violence
Member
Pre-ordered.
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4K UHD/Blu-ray/DVD Community Thread: Bringing the Theater Home!
- Thread starter KDash31987
- Start date
Audiophile
Member
Got Arrow's release of Sam Raimi's A Simple Plan (1998) recently and I have to give props to the encoding house they use (Fidelity In Motion). It's a really solid transfer barring a few shots, but on the technical side the star of the show is the encode. It's not just a BD-100 with a high bitrate, but it's impeccably encoded in terms of efficiency (FiM do a lot of manual adjustment and tweaking vs an automatic encode).
When I finished watching I scrubbed back over and paused it on multiple shots to take a gander with my TV's zoom and there isn't a single foot wrong. Macroblocking, coarse clumped up pixel errors along each axis or any tell-tale compression signs were completely absent. Even some of the more well-regarded discs out there by the majors (and occasionally boutique labels too) have rough patches and errors that are not only noticeable in paused, zoomed in images but catch the eye in motion too, especially as you push to larger displays..
Here though? Complete consistency across the frame! This is probably the best encode I've seen on the format. If you told me this was a lossless video or at least a JPEG2000 DCP I wouldn't bat an eyelid; and considering a disc at this bitrate in HEVC is still only ~3% of the original image data, that's impressive.
Paramount have been putting out some rough encodes and even Kino, Criterion & Warner have been half-arsing it quite regularly. Other studios/distributors/authoring houses need to take note that this is the level of quality which is expected on a premium, relatively-niche format like 4K UHD BD. When you're putting something out on the best format available and charging a premium for it, this is should be the standard.
I know some folks don't go this deep, but I think it's important, given that these are likely the last physical releases many movies will be getting. I don't just think of Blu-rays as something to buy, but in terms of the larger picture, a form a lightweight, distributed mass-archival and preservation. The last consumer-available record of something important. It's all very well having the original elements in a vault and raw scans on a server. But availability and things being in the hands of the people in the form of the best possible facsimile is vital. Avoiding revisionism (or at least not having revisionist version replace or be the only version available) and faithfully presenting the content not just in terms of the master but in terms of an encode as transparent as possible. They need to get it right now, otherwise we may be forever stuck with something subpar. And again, if I'm spending £18-35 for a single release, the multibillion dollar owners of the property need to hold up their end of the bargain and do a solid job (or better yet, license out to people who care like Arrow).
When I finished watching I scrubbed back over and paused it on multiple shots to take a gander with my TV's zoom and there isn't a single foot wrong. Macroblocking, coarse clumped up pixel errors along each axis or any tell-tale compression signs were completely absent. Even some of the more well-regarded discs out there by the majors (and occasionally boutique labels too) have rough patches and errors that are not only noticeable in paused, zoomed in images but catch the eye in motion too, especially as you push to larger displays..
Here though? Complete consistency across the frame! This is probably the best encode I've seen on the format. If you told me this was a lossless video or at least a JPEG2000 DCP I wouldn't bat an eyelid; and considering a disc at this bitrate in HEVC is still only ~3% of the original image data, that's impressive.
Paramount have been putting out some rough encodes and even Kino, Criterion & Warner have been half-arsing it quite regularly. Other studios/distributors/authoring houses need to take note that this is the level of quality which is expected on a premium, relatively-niche format like 4K UHD BD. When you're putting something out on the best format available and charging a premium for it, this is should be the standard.
I know some folks don't go this deep, but I think it's important, given that these are likely the last physical releases many movies will be getting. I don't just think of Blu-rays as something to buy, but in terms of the larger picture, a form a lightweight, distributed mass-archival and preservation. The last consumer-available record of something important. It's all very well having the original elements in a vault and raw scans on a server. But availability and things being in the hands of the people in the form of the best possible facsimile is vital. Avoiding revisionism (or at least not having revisionist version replace or be the only version available) and faithfully presenting the content not just in terms of the master but in terms of an encode as transparent as possible. They need to get it right now, otherwise we may be forever stuck with something subpar. And again, if I'm spending £18-35 for a single release, the multibillion dollar owners of the property need to hold up their end of the bargain and do a solid job (or better yet, license out to people who care like Arrow).
Putonahappyface
Gold Member
Almost time for release.Not bad cover art for the steelbook, it could've certainly have been a lot worse.
pauljeremiah
Gold Member
My Xmas Haul:
j0hnnix
Member
I have a question and this might be really dumb, I just can't seem to find any information easily about it.
