Your 10 favorite films ever (!) and their blu-ray/UHD releases. Are you happy with them? (1 Viewer)

[Konstantinos]

Well, I was contemplating starting such a thread for a long time. Maybe it's deemed controversial a bit, due to the disagreements on what's good release and what is not. Anyway. I'll start.
Living in Greece, we didn't have the chance of watching a lot of classic American cinema, except big religious epics at Easter and some very famous musicals.. So, my favorite films comprise mostly from films I've seen in my childhood/teens in the 80s/90s either at the cinema or TV/VHS.
I hope you won't find it too hard to make your list. I assume you have thought about it at one point of your life..

- Ε.Τ. -Τhe Extra Terrestrial: content with the blu-ray (haven't upgraded to UHD)
- Beauty and the Beast (1991): since I'm a lover of film grain, I don't like the release(s) of this film, although they are based on the original CAPS files. Also, they don't exhibit the colors I saw initially at the theater
- Fantasia: same as above. Content with 35mm scan of unedited version.
- Indiana Jones & temple of Doom: happy with the blu-ray. Haven't upgraded to UHD which "corrects" or alters minor things
- The Empire Strikes Back (theatrical version): NOT RELEASED
- Amadeus (theatrical version): NOT RELEASED YET
- Jurassic Park: somewhat content with the blu-ray, but happier with a 35mm scan
- Terminator 2: absolutely sad with the way this landmark film has been treated. Content with a 35mm scan
- Batman Returns: content with the blu-ray. Haven't upgraded to UHD which hasn't got the original audio
- Titanic: somewhat content with the blu-ray which hasn't got AI, but still alters some shots, like the sunset

So, if I count the official releases I'm happy with, that's 5/10.
I'm curious to see your lists, and check films I haven't ever seen...

 

[Robin9]

What's hard about making up a list of ten favorites is deciding what to leave out. However, so far . . . .

I'm very content with the Blu-ray discs of Out Of The Past, The Third Man, Remember The Night and To Have And Have Not. I'm pleased with the 4K disc of Rio Bravo although I still seem to recall that skies were bluer on the print I saw when the film was new.

I think the Blu-ray disc of The Band Wagon could be better and I hope this will eventually be re-mastered. I'm not at all satisfied with the Blu-ray discs of Notorious. I've never had any real complaint about the Blu-ray of The Bridge On The River Kwai and have not felt the need to buy the 4K iteration although I might one day just out of curiosity.

I haven't yet received my 4K disc of North By Northwest but, judging by opinions from people I trust, I'm going to be more than satisfied.

Number 10 on my list is Ryan's Daughter which is not available on disc in high definition.

. . . . and I've had to leave out Touch Of Evil so I'll cheat and make it equal 10th, and yes I'm satisfied with the Blu-ray and haven't upgraded to 4K.

 

[Konstantinos]

I'm not at all satisfied with the Blu-ray discs of Notorious.

Oh, really? Why is that?
I have the Criterion blu-ray and I remember it got excellent reviews..

 

[Jeffrey D]

My top ten (off the top of my head- of course this list is always fluid and different depending on day, except for my top 3).
1. The Godfather- just watched the UHD yesterday- satisfied
2. Pulp Fiction- very satisfied with the UHD
3. Monty Python And The Holy Grail- no UHD, but satisfied with the BluRay
4. Hell Or High Water UHD- satisfied
5. Lone Star UHD- satisfied
6. Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri-
haven’t seen the UHD. I think the BluRay could be a bit better
7. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre- no UHD, but satisfied with the BluRay
8. Spotlight- no UHD, but the BluRay is fine
9. The Shawshank Redemption UHD- very satisfied
10. SE7EN- no UHD yet (will be coming soon), but satisfied with the BluRay

 

[Alan Tully]

Here's a fun thread! I noted down 10 just off the top of my head (I'm sure most members here could list 110), anyway, in no order at all:

The Wild Bunch - No 4K, just an "old as the hills" Blu-ray, better than nothing, but I'm hoping for better next year - Sam Peckinpah's centenary year.

Catch-22 - Amazingly still no Blu-ray, just a DVD.

If.... - No 4K, just a Blu-ray, but the Blu-ray looks stunning, so no complaints.

All That Money Can Buy - No 4K, but a great looking Blu-ray.

The Great Escape - An embarrassment of riches here. I have the Criterion Blu-ray, the Kino 4K, the German 4K (with HDR), so I'll pass on the Arrow 4K (probably). The only one on this list with a 4K release, three of 'em in fact!

