Member's Choice 'Best Of' 2019 UHD Awards Thread

[bradnoyes]

Back by popular demand! Getting close to the end of the year and only a few more big releases to go so I figured now is as good a time as any to unleash this turd of a thread. Feel free to add your own awards, alter existing ones, or simply pretend that this thread doesn't exist at all. Happy holidays! Here are the categories:

UPDATE: Well it's all over and the votes are tallied. Congrats to Apocalypse Now, a deserving champion. I included runner-ups for the big categories and noted ties when appropriate. I probably screwed up the count, but anyway, here are the results of this terrific failure of an awards thread:

Best Overall Release: Apocalypse Now (11 votes), Runner Up: Alien (5 votes)

Best Overall PQ: Aquaman (10 votes), Runner Up: The Shining (7 votes)

Best Overall Audio: John Wick 3 (6 votes), Runner Up: Godzilla: KotM (5 votes)

Best Catalog Release: The Shining, Apocalypse Now, and Alien (3-way TIE with 6 votes each)

Best Animated UHD: Toy Story 4 and Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse (TIE with 5 votes each)

Best Trilogy/Series/Box-set (including TV series): Batman Anthology and John Wick Trilogy (TIE with 5 votes each)

Best Import (please name your region): Angel Heart (3 votes)

Best HDR Demo Scene: John Wick 3 (basically the entire movie)

Best Immersive Audio Demo Scene: Overlord opening and Apocalypse Now Ride of the Valkyries (TIE with 3 votes each)

Biggest Upgrade from Previous BD: Hannibal (4 votes)

Most Disappointing Release: Hot Fuzz (4 votes)

Most Disappointing Cancellation: Panic Room (5 votes)

Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of Quality): The Shining and Hannibal (TIE with 3 votes each)

Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of the Fact That It Even Exists): Suspiria (6 votes)

Biggest Headscratcher (Of All the Movies in Existence, Why Release This on UHD?): Tammy and the T-Rex (7 votes)

Most Underrated Release (Why Isn’t Everyone Talking About This Amazing Transfer?): Hannibal (3 votes)--this category got a TON of entries

Best Standard Cover Art/Slip: The Shining (6 votes)

Best Steelbook/Exclusive Art: Wizard of Oz Best Buy (2 votes)

Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced): Lord of the Rings Trilogy (7 votes)

Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Not Yet Announced): Star Wars (4 votes) *Of course it's been announced now so the real winner is Pirates of the Caribbean with 2 big votes

Most Surprising Absence from 2019 (Thought For Sure We'd Get This One This Year...): Massive TIE (lots of titles with one vote)

Best Guilty Pleasure Release (added since I noticed several people listed one): Rocketman (3 votes)

[Dailyan]

(I'll probably edit it later)
Best Overall Release: Apocalypse Now
Best Overall PQ: Apocalypse Now
Best Overall Audio: It's a Wonderful Life (finally getting lossless)
Best Catalog Release: Apocalypse Now
Best Animated UHD: Toy Story 2
Best Import: Don't Look Now (England)
Most Disappointing Release: Lupin III: Secret of Mamo (Japan)
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of Quality): The Wizard of Oz
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of the Fact It Even Exists): Suspiria
Biggest Headscratcher: Tammy and the Dinosaur (still love more indies jumping into UHD)
Most Underrated: Hannibal
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced): The Man With No Name Trilogy

[Al_The_Strange]

Best Overall Release: Apocalypse Now
Best Overall PQ: Alien
Best Overall Audio: Apocalypse Now
Best Catalog Release: Apocalypse Now
Best Animated UHD: Moana
Best Trilogy/Series/Box-set (including TV series): Batman Anthology 1989-1998
Best Import (please name your region): Angel Heart (UK)
Biggest Upgrade from Previous BD: Gremlins
Most Disappointing Release: Lord of War
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of Quality): The Shining
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of the Fact That It Even Exists): Hulk
Biggest Headscratcher (Of All the Movies in Existence, Why Release This on UHD?): Universal Soldier
Most Underrated Release (Why Isn’t Everyone Talking About This Amazing Transfer?): The Daniel Craig Bond films
Favorite Guilty Pleasure Release: Charlie's Angels (2000)
Best Standard Cover Art/Slip: Scarface
Best Steelbook/Exclusive Art: Wizard of Oz (Best Buy)
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced): Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Not Yet Announced): Star Wars (all of it)