I recently upgraded to a new projector that does 3D , purchased dlp linked glasses , popped in a 3D movie and low and behold this nasty 4:3 picture shows up while watching Avatar 2.. like I was watching the Zak Snyder JL Cut. Anyways, it looked good but was annoyed thinking I'd see this in its typical format.. so I decided to see how Alita looked and it looked worse, like a small square on the screen.
Setup is
Hisense PX3-PRO
Marantz sr8015
Panny UB820
Since I have no experience with 3D movies.. I'm wondering Is this typical of 3D movies at home Or should I see full screen 16:9 and I'm missing a setting somewhere.
I recently upgraded to a new projector that does 3D , purchased dlp linked glasses , popped in a 3D movie and low and behold this nasty 4:3 picture shows up while watching Avatar 2.. like I was watching the Zak Snyder JL Cut. Anyways, it looked good but was annoyed thinking I'd see this in its typical format.. so I decided to see how Alita looked and it looked worse, like a small square on the screen.
Setup is
Hisense PX3-PRO
Marantz sr8015
Panny UB820
Since I have no experience with 3D movies.. I'm wondering Is this typical of 3D movies at home Or should I see full screen 16:9 and I'm missing a setting somewhere.
Yerd
Member
It should be full screen, unless you somehow bought movies that are specifically pan and scan. Check the cases and see what aspect ratio the given version is. It should list probably a normal version and a 3d version, what format they are, aspect ratio and audio.
I can't help with the settings, but you're missing something. I haven't used my 3d projector for years and stopped caring about 3d versions of movies. Go to one of the AV forums. Plenty of av nerds probably still doing 3d and can help.
j0hnnix
Member
That's what I did. Sometimes getting information from AVS forum is like pulling teeth. Good thing one person said it was a bug in Hisense Picture size and to force 16:9 instead of Auto. That did the trick.
Cosmic Smash
Member
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Cosmic Smash
Member
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Cosmic Smash
Member
OmegaSupreme
advanced basic bitch
Underated movie
violence
Member
I'll have to give the directors cut a shot. I fell asleep watching this movie in the theater. If nothing else, it's something pretty to watch on my TV.
Putonahappyface
Gold Member
I'll be all over this if it gets a UK release.
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NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt
Biggest Trails Stan
Cosmic Smash
Member
Putonahappyface
Gold Member
Double dip here I come.
Putonahappyface
Gold Member
I'm a huge Edward Norton fan. American History X is my favorite film with him as lead role, with Fight Club a close second.
His best role too
AJUMP23
Parody of actual AJUMP23
4k Master and Commander......BRING IT ON!
calistan
Member
4K blu-rays are region free, so they're fine to import from other markets. Amazon US ships to the UK.
Putonahappyface
Gold Member
I stopped importing films from abroad a long time a go, as they send out films in a shitty jiffy bag and charge extortionate postage. Poor protection at that price is unacceptable! My last steelbook looked like it had been stabbed up with a screwdriver.
Zavvi and HMV have nailed packaging with thick cardboard envelopes. Hopefully Kingdom of Heaven will get a UK release or I'll have to sadly pass.
calistan
Member
I guess steelbooks are quite vulnerable. I don't have any of those though. Last thing I ordered from Amazon US (4K version of Maxxxine) had 'free' shipping, and it arrived safely.
I've also bought from the A24 store, and they package their stuff extremely well. Their collector's edition releases have the best boxes.
Putonahappyface
Gold Member
I once ordered three copies of Rambo First Blood 4k UHD steelbook from Amazon US, just to get one undamaged.
On a positive note Kingdom of Heaven 4k UHD is getting a UK release.
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freernnur5
Member
Problem is some TV shows are just weird in terms of not making physical media and/or it's the companies choice not to. It seems that BB has the first 10 seasons on DVD, but seasons 11-15 aren't. Similarly It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has physical media and put a couple seasons on blu-ray (5-8) out of the first 12 that are on dvd, but then seasons 13-16 just aren't on physical media anymore.
Although the common problem in this case seems to be Disney since bought Fox in 2019 so they may have halted these shows being put on physical media.
Cosmic Smash
Member
Cosmic Smash
Member
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Putonahappyface
Gold Member
I got my pre-orders in.
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