Road To Utopia - I have to have a Road To film (& this just beat out Morocco). A good looking DVD, but the Blu-ray(s) have only been released in America region A locked (Kino).

What A Carve Up! - I love British b/w comedies of the late 50s/early 60s, I was bought up on them. I remember this one with great affection, starring Sid James & Kenneth Connor, with the likes of Donald Pleasence, Michael Gough & Dennis Price in small rolls. Unfortunately, a home-cinema washout, just a terrible ancient DVD.

Unconquered - My favourite CB DeMille film (I must have first seen it in the late fifties on TV), a great looking Blu-ray from Germany (& Kino in the US), very Technicolor colourful, but I wouldn't say no to a new transfer & 4K release.

Dracula 1958 - My favourite Hammer horror, two Blu-ray releases & I don't like either of them. There's the symphony in blue/cyan from BFI & the too dark from Warner. I live in hope for a decent Blu-ray release.

Scarmouche '52 - DVD only so far, great looking DVD, but hoping for a great looking Blu-ray from Warner Archive before I go ga-ga.

 

[Konstantinos]

I noted down 10 just off the top of my head

I don't know half of them. I guess I should check them out.

 

[Thomas T]

Yes, I'm content with all ten.

All About Eve
L'Avventura
La Dolce Vita
Charade
Johnny Guitar
Journey To The Center Of The Earth
The Leopard (Il Gattopardo)
Lolita
Some Came Running
Written On The Wind

 

[Jeffrey D]

Yes, I'm content with all ten.

All About Eve
L'Avventura
La Dolce Vita
Charade
Johnny Guitar
Journey To The Center Of The Earth
The Leopard (Il Gattopardo)
Lolita
Some Came Running
Written On The Wind

All About Eve almost made my list today
(probably would have been on my list tomorrow)- an all-time classic.

 

[Konstantinos]

Yes, I'm content with all ten.

You're very lucky then!

 

[Robin9]

Oh, really? Why is that?
I have the Criterion blu-ray and I remember it got excellent reviews..

Because it a fairly typical mediocre Criterion disc that has picture quality below what I've seen on prints in cinemas and film clubs. I'd like someone to take whatever steps are needed to bring the elements up to scratch and then produce a new transfer.

 

[Ed Lachmann]

Nine I'm just nuts about: Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, Helen of Troy, Land of the Pharaohs, The Rose Tattoo, How the West Was Won, Pandora's Box, Intolerance and Boy on a Dolphin. The tenth, not at all, which would be the OOP Spellbound which went bad and now costs a fortune to replace. Some is true of The Egyptian, which is gorgeous but has stopped playing and also costs a mint

 

[KPmusmag]

Choosing just 10 is hard, but here are my thoughts.

The Sound of Music - While I do think Julie's hair is a tad too orange in some shots and the sound could use a remix, I am basically satisfied with the blu-ray. The last time I saw a 70mm screening was at Seattle Cinerama in 2018. Julie's hair was very strawberry blonde in some scenes, but not quite as much as the blu-ray. Nonetheless, when I got home from Seattle, I immediately watched the blu-ray and I was satisfied overall. When and if they release a 4k, who knows if Disney will redo anything or just release a higher-rez version of what we have. Ultimately, I can be happy with it as it is.

Mary Poppins - (can you tell I'm a 60s kid?) - I like the blu-ray a lot. Some have said it is too cold, but the first time I put it on, I got tingles of recognition from seeing it as a kid. I never got that feeling from a home video release of this film before the blu-ray (and I have them all including the very first VHS). My Dad was a projectionist in the 1950s, and he talked a lot about grain, aspect ratio, etc. One time when we saw the film, he pointed out to me the grain in the opening scenes. It is very apparent on the blu-ray, as it should be, unlike many other Disney titles. I am fine with them digitally removing the wires; I don't remember ever seeing wires when I saw the film, and Walt would not have wanted us to see them, anyway. Sometimes modern scans from the original negative reveal too much, as we know.

Raiders of the Lost Ark - I have both the blu-ray and 4k of this one and am not entirely satisfied. I don't think the color is quite right. When I run this one on the projector I am not transported back in time to 1981. TBH I was happier with the CAV laserdisc edition as far as color goes. To my eyes, it has never looked quite right in a widescreen release on any format. I can still enjoy it, but with a nagging feeling.

