UHD Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ - The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection - Volume Two -- in 4k UHD (1 Viewer)

[Robert Crawford]

This is actually my first time watching these five films, so new for me at least.

I think you're an outlier and if you compared these new 4K discs to those old Blu-rays, you wouldn't want to watch those Blu-rays.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

With the Blu-rays you can play the movie places where you don't have a 4K player.

The included digital copies provide the same thing.

 

[Robert Crawford]

The included digital copies provide the same thing.

Remember, some people won't and/or can't stream.

 

[Kyle_D]

This is also the first time I've picked up these films, as the Blu-rays were so poorly reviewed and these are not my favorite Hitchcock films.

I'd personally be okay if studios stopped including Blu-rays with 4K releases. Digital copies are sufficient and far more flexible for viewing when a UHD disc player is not available.

 

[OliverK]

The included digital copies provide the same thing.

The Blu-ray will have a higher bitrate and it will be at 100% quality from the moment you start the movie, can't say that for digital copies (yet).

 

[Robert Crawford]

The Blu-ray will have a higher bitrate and it will be at 100% quality from the moment you start the movie, can't say that for digital copies (yet).

Those old Blu-rays don't look as good as those 4K digitals.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Remember, some people won't and/or can't stream.

True, but there are probably more people capable of streaming than own Blu-ray players. The digital copies from my 4K disc set are certainly more useful to me. The BD discs will never get used.

 

[Craig Beam]

My TROUBLE WITH HARRY UHD disc arrived with a couple of ugly scratches, but it seems to play without issue. SABOTEUR was stuck inside the cardboard sleeve thanks to some overzealous gluing (but the disc ultimately cleaned up just fine after being liberated). The first thing I did (which is the same thing I've done with all of these Universal book-style collections) is move all the discs into clear plastic disc sleeves (fortunately they all still fit inside the outer box). God, I hate the design of these things. It doesn't help that the artwork is nearly identical to the previous Masterpiece Blu-ray collection from a decade ago.

 

[JoshZ]

The first thing I did (which is the same thing I've done with all of these Universal book-style collections) is move all the discs into clear plastic disc sleeves (fortunately they all still fit inside the outer box).

Interesting idea. I have some disc sleeves on hand, but they're a little different than yours and I couldn't get them to fit into the slots in the box.

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

My TROUBLE WITH HARRY UHD disc arrived with a couple of ugly scratches, but it seems to play without issue. SABOTEUR was stuck inside the cardboard sleeve thanks to some overzealous gluing (but the disc ultimately cleaned up just fine after being liberated). The first thing I did (which is the same thing I've done with all of these Universal book-style collections) is move all the discs into clear plastic disc sleeves (fortunately they all still fit inside the outer box). God, I hate the design of these things. It doesn't help that the artwork is nearly identical to the previous Masterpiece Blu-ray collection from a decade ago.

View attachment 139705

Interesting idea. I have some disc sleeves on hand, but they're a little different than yours and I couldn't get them to fit into the slots in the box.

Since the BDs are just recycled old ones anyway (and sounds like all extras are included on the 4K discs), maybe just ditching them (or storing them elsewhere) would go a long way to help...

That's probably what I'll end up doing...

_Man_

 

[JoshZ]

Since the BDs are just recycled old ones anyway (and sounds like all extras are included on the 4K discs), maybe just ditching them (or storing them elsewhere) would go a long way to help...

That's probably what I'll end up doing...

_Man_

You still have to stick the UHD into the slot in the cardbook "page" of the book packaging. Removing the Blu-ray from the opposite page won't do anything to make getting the UHD in and out any easier, or prevent it from getting scratched.

 

[Craig Beam]

Just to clarify---- my plastic sleeves are just resting between the cardboard book pages, not in the disc slots. If it weren't for the outer box, they'd fall right out.

I *really* wish I'd just started buying the individual releases when volume 1 came out. Sure, they take up more room, but...

 

[ChristophM]

I think you're an outlier and if you compared these new 4K discs to those old Blu-rays, you wouldn't want to watch those Blu-rays.

A note from abroad: The European Vol. 2 sets I've seen have proper digibook packaging, so no glue issues. Some may find it a drawback that they don't come with download or streaming codes (personally I avoid further compression). As for the old BDs, I am among those who wouldn't have any use for them because I got that huge "Masterpiece Collection" acrylic case set back in the day but there's a tailor-made solution for this scenario too: I bought the Italian release which has just the five UHD discs in a digibook.

 

[OliverK]

Those old Blu-rays don't look as good as those 4K digitals.

If they are from an older master then I would hope so.

If a BD and a digital 4k version are from the same master then I prefer the Blu-ray in most cases. Not sure how many of the titles in this box set are from a new master but at least The Trouble With Harry already looked very good on Blu-ray.

 

[Robert Crawford]

If they are from an older master then I would hope so.

If it is from the same master then I prefer the Blu-ray in most cases. Not sure how many of the titles in this box set are from a new master but at least The Trouble With Harry already looked very good on Blu-ray.

Didn't several of us already stated that every single Blu-ray in this 4K set is the same as the 2012 Blu-rays? There really isn’t anything else to argue about on that matter.

 

[OliverK]

Didn't several of us already stated that every single Blu-ray in this 4K set is the same as the 2012 Blu-rays? There really isn’t anything else to argue about on that matter.

Who is arguing here?

The second part of my post was not about the box set but that in general I prefer Blu-rays to 4k streaming versions.
I have edited it for clarification.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Who is arguing here?

The second part of my post was not about the box set but that in general I prefer Blu-rays to 4k streaming versions.
I have edited it for clarification.

If that's your preference then so be it, but it's not mine if the Blu-rays are inferior to the 4K stream. The Trouble with Harry Blu-ray has been criticized by many people and you're one of the few people that thinks it looked very good.

 

[OliverK]

If that's your preference then so be it, but it's not mine if the Blu-rays are inferior to the 4K stream. The Trouble with Harry Blu-ray has been criticized by many people and you're one of the few people that thinks it looked very good.

No problem, luckily we can agree to disagree over here

With the way things are going I really hope that streaming will catch up with and possibly surpass BD and UHD quality instead of only being "good enough". We do not have a choice for a growing number of titles that have not been released on UHD disc or even Blu-ray but they are available on streaming platforms. Sadly things will only get worse in the future so here's hoping that there will be some way to get more consistent and higher quality content.

 

[Chuck Pennington]

Started watching the 4K The Trouble With Harry and was pretty disappointed; that is, until the opening titles were complete. What a stunning looking disc! I remember how colorful the film has always been, even back on LaserDisc, but the detail and balance between the lightest and darkest areas of the frame in this release is extraordinary, especially for a vintage color film.

Wow.

Could The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) ever look like this?

 

[RICK BOND]

Started watching the 4K The Trouble With Harry and was pretty disappointed; that is, until the opening titles were complete. What a stunning looking disc! I remember how colorful the film has always been, even back on LaserDisc, but the detail and balance between the lightest and darkest areas of the frame in this release is extraordinary, especially for a vintage color film.

Wow.

Could The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) ever look like this?

I can't wait for Frenzy in 4K UHD ! I Wish WB would release some Hitchcock's in 4K !