A Few Words About A few words about...™ The Wild Bunch -- in BD & HD (1 Viewer)

[dpippel]

Neither easy, nor inexpensive.

Can you elaborate Robert? If the problem is color, can't that simply be corrected in the digital domain once the elements are scanned?

 

[Robert Harris]

The Wild Bunch? If so, I agree, but wouldn't "The Searchers" be one too?

There are probably 15-20 that would work nicely.

 

[Robert Harris]

Can you elaborate Robert? If the problem is color, can't that simply be corrected in the digital domain once the elements are scanned?

No

 

[Robert Crawford]

There are probably 15-20 that would work nicely.

I'm assuming you're talking about 15-20 western catalog titles?

 

[Tino]

A perfect candidate for a 4k release.

Never mind.Answered.

 

[Dick]

I haven't watched the disc for a long time but, going from memory, the images are too brown. I'll have another look one of these days.

I concur. The skin tones are simply not right. It's distracting, frankly.

 

[dpippel]

No

Thanks for the treatise.

 

[Danny_N]

I'm assuming you're talking about 15-20 western catalog titles?

Any film that was shot on certain Eastman stocks between 1954 and 1960 (and especially 1959 and 1960) runs the risk of yellow layer failure on the negative according to one of Robert's old Yellow Layer Failure columns at the Digital Bits. So I think it's not just westerns.

Edit: never mind, I see that you're asking about 4K releases. Still, some of Robert's old columns are interesting reads so I'll just leave it there.

 

[titch]

Surprised nobody's mentioned the Mel Gibson remake in the works. I reckon there would be a good chance of a re-scan/reissue of the original in connection with that.

https://www.slashfilm.com/wild-bunch-remake-cast/

 

[cda1143]

Any film that was shot on certain Eastman stocks between 1954 and 1960 (and especially 1959 and 1960) runs the risk of yellow layer failure on the negative according to one of Robert's old Yellow Layer Failure columns at the Digital Bits. .... Still, some of Robert's old columns are interesting reads so I'll just leave it there.

Thank you Mr. Harris; thank you Digital Bits; and thank you Danny N for reminding us all about these old columns.

 

[cannon1]

Then of course Vertigo, the biggest yet-to-be fixed example of Yellow dye failure in my mind, and it's spectacular faded end scene. I'd heard of a 60th Anniversary version but haven't seen anything beyond the original Blu ray 'restoration' efforts?

 

[OliverK]

The Blu-ray of Vertigo looks very good overall, and I would say it is far away from being the biggest un-fixed example of yellow layer failure. The Man who knew too much on the other hand does need a lot of work.

 

[Robert Harris]

Then of course Vertigo, the biggest yet-to-be fixed example of Yellow dye failure in my mind, and it's spectacular faded end scene. I'd heard of a 60th Anniversary version but haven't seen anything beyond the original Blu ray 'restoration' efforts?

?

 

[Keith Cobby]

Watched the blu ray today after not seeing the film for many years. My enthusiasm (never very great) for the film has diminished with the passage of time. The beginning and end are energetic but the second act is very lethargic and a half hour could easily be cut. Alas, not a classic western for me.

 

[Dick]

I was in the mood for a western last night, so I looked at the Blu-ray of The Wild Bunch, a true classic that's more than stood the test of time, I love it. The Blu-ray is showing its age a bit. I can't put my finger on it, I dunno, too much of both noise reduction & sharpening, & some if it looks a bit brown. I just think it wouldn't get the same great reviews now that it got in 2007, that must be a good thing, it shows how far on standards have come in eight years.

I don't care for the flesh tones -- they seem pasty and brownish to me. That's always the first thing I zone in on when trying to determine if the color of a particular transfer is natural-looking. I look forward eagerly to a 4k.

 

[Alan Tully]

Yup, it's about time I looked at The Wild Bunch again, a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned (& a really enjoyable one), & considering its age, I don't think the Blu-ray looks too bad. I can really enjoy it, but I'd love a new 4K transfer, not so much for the 4K, more that I would be done from the original negatives, have less sharpening & all the other stuff done then, & have a more organic/natural look.

Let's go!

 

[FordPeckinpahLeone]

Yup, it's about time I looked at The Wild Bunch again, a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned (& a really enjoyable one), & considering its age, I don't think the Blu-ray looks too bad. I can really enjoy it, but I'd love a new 4K transfer, not so much for the 4K, more that I would be done from the original negatives, have less sharpening & all the other stuff done then, & have a more organic/natural look.

Let's go!

So do I. Insofar as the Blu-ray may be the best home video source, it is a trusty old product for me. A product I've used several times by now. It's loaded with some nice bonus features, the audio may not be the finest product but it seems relatively faithful to the sound design of the film (in contrast to some 'modernizing' sound mixes), and the video, though flawed in some ways and old, does convey quite a bit of the genius of Ballard and the director Peckinpah in visualizing this film.

 

[Dick]

The Blu-ray of Vertigo looks very good overall, and I would say it is far away from being the biggest un-fixed example of yellow layer failure. The Man who knew too much on the other hand does need a lot of work.

Perhaps the reason why the third and final 4K Hitchcock set is taking more time.

 

[OliverK]

Perhaps the reason why the third and final 4K Hitchcock set is taking more time.

Will be interesting to see if that box set comes first or a new release of The Wild Bunch!

 

[Dick]

Surprised nobody's mentioned the Mel Gibson remake in the works. I reckon there would be a good chance of a re-scan/reissue of the original in connection with that.

https://www.slashfilm.com/wild-bunch-remake-cast/

Yes, and a new 4K scan and Blu-ray release would fit so-o easily into the Warner Bros 100th Anniversary series.