Honorable Mentions: Black Hawk Down, Stand By Me, It's A Wonderful Life

[GeneD5]

PQ: 13 hours

[DR Herbert West]

Best Overall PQ: The Shining
Best Overall Audio: Rambo
Best Catalog Release: Suspiria
Biggest Upgrade from Previous BD: Hannibal
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of Quality): Universal Soldier
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of the Fact That It Even Exists): Hannibal
Most Underrated Release (Why Isn’t Everyone Talking About This Amazing Transfer?): Hannibal
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Not Yet Announced): Highlander

[DanTheMan]

Best Overall Release: Aquaman
Best Overall PQ: Aquaman
Best Overall Audio: John Wick: Chapter 3
Best Catalog Release: The Shining
Best Animated UHD: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Best Trilogy/Series/Box-set (including TV series): Batman Anthology
Best Import (please name your region):
Best HDR Demo Scene:
Best Immersive Audio Demo Scene: A Star is Born opening/Bohemian Rhapsody finale
Biggest Upgrade from Previous BD: Charlie’s Angels
Most Disappointing Release: Hot Fuzz
Most Disappointing Cancellation: Ready or Not
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of Quality): Casino
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of the Fact That It Even Exists): Suspiria
Biggest Headscratcher (Of All the Movies in Existence, Why Release This on UHD?): Night School and Man on a Ledge
Most Underrated Release (Why Isn’t Everyone Talking About This Amazing Transfer?): The Hate U Give
Best Standard Cover Art/Slip: Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Steelbook/Exclusive Art: Alita: Battle Angel (Germany steelbook)
Favorite Guilty Pleasure Movie/Disc: The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced): Back to the Future trilogy
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Not Yet Announced): Pulp Fiction and/or Kill Bill

[Tristold]

Best Overall Release: Alien, and Batman Returns
Best Overall PQ: Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark
Best Overall Audio: Black Hawk Down
Best Catalog Release: Alien, Batman
Best Animated UHD: Toy Story 4, HTTYD3
Best Trilogy/Series/Box-set (including TV series): Batman, Toy Story
Best Import (please name your region): They Live (it’s the only title I’ve imported this year on disc, UK to Canada)
Best HDR Demo Scene: Any Scene with Catwoman
Best Immersive Audio Demo Scene: Apocalypse Now Ride of The Valkyries
Biggest Upgrade from Previous BD: Batman 1-4, The Black Cauldron, Sword in the Stone, Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Most Disappointing Release: There’s a lot of titles that work significantly better on X700 in DV than Xbox One s with standard HDR Titles include: Us (I love the film still), and They Live both don’t look as good or have good motion without it. I sold my player to fund a trip. Had it about a week, and both of these films disappointed me before using it.
I think The Shining, and AN will impress me more, and may be my top choice.
Most Disappointing Cancellation: Les Miserables (Pulp Fiction, was rumoured to be released alongside OUATIH), The Exorcist and Beetlejuice had phantom pages also, would’ve loved to have seen them.
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of Quality): Disney+ (I’ve been binging Dolby Vision + Atmos on this channel like crazy since yesterday, and can’t get over it, and what’s available day 1).
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of the Fact That It Even Exists): Wizard of Oz (if I had to say one UHD). The massive amount of Disney titles released this year, as well as: Sword in the Stone, The Black Cauldron, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, SW 1-7
Biggest Headscratcher (Of All the Movies in Existence, Why Release This on UHD?): Tammy and the Dinosaur
Most Underrated Release (Why Isn’t Everyone Talking About This Amazing Transfer?): The Flying Clipper, Field of Dreams, Hellboy
Best Standard Cover Art/Slip: Suspiria
Guilty Pleasure: Rocketman
Best Steelbook/Exclusive Art: Alien, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced): Jaws, Rollerball
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Not Yet Announced): Catalogue- Song of the South, The Devils, and Come and See Criterion.
(2019 titles) - The Twentieth Century, Vitalina Varela, A Hidden Life, Weathering With You.

