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

[Robert Harris]

Heat, a non-buddy picture from 1995, starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro is oft times discussed in terms of "Pacino - De Niro - together for the first time."

While that diner sequence is essential to understanding the characters, there's a great deal more to the film, most from the work of Michael Mann in his capacity as director and screenwriter. And he simply does a terrific job.

Warner's new 4k UHD is a gorgeous representation of the film. I cannot speak to grain structure, which here is very subtle, as I don't recall the textures of original prints.

Image – 5 (HDR)

Audio – 5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 4.25

Upgrade from Blu-ray - If you love the film

Highly Recommended

RAH

 

[Robert Crawford]

Why would only those that love the film upgrade to Blu-ray? If it's a significant improvement that's reason enough to upgrade a Blu-ray released 13 years ago.

 

[Patrick McCart]

Why would only those that love the film upgrade to Blu-ray? If it's a significant improvement that's reason enough to upgrade a Blu-ray released 13 years ago.

Michael Mann's director's cut was issued on Blu-ray a few years ago before the Disney-Fox buyout. It went from Warner to Fox because Regency's distribution had ended. Similarly, this is why Fox (now Disney) distributes Once Upon a Time in America and L.A. Confidential.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

Heat, a non-buddy picture from 1995, starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro is oft times discussed in terms of "Pacino - De Niro - together for the first time."

While that diner sequence is essential to understanding the characters, there's a great deal more to the film, most from the work of Michael Mann in his capacity as director and screenwriter. And he simply does a terrific job.

Warner's new 4k UHD is a gorgeous representation of the film. I cannot speak to grain structure, which here is very subtle, as I don't recall the textures of original prints.

Image – 5 (HDR)

Audio – 5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 4.25

Upgrade from Blu-ray - If you love the film

Highly Recommended

RAH

Michael Mann's director's cut was issued on Blu-ray a few years ago before the Disney-Fox buyout. It went from Warner to Fox because Regency's distribution had ended. Similarly, this is why Fox (now Disney) distributes Once Upon a Time in America and L.A. Confidential.

RAH:
I was just going to ask: isn't this a Disney release via Twentieth Century Studios? Also, I have the Fox release [pre-merger] and the digital copy automatically upgraded to 4K, so I've been seeing this master in 4K with Dolby Vision [albeit with the streaming limitations] for some time. It does look great and I concur with RAH's 4.25 with those caveats.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Michael Mann's director's cut was issued on Blu-ray a few years ago before the Disney-Fox buyout. It went from Warner to Fox because Regency's distribution had ended. Similarly, this is why Fox (now Disney) distributes Once Upon a Time in America and L.A. Confidential.

I already knew about that change of ownership regarding those titles. What I forgot about is that I own the 2017 Fox BD release too along with the 11-10-09 BD release.

05-09-17 Heat: Director's Definitive Edition (Fox)

11-10-09 (Warner)

 

[JohnRice]

…and the streaming version of the later release is in 4K, though of course not HD audio. So, to buy it for about the fifth time (for me) or just call it a day? I know i’ll eventually get it though, on sale.

 

[Robert Crawford]

RAH:
I was just going to ask: isn't this a Disney release via Twentieth Century Studios? Also, I have the Fox release [pre-merger] and the digital copy automatically upgraded to 4K, so I've been seeing this master in 4K with Dolby Vision [albeit with the streaming limitations] for some time. It does look great and I concur with RAH's 4.25 with those caveats.

Unfortunately, I chose Vudu with my digital code back in 2017, from that Fox BD release. However, I was able to purchase the iTunes 4K digital in 2018, but haven't watched it since then, but enjoyed the 4K/DV presentation. I preordered the 4K disc as part of a recent Target "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" sale so I'm basically getting it for free.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

The newer “definitive director’s edition” - is it actually a new/different cut or just a remastering? The runtime appears about the same but I haven’t seen the movie in so long that I don’t think I’d notice a minor change.

 

[Robert Crawford]

The newer “definitive director’s edition” - is it actually a new/different cut or just a remastering? The runtime appears about the same but I haven’t seen the movie in so long that I don’t think I’d notice a minor change.

I think the 2017 BD is derived from a 4K scan while the 2009 BD probably wasn’t derived from that same scan.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I think the 2017 BD is derived from a 4K scan while the 2009 BD probably wasn’t derived from that same scan.

Right, that much I understand. What I’m wondering is the 2017 BD (and every release since) the same version of the film itself as the 2009 BD and earlier releases? I know Mann has tweaked the content on Last of the Mohicans and some of his other films a bunch of times but I didn’t think he had actually changed any of the content in Heat.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

…and the streaming version of the later release is in 4K, though of course not HD audio. So, to buy it for about the fifth time (for me) or just call it a day? I know i’ll eventually get it though, on sale.

I enjoy the film, but like you have purchased it too many times. I just put both the UHD disc and streaming version on price watches. Whichever hits my price point first is the one I'll buy -- hopefully for the last time.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Right, that much I understand. What I’m wondering is the 2017 BD (and every release since) the same version of the film itself as the 2009 BD and earlier releases? I know Mann has tweaked the content on Last of the Mohicans and some of his other films a bunch of times but I didn’t think he had actually changed any of the content in Heat.

I’m pretty sure it’s the same film version on both Blu-rays.

 

[Mark VH]

I’m pretty sure it’s the same film version on both Blu-rays.

Same cut, but it was altered visually for the 2017 release (changes to color timing, etc.).

What Michael Mann Changed, and What He Didn’t, for the Anniversary Edition of Heat

Returning to his crime drama after 20 years, Mann wanted to “approach it as if I shot it two years ago.”

www.vanityfair.com

 

[JoshZ]

Right, that much I understand. What I’m wondering is the 2017 BD (and every release since) the same version of the film itself as the 2009 BD and earlier releases? I know Mann has tweaked the content on Last of the Mohicans and some of his other films a bunch of times but I didn’t think he had actually changed any of the content in Heat.

In 2009, Mann removed a few lines of dialogue from the original theatrical version, the most notable being Pacino's "Ferocious, aren't I?" after screaming at Hank Azaria. Both Bluy-rays have this same cut of the movie. The 2017 Definitive Director's Edition has no further content changes, but Mann did revise the color grading for the entire movie.

 

[tsodcollector]

i've seen it,great movie,long long movie,it's mostly 2 hours long,with it's blockbuster cast,and a grittty story,this movie,was pure grouindbreaking 90's crime movie.

 

[Bartman]

Turns out, completely by luck, that I have the Director's Definitive Edition without the digital sharpening of the earlier Warner.

 

[TonyD]

Turns out, completely by luck, that I have the Director's Definitive Edition without the digital sharpening of the earlier Warner.

What does this mean?

 

[Robert Crawford]

What does this mean?

I have no idea.

 

[Douglas Bailey]

I still prefer the theatrical cut (as is often the case when Mann recuts his films). Just as with The Last of the Mohicans, I'd buy a Blade Runner-style 4K UHD set with both cuts, but not this one that includes only the revisionist cut.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I still prefer the theatrical cut (as is often the case when Mann recuts his films). Just as with The Last of the Mohicans, I'd buy a Blade Runner-style 4K UHD set with both cuts, but not this one that includes only the revisionist cut.

Hell, I don't even remember what the theatrical cut looked like.