UHD Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ - Aliens -- in 4k UHD (1 Viewer)

[ManW_TheUncool]

I thought it was funny. I'm just old, and out of touch regarding AI voices. It has advanced so fast that I completely missed it.
Scary, I guess.

I couldn't tell an AI voice over a real one if you paid me

In fairness, they are getting "better", ie. more human-like, and you were probably just (far) more amused than anything to (care to) pay all that much attention to that aspect -- and this is true in other respects about AI/bot usage too...

I'd say there really could be some real (but not "normal", native English-speaking) people who might actually speak somewhat like that... though probably not so mechanically consistently, which would give away the AI/bot...

Really. There are all kinds out there... so much so that I've been finding myself saying "you just can't make this stuff up" often enough in recent years... though not so much about how someone speaks, but maybe even a little of that too (of whom I'm thinking), heh...

_Man_

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Let's face it. Skynet is coming, LOL!

_Man_

 

[Robert Harris]

My perception is the humor found in a possibly AI-produced or at least voiced piece, attacking AI.

Does AI know how to properly swear?

 

[sbjork]

My perception is the humor found in a possibly AI-produced or at least voiced piece, attacking AI.

Does AI know how to properly swear?

That was my whole point. If you're creating or posting something railing against AI, then you're undercutting yourself if it contains AI.

Although the real point that I've made here and elsewhere is that as the technology improves, we're approaching the tipping point where even the best and brightest of us aren't going to be able to tell the difference. Like it or not, we'll eventually going to have to judge things solely by how they look or sound, rather than on our preconceived notions about how that look or sound was achieved. The self-proclaimed experts on certain Internet forums and YouTube channels are going to find themselves on even shakier ground than usual -- and they're going to be fooled, whether they'll ever admit that fact or not.

 

[Robert Harris]

That was my whole point. If you're creating or posting something railing against AI, then you're undercutting yourself if it contains AI.

Although the real point that I've made here and elsewhere is that as the technology improves, we're approaching the tipping point where even the best and brightest of us aren't going to be able to tell the difference. Like it or not, we'll eventually going to have to judge things solely by how they look or sound, rather than on our preconceived notions about how that look or sound was achieved. The self-proclaimed experts on certain Internet forums and YouTube channels are going to find themselves on even shakier ground than usual -- and they're going to be fooled, whether they'll ever admit that fact or not.

This also interconnects with reviewing, or attempting to review 4k discs.

Once a scan has been created from an analogue element, and some entity has affected it with digital tools, it’s extremely difficult to ascertain precisely what one is seeing.

Making matters worse, any new disc based upon an older image harvest with earlier digital work baked in, that has gone through further digital - fuggetaboudit.

 

[Kaskade1309]

Deep Discount has it for $26.78. It’s on backorder, but you can order it. Because it’s not in stock, you can’t use the 10% off code, but because it’s over $25, you get free shipping.

Thanks a lot!

 

[Kaskade1309]

Deleted; wrong thread

 

[Kaskade1309]

Put my email address on the list for DEEP DISCOUNT, so I'll pick it up when available for the $27.

Thanks for that heads up!

 

[Stephen_J_H]

I was at Walmart on Saturday, and all 3 have been marked down to $20 Cdn. Those of you close to the border may find a hop useful.

 

[Kaskade1309]

I was at Walmart on Saturday, and all 3 have been marked down to $20 Cdn. Those of you close to the border may find a hop useful.

Appreciate the heads up; unfortunately, I'm not anywhere near the northern border. I guess $26 and change (US) isn't that far off 20 bucks...

 

[Kaskade1309]

Ordered it from Deep Discount just now; it was out of stock, but I received an email telling me it was back in stock, so I paid the $26 plus tax (no shipping, apparently).

Thanks for all your help tracking down a somewhat less expensive variant for me.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Ordered it from Deep Discount just now; it was out of stock, but I received an email telling me it was back in stock, so I paid the $26 plus tax (no shipping, apparently).

Thanks for all your help tracking down a somewhat less expensive variant for me.

You could've bought it four bucks cheaper if you had at least another title to purchase and use the 15% off coupon SEABISCUIT.

 

[Kaskade1309]

You could've bought it four bucks cheaper if you had at least another title to purchase and use the 15% off coupon SEABISCUIT.