[levcore]

Best Overall Release: Aquaman
Best Overall PQ: Aquaman
Best Overall Audio:
Best Catalog Release: Backdraft
Best Animated UHD:
Best Trilogy/Series/Box-set (including TV series):
Best Import (please name your region): Backdraft (US)
Best HDR Demo Scene:
Best Immersive Audio Demo Scene:
Biggest Upgrade from Previous BD: Backdraft
Most Disappointing Release: Cold Pursuit
Most Disappointing Cancellation:
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of Quality):
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of the Fact That It Even Exists):
Biggest Headscratcher (Of All the Movies in Existence, Why Release This on UHD?):
Most Underrated Release (Why Isn’t Everyone Talking About This Amazing Transfer?): Men in Black International
Best Standard Cover Art/Slip:
Best Steelbook/Exclusive Art:
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced):
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Not Yet Announced): 10,000 B.C.

[birdztudio]

Originally Posted by bradnoyes

Back by popular demand! Getting close to the end of the year and only a few more big releases to go so I figured now is as good a time as any to unleash this turd of a thread. Feel free to add your own awards, alter existing ones, or simply pretend that this thread doesn't exist at all. Happy holidays!

[Show spoiler]Best Overall Release:
Best Overall PQ:
Best Overall Audio:
Best Catalog Release:
Best Animated UHD:
Best Trilogy/Series/Box-set (including TV series):
Best Import (please name your region):
Best HDR Demo Scene:
Best Immersive Audio Demo Scene:
Biggest Upgrade from Previous BD:
Most Disappointing Release:
Most Disappointing Cancellation:
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of Quality):
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of the Fact That It Even Exists):
Biggest Headscratcher (Of All the Movies in Existence, Why Release This on UHD?):
Most Underrated Release (Why Isn’t Everyone Talking About This Amazing Transfer?):
Best Standard Cover Art/Slip:
Best Steelbook/Exclusive Art:
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced):
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Not Yet Announced):

this is great, did we do this last year? i didn't recall...

[imsounoriginal]

I have some catching up to do, but as of now:

Best Overall Release: Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Best Overall PQ: The Lion King (2019)
Best Overall Audio: Godzilla: King of the Monsters / Shazam
Best Catalog Release: Casino
Best Animated UHD: The Lion King (2019)
Best Trilogy/Series/Box-set (including TV series): N/A (or, by default, 007 Daniel Craig Collection)
Best Import (please name your region): N/A
Best HDR Demo Scene: Shazam (Billy meets Wizard)
Best Immersive Audio Demo Scene: Godzilla: King of the Monsters (Antarctica sequence) / Shazam (anytime the Seven Deadly Sins speak)
Biggest Upgrade from Previous BD: American Gangster
Most Disappointing Release: 007 Daniel Craig Collection (specifically, Quantum of Solace)
Most Disappointing Cancellation: N/A
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of Quality): American Gangster
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of the Fact That It Even Exists): American Gangster / Moon
Biggest Headscratcher (Of All the Movies in Existence, Why Release This on UHD?): several Lionsgate titles...
Most Underrated Release (Why Isn’t Everyone Talking About This Amazing Transfer?): Godzilla: King of the Monsters is one of the best discs I've seen/heard on the format.
Best Standard Cover Art/Slip: The Angry Birds Movie 2 lol
Best Steelbook/Exclusive Art: Frozen (Best Buy Steelbook) (never seen the movie but the cover looks great)
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced): The Man with No Name Trilogy
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Not Yet Announced): In terms of movies we're likely to actually get -- Top Gun. I don't think we'll get LOTR til the Amazon show comes out, and I'd say Star Wars OT if we were getting the unaltered versions (but we're not).

[brainofj72]

Best Overall Release: Apocalypse Now: Final Cut
Best Catalog Release: Apocalypse Now: Final Cut
Best HDR Demo Scene: Burning house near the end of The Girl in the Spider's Web
Most Disappointing Release: Alita: Battle Angel
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of the Fact That It Even Exists): Tammy and the T-Rex
Biggest Headscratcher (Of All the Movies in Existence, Why Release This on UHD?): Lock Up
Most Underrated Release (Why Isn’t Everyone Talking About This Amazing Transfer?): La rose ecorchee
Best Standard Cover Art/Slip: Godzilla
Best Steelbook/Exclusive Art: The Shining
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced): The Man with No Name Trilogy
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Not Yet Announced): Lawrence of Arabia

[gooseygander2001]

