UHD Review Superman: The Movie (2023 Re-issue) UHD Review (1 Viewer)

[Todd Erwin]

Will the newer versions have the corrected audio tracks tech specs on the back cover in tiny mice type, then, even with the same UPC?

Yes, unfortunately, and even the disc ID encoded on the disc is identical, as detected by My Movies software.

 

[Patrick Sun]

Yes, the 2018 package specifies 5.1 original audio and the 2023 package specifies 2.0 original audio.

Whew, I snapped up the older 2018 4k, then, at Best Buy yesterday after reading about the 2.0 audio on the 2023 batch. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[Lord Dalek]

Whew, I snapped up the older 2018 4k, then, at Best Buy yesterday after reading about the 2.0 audio on the 2023 batch. Thanks for the confirmation.

You might want to check that disc. There were reports that the new UHD quietly replaced the old one in recent Amazon purchases.

 

[Patrick Sun]

You might want to check that disc. There were reports that the new UHD quietly replaced the old one in recent Amazon purchases.

Alas, it appears that that is the case. Got a chance to pop in that Superman 4k disc, and the 2nd audio track is labelled "Original Theatrical English" and shows up as "DTS-HD MSTR stereo" when going through the audio tracks on my Panny DP-UB420.

On the plus side, I just rolled with the Dolby Atmos track, and enjoyed whatever 5.1 audio I was getting through my ancient Pioneer SC-05 receiver's processing. I ended up watching the whole damn movie last night! LOL!

 

[Bryan Tuck]

This may be old news for some of you, but there’s a lot of information here on the soundtrack that was new to me:

Revisiting Superman — The Extras

In this episode we are joined by editor/producer Michael Thau, extras producer Jonathan Gaines, and VP at the Donner's Company Derek Hoffman. All three worked with director Dick Donner on the "Superman: The Movie" restoration for DVD. They tell stories of working with Dick, the actual lo

www.theextras.tv

The effect of the 70mm soundtrack was almost mono, so, with Richard Donner’s approval, it was remixed for the 5.1 track on the DVD—with all new sound effects. Do we know which mix is on the 2018 UHD?

I haven't listened to the podcast, but from what I remember reading at the time, it was the 35mm mix that was "almost mono." The 70mm (at least as it's represented on the 2018 UHD's 5.1 track) has quite a bit of stereo separation in the fronts, and a fair amount in the surrounds.

I don't know anything for certain, but the 2.0 stereo track that we've had for the theatrical cut of SUPERMAN since 2006 sounds like something went wrong with the mastering. There is far more dialogue bleed in the surround channels when played through a Dolby processor than you usually get with a properly matrixed stereo track (and I've listened to it across multiple discs and multiple processors over the years).

I'm starting to wonder if maybe there was some kind of phasing issue that's never been corrected (sort of like whatever happened to the stereo tracks on Sony's recent UHD re-releases of GHOSTBUSTERS I & II). I know it's a legendarily weak mix, but even considering that, this still sounds like an error to me.

Neil - do you know anything about that?

 

[Lord Dalek]

I've read claims online from people who have actually projected Superman in 35mm that the 2.0 on the dvd and blu-rays is accurate to how it sounded fully decoded. Its really that bad.

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

Neil - do you know anything about that?

I don't. I've never been happy with the 2.0 on the video releases either, which is why that 2018 disc is so great.

 

[Bryan Tuck]

I've read claims online from people who have actually projected Superman in 35mm that the 2.0 on the dvd and blu-rays is accurate to how it sounded fully decoded. Its really that bad.

I saw it in 35mm a few years ago. I don't recall specifics, but I do remember it having some significant stereo separation. But of course, optical Dolby Stereo tracks were notoriously temperamental. There were numerous variables that could affect playback on different prints and in different theaters.

I dunno; that 2.0 track on the discs has always seemed a little weirder than it should to me.

 

[Noel Aguirre]

Last night I put the 2018 disc and was thoroughly enjoying it though it seemed a little lacking in bass and then I realized it defaults to the 5.1 mix not the Atmos. So I put on the Atmos mix, hoping to be wowed, restarted it, but the swooshing effect used on the opening credits was far too pronounced and overpowers John Williams’ fantastic score obnoxiously so. Needless to say I went back to the original 5.1. Like why did someone feel the need to tinker with the emphasis of that swoosh over the music. It wasn’t like that when I saw it in 1978. Very cheesy.
Btw does the new disc default to Atmos this time around?

 

[TonyD]

I think there is more things changed then just the opening credits sound fx.
Not much of it did anything to improve the sound if anything at all .

 

[Patrick Sun]

So, I figured out while browsing ebay that the easiest way to find out if the Superman: The Movie 4k title is the old original version, is to look for those that came with the original cover slip (with an expired date for the digital copy printed in mice type on the cover slip along the top border).

While on FB, I noticed someone was selling their Superman: The Movie 4k, and I asked them to verify the audio options on his 4k disc, and it had the DD5.1 as the 2nd audio option, so it was the original pressing for the title. And as luck would have it, he was looking for a copy of WW84 on 4k, which I had, and was wanting to be rid of it, so we worked out a trade, and hopefully both parties will be happy with the trade.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I wish I had picked up the 2018 when I could have - I don’t have a UHD player but I have a disc drive and could have ripped the 5.1 and merged that with the BD version of the movie. Oh well.

 

[Konstantinos]

I just bought the UK 2018 release, hope it includes the 5.1 audio, as there doesn't seem to be a standalone new release.

 

[Lord Dalek]

I think there is more things changed then just the opening credits sound fx.
Not much of it did anything to improve the sound if anything at all .

Well if anything the music score sounds a lot better on the remix since it used the full experimental six-track film mix they somehow didn't bother with in 1978.

 

[Todd Erwin]

I wish I had picked up the 2018 when I could have - I don’t have a UHD player but I have a disc drive and could have ripped the 5.1 and merged that with the BD version of the movie. Oh well.

You will have to tell me how to do that...

 

[Josh Steinberg]

You will have to tell me how to do that...

Happy to - send me a PM

 

[Todd Erwin]

Happy to - send me a PM

PM sent

 

[Konstantinos]

I just bought the UK 2018 release, hope it includes the 5.1 audio, as there doesn't seem to be a standalone new release.

I'm so pissed!
While there is no standalone new release in the UK, they have silently replaced the UHD with the new one, so I'm stuck with the atmos mix and the lossless stereo!!
What can anyone do if he would like the 2018 release?
And I purchased this one:
See on Amazon

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

I'm so pissed!
While there is no standalone new release in the UK, they have silently replaced the UHD with the new one, so I'm stuck with the atmos mix and the lossless stereo!!
What can anyone do if he would like the 2018 release?
And I purchased this one:
See on Amazon

eBay.

 

[Konstantinos]

eBay.

Yeah, I know.
But most people list the release as being the one from 2018, and I'm sure they do not know the issues involved.
I just sent a question to someone, asking him to send me a photo of the back cover and we'll see.