgate? Same encode as Studiocanal?

[cdnchris]

It's the same disc. The menus and such just differ depending on the region you select when the disc loads.

[senseabove]

Paramount's next UHD is Terms of Endearment

[CSM126]

I think you meant to post that in the worst covers thread

[Finch]

Batman Mask of the Phantasm (WB)

Blu-ray.com review quotes inclusion of 2.0 track and a very well put together 5.1 track for the audio. Purists might be disappointed that only 1.85:1 is offered on the 4k. The BD had 1.33:1 as well.

[nicolas]

It Follows (Second Sight) is a fantastic release all around and belongs in the reference category. Those who had previous BDs claim that the 4K upscale is very good. Encoding is by David Mackenzie. Apparently these BDs had botched 5.1 tracks which I can confirm are excellent on the Second Sight with exceptional dynamics and especially low-end. The Atmos is the icing on the cake, subtly dialing back loudness in favor of even more atmosphere by working more on a subliminal level with the bass. Having both is wonderful and the package with bonus features superb too. Highly recommend the interview with production designer Michael Perry.

[Finch]

Exorcist 4k review from Randy Miller

[Finch]

Criterion's Princess Bride 4k and Disney's Nightmare Before Christmas 4k both have playback issues, so you might want to hold off with purchasing until further comment from CC and Disney.

[nicolas]

3 Days of the Condor has received a very good 4K restoration free of Paramount’s aggressive DNR and overall digital processing, thank God, but Kino’s encoding is extremely underwhelming. The encode looks like Curzon’s Three Colors encodes or the first post-FiM Vinegar Syndrome encodes, which means extremely high bitrates and exemplary grain and detail reproduction in normal light conditions but huge struggles in anything remotely bright. This is the case here and occasionally even stronger. For instance, walls next to lamps are so blocky it hurts. Example at 0:40:37 which lasts for multiple seconds. I haven’t seen the entire film yet but I’ve already noticed multiple instances. The same has happened with Serpico too, which caps-a-holic revealed in all its blocky glory.

I’ve often defended Kino’s doings due to their admittedly fantastic lineup on BD and UHD with classics we wouldn’t otherwise get from the studios. First the continuing audio issues (I have no idea about Condor) and now the encodes are concerning as well. Staying Alive is disappointing in HDR10 but good in DV. I don’t even want to look at Condor’s HDR10 layer when it looks so bad in DV.

Like Curzon, Kino doesn’t encode extras on the UHD and reserve an entire BD-100 for the feature, so there’s no reason to subject us to any encoding issues due to utter laziness by the encoder. I have a feeling that those encoding that way haven’t got much interest in watching the actual disc themselves somewhere in the future when they don’t have access to the uncompressed master any more. They can’t be collectors and enthusiasts like us who wish to have our favorites properly preserved.

For those interested in seeing an amazing encode of a 4K restoration presented on a BD-100 like Condor, choose Shout’s Hackers