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rrenault wrote: Wed Jan 07, 2026 11:40 am So was Criterion’s Antoine Doinel box never classified in this thread?

CC’s Stolen Kisses 4K I think is a red a disc, but The 400 Blows, while perfectly fine, doesn’t seem any better than a FiM-encoded Blu-ray would. I haven’t looked at the Bed & Board and Love on the Run discs yet.

That said, Criterion’s 400 Blows 4K is probably preferable to the FiM-encoded blu rays in Europe due to the fixed gamma levels at the very least.

We discussed the set in the release thread, so it probably flew under the radar here with so many other 4Ks having been released last summer.

Yes, Criterion’s 4k is superior to the BFI BD for the additional grading and gamma improvements: https://slow.pics/c/Sx8yI3pG.

Dante’s Peak (Kino) - caps by The HDR Dissector (YT).

nicolas wrote: Sat Dec 13, 2025 11:36 am My impressions of the Second Sight Possession 4K:

-> Second Sight licensed the film from TF1 and used the Le Chat Qui Fume master from 2020
-> It was graded with HDR/DV visibly on the basis of the SDR master.
-> The LCQF master’s visual characteristics (especially the blown-out highlights) are still intact.
-> The FiM encode is likely the best it can look BUT there’s some pixelation in the highlights and it looks like it’s embedded in the master instead of traditional blocking.
-> DTS-HD 1.0 audio sounds excellent with clear voices and sounds.

Apart from the untidy highlights as a result of the mastering, the master is not as 100% film-like as the best recent 4K masters from Criterion in particular. A new master would have honestly been most appropriate to benefit of a native HDR grade in order to achieve the "blown-out" highlights that are seemingly intended but without this coming at the expense of seamless grain roll-off.

Nicholas, on your opinion, would be worth to upgrade from the MondoVision blu-ray to this new 4K from Second Sight?

danbez wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 10:23 pmNicholas, on your opinion, would be worth to upgrade from the MondoVision blu-ray to this new 4K from Second Sight?

I don’t have the Mondo Vision BD but maybe mhofmann can chime in for a comparison in motion. I only know of this comparison that’s got the Mondo Vision and others compared to the French 4K, which uses the same base master as Second Sight but with some cosmetic modifications for HDR. Judging from these caps, I’d say the upgrade is worth it even though the 4K master isn’t flawless.

Babe (Kino) - caps

nicolas wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 10:35 pm

danbez wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 10:23 pmNicholas, on your opinion, would be worth to upgrade from the MondoVision blu-ray to this new 4K from Second Sight?

I don’t have the Mondo Vision BD but maybe mhofmann can chime in for a comparison in motion. I only know of this comparison that’s got the Mondo Vision and others compared to the French 4K, which uses the same base master as Second Sight but with some cosmetic modifications for HDR. Judging from these caps, I’d say the upgrade is worth it even though the 4K master isn’t flawless.

Thanks!

nicolas wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 10:36 pm Babe (Kino) - caps

The second to last screenshot is an encoding disaster.

nicolas wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 10:35 pm

danbez wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 10:23 pmNicholas, on your opinion, would be worth to upgrade from the MondoVision blu-ray to this new 4K from Second Sight?

I don’t have the Mondo Vision BD but maybe mhofmann can chime in for a comparison in motion. I only know of this comparison that’s got the Mondo Vision and others compared to the French 4K, which uses the same base master as Second Sight but with some cosmetic modifications for HDR. Judging from these caps, I’d say the upgrade is worth it even though the 4K master isn’t flawless.

I'm mostly staying out of the numerous heated discussions (elsewhere) on which grading is ultimately "correct" and who approved what or didn't , but, unless you really hate the newer grading for some reason, I think the Second Sight release is 100% worth the upgrade from the Mondo Vision Blu-ray release.

The Mondo Vision release is limited by the age of the scan, and it clearly shows in motion that it's based on an older 2K restoration. Resolving of grain and fine details is much improved in any release of the newer restoration. In line with a few other (knowledgeable) voices on another forum, I also don't think the MV grading resembles photochemical film roll-off, although it looks initially more pleasing in direct comparison, since it's warmer.

To me, the Second Sight release is a significant upgrade and the current reference release of the film, besting all previous releases. As nicolas mentions, its biggest flaw are some artifacts in the whites, but I think they're minimal enough to be able to ignore.

mhofmann wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 7:44 am
I don’t have the Mondo Vision BD but maybe mhofmann can chime in for a comparison in motion. I only know of this comparison that’s got the Mondo Vision and others compared to the French 4K, which uses the same base master as Second Sight but with some cosmetic modifications for HDR. Judging from these caps, I’d say the upgrade is worth it even though the 4K master isn’t flawless.

Thanks MHofmann. That's the reason I decided to ask here versus "the other forum". I'm annoyed by the amount of silly discussions happening over there.

1408 (Lionsgate) - caps by The HDR Dissector.

Dead Man (Criterion)

Chris's review

Mister Frost (Le Chat Qui Fume) looks and sounds amazing.

Yakushima wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 4:36 am Mister Frost (Le Chat Qui Fume) looks and sounds amazing.

Thanks Yakushima! I added the film to the import list. Is it correct that the 4K doesn’t have English subtitles?

House Party (Criterion) - Chris’ review

I’m mixed on VS / Cinematographe’s new Married to the Mob and The Gambler 4Ks and would suggest the blue category for both of them.

What’s the word on the wave of Hong Kong stuff from Arrow and Shout? City On Fire is the only one I see listed

nicolas wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 7:15 am

Yakushima wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 4:36 am Mister Frost (Le Chat Qui Fume) looks and sounds amazing.

Thanks Yakushima! I added the film to the import list. Is it correct that the 4K doesn’t have English subtitles?

Nicolas, you are welcome! Correct, this 4K UHD does not have English subtitles, French subs only.

onedimension wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 4:23 pm What’s the word on the wave of Hong Kong stuff from Arrow and Shout? City On Fire is the only one I see listed

Shout's 4K restorations and encodes are totally fine but the subtitles on pretty much every release have left something to be desired. Arrow have Dylan Cheung do new translations and based on City on Fire, I think they have more character and feel more accurate, to a non-Cantonese speaker like me. Arrow also have more legacy extras than Shout does.

PS.: Chinese Ghost Story 1 has the blue nighttime filters missing on Shout's disc. Arrow are addressing this and releasing later in the year.

nicolas wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 3:48 pm I’m mixed on VS / Cinematographe’s new Married to the Mob and The Gambler 4Ks and would suggest the blue category for both of them.

Did you order from VS direct? They still haven't shipped my copy of Married.

Yes, ordered directly the evening they made them available. Maybe they shipped international orders first.

I'm not thrilled. $8 shipping charge on top of PA's sales tax. I ordered the minute it was available.

Finch wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 7:48 pm

nicolas wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 3:48 pm I’m mixed on VS / Cinematographe’s new Married to the Mob and The Gambler 4Ks and would suggest the blue category for both of them.

Did you order from VS direct? They still haven't shipped my copy of Married.

They haven't shipped mine either if it makes you feel better. It was the only thing I ordered and I also ordered first minute.


Edit: My copy just shipped

I ordered the first day of the month and my package arrived Sunday

My Married to the Mob and The Gambler combo package shipped out earlier today.

Apropos of nothing: If anyone is having buyers' remorse on The Great Silence and wants to sell me their used or new copy, my DMs are open and I'll make it worth your while (perhaps not to the extent of some eBay sellers, but)

I'll PM them because I'd like to get my copy before moving back to MD end of February.