A Few Words About A few words about...™ First Blood -- in 4k UHD Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

Robert Harris submitted a new blog post

A few words about...™ First Blood -- in 4k UHD Blu-ray

Continue reading the Original Blog Post.

 

[Blu_rayfan66]

Great to hear this has a nice transfer- thank you for the review and hope the sequels are all just as good!

 

[Robert Harris]

Great to hear this has a nice transfer- thank you for the review and hope the sequels are all just as good!

Rambo 2 is even better, with cinematography by Jack Cardiff.

 

[SAhmed]

Looks like I shall be buying this ( in the set) again one final time as its my most favorite Stallone movie although Rocky is not far behind.

Regards

 

[ghostwind]

Rambo 2 is even better, with cinematography by Jack Cardiff.

Do you know if both of these have a new Blu-ray from the same master used for the 4K?

 

[Britton]

These will be $7.99 each during Best Buy's Black Friday sale.

 

[atfree]

These will be $7.99 each during Best Buy's Black Friday sale.

Just curious, where did you see this? Best Buy's Black Friday ad is up on several sites and no mention of these titles. Most UHD titles on the ad are $14.99.

 

[Britton]

Just curious, where did you see this? Best Buy's Black Friday ad is up on several sites and no mention of these titles. Most UHD titles on the ad are $14.99.

It's not printed in the add, but all 3 are part of the "Choose from 20 titles" mentioned in the $7.99 category. Just go to the following link and scroll down:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/promo/movies-4k-799

I'll pick up First Blood and Halloween from this list. Ant Man & The Wasp will round out my purchases this year. I'll have to remember not to buy Captain Marvel or Avengers 4 until BF 2019. I still haven't gotten around to my release date purchases of Black Panther and Infinity War.

 

[Lord Dalek]

It seems that the production company spared no expense on the sequel.

Tell that to Cosmatos. He wanted to shoot First Blood II in Thailand. Kassar and Vajna forced him to do it in Acapulco instead to save a buck.

 

[Robert Harris]

Tell that to Cosmatos. He wanted to shoot First Blood II in Thailand. Kassar and Vajna forced him to do it in Acapulco instead to save a buck.

Where might one believe the budget would have landed with a Thailand shoot? And what might have been gained?

 

[LeeBob]

On a related topic, I suggest everyone check out Robert's "A chat with author David Morrell", the creator of the Rambo character at:
https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/threads/a-few-words-about-%E2%84%A2-a-chat-with-author-david-morrell.359634/

The interview is a great read and there is an opportunity for us to submit questions to Mr. Morrell (Robert already posted a reply from DM to my question).

 

[Colin Jacobson]

Do you know if both of these have a new Blu-ray from the same master used for the 4K?

The Blu-rays included with the first 2 aren't duplicates of the ones from years ago - they're different.

I would assume they use the new master, but I can't say for sure. I just know that they're not the same BDs from 10 years ago.

I also assume the same for "R3" but Lionsgate's not sent me a copy of that one yet so I don't know for sure...

 

[ghostwind]

The Blu-rays included with the first 2 aren't duplicates of the ones from years ago - they're different.

I would assume they use the new master, but I can't say for sure. I just know that they're not the same BDs from 10 years ago.

I also assume the same for "R3" but Lionsgate's not sent me a copy of that one yet so I don't know for sure...

Thanks. Looking on Blu-ray.com I see ones released in 2007/2008 and ones in 2015 (which have the same artwork as the new 4K ones). See links below. I don't know if the 2015 ones were new releases at the time (and maybe re-used here in the 4K set) or if they were same as the 2007 ones. Hmm...

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/First-Blood-Blu-ray/61/

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/First-Blood-Blu-ray/121026/

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Rambo-First-Blood-Part-II-Blu-ray/735/

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Rambo-First-Blood-Part-II-Blu-ray/134560/

 

[Colin Jacobson]

Thanks. Looking on Blu-ray.com I see ones released in 2007/2008 and ones in 2015 (which have the same artwork as the new 4K ones). See links below. I don't know if the 2015 ones were new releases at the time (and maybe re-used here in the 4K set) or if they were same as the 2007 ones. Hmm...

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/First-Blood-Blu-ray/61/

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/First-Blood-Blu-ray/121026/

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Rambo-First-Blood-Part-II-Blu-ray/735/

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Rambo-First-Blood-Part-II-Blu-ray/134560/

I wasn't aware of a 2015 release and would guess that it was just a reissue. There don't seem to be any reviews of it from sites like mine.

One element that supports the idea the BDs are new comes from the opening menu. When both the BD and the 4K boot, they demand you choose a language.

That's unusual for Lionsgate - I don't recall any of their discs doing that in the past - and it's on both discs, which implies to me the BD is a 2018 product...

 

[Blu_rayfan66]

I wasn't aware of a 2015 release and would guess that it was just a reissue. There don't seem to be any reviews of it from sites like mine.

One element that supports the idea the BDs are new comes from the opening menu. When both the BD and the 4K boot, they demand you choose a language.

That's unusual for Lionsgate - I don't recall any of their discs doing that in the past - and it's on both discs, which implies to me the BD is a 2018 product...

Think Studio Canal re did them for Europe a few years ago so perhaps they are using those newer transfers-would explain multiple language choices too...

 

[Colin Jacobson]

Think Studio Canal re did them for Europe a few years ago so perhaps they are using those newer transfers-would explain multiple language choices too...

IIRC, the language choices are English and Spanish.

There are non-US components, as some of the extras clearly come from a French release. For instance, a featurette about the restoration is called the "Restauration"!

 

[ghostwind]

IIRC, the language choices are English and Spanish.

There are non-US components, as some of the extras clearly come from a French release. For instance, a featurette about the restoration is called the "Restauration"!

The only language option should be "Pain"

 

[FoxyMulder]

I recall an interview with Kurt Russell regarding Tombstone where he said he ghost directed the film and Sylvester Stallone told him George P Cosmatos was the director to hire for that.

Bearing that in mind, could it be that Stallone ghost directed Rambo: First Blood Part 2 and maybe Cobra as well.

Seems a reasonable deduction although giving instructions behind the scenes is one thing I feel Cosmatos still has to convey those instructions to the crew and thus is still directing things.

Studio Canal did these, not Lionsgate, Lionsgate are just using the new scans Studio Canal provided to them. ( I think )

 

[Dave H]

The Blu-rays included with the first 2 aren't duplicates of the ones from years ago - they're different.

I would assume they use the new master, but I can't say for sure. I just know that they're not the same BDs from 10 years ago.

I also assume the same for "R3" but Lionsgate's not sent me a copy of that one yet so I don't know for sure...

I believe your assumption is correct.

The UHD BD and "new" BD have very similar traits.

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&a=0&d1=12569&d2=12574&s1=125042&s2=125123&i=0&l=0

 

[JoshZ]

I recall an interview with Kurt Russell regarding Tombstone where he said he ghost directed the film and Sylvester Stallone told him George P Cosmatos was the director to hire for that.

Bearing that in mind, could it be that Stallone ghost directed Rambo: First Blood Part 2 and maybe Cobra as well.

Seems a reasonable deduction although giving instructions behind the scenes is one thing I feel Cosmatos still has to convey those instructions to the crew and thus is still directing things.

It has long been rumored that Stallone actually directed Cobra, with Cosmatos just acting as a figurehead. I haven't heard the same claimed about Rambo, but I'm sure it's possible.

Kurt Russell confirmed that he directed the majority of Tombstone after the original director, Kevin Jarre, was fired. As you mention, he claimed that Stallone recommended Cosmatos to be the credited director.