UHD Review A few words about...™ - Dirty Harry, The Outlaw Josey Wales & Pale Rider -- in 4k UHD (2 Viewers)

[Nelson Au]

I watched the 4K Josey Wales too last night, first time seeing it.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I watched the 4K Josey Wales too last night, first time seeing it.

And?

 

[Nelson Au]

And?

I just posted my impressions in the Westerns thread.

 

[Perene]

You mean that in 2025, Warner couldn't get SD extras to be properly upscaled ?

For Dirty Harry: I looked into the same extra features from the DVD, Blu-ray and the 4K... and so far only the interviews appear clearly wrong. If the problems are the same for all of them, I can't tell, perhaps because it's very subtle.

"Dirty Harry's Way", from 1971 and 7 minutes (another bonus content), is also in 720x480 for the Blu-ray, and 29.970 fps, but contrary to the interviews, it features footage from FILMS. For the 4K, again with the 1920x1080 23.976fps.

I don't remember if this is a common procedure, but if it is, it needs to be carefully done or perhaps left in SD and with the same fps, because if it was finalized in video, it may have the visual artifact I explained before if not done correctly.

 

[Nelson Au]

I enjoyed watching the 4K Dirty Harry so much I had to see Magnum Force. I watched it from the 5 film blu ray box set.

I hand’t seen it in some time. It was interesting to see again. I enjoyed seeing it again, but at the same time, it felt a little inferior to the original. I think it was because Harry’s new boss seemed so out of place, but was created to set up the plot.

It was also interesting to see the young David Soul, Robert Urich, Tim Matheson and Kip Niven.

The theme of the story was interesting too. While the first film touched on police brutality, this film took that to the level of the vigilante and that made sense.

The blu ray looks ok. It was very watchable.

 

[Dale MA]

Screened Dirty Harry at the weekend—easily the best experience I’ve had in my home theatre this year. Picture and (Atmos) sound were incredible. Followed up with Magnum Force on BD, which was a major step down in audio-visual quality. Hoping we get the sequels in 4K eventually.

 

[mskaye]

Screened Dirty Harry at the weekend—easily the best experience I’ve had in my home theatre this year. Picture and (Atmos) sound were incredible. Followed up with Magnum Force on BD, which was a major step down in audio-visual quality. Hoping we get the sequels in 4K eventually.

Director Don Siegel + Cinematographer Bruce Surtees + Clint Eastwood = why Dirty Harry stands apart from the others by such a large margin.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Director Don Siegel + Cinematographer Bruce Surtees + Clint Eastwood = why Dirty Harry stands apart from the others by such a large margin.

I think you missed his point about the audio/video presentation differences between a 2025 4K/UHD presentation to a 2008 Blu-ray.

 

[mskaye]

I think you missed his point about the audio/video presentation differences between a 2025 4K/UHD presentation to a 2008 Blu-ray.

lol I did. I thought it was a DH vs MF overall comparison

 

[Dale MA]

I think you missed his point about the audio/video presentation differences between a 2025 4K/UHD presentation to a 2008 Blu-ray.

Exactly. Really like Magnum Force, it’s the reverse message of Dirty Harry—pretty clever and very entertaining. None of the sequels hit the heights of the original, impossible too, really—but they are all a good watch in their own ways. 4Ks of the whole bunch would be a dream, also The Rookie and Tightrope which are like unofficial Harry movies.

 

[Dave H]

Exactly. Really like Magnum Force, it’s the reverse message of Dirty Harry—pretty clever and very entertaining. None of the sequels hit the heights of the original, impossible too, really—but they are all a good watch in their own ways. 4Ks of the whole bunch would be a dream, also The Rookie and Tightrope which are like unofficial Harry movies.

Agreed. It was a tall order for that many sequels to turn out as well as they did. Each has something to offer with different themes. I really hope they are released on UHD soon enough and I would love to see Tightrope as well.

 

[Douglas R]

Screened Dirty Harry at the weekend—easily the best experience I’ve had in my home theatre this year. Picture and (Atmos) sound were incredible. Followed up with Magnum Force on BD, which was a major step down in audio-visual quality. Hoping we get the sequels in 4K eventually.

I think Dirty Harry looked terrific as well. I haven’t seen it since I had it on VHS. I saw the film theatrically a couple of times when it was first released but I don’t think it looked as good then, as it does now, on this 4K disc.

 

[RCRochester]

So many Eastwood movies! I did watch about half of the retrospective featurette on the Dirty Harry disc on Eastwood’s film choices. Interesting that he said that he did not always go for the typical Hollywood projects that are mainstream. He wanted to try new things and dared to take chances.