The Apartment - I am very happy with the blu-ray. And I like the expanded soundtrack, it gives it a feeling of space which I think enhances it.

Superman: The Movie - I saw this so many times in 1978. My Mother worked at a law firm across the street from a Fox theater with a huge screen and multi-track sound, and it must have been either Christmas or summer vacation because I would go to work with her, and watch the film as many times as I could until she got off work LOL I am actually quite happy with the blu-ray and some of the little things they fixed. I can totally lose myself in this one as though it is 1978 in that Fox theater.

Casablanca - I know, a predictable choice, but I can watch it anytime and be happy. I am thrilled with the blu-ray. I have not upgraded to the 4K.

The Goodbye Girl - TBH I like the color better on the ancient DVD. Like Raiders, I can watch and enjoy the blu-ray but with a slight nagging feeling. One of the very few Warner Archive titles I am not totally thrilled with.

The Wizard of Oz - I am happy with the blu-ray. I have not upgraded to the 4K. Like Casablanca, it seems like at some point you get into a state of diminishing returns. Some things I upgraded to 4K, like Raiders and Back to the Future, because I was hoping I would like them better than the blu.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture - TBH not sure this is really in my top ten, but Star Trek was a huge part of my childhood and one of the few things that both my parents and I shared equal enthusiasm for. It was so exciting going to see this film as a family. I am beyond thrilled with the recent deluxe package with all the different versions. I actually love it more now than I did in 1979. I am grateful for The Wrath of Khan as it kept the franchise going, and I love it, but TMP just feels more like the Star Trek series to me (and I know there are lots of other opinions on this out there).

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner - This film is probably not in a lot of top 10 lists, but I just find it so moving, it sticks with me. Kate's love for Spencer is so on display here, she isn't acting, it's real. Ultimately, the message is that love transcends barriers and I think that is so important. The blu-ray is gorgeous.

EDIT - I decided to add an honorable mention - The Sting - because this is a great favorite that I saw many many times in our little neighborhood theater. But I have to say I actually like the HD-DVD release better than the blu-ray. The HD just looks more like film to me. Who knows how much longer I will be able to watch it before that old player gives up, and I think the disc has some kind of rot because last time I watched it, it skipped a few scenes here and there. I haven't played it in a while so, who knows, it might be gone.

I own hundreds of movies in various formats. This is my top 10 list TODAY. It can change. I think of movies as my friends and it is really hard to rate them. If I were exiled to a desert island, these are the 10 I would take today.

 

[Alan Tully]

Nine I'm just nuts about: Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, Helen of Troy, Land of the Pharaohs, The Rose Tattoo, How the West Was Won, Pandora's Box, Intolerance and Boy on a Dolphin. The tenth, not at all, which would be the OOP Spellbound which went bad and now costs a fortune to replace. Some is true of The Egyptian, which is gorgeous but has stopped playing and also costs a mint

Yup, I love an ancient world epic, but with only ten titles, an epic just didn't make the cut (nor did a musical). The Egyptian would have been my choice, I think the TT Blu-ray is stunning, & happily it played fine when I last watched it earlier in the year.

 

[Konstantinos]

I am actually quite happy with the blu-ray and some of the little things they fixed.

Oh? I didn't know they fixed things.
What are they? I have the UHD.

 

[KPmusmag]

Oh? I didn't know they fixed things.
What are they? I have the UHD.

I guess I should have been more clear. I was talking about the color in certain places. One of the things that I noticed in 1978 (and on early home video releases) was that the blue in Superman's suit was not consistent, sometimes it was almost aqua. Maybe the print I saw over and over was not consistent, although I seem to recall that issue on home video as well. The other thing that really bugged me in 1978 (and was even worse on VHS and laserdisc) was that in the sequence where Superman takes Lois for a flight, the lights in the office buildings were a weird, greenish color and on NTSC home video kind of bloomed and looked even worse. To my eye, those problems are not nearly as obvious now.

I remember the first VHS I bought of Superman: The Movie was through Fotomat. I am sure some here remember the little kiosks they had in parking lots everywhere. (I always felt bad for the employee stuck in those little buildings.) It ran 127 minutes and was time compressed, with that awful pulse in the sound. The end credits played only through the cast list and then faded out. This just devastated me, as one of my favorite things about the film is the glorious John Williams music during the credits. But it would have sounded terrible anyway with the time compression issue. I was quite thrilled when I later adopted laserdisc and the credits were intact.

