I can tell you that back in the summer of 1987, the negative was of high enough quality to be used for 70mm blow-ups, along with 6-track.
This disc is startlingly beautiful.
Color, black levels, shadow detail and grain structure all appear normal, although I was wondering if there might have been a tiny bit of grain manipulation. If there was, it doesn’t stick out as problematic.
What has me questioning slightly what I’m seeing is the overall resolution, which in many shots appears to be either large format, or appearing more akin to a recent digital capture – which it is not.
The film was shot in Panavision with E-series anamorphic optics, and looks better than one might surmise.
This isn’t a bad thing, and it’s possible that the glass and exposures were just that good. As far as grain, it becomes more noticeable in darker shots, ie a thinner negative, but when fully exposed, the appearance is absolutely miraculous.
As this is not an Academy Award winning Best Picture, there is no need to precisely mimic the appearance of original prints, but it’s possible that that is what’s occurring here.
Zero problems. Zero regrets.
This is reference quality 4k, derived from a 35mm anamorphic source.
As an aside, for those seeking a film looking into the back-story of Peter’s lost boys, you’ve got the wrong film. Best to keep away from small children.
Final point for slipcover collectors – we have numismatists, philatelists – must be a tech term for slipcover collectors – since this is printed on foil, it’s a very good looking piece of art, and may only be for the first edition. Could be huge prices coming on eBay.
Image – 5 (HDR)
Audio – 5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors – Yes
Upgrade from Blu-ray – Without a doubt
Highly Recommended
RAH
Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.
His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.
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