Wish you could have given me a heads up before this; I probably could have found something else to order.

Still, it's not a bad price, is it?

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Wish you could have given me a heads up before this; I probably could have found something else to order.

Still, it's not a bad price, is it?

Well, they do very regularly have those 10-15% coupons (and we even have a dedicated thread over here) *and* the previous poster that suggested checking them for this even mentioned a 10% code (though they require item to be in-stock as usual)... plus you said you signed up w/ them or something, so (should probably get emails about sales/coupons... though that might not be super-reliable for that)...

Live and learn I guess... but we all miss out now and then no matter how diligent we check, heh...

That price is ok I guess... especially w/ that particular title in our current reality...

_Man_

 

[Kaskade1309]

Well, they do very regularly have those 10-15% coupons (and we even have a dedicated thread over here) *and* the previous poster that suggested checking them for this even mentioned a 10% code (though they require item to be in-stock as usual)... plus you said you signed up w/ them or something, so (should probably get emails about sales/coupons... though that might not be super-reliable for that)...

Live and learn I guess... but we all miss out now and then no matter how diligent we check, heh...

That price is ok I guess... especially w/ that particular title in our current reality...

_Man_

Thanks for the heads up; didn't know about the dedicated thread. Now that I think about it, there was a prompt for an added coupon that popped up after I purchased, but it didn't seem to materialize into anything when I clicked on it (I got some icon that kept swirling around for a while; didn't think it was genuine in the moment).

I did thank the member for the recommendation, though, if you noticed; I don't think I caught the part when he mentioned the coupon. At any rate, like you said, live and learn...I didn't pay shipping, so that was good.

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Thanks for the heads up; didn't know about the dedicated thread. Now that I think about it, there was a prompt for an added coupon that popped up after I purchased, but it didn't seem to materialize into anything when I clicked on it (I got some icon that kept swirling around for a while; didn't think it was genuine in the moment).

I did thank the member for the recommendation, though, if you noticed; I don't think I caught the part when he mentioned the coupon. At any rate, like you said, live and learn...I didn't pay shipping, so that was good.

One thing... especially since we/you might start deferring to Deep Discount more often going forward given the dwindling disc marketplace, DD does also usually keep whatever deal/coupon easily visible enough on their site. IF you don't see some banner or the like for any deals, just go to their homepage and whatever deal should show up... though the homepage might be very cluttered w/ all sorts of different deals, etc beyond the frequently recurring 10-15%-off most everything (in stock) -- just anticipate there's probably such a coupon/deal and look for it when you wanna buy something (though there's often enough some requirement of some minimum size order exceeding $25 or so, if for nothing other than free shipping on top).

_Man_

 

[Kaskade1309]

One thing... especially since we/you might start deferring to Deep Discount more often going forward given the dwindling disc marketplace, DD does also usually keep whatever deal/coupon easily visible enough on their site. IF you don't see some banner or the like for any deals, just go to their homepage and whatever deal should show up... though the homepage might be very cluttered w/ all sorts of different deals, etc beyond the frequently recurring 10-15%-off most everything (in stock) -- just anticipate there's probably such a coupon/deal and look for it when you wanna buy something (though there's often enough some requirement of some minimum size order exceeding $25 or so, if for nothing other than free shipping on top).

_Man_

Appreciate it.

 

[SwatDB]

A few hours

How many a few hours to actually scan a film, In general?
Depending on the length of the film?

On what format are we talking about?

8mm
Super 8
9.5mm
16mm
17.5mm
28mm
35mm (4-perf/8-perf)
65/70mm (5-perf)
IMAX 70mm (15-perf)

Just curious.

 

[Robert Harris]

How many a few hours to actually scan a film, In general?
Depending on the length of the film?

On what format are we talking about?

8mm
Super 8
9.5mm
16mm
17.5mm
28mm
35mm (4-perf/8-perf)
65/70mm (5-perf)
IMAX 70mm (15-perf)

Just curious.

Depends upon scanner and resolution.

 

[Kaskade1309]

After receiving my copy (with slip) yesterday and watching the '86 theatrical version last night (in 2160 resolution), I'll say just a couple of things amidst the hoopla and controversy this release seems to have created - even taking into account the whole AI argument that has run rampant in this forum's thread, and in a plethora of others...