 

[Keith Cobby]

North by Northwest (1959) - 4k arrives Wednesday, I have great expectations all will be fine

To Catch a Thief (1955) - yet to order 4k

The Grass is Greener (1960) - the Olive blu ray is satisfactory but hoping KL will reissue

Ice Station Zebra (1968) - excellent blu ray, needs to be on 4k

Where Eagles Dare (1968) - unsatisfactory blu ray, needs to be on 4k

Casablanca (1942) - excellent 4k

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) - excellent 4k

2001 (1968) - excellent 4k

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) - had to pick one from the Rathbone Holmes film series, satisfactory blu ray

Three Little Words (1950) - had to pick a musical and could have been White Christmas, very good blu ray

 

[ScottHM]

I just started chronologically and looked over a list of films for some of my favorites. It's impossible to select just ten favorite films out of hundreds, but I selected ten films that I could sit down and re-watch just about any time. Only two are in color, and only one in widescreen, so these don't necessarily represent the best looking films I have on disc.

It Happened One Night - The Blu-ray looks fine, considering the source material. I don't see a point in 4K for this title.
The Thin Man - The Blu-ray looks fine to me.
Top Hat - In desperate need of a Blu-ray release.
The Adventures of Robin Hood - The Blu-ray looks fine to me, I'm skeptical that 4K would be an improvement.
The Maltese Falcon - The Blu-ray looks fine, but I also have the 4K UHD.
Random Harvest - Another film in desperate need of a Blu-ray release.
Casablanca - The Blu-ray looks fine to me, but I also have the 4K UHD.
The Bishop's Wife - The Blu-ray is decent, but I wouldn't mind a newly remastered release that also restores the missing footage near the end.
Roman Holiday - The Blu-ray looks fine to me.
My Fair Lady - The Blu-ray looks fine to me, though I'm sure the 4K is an improvement. I currently have no 4K TV to watch it on.
---------------

 

[Dr. Lejos]

Of course impossible to narrow down to ten … but offhand …
Citizen Kane … all’s well with the Criterion.
King Kong (1933) … the Blu-ray probably looks as good as it ever will from elements that survive… but I’d upgrade to 4K on any hope of improvement.
Sunrise … Ditto
The Third Man … very pleased with the new 4K … there’s a restoration analysis on the disc which is very informative and earns a very grateful nod for all the effort that went into the new remaster.
The Scarlet Empress … watching the Blu remains an amazing experience … by far the best I’ve ever seen this favorite film look.
Star Wars … I’m among the multitudes awaiting a 4K release of the 1977 theatrical version … tho the “Special Edition” reissue still holds a top spot in my collection.
Psycho … I visit Bates Motel often in 4K.
The Searchers … 4K on order.
Duck Soup … in terms of content, wasn’t exactly crying for hi-def, but the Blu has the look of a sparkling new print, so no complaints!
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (aka Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein, aka Meet Frankenstein) Blu-ray … fix the damn credits which are overzealously windowboxed, practically a postage stamp. Overall very good image, but this was an early blu, so wonder what a new 4K scan might look like (this has been a money-spinner for Universal since 1948, so hope they’ll invest in a new scan at some point).

 

[Douglas R]

Off hand, I can think of:

Vertigo - The 4K is great
The Letter - Another excellent WB Blu-ray
Ace in the Hole - I have the Eureka. No problem
The Ten Commandments Fabulous 4K. I also have the massive big box set. The film was the very first road show presentation which I saw.
The Asphalt Jungle - The Criterion Blu-ray is fine.
It's a Wonderful Life - I have the 4K but I don't think it adds much, if anything to the Blu-ray.
The Great Beauty - Artificial Eye Blu-ray. Fabulous picture quality
One Eyed Jacks - I have both the Criterion and the Arrow from the restoration, which is excellent after years of public domain hell although I wish they had not edited out the Paramount / VistaVision logo.
Double Indemnity - I have the Criterion Blu-ray but not the 4K version. Maybe I should get if for one of the all time classics.
Barry Lyndon - I have the Criterion. Would like to see it on 4K. Love the film. I saw it four times theatrically, once in Rome, in Italian, where there was hardly a dry eye in the house when Barry's son died.

Quite a few Criterions listed there which is odd because I don't have that many overall and I don't even like their presentation!

 

[Konstantinos]

It's a Wonderful Life - I have the 4K

I want to buy this. Did you notice any audio sync issues that have been reported by many?