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

[Robert Harris]

As a major Hawks fan, I went to see Hatari! when it was released, and recall coming away wondering if this was directed by the same Howard Hawks whose work I'd grown to love.

Turns out it had been, and while some of his Hawksian bits are still there, it turned out to be a bit muddled, overlong, nicely photographed post-VVLA production. Shot (generally) on location in Africa by Russell Harlan.

Today, it plays a bit more troublesome, as I'm feeling for the animals being captured to be sent to zoos.

As a 4k disc, it's quite beautiful, and makes amends for that original Blu-ray. Is it perfect?

Nope.

But close.

Only problem I noted was a bit of classic "sticky-grain," but not much of it. And something you'll only notice in Forensic mode if you're looking for it.

So no foul.

Color is great. Grain is evident. A beautiful 4k that might have done service almost as well in 2k.

Image (Dolby Vision)

Forensic - 8
NSD - 10

Audio – 10 (DTS-HD MA 2.0 Monaural)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 6

Upgrade from Blu-ray - You bet'cha!

Worth your attention - Yes

Slipcover rating - 2

Looks like Film - 9

Recommended


RAH


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https://www.amazon.com/Hatari-4KUHD-UHD-Howard-Hawks/dp/B0DLLL6W6M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=GGC54LVLM1X5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gXzFP_SAQkG5DjuGbE9-60X9emx7ECilneU2M_twkgUxnfJCfgnpLc3T7bRyUVAJJ40OnAtAh_dg5u6HvPfQTHtOkyJ2N9n1tUeP6n-2Qc9l00Fqo9nMq5FAgp6XPY_-bdke12m8lYXpegjlTWA3ipMsQteXxRE1-0xP_JSiI5c._BaGeGcYZb2PSuhC5FypBknKgvn7jp297KysQ5ZPtHE&dib_tag=se&keywords=hatari+4k&qid=1734708169&sprefix=hatari+4k,aps,161&sr=8-1

 

[aPhil]

Only problem I noted was a bit of classic "sticky-grain," but not much of it. And something you'll only notice in Forensic mode if you're looking for it.

While "sticky-grain" is something I know when I see it, I don't understand the cause of it.
Can you help?
Or, is there a site I can be referred to, as simply doing an online search does not lead me anywhere.

 

[lark144]

I remember when I saw this at Loew's State, the box office had been transformed into an African drum.

Yes, this is where Hawks' films became slow and stately, almost elegiac. There's a sense of memory about them, of time having passed, of growing old, something that becomes explicit in EL DORADO. He begins remaking older films, but it's not the recycled plots but the individuals, those ghosts that once possessed the screen, and are still there. For me, these later Hawks films are about community, specifically about the making of a film, and the friendships and connections that ensue. Truffaut explicitly used HATARI as the template for DAY FOR NIGHT, and I look forward to seeing the film again from that perspective.

I too was a little hesitant when ordering this in terms of seeing the animals captured, but if you look at it from the perspective of a crew setting up shots, it works better, I think. It also contains my favorite Henry Mancini score, and I'm looking forward to hearing those cues with the images they were intended for. The old Living Stereo LP is something I still play regularly.

Glad to know this is finally watchable, and a decent approximation of what it once looked like. The first run dye-transfer prints were beautiful, the colors vibrant. I have a feeling HATARI is in for some serious reappriasal, that it's a much better, deeper and more influential film than its reputation would warrant.

 

[Robert Harris]

While "sticky-grain" is something I know when I see it, I don't understand the cause of it.
Can you help?
Or, is there a site I can be referred to, as simply doing an online search does not lead me anywhere.

Best I can describe is areas of grain that seemingly have a magnetic quality about them. As if someone behind the screen is holding a magnet and attracting grain clusters.

 

[RMajidi]

Best I can describe is areas of grain that seemingly have a magnetic quality about them. As if someone behind the screen is holding a magnet and attracting grain clusters.

Here’s a forensic screen capture of the grain-field:

And again, from a nominal seating distance:

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Thank you for the early review. This is one of favorite movies, and I put my pre-order in as soon as it was announced by Kino. It's a great "hang out" movie, IMO, and I really enjoy its languorous, episodic pace. I can't wait to see it finally looking good on home video.

 

[Into The Archives]

Best I can describe is areas of grain that seemingly have a magnetic quality about them. As if someone behind the screen is holding a magnet and attracting grain clusters.

Similar to Paint Your Wagon?

 

[Robert Harris]

Here’s a forensic screen capture of the grain-field:

View attachment 240869


And again, from a nominal seating distance:

View attachment 240870

Perfect. Although I’m generally against using frame grabs as reference.

 

[RMajidi]

Perfect. Although I’m generally against using frame grabs as reference.

Indicative only and not necessarily representative of the image in motion.

 

[madfloyd]

Best I can describe is areas of grain that seemingly have a magnetic quality about them. As if someone behind the screen is holding a magnet and attracting grain clusters.

The question, which I was happy to see asked, had to do with the cause of them. Are they on the film or is it poor digital compression?

 

[bobclampett]

Best I can describe is areas of grain that seemingly have a magnetic quality about them. As if someone behind the screen is holding a magnet and attracting grain clusters.

That was a perfect analogy and choice of words to describe the effect. Thanks.

 

[Robert Harris]

The question, which I was happy to see asked, had to do with the cause of them. Are they on the film or is it poor digital compression?

Presumably compression. I'd bet that the restoration work is fine.

 

[sbjork]

I hate to be one of those, but mine has gotten delayed from Amazon. Pits. Hatari and El Dorado are the two Hawks films where I've been looking forward to a makeover the most (Blu-ray, 4K, or otherwise) since the old Blu-rays masters were so middling. Glad to hear that things are greatly improved, but I'm still going to have to wait.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I hate to be one of those, but mine has gotten delayed from Amazon. Pits. Hatari and El Dorado are the two Hawks films where I've been looking forward to a makeover the most (Blu-ray, 4K, or otherwise) since the old Blu-rays masters were so middling. Glad to hear that things are greatly improved, but I'm still going to have to wait.

The new release date is December 31st and it's not because of Amazon but probably that replication plant bottleneck.

Hatari! (4KUHD) | Kino Lorber - Experience Cinema

A group of highly skilled professional game hunters trap wild animals in Africa and sell them to zoos before the arrival of a female wildlife photographer threatens to change their ways.

kinolorber.com

 

[mskaye]

Presumably compression. I'd bet that the restoration work is fine.

Or did they just add a little too much grain in the hope that it might "homogenize" things ?

 

[sbjork]

I finally got a chance to watch my copy last weekend, and while it may not be perfect, it's damned close. While I spotted a single dissolve that looks like it's optical work, the rest of the dissolves were recreated digitally off the camera negative. No image degradation whatsoever. It doesn't seem like a film that would have originally been printed off A/B rolls, and since one dissolve is from dupe elements, I'm wondering if all of the dissolves were originally done that way, but Paramount went to the trouble of tracking down the negative trims in order to generate new ones. If so, honor is due. Either way, it looks fantastic. The old Blu-ray is officially a coaster.