- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,424
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
It's all part of a learning / training experience. Part getting hardware and software to play nicely together. Part learning what it is that one is seeing, and how to differentiate.
Fox's new 4k release of Mr. Inarritu's brilliant The Revenant, is all the more important in the new highest definition 4k incarnation, as photographed by Emmanuel Lubezki, because of the way that it was shot.
Low and natural light, shadows and darkness.
I've now seen the film three times in three different home video incarnations.
First on DVD, followed by Blu-ray, and finally in 4k UHD.
Each time the film was viewed via a properly calibrated 4k projector, up-rezzing data that was not in actual 4k.
Here's my take on what I'm seeing.
The DVD tells the story, but disallows any real understanding of the cinematography.
The Blu-ray, which is much more involving from all aspects at six times the resolution of DVD, is extremely helpful with contrast and color.
Finally, the UHD disc adds HDR and another four times resolution. You're now twenty-four times the resolution of DVD, although in some cases that extra resolution is less apparent when viewing an up-rezzed Blu-ray vs. a non up-rezzed Blu-ray.
But with at least a third or more resolution over a quality up-rez, tied with HDR, the imagery becomes amazingly different, and the larger the screen the better.
As an example, there's a shot at the very beginning of the attack early in the film, in which a man is seen falling to his knees in the far right background. In the foreground, we have a fire, frontiersmen, smoke, and between the fore and back grounds, an area, as I recall a small incline, that is measurably highlighted, and missing information and detail.
In the up-rezzed Blu-ray there's very little detail on the incline. The flames are obvious. You can count the fingers on the men in the foreground.
In 4k HDR, the incline takes on values and detail. The flames pop, and the details of the fingers become more pronounced. Shadow detail is astounding.
It's important to keep in mind, that The Revenant is one of but a handful of true 4k discs currently available, but it tells the story loud and clear.
Fox's 4k UHD release of The Revenant is the poster child for what a 4k disc can, and should be.
Audio, in DTS-HD MA 7.1 is rich and full, with wonderful surround and height, but I cannot but think how more spot on details could be with Dolby Atmos.
From what I'm experiencing, my advice to those who are even considering picking up 4k in the future is simple.
Buy the 4k / Blu-ray release, and be prepared to be amazed once you make the move.
It's one of the most perfect home video releases I've ever experienced. Absolute perfection.
And this is not a matter of loving Osetra, Beluga, or Sevruga and purchasing Lumpfish caviar, because of a prohibitive cost.
The up-charge to the dual pack with 4k / Blu-ray is $7.
Image - 5*
Audio - 4.5 (lack of Dolby Atmos, as originally presented)
4k - 5*
Pass / Fail - Pass
Extremely Highly Recommended
RAH
Fox's new 4k release of Mr. Inarritu's brilliant The Revenant, is all the more important in the new highest definition 4k incarnation, as photographed by Emmanuel Lubezki, because of the way that it was shot.
Low and natural light, shadows and darkness.
I've now seen the film three times in three different home video incarnations.
First on DVD, followed by Blu-ray, and finally in 4k UHD.
Each time the film was viewed via a properly calibrated 4k projector, up-rezzing data that was not in actual 4k.
Here's my take on what I'm seeing.
The DVD tells the story, but disallows any real understanding of the cinematography.
The Blu-ray, which is much more involving from all aspects at six times the resolution of DVD, is extremely helpful with contrast and color.
Finally, the UHD disc adds HDR and another four times resolution. You're now twenty-four times the resolution of DVD, although in some cases that extra resolution is less apparent when viewing an up-rezzed Blu-ray vs. a non up-rezzed Blu-ray.
But with at least a third or more resolution over a quality up-rez, tied with HDR, the imagery becomes amazingly different, and the larger the screen the better.
As an example, there's a shot at the very beginning of the attack early in the film, in which a man is seen falling to his knees in the far right background. In the foreground, we have a fire, frontiersmen, smoke, and between the fore and back grounds, an area, as I recall a small incline, that is measurably highlighted, and missing information and detail.
In the up-rezzed Blu-ray there's very little detail on the incline. The flames are obvious. You can count the fingers on the men in the foreground.
In 4k HDR, the incline takes on values and detail. The flames pop, and the details of the fingers become more pronounced. Shadow detail is astounding.
It's important to keep in mind, that The Revenant is one of but a handful of true 4k discs currently available, but it tells the story loud and clear.
Fox's 4k UHD release of The Revenant is the poster child for what a 4k disc can, and should be.
Audio, in DTS-HD MA 7.1 is rich and full, with wonderful surround and height, but I cannot but think how more spot on details could be with Dolby Atmos.
From what I'm experiencing, my advice to those who are even considering picking up 4k in the future is simple.
Buy the 4k / Blu-ray release, and be prepared to be amazed once you make the move.
It's one of the most perfect home video releases I've ever experienced. Absolute perfection.
And this is not a matter of loving Osetra, Beluga, or Sevruga and purchasing Lumpfish caviar, because of a prohibitive cost.
The up-charge to the dual pack with 4k / Blu-ray is $7.
Image - 5*
Audio - 4.5 (lack of Dolby Atmos, as originally presented)
4k - 5*
Pass / Fail - Pass
Extremely Highly Recommended
RAH
