hdr

I sent the following letter to Mr. Robert Harris @Robert Harris on the use of HDR in Vertigo l, Alfred Hitchcock, 1958 And if he thinks it's worrisome that films are being visually altered by her grading. See below and let me know what you think please! Dear Mr. Harris, I've been a great...

Those of you who are aware of my penchant for quality audio, will understand when I state that Universal's new Back to the Future 4k set is worth the price of admission (currently street at $42) for the Dolby Atmos alone. I sampled the trilogy, and as expected, Universal has done a magnificent...

For those unaware, Alfred Hitchcock was a filmmaker of (generally) thrillers, occasionally with a bit of humor thrown in, and one single comedy - Mr. and Mrs. Smith (the 1941 RKO version). For this 4k Hitchcock sampler of his productions either produced for or owned by Universal, of which there...

I may be the only one to notice this, but Tim Burton's film tend to be a bit weird. Beetlejuice fits right in with much of his other work. And that's a good thing, as it's a terrific piece of entertainment. As to how it looks and sounds in 4k, I'll apologize in advance to those who might like...

Not may people know this, but Anne Ramsey (who plays Mama Fratelli) was originally cast as the mother on The Partridge Family, but was released from her contract after the the initial episode (which never aired), and replaced with another actress. Purportedly, she came off as "too sweet."...

Blue Underground is a class act, and their 4k releases carry on that tradition. Possibly more so with Lucio Fulci's 1981 The House by the Cemetery. Not a fan of giala, never was, but this one captured my interest. It's definitely creepy. Those who love the genre will appreciate the incredible...

It seems that many new 4k releases, at least those derived from film to 2k or 2k digital masters, don't offer a great deal of uptick in 4k. I was fully expecting this with the two WB Sherlock Holmes Downey / Law films, but came away pleasantly surprised. Especially when running the films from...

Ari Aster's (Hereditary) longer cut of his travelogue horror/mystery, Midsommar, has arrived here in the Colonies in its 172 minute cut, and in 4k. Shot with the new Panavision Millennium in 5k and 8k, and finished as a 4k DI, it's imagery is never less than astounding. I generally sit about...

Spartacus is a film near and dear to my heart. I know it well, having first seen it theatrically, in 70mm, in 1960. When it was re-issued in 1967 it had been shorn (much like Lawrence) of much of the material that held the film together, inclusive of the original ending. Photographed in 35/8...

This is based upon my words concerning the new Gladiator 4k Steelbook release. Back in the dark ages of home video, May of 2018 to be exact, I reviewed the 4k releases of Braveheart and Gladiator, and found Braveheart to have been shorn its plastic shackles. Now, a bit more than two years...

Back in the dark ages of home video, May of 2018 to be exact, I reviewed the 4k releases of Braveheart and Gladiator, and found Gladiator to have been shorn its plastic shackles. Now, a bit more than two years later, they arise anew, and there are two differences in Gladiator - a lovely...

A hugely popular film upon release in 1996, Columbia has released Cameron Crowe's Jerry Maguire in a special 24th Anniversary 4k UHD presentation, as part of the Columbia Collection boxed set. And it's beautiful. The film holds up wonderfully. Color, densities, black levels (further supported...

It's a little known fact that while Ben Kingsley was lauded for his portrayal of Gandhi in Sir Richard Attenborough's epic, he was not the first choice for the lead. Back in mid-1980, with no known Indian actors capable of taking on the role from an international marketing perspective, numerous...

One of my all-time favorite films. It's a bit like one of those wines, that's extremely high quality, and easy to drink. Everything about this film is perfect, which has made it a fan favorite. The new 4k UHD from Columbia, has taken Penny Marshall's (we could use her in our midst right now)...

Derived from original 2-perf elements, Lucio Fulci's Zombie, is a treat. While it may not take center stage for a general home video audience, for Fulci fans, this should be nirvana. Beautifully rendered, nice grain, stable image. It's all there. A great set of extras, inclusive of a...

Someone at Blue Underground must have connections with the filmmakers, as original elements have been accessed. The new 4k, in typical Blue Underground fashion, is a gorgeous affair. In this case derived from the original 16mm camera negatives, presented in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. A...

Hitchcock's Psycho, The Birds, Rear Window,and Vertigo will be released on 4K UHD as a set in September in France! Psycho will also be released separately. https://4k-ultra-hd.fr/coffrets-blu-ray-ultra-hd-4k/562-coffret-alfred-hitchcock-4-films.html...

The Blues Brothers, John Landis' now forty year-old paean to the blues, overkill and music, has always reminded me of the Ray & Irwin's garage sequence from Mad World. Actually shot in Vancouver, dressed as Chicago, saved billions of dollars in the various scenes of destruction, merriment and...

The Deer Hunter is a 1979 film, directed by Michael Cimino, which won some awards back in the day. It holds up beautifully. Shout Factory's new 4k - a pleasant surprise there - is a mixed bag. The master apparently comes from Canal +. IMHO, someone cranked the HDR a bit high, making the film...

No joking about this release. Dead-on Perfect in every detail. Gorgeous 4k imagery, superb audio in Dolby Atmos. An incredibly nuanced job by all concerned toward one of the most beautifully produced 4k releases of the year. Everyone needs a copy! And for those who don't know, time to read...

Possibly I'm just not a Lovecraft fan, although I find Arthur Machen's work very interesting. Different tones. Richard Stanley's Color out of Space was recommended to me, and I've viewed the 4k, which is a lovely 4k release. It's the film, or possibly the screenplay that the problem...

Cinema memories are a bit akin to muscle memory, especially as viewed through the aforementioned fog of time. It was my memory, having not seen the film since the Blu-ray was released eleven years ago (it was released twenty-two years ago), that it was a superb retelling of the zorro legend...

For The Invisible Man, Blumhouse, in league with director Leigh Whannell, goes beyond base genre, and has created a beautifully re-invented version of the 1933 Universal classic of the same name, starring Claude Rains, as directed by James Whale, from the novel by H.G. Wells. Elizabeth Moss...

Warner's latest addition to their 4k home theater library is just for fun. I make no claims to understanding the permutations and combinations of the DC Universe, any more than I do that Marvel. It's a full time job. But this is Ms Quinn's backstory. Over at rogerebert.com Christy Lemire...

I generally read reviews after I see a film, as I prefer to go in cold. My go-to is usually a combination of the trades, NY Times and Roger Ebert. For this one, Roger was absolutely on track. Go here: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/days-of-thunder-1990 Day of Thunder is an entertaining...

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I had no idea what I was going to be seeing when I popped Shout Factory's new 4k release of D-Day in my player. My intention was to watch ten or fifteen minutes and get an overview. That didn't occur. This production, and the resultant 4k release, are so good, that 43 minutes later, I was...

I've been waiting for this one. A true gangster comedy. Actually, more than that. In all its 4k - it's Real 4k - glory, this release from Universal is more like the Citizen Kane of gangster films. With a wonderful cast -- Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Michele Dockery, Jeremy Strong...

I happened upon the 2019 live-action version of The classic animated film, The Lion King (I believe the final actually drawn), while testing out Disney's new streaming service, and came away impressed by both. I'd had steered clear of the remake , as it seemed like a calculated money-grab by...

The Empire Strikes Back, directed by Irvin Kershner, is either the second or fifth installment in the series, dependent upon how one is counting. It was a wonderful film in 1980, and remains so today. Stand the test of time? You'betcha! Mr. Kershner, who had been at the film racket for...