To begin with, did anyone else become frustrated with the stupid setup procedure Disney's Buena Vista division authored for this disc? It was confusing to figure out, from the jump, how to choose the "Special Edition" from '90 and the original theatrical edition from '86 based on the strange layout of the startup menus/screens. Furthermore, when I attempted to get to the language setup portion, the menu didn't allow me more than a second or two to navigate the areas, instead engaging playback by itself and forcing me to press the TOP MENU button of my player's remote to access the setup menus myself. Of course, it was probably authored to default playback to the English Atmos track without subtitles, but I like to confirm that for myself when I start a disc.

Beyond that little nitpick, let's talk video -- for all the hubbub about this transfer's "waxy-looking," "detail-drained," AI-enhanced image, I just didn't see it. Now, granted -- I have never been a rabid fan of this franchise, and I am just beginning to get back into the series since watching these early entries (along with part three and maybe one after that) as a kid many moons ago. I bought Scott's 1979 original in 4K and have been enjoying rediscovering its sheer terror and filmmaking genius in the Sci-Fi/Horror genre, so I suppose my comments can be taken with something of a grain of salt. Not owning Aliens on any physical format until now, my viewpoints may be skewed a little compared to those who are VERY familiar with the film, its original aesthetic, its color temperatures over the years, et al. From what I saw watching it on my UHD display last night, running the HDR10 layer (my display doesn't support Dolby Vision) and being calibrated in Samsung's "Movie" picture mode for HDR, the film didn't look as "bad" as all the reviews were making it seem -- and I mean in terms of it not looking "right" or "like proper film." Sure, I was able to make out the smoothed-over aesthetic from the AI program Cameron used for noise reduction and such, but it didn't look horrible to me, as many others have complained about. Again, though, I am a casual fan "rediscovering" this franchise after many years, and I don't have a VHS tape, DVD or Blu-ray version to compare it to.

The film just looked clean, sharp and "nice" to my eyes, with some closeup shots of faces coming off as downright stunning in terms of ripe detail. Yes, some shots went in and out with regard to detail and softness, but the majority of the runtime looked absolutely fine for a film from 1986 that's been put through the processing ringer. With all of that being said, let's address the elephant in the home theater room...

I agree with a few reviews I read that claimed the HDR pass on this disc just wasn't up to snuff in terms of sheer impact and highlights -- again, granted, I was running the base HDR10 layer, but I have read that the DV pass didn't impress many reviewers, either. The explosions, gunfire, lamp lights, etc. looked GOOD, but they didn't explode with searing brightness or color as the best HDR elements do. However, this didn't get in the way of the enjoyment of the feature; it was almost as if Cameron and crew decided on a "tamer, somewhat more realistic" approach to the High Dynamic Range elements, and I have to respect them for that. What bothered me the most, actually, as I got more comfortable rediscovering this beloved sequel from the 80s, was how little action there was in the beginning, save for the moment the marines and crew discover the colonist cocooned in the walls -- indeed, nothing really happens, action-wise, until a good hour in, after which the narrative slows again with the Newt subplot and Michael Biehn's character showing Ripley how to fire the gun, etc. It then picks up for the final act when Ripley and Newt discover the queen's lair, followed by the last battle between Rip and the queen.

At any rate, regarding the audio: because I'm not set up for Atmos (or DTS:X), I had to view the film accompanied by the core Dolby TrueHD mix, but aside from some distinct lack of surround activity, the track sounded fine...better than the DTS-HD MA track on the Alien UHD, IMO. Some dialogue was mixed lower than the action bits, so it required me to raise my AVR's master volume up during quiet sequences and then back down when gunfire or explosions erupted. There were a few random, brief moments of bass activity, but I wouldn't call it "wall rattling;" rather, it was like an extended mid-bass punch that accompanied some of the scenes nicely. All in all, the track remained center-focused most of the time, with some quasi-aggressive spills to the left and right front channels to support onscreen movement -- but the biggest letdown, IMO, was the lack of surround content. I didn't detect much, but it was there for certain scenes.

And was it just me...or did I detect some overtones of the Star Trek II score?