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- Feb 8, 1999
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- Robert Harris
Between WB and Warner Archive, two Howard Hawks films are being released this month - a new restoration of Rio Bravo (1959) in 4k, and Land of the Pharaohs (1955) in 2k. With four years between the two films, one might believe that there were others made during that period, but Rio Bravo follows Pharaohs.
Warners' new 4k of Rio Bravo is an interesting candidate for the format, as there's very little evident resolution to be found outside of a bit of detail in some exteriors.
The film seems to have been shot filtered by long time Hawks DP Russell Harlan, (I'd not recalled this), so it has a soft texture to it that I'm presuming did not come from digital work, but is in the OCN.
I did note some extremely minor digital anomalies, probably from clean-up, but not only will they not be noted by 99% of viewers, but are invisible from a nominal seating distance.
Color and densities are quite nice, and a good upgrade from the original Blu-ray. Grain structure seems fine, although dupes and some of the digital work performed to make them pretty, doesn't look wonderful to my eye. Something is just a bit off.
I had remembered Ricky Nelson being a reasonably horrific actor in this film. I was wrong. He's worse.
All in all, a nice upgrade from the previous release, but as with quite a few new 4k UHD titles, a new Blu-ray would have done quite nicely. No 4k required here.
One of the nice things here is seeing that long-lost RR belt buckle in color.
Packaging, sans slipcover (which I prefer), is attractive. And those following the WB100 series will note that the logo is neatly hidden as part of the upper band of information.
Image – 4.5 (Dolby Vision)
Audio – 5 (DTS HD-MA 2.0)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Makes use of and works well in 4k - 6
Worth your attention - 7.5
Upgrade from Blu-ray - Yes
Slipcover rating - n/a
Recommended
RAH
Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate, HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.
Warners' new 4k of Rio Bravo is an interesting candidate for the format, as there's very little evident resolution to be found outside of a bit of detail in some exteriors.
The film seems to have been shot filtered by long time Hawks DP Russell Harlan, (I'd not recalled this), so it has a soft texture to it that I'm presuming did not come from digital work, but is in the OCN.
I did note some extremely minor digital anomalies, probably from clean-up, but not only will they not be noted by 99% of viewers, but are invisible from a nominal seating distance.
Color and densities are quite nice, and a good upgrade from the original Blu-ray. Grain structure seems fine, although dupes and some of the digital work performed to make them pretty, doesn't look wonderful to my eye. Something is just a bit off.
I had remembered Ricky Nelson being a reasonably horrific actor in this film. I was wrong. He's worse.
All in all, a nice upgrade from the previous release, but as with quite a few new 4k UHD titles, a new Blu-ray would have done quite nicely. No 4k required here.
One of the nice things here is seeing that long-lost RR belt buckle in color.
Packaging, sans slipcover (which I prefer), is attractive. And those following the WB100 series will note that the logo is neatly hidden as part of the upper band of information.
Image – 4.5 (Dolby Vision)
Audio – 5 (DTS HD-MA 2.0)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Makes use of and works well in 4k - 6
Worth your attention - 7.5
Upgrade from Blu-ray - Yes
Slipcover rating - n/a
Recommended
RAH
Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate, HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.
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