Pre-Order Reservoir Dogs (1992) (4k UHD) Available for Preorder (1 Viewer)

[Robert Crawford]

Right. Great explanation. This is a very gritty film with a transfer that doesn't match it.

This is the first time I have seen this film in years and it remains one of Tarantino's finest. What I appreciated about watching it is that it shows just how damn good he is at writing dialogue.

When you think about it, this is more a dialogue-driven than an action film. Normally, I would hate a film like that. However, it's written so well that you can't help but bask in it all.

Well, it's an interesting movie to say the least. The 4K disc looked beautiful on my OLED as I don't have any idea what it looked like on a big screen. Therefore, I defer to those that do know what it supposed to look like.

 

[Robert Crawford]

He gets good performances out of his main players in this film too.

Yes, very well acted all the way around.

 

[Bryan^H]

I guess I can retire my VHS! Been a while since I saw this one.

 

[JoshZ]

Right. Great explanation. This is a very gritty film with a transfer that doesn't match it.

I haven't seen the UHD yet and can't comment on it, but I will say that Reservoir Dogs never had a "gritty" look like some of you may think it should. Yes, the movie was a low-budget production, but it was shot mostly in a single tightly-controlled environment (very few exteriors or natural light) with a very high-contrast, hard lighting style. The movie was sharp, low grain, and had intense colors in the theater.

Andrzej Sekula lit the hell out of that warehouse. The heat must have been nearly unbearable in there. I bet the actors needed to be mopped down between takes.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

I haven't seen the UHD yet and can't comment on it, but I will say that Reservoir Dogs never had a "gritty" look like some of you may think it should. Yes, the movie was a low-budget production, but it was shot mostly in a single tightly-controlled environment (very few exteriors or natural light) with a very high-contrast, hard lighting style. The movie was sharp, low grain, and had intense colors in the theater.

Andrzej Sekula lit the hell out of that warehouse. The heat must have been nearly unbearable in there. I bet the actors needed to be mopped down between takes.

Well, being that is the case, then there shouldn't be any complaints about the 4k presentation as it sounds like it represents the director's intent.

 

[Kyle_D]

Andrzej Sekula lit the hell out of that warehouse. The heat must have been nearly unbearable in there. I bet the actors needed to be mopped down between takes.

Well that would explain why everyone looks like a celt who has spent too much time in the sun in this transfer.

 

[jayembee]

What I appreciated about watching it is that it shows just how damn good he is at writing dialogue.

Well, except for the "dicks, dicks, dicks, dicks" etc. part at the beginning.

 

[TravisR]

Well, except for the "dicks, dicks, dicks, dicks" etc. part at the beginning.

"How many dicks is that?"

"Alot."

 

[SuperClark]

Nice guy Eddie " so you don't believe in ever tipping huh?'"
Mr.Pink " not unless the waitress does something special.Like smiles real pretty at me.you know,I don't just care about money.
I do have a romantic side'
Nice guy Eddie slaps Mr Pink on the back and says I guess you are just a softie'
Mr Pink looks down at the table and grins shyly
Joe 'ok ramblers lets get rambling.Lets walk thu the parking lot to our cars in slow motion'

 

[OliverK]

Well that would explain why everyone looks like a celt who has spent too much time in the sun in this transfer.

Kidding aside the issue persists in all scenes and no previous home video version looked like that nor is there any documentation pointing out that they went for the red face look on that one.

Here are an outdoor and diner scene that are also affected, note the previous version having rather natural colors when taking into account the dated transfer:

Reservoir Dogs • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US 15th Anniversary Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

Reservoir Dogs • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US 15th Anniversary Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

Oh well, looks like there is room for some kind of special edition in the future...

 

[Robert Crawford]

Oh well, looks like there is room for some kind of special edition in the future...

In your opinion, but others disagree and think this 4K disc looks fine.

 

[OliverK]

In your opinion, but others disagree and think this 4K disc looks fine

One can think the disc looks fine and still see room for some kind of special edition.

