UHD Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ - Death on the Nile (2022) -- in 4k UHD (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

The CGI for some of the sequences at the beginning when they first arrive in Egypt and when they we see the exterior shots of the Nile long distance when they are celebrating the wedding aren’t quite as impressive as I would have hoped but, given this is a throw back to older styled mysteries and the period setting, I thought of it like the old use of matte paintings. It doesn’t ruin it by any means but I can see how some folks will be critical of that portion. In fact, it makes it rather quaint like the period setting. The ironic is that there’s a lot of CGi work that was done on this movie that was ’invisible’ to most folks and they’ll never know. I can only image whst they looked like in 70mm. It is always a challenge to render visuals in a higher resolution format and pull it off.

Looks wonderful on a huge screen

 

[Stephen_J_H]

Looks wonderful on a huge screen

Indeed it does. Saw this at cinemas [first time back since In the Heights] and it really benefits from being seen on a large screen.

 

[OliverK]

Looks wonderful on a huge screen

Filming out to 70mm may help the CGI to blend in a bit better. Looking forward to see this in 70mm.

 

[mark brown]

Thoroughly enjoyed this film last night! Will need to start it earlier next time. Beautiful!

 

[marshman1138]

I used to know why movies filmed in 65mm were shown with 70mm release prints, but I lost track(s) of that information.

Because the magnetic stripping had to be put somewhere so it was added to the sides at 2.5mm each.

 

[marshman1138]

My question is why, if shot on 65mm film, was it not presented in the 2.21:1 aspect ratio? The only thing I can think of is the the area commonly used inside the sprocket holes for mag stripping was exposed as image, resulting in a slightly wider frame.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I think they opted to slightly crop it to 2.40:1 during the DI process because there is no DCP standard for 2.20:1 presentation. Most commercial theaters wouldn’t be able to properly display it.

 

[Worth]

I think they opted to slightly crop it to 2.40:1 during the DI process because there is no DCP standard for 2.20:1 presentation. Most commercial theaters wouldn’t be able to properly display it.

Most cinemas these days just letterbox 'scope films anyway, so I don't think it would have been much of a problem. There are a lot of non-standard aspect ratios, from Jurassic World's 2:1 to Jackie's 1.66:1, to The Lighthouse's 1.19:1, that are letterboxed or pillarboxed without issue.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Most cinemas these days just letterbox 'scope films anyway, so I don't think it would have been much of a problem. There are a lot of non-standard aspect ratios, from Jurassic World's 2:1 to Jackie's 1.66:1, to The Lighthouse's 1.19:1, that are letterboxed or pillarboxed without issue.

True, but for whatever reason, I think they just opted to standardize it within one of the standard DCP options. Unfortunately my American Cinematographer subscription is no longer active so I can’t say for sure.

 

[Robert Harris]

My question is why, if shot on 65mm film, was it not presented in the 2.21:1 aspect ratio? The only thing I can think of is the the area commonly used inside the sprocket holes for mag stripping was exposed as image, resulting in a slightly wider frame.

The area was protected for detritus. Early prints were 65mm, running with dubbers.

 

[sbjork]

So to clarify, the 70mm prints for Nile were definitely not 2.20:1? I'm not hep to all the ins and outs of 70mm exhibition, so if was 2.39:1, how is that handled on the film and when projected? Essentially letterboxed on the film strip and matted for projection?

 

[Robert Harris]

So to clarify, the 70mm prints for Nile were definitely not 2.20:1? I'm not hep to all the ins and outs of 70mm exhibition, so if was 2.39:1, how is that handled on the film and when projected? Essentially letterboxed on the film strip and matted for projection?

Photographed on 65mm negative. Scanned in 8k. Recorded back to film.

 

[sbjork]

Photographed on 65mm negative. Scanned in 8k. Recorded back to film.

Thanks, but I knew that part. My question was regarding what aspect ratio that the 70mm prints used, and if it wasn't 2.20:1, then how 2.39:1 is handled with 70mm projection.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Didn’t see Nile, but I assume same as Orient Express - 2.40:1 slightly letterboxed within a 2.20:1 frame.

 

[GerardoHP]

Where did you see the film?

Projected at home on my 150-inch screen.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

Thanks, but I knew that part. My question was regarding what aspect ratio that the 70mm prints used, and if it wasn't 2.20:1, then how 2.39:1 is handled with 70mm projection.

Given that recent 70mm prints of 65mm originated films are likely not mag striped [since they're likely using DATASAT or Dolby Digital], it's possible to use the entire frame width with a properly filed aperture plate.

 

[Dick]

If Branagh decides to look into another Christie novel to adapt, I hope it is a decent remake of And Then There Were None (called something else in the UK for a long while, as Christie originally named it...that title is now quite offensive). The Blu-ray that emerged of the very good 1945 adaptation looks terrible, as did the DVD editions (I believe the film is in the public domain). Other versions calling themselves a bunch of other things, such as TEN LITTLE INDIANS, are generally inferior. It's a good story, and I think would benefit from a well-produced new edition. Kenneth...?

 

[sbjork]

Given that recent 70mm prints of 65mm originated films are likely not mag striped [since they're likely using DATASAT or Dolby Digital], it's possible to use the entire frame width with a properly filed aperture plate.

That's what I was looking for. Thanks!

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Given that recent 70mm prints of 65mm originated films are likely not mag striped [since they're likely using DATASAT or Dolby Digital], it's possible to use the entire frame width with a properly filed aperture plate.

It’s possible, but given the limited numbers of showings and scarcity of equipment and qualified people to service and run it, I can’t imagine anyone cutting new aperture plates or installing them specifically for this.

Orient Express was letterboxed 2.40:1 within the 2.20:1 frame on the 70mm prints. Seems likely the same team made the same choice for Nile.

 

[Robert Harris]

That's what I was looking for. Thanks!

One would probably not wish to, as the mag stripes also covered an area of the frame not meant to be seen.