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

[Robert Harris]

Arrow releases some beautiful discs, both 2 and 4k.

I was in the slightly awkward position of checking out both their new Hellraiser 4k UHD set almost concurrent with the AMC/Acorn Blu-ray of the recent Interview with the Vampire series - Season 1 & 2.

And once again, the ugly question of "should everything be in 4k" will be raised.

Hellraiser in 4k UHD has no 4k information that I can discern, but IS a gorgeous representation of what's on the OCN.

What you're getting is a very nice image, with excellent colors, nice blacks and a whole lot of grain.

This is great, but it would have made a terrific Blu-ray.

Interview with the Vampire, with 25% of Hellraiser's resolution is FAR more highly resolved, and an overall far superior image.

So...

Where does this leave us?

My vote is for new, high-end 4k image harvests toward an archival attribute, and a down-rez to 2k for the Blu-ray, as nothing of consequence is being lost.

I just think the industry is spending far too much time, effort and investment on 4k releases for which there is very little rationale for their being.

How much different would Hellraiser be in 2k?

I'm betting not a whole lot, aside from a bit more rich black.


Image

Forensic - 6.5
NSD - 9

Audio – 10 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 5

Worth your attention - Yes

Slipcover rating - I did not receive final production goods

Recommended


RAH

 

[Lord Dalek]

Its always been a lousy looking movie.

But its looked a hell of a lot worse in the past.

 

[Robert Harris]

Its always been a lousy looking movie.

But its looked a hell of a lot worse in the past.

But should it be 4k?

A Blu would have served the same purpose w/o the 4k sizzle.

 

[titch]

I just think the industry is spending far too much time, effort and investment on 4k releases for which there is very little rationale for their being.

The rationale? They sell extremely well.

 

[Robert Harris]

The rationale? They sell extremely well.

In other words, many home theater fans buy 4k for the sizzle, and not the quality. I’m not suggesting that there isn’t a very small HDR bump, but only those with properly calibrated equipment will see it to its full potential.

The others will hear the “sizzle.”

 

[Wayne Klein]

The rationale is that folks who are 4K fans will buy it whether or not it has the resolution. It’s about the Benjamin's alone. I honestly never felt this film was a good candidate for a 4K.

 

[Robert Harris]

The rationale is that folks who are 4K fans will buy it whether or not it has the resolution. It’s about the Benjamin's alone. I honestly never felt this film was a good candidate for a 4K.

The Graduate would make a very nice 4k.

 

[JoshZ]

The prior Arrow Blu-ray of Hellraiser was too bright, which made the movie looks very flat and exposed too much of the artifice, such as seams in the makeup. I preferred the look of an even older Blu-ray from Anchor Bay when I compared them a couple years ago.

I haven't watched the 4K yet, but I suspect the main rationale for its existence was to correct that problem with the HDR grade.

 

[Robert Harris]

The prior Arrow Blu-ray of Hellraiser was too bright, which made the movie looks very flat and exposed too much of the artifice, such seams in the makeup. I preferred the look of an even older Blu-ray from Anchor Bay when I compared them a couple years ago.

I haven't watched the 4K yet, but I suspect the main rationale for its existence was to correct that problem with the HDR grade.

Looks nice. For the record, this from a boxed set from Arrow.

 

[sbjork]

I still have the UK Arrow quartet set, and haven't had a chance to try any of them out. I just can't keep up with the death of physical media anymore.

 

[tenia]

I haven't watched the 4K yet, but I suspect the main rationale for its existence was to correct that problem with the HDR grade.

I can't say about that either, but first reports seem to point towards a noticeable, even if indeed restrained, uptick in definition too.

 

[TheSteig]

I thought the set looked really good, but to be honest I only really liked the first one. The others I have seen and owned but maybe my tastes have changed as I have gotten older. If the first one gets a solo release, I might just pick that one up and unload the set. I haven't seen the first Hellraiser UHD sold separately as of yet

 

[Konstantinos]

I haven't seen the first Hellraiser UHD sold separately as of yet

Isn't this a solo release?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hellraiser-4K-Blu-ray/dp/B0CVW3MW46

 

[JoshZ]

I thought the set looked really good, but to be honest I only really liked the first one. The others I have seen and owned but maybe my tastes have changed as I have gotten older.

There are some fans who prefer Hellraiser II as the best entry in the franchise. That's mostly because it expands the mythology and actually takes the characters into hell. In my opinion, I think it's a mostly decent sequel but still only about half the movie the original was.

Anything after that is rubbish and only holds any value as curiosities for completist fans.

 

[Malcolm R]

I have a little nostalgia for Hellraiser III, as that was the first I was old enough to see in theaters.

 

[TheSteig]

Isn't this a solo release?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hellraiser-4K-Blu-ray/dp/B0CVW3MW46

Yes I didnt even realize it ! Thank you!