 

[SuperClark]

If you care to do so take this quiz.How did i wind up being Mr Black

Reservoir Dogs Quiz - Which Character Are You? - Scuffed Entertainment

Take this Reservoir Dogs quiz to find out which character from Reservoir Dogs you are. Answer these quick questions to find out. Play it now!

scuffedentertainment.com

 

[JoshZ]

Kidding aside the issue persists in all scenes and no previous home video version looked like that nor is there any documentation pointing out that they went for the red face look on that one.

Here are an outdoor and diner scene that are also affected, note the previous version having rather natural colors when taking into account the dated transfer:

Reservoir Dogs • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US 15th Anniversary Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

Reservoir Dogs • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US 15th Anniversary Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

Oh well, looks like there is room for some kind of special edition in the future...

Looking only at flesh tones, the older transfer may seem to have natural colors, but everything else is super drab.

That said, I will agree with you that these two examples seem to have a red push in the UHD screenshots. However, given how problematic downconverting HDR and Wide Color Gamut into an SDR screenshot can be, I'd still need to see how the disc actually looks on my projector before casting judgment.

 

[Kyle_D]

Looking only at flesh tones, the older transfer may seem to have natural colors, but everything else is super drab.

That said, I will agree with you that these two examples seem to have a red push in the UHD screenshots. However, given how problematic downconverting HDR and Wide Color Gamut into an SDR screenshot can be, I'd still need to see how the disc actually looks on my projector before casting judgment.

Josh-

I have watched the disc in Dolby Vision, and I can confirm those screenshots are generally accurate. Everyone looks sunburnt in the UHD transfer, and all the characters look like they should be named "Mr. Pink." It's persistent throughout the entire film, and it's distracting once you pick up on it.

I know from contemporary interviews at the film's release that Tarantino wanted the reds to "pop," so it's possible the entire film was deliberately given a red push in this transfer. I also seem to recall that the original, non-anamorphic DVD had similar reddish fleshtones that were toned down in subsequent video releases. So, I am not saying definitively that the transfer is botched. I personally just don't like the look of it very much.

 

[cda1143]

Kyle - just trying to clarify whether or not you prefer the blu-ray. Without disagreeing with your assessment on the skin tones, I still find this release to be far better than the blu-ray.

 

[OliverK]

Kyle - just trying to clarify whether or not you prefer the blu-ray. Without disagreeing with your assessment on the skin tones, I still find this release to be far better than the blu-ray.

Not Kyle but the old Blu-ray is hideous so I doubt you will find anybody in this thread who prefers the old Blu-ray.

 

[OliverK]

Looking only at flesh tones, the older transfer may seem to have natural colors, but everything else is super drab.

That said, I will agree with you that these two examples seem to have a red push in the UHD screenshots. However, given how problematic downconverting HDR and Wide Color Gamut into an SDR screenshot can be, I'd still need to see how the disc actually looks on my projector before casting judgment.

Also haven't seen it yet but the BD caps look very similar so that seems to be accurate.
When looking at those caps it is nice to see a bit of an uptick in detail over the new Blu-ray in a few caps like for example this one, especially the chroma:

Reservoir Dogs • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US Remastered Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

But it also shows that the new Blu-ray looks more natural. Looks like they overdid it with the sharpening in order to differentiate the UHD from the regular Blu-ray.

 

[Kyle_D]

Kyle - just trying to clarify whether or not you prefer the blu-ray. Without disagreeing with your assessment on the skin tones, I still find this release to be far better than the blu-ray.

I would take the UHD over the Blu-ray in a second. As mentioned in my initial post it this thread, it's a massive improvement. The Blu-ray is borderline unwatchable on a modern display.

Setting skin tones and potential transfer issues aside, I'm just not much of a fan of the film's cinematography. Sekula made some, ahem, "choices" in terms of lighting, lenses, and film stock that, IMO, don't fit the narrative at all, and it's not surprising to me that he has spent most of his career since Pulp Fiction lensing low budget/DTV actioneers.

 

[SuperClark]

Disclaimer they drop the f bomb several times.This is pretty funny.Well done.