- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 14,540
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Updated 6-27-21
The deeper I dive into this disc, the less I like it, especially for authenticity. Score downgraded.
Mel Stuart's Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a film with many fans. Somehow, I'm not one of them, as I was never able to warm up to it. Possibly too homogenized for my taste, which probably has little to do with Quaker Oats.
Warner's new 4k UHD Blu-ray, of the (originally a Paramount release) film photographed by Arthur Ibbetson, who spent many years as a camera operator (The Blue Lagoon, Moby Dick) before taking the helm behind the camera (The Horse's Mouth, Tunes of Glory, The Chalk Garden, Anne of a Thousand Days, The Railway Children, The Bounty) appears nicely produced for 4k, although it may appear to be a bit overly cleaned, it seems that isn't the case. It's extremely fine grained. I sampled on two systems, and it seemed very smooth.
Too smooth.
Color is wonderful and well, candy-like, with all of the young performers scrubbed clean and presumably smelling wonderfully. Possibly I would have preferred a bit more noir version. The film reeks of a G rating, but odd undercurrents.
Audio, presented in DTS-HD MA 5.1 is beautifully reproduced. I don’t believe it includes the original monaural, but that’s SO last century.
For those who collect outer sleeves, this one has a myriad of sparkles.
I finally was able to spend a bit more time with this release, and see that the aspect ratio/matte problems from the old BD have been corrected, creating a bit of confusion in discussion threads, as the correction was universal, but does not exhibit itself as such.
Please see later comments in thread.
Image – 3.5
Audio – 4 (no original monaural)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Recommended
RAH
The deeper I dive into this disc, the less I like it, especially for authenticity. Score downgraded.
Mel Stuart's Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a film with many fans. Somehow, I'm not one of them, as I was never able to warm up to it. Possibly too homogenized for my taste, which probably has little to do with Quaker Oats.
Warner's new 4k UHD Blu-ray, of the (originally a Paramount release) film photographed by Arthur Ibbetson, who spent many years as a camera operator (The Blue Lagoon, Moby Dick) before taking the helm behind the camera (The Horse's Mouth, Tunes of Glory, The Chalk Garden, Anne of a Thousand Days, The Railway Children, The Bounty) appears nicely produced for 4k, although it may appear to be a bit overly cleaned, it seems that isn't the case. It's extremely fine grained. I sampled on two systems, and it seemed very smooth.
Too smooth.
Color is wonderful and well, candy-like, with all of the young performers scrubbed clean and presumably smelling wonderfully. Possibly I would have preferred a bit more noir version. The film reeks of a G rating, but odd undercurrents.
Audio, presented in DTS-HD MA 5.1 is beautifully reproduced. I don’t believe it includes the original monaural, but that’s SO last century.
For those who collect outer sleeves, this one has a myriad of sparkles.
I finally was able to spend a bit more time with this release, and see that the aspect ratio/matte problems from the old BD have been corrected, creating a bit of confusion in discussion threads, as the correction was universal, but does not exhibit itself as such.
Please see later comments in thread.
Image – 3.5
Audio – 4 (no original monaural)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Recommended
RAH
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