A Better Tomorrow (4K Blu-ray)

[almo89]

My local dealer that I have been buying stuff for many years now sent me the picture below. Apparently there will be a 4k blu ray release for A Better Tomorrow, but I can't seem to find any information online.

[John_Drake]

I hesitate to get my hopes up but would love to have this series in a proper condition. Did your dealer have a timeframe for release?

[Russ103]

Being talked about in the Fortune Star thread: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=321

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by John_Drake

I hesitate to get my hopes up but would love to have this series in a proper condition. Did your dealer have a timeframe for release?

It comes out tomorrow.

[grim_tales]

The specs could be wrong but they don't fill me with confidence:

http://www.yesasia.com/global/a-bett...0-en/info.html

I wonder if the pack contains a normal BD or just a 4K one? Releasing a 4K BD, and a DVD (but not an ordinary 1080p BD) sounds stupid

[Markgway]

Update: Release date pushed back to July 8th.

[ZeTi]

Hopefully it does include more audio option than the 7.1 upmix.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by ZeTi

Hopefully it does include more audio option than the 7.1 upmix.

I wouldn't bet my testes on it.

[spannick]

it may have a Mandarin 5.1, so that is less than 7.1

[Dragon Lee]

judging by the price (around US$20) this is likely a mastered in 4k blu ray and not an actual 4k UHD blu ray.

[shibal]

I see Play-Asia also has the standard DVD up for pre-order as well but can't see anyone buying this when the 4K remastered blu is available for just $5 more.

[Jompa]

The cover on the right has the BD logo. The other cover says DVD.

[Markgway]

'4K Ultra Remastered HD' doesn't even make sense for BD.

Either it's a Blu-ray from a 4K (re)master or it's 4K Ultra HD.

[OldPangYau]

Regardless, it looks like the 4K master is finally being used, so this is a plus The last version of ABT I ever bought was the Anchor Bay US DVD, so I could definitely use an upgrade!

But once again, if there's a version that'll either be released by Criterion in the US or Masters of Cinema in the UK, then the chance of having a proper mono track will be much higher. I'm still betting that this will be missing mono, despite L'Immagine Ritrovata also restoring the mono tracks as well for theatrical use

[wesslan]

Ordered from dddhouse

[toddly6666]

I am so damn curious to see what K&R did with this! I really dont mind if it's a horrible restoration because it would be be funny if it was horribly remastered.

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

I am so damn curious to see what K&R did with this! I really dont mind if it's a horrible restoration because it would be be funny if it was horribly remastered.

Since it was done by real pros that done others really good I think we are safe depending the quality of the source. Still big chance they didn't do the original audio and only used their damn remix but still better than nothing. Have it on order and really hope this is the first of many restored Woo classics

[OldPangYau]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Since it was done by real pros that done others really good I think we are safe depending the quality of the source. Still big chance they didn't do the original audio and only used their damn remix but still better than nothing. Have it on order and really hope this is the first of many restored Woo classics

The only way K&R could screw this up is if they just have a poorly compressed transfer of the master, as the 4K master was restored and remastered by L'Immagine Ritrovata. Ritrovata also restored the mono tracks, but *THAT* may be K&R's downfall, as they'll most likely only use remixes. I hate to sound like a broken record, but I suspect that either a company in the UK or US will release this with proper mono. Still thinking it could be Masters of Cinema in the UK and Criterion in the US.

The only reason I keep bringing up the latter is because Criterion is already releasing Ritrovata's restorations of the King Hu films (A Touch of Zen and Dragon Inn), and they're no stranger to John Woo's films in the early days of their DVD releases. Releasing A Better Tomorrow would be a good "testing ground" for them to see if they should have new releases of The Killer and Hard Boiled. But that's just my theory. And that also comes down to whether or not those two films will have proper restorations as well.

Anyway, end tangent... hopefully someone will have a quick review of this in the next few days. Screencaps would be even better

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

Anyway, end tangent... hopefully someone will have a quick review of this in the next few days. Screencaps would be even better

Same here. I am so excited to watch this again, hopefully in a great looking transfer. It should be on sale in stores tomorrow, in Hong Kong, right?

[OldPangYau]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Same here. I am so excited to watch this again, hopefully in a great looking transfer. It should be on sale in stores tomorrow, in Hong Kong, right?

I think it's the 8th... either way, hopefully we'll see something crop up by next week at the latest.

And for those who get this and can make screencaps, here's caps-a-holic's current comparison with the old upscaled K&R blu from a few years back:

http://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=5901&d2=5903&c=2400