- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,311
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Like everyone else in the Blu-ray universe, I just received my copy of the new digital restoration of Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus.
I was initially alarmed, as there seemed to be a slight chip at the top spine area of the slipcover, and a couple of what appeared to be scratches in the title letters on the same slipcover.
Fortunately, the scratches turned out to be part of the cover design, which saved me from driving to Duluth to return it. I'll live with the chip.
Many Blu-ray collectors find the condition of the slipcovers to be just as important, and sometimes more important, than the look and sound of the tiny disc found within. My suggestion for those folks, is to remove the aforementioned slipcovers, seal them in something containing no chemicals, separate them from the plastic packing and disc (which may affect their long term survival) and store them at proper temperature and humidity somewhere like Hollywood Vaults in Hollywood:
http://www.hollywoodvaults.com
or possibly here, for longer term storage:
http://www.undergroundvaults.com
Once getting past the potential trauma of the chipped slipcover, I proceeded with an official unboxing (you can find the video on YouTube), and placed the Blu-ray disc gently in the tray of my Oppo 103D, Darbee set at zero.
Once everything was fired up and ready to run, I double checked to make certain that it was the Oppo doing the uprezzing to 4k, and not the Sony projector, and off we went.
Nice menus. Pretty digital Universal logo. And Play.
First interesting point is finding that this thing has one of those Overture things. I was able to recognize it because Universal kindly put up some lettering, confirming that that's what it was.
Sounded great.
A bit more than four minutes in, that huge antique Universal logo hit the screen, looking nothing like any other Universal logo of the era. Seems that back in 1960, post-production went back to the original artwork and created a Technirama version, much like the seldom used prologue from Lawrence of Arabia, also filmed in Technirama.
Looks great!
Beautiful main title sequence -- the work of the legendary Saul Bass -- and on into the body of the film.
All great to the point where the film faded out and an Intermission came up, followed by the second part of the film, before which was one of those entr'acte things.
Again, I was able to identify it. Nice touch.
Through part two, and everything looked superb.
Only problem that I had were those strange titles, and I'm referring here to modern white lettering on a blue background. Could these have been there in 1960?
Did they even have blue in 1960? Or letters?
Somehow it looks too modern.
Must be an error.
Did someone at Universal borrow them from another film for this?
Between that and the chipped slipcover...
Be it as it may, great looking presentation. The folks at Universal should be extremely pleased with their final product. This, after Apollo 13. They've set a new standard for themselves.
Great color, proper grain structure for 35/8. Beautifully resolved, black levels, shadow detail. I believe it's better than the previous Blu-ray.
It's all good.
Great film, especially for one of those gladiator movies.
Image - 5*
Audio - 5*
4k Up-rez - 5*
Pass / Fail - Pass
Very Highly Recommended
RAH