A co-worker mentioned seeing The Beguiled and commented about it. I’ve never seen it. I am aware in basic terms of the ending. That might be one factor it wasn’t well received? But Eastwood felt the studio didn’t promote it very well. It sounds very different.

Speaking of Sondra Locke, The Gauntlet comes to mind. I remember seeing that on TV and I quite enjoyed it as a fun action feature. I don’t own it and haven’t seen it in ages. Might want to get a copy.

The Beguiled is a unique film in Eastwood's canon as it's the only one where he doesn't play a heroic character in any way (which isn't a spoiler, the film makes it clear from the onset) and is offbeat with some dark themes. Once you watch it, you'll see why it wasn't as well received by the movie going public as his other starring vehicles. Good film though; Sofia Coppola directed a remake a few years ago which wasn't bad either.

Two of my personal favorite Eastwood flicks that haven't been mentioned yet that you should check out (if you haven't already) are Thunderbolt & Lightfoot and Escape from Alcatraz. Being from SF, you should appreciate the latter which also features many of the same prison movie tropes used in The Shawshank Redemption. The former is just a fun 70s road movie/buddy comedy/heist movie. I remember having to scour every store in metro Vancouver looking for it on VHS when I was a kid back in the day and having to pay an inflated price for it, but I was so glad to have it.

 

[Nelson Au]

The Beguiled is a unique film in Eastwood's canon as it's the only one where he doesn't play a heroic character in any way (which isn't a spoiler, the film makes it clear from the onset) and is offbeat with some dark themes. Once you watch it, you'll see why it wasn't as well received by the movie going public as his other starring vehicles. Good film though; Sofia Coppola directed a remake a few years ago which wasn't bad either.

Two of my personal favorite Eastwood flicks that haven't been mentioned yet that you should check out (if you haven't already) are Thunderbolt & Lightfoot and Escape from Alcatraz. Being from SF, you should appreciate the latter which also features many of the same prison movie tropes used in The Shawshank Redemption. The former is just a fun 70s road movie/buddy comedy/heist movie. I remember having to scour every store in metro Vancouver looking for it on VHS when I was a kid back in the day and having to pay an inflated price for it, but I was so glad to have it.

Thanks for the insight! I think I may skip The Beguiled.

I have seen Thunderbolt and Lightfoot once on PBS. It didn’t really like, or dislike it either. Maybe because I missed part of the beginning. I have seen Escape from Alcatraz a long time ago, on TV as well. It’s a title I’ve wanted to revisit. And yes, being from the Bay Area, it’s fun to see films made here. I’ll look for a blu ray of it. Thanks again!

 

[Robin9]

I think Dirty Harry looked terrific as well. I haven’t seen it since I had it on VHS. I saw the film theatrically a couple of times when it was first released but I don’t think it looked as good then, as it does now, on this 4K disc.

Thank you for that. I saw Dirty Harry when it was first released and I didn't think it was visually impressive at all. I'm now intrigued that maybe the print I saw wasn't good enough. I'll now buy this 4K version.

 

[Dale MA]

Thank you for that. I saw Dirty Harry when it was first released and I didn't think it was visually impressive at all. I'm now intrigued that maybe the print I saw wasn't good enough. I'll now buy this 4K version.

As someone who has watched DH countless times, many of which via the older BD, the 4K is a revelation. For new comers, or someone who hasn’t seen the film for a long time, I’m not sure the upgrade will be as apparent. Still worth the money though, GREAT film and the best the film has looked on physical media.

 

[Dave H]

Thanks for the insight! I think I may skip The Beguiled.

I have seen Thunderbolt and Lightfoot once on PBS. It didn’t really like, or dislike it either. Maybe because I missed part of the beginning. I have seen Escape from Alcatraz a long time ago, on TV as well. It’s a title I’ve wanted to revisit. And yes, being from the Bay Area, it’s fun to see films made here. I’ll look for a blu ray of it. Thanks again!

I blind bought Beguiled when Kino released it. Unique film, but I didn't care for it.

I absolutely love Escape from Alcatraz. I saw it as a kid on the ABC Sunday Night movie and have always found the story fascinating. I thought Thunderbolt and Lightfoot was pretty good. I also liked In the Line of Fire.

 

[Nelson Au]

I have the old Blu Ray of In The Line of Fire, and I just did a search and see that it’s out on 4K. So I’ll be adding that to my library too! And the 4K Escape from Alcatraz too.

 

[bobclampett]

RAH reviews aren’t showing up unless specifically searched for.

 

[Robert Crawford]

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