Best Overall Release: Apocalypse Now/Black Hawk Down - tie
Best Overall PQ: Black Hawk Down
Best Overall Audio: Black Hawk Down
Best Catalog Release: Apocalypse Now/ Black Hawk Down
Best Animated UHD: Toy Story 4
Best Trilogy/Series/Box-set (including TV series): Toy Story
Best Import (please name your region): Alien 4k (couldn't wait for UK release)
Best HDR Demo Scene: Black Hawk Down (any part really without CGI and The Shining -intro/flyover
Best Immersive Audio Demo Scene: Ride of the Valkyries scene (Apocalypse Now)
Biggest Upgrade from Previous BD: Black Hawk Down
Most Disappointing Cancellation: Lawrence of Arabia (delayed I believe)
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of Quality): The Shining
Most Underrated Release (Why Isn’t Everyone Talking About This Amazing Transfer?): It's a Wonderful Life
Best Standard Cover Art/Slip: Apocalypse Now/It's a Wonderful Life
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced): Lawrence of Arabia
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Not Yet Announced): Heat (1995)

Just missed out: The Shining, Alien, Schindler's List, First Man

[lgans316]

Best Overall Release: Aquaman
Best Overall PQ: Aquaman
Best Overall Audio: Godzilla KOTM / Aquaman Tie
Best Catalog Release: Black Hawk Down
Best Animated UHD: None
Best Trilogy/Series/Box-set (including TV series): None
Best Import (please name your region): None
Best HDR Demo Scene: Aquaman
Best Immersive Audio Demo Scene: Overlord first chapter
Biggest Upgrade from Previous BD: American Gangster
Most Disappointing Release: Hot Fuzz
Most Disappointing Cancellation: None
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of Quality): Hulk
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of the Fact That It Even Exists): None
Biggest Headscratcher (Of All the Movies in Existence, Why Release This on UHD?):
Most Underrated Release (Why Isn’t Everyone Talking About This Amazing Transfer?): Mortal Engines
Best Standard Cover Art/Slip: None
Best Steelbook/Exclusive Art: None
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced): Lawrence of Arabia

[ROSS.T.G.]

Best Overall Release: Apocalypse Now
Best Overall PQ: Casino
Best Overall Audio: Aquaman
Best Catalog Release Casino
Best Animated UHD: NA
Best Trilogy/Series/Box-set (including TV series): Batman Set
Best Import (please name your region): Canada - Apocalypse Now
Best HDR Demo Scene: JW 3 You know the one
Best Immersive Audio Demo Scene: Rambo you know the one
Biggest Upgrade from Previous BD: Batman
Most Disappointing Release: Pet Sematary
Most Disappointing Cancellation: Taxi Driver
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of Quality): Hannibal
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of the Fact That It Even Exists): Lord of War
Biggest Headscratcher (Of All the Movies in Existence, Why Release This on UHD?): Man on a Ledge
Most Underrated Release (Why Isn’t Everyone Talking About This Amazing Transfer?): Backdraft
Best Standard Cover Art/Slip: The Shining
Best Steelbook/Exclusive Art: Wizard of Oz
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced): BTTF
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Not Yet Announced): Miami Vice

[Zoland2020]

Best Overall Release: Apocalypse Now
Best Overall PQ: The Lion King (2019)
Best Overall Audio: Overlord (2018)
Best Catalog Release: The Shining
Best Animated UHD: How to Train Your Dragon 3 The Hidden World
Best Trilogy/Series/Box-set: N/A
Best Import: N/A
Best HDR Demo Scene: Certain scenes of John Wick Chapter 3 and Mortal Engines respectively
Best Immersive Audio Demo Scene: All action scenes from John Wick Chapter 3
Biggest Upgrade from Previous BD: Scarface (1983) and Alien
Most Disappointing Release: Hot Fuzz
Most Disappointing Cancellation: Both Midsommar and Ready or Not
Most Pleasant Surprise (In terms of quality): Hannibal
Most Pleasant Surprise (In terms of the fact that it even exists): Daybreakers
Biggest Headscratcher (Of all the movies in existence, why release this on UHD): Both Tammy and the T-Rex and Man on a Ledge. The two movies that nobody asked for on 4K, nuff said.
Most Underrated Release (Why isn't everyone talking about this amazing transfer?): Shadow (2018)
Best Standard Cover Art/Slip: Avengers Endgame
Best Steelbook/Exclusive Art: N/A
Most Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced): BTTF trilogy
Most Wanted Disc for 2020 (Not yet announced): Se7en (1995)

[Archivy]

Nice thread. Seeing what the consensus is really helps me cut through the clutter and hyperbole that sprouts throughout the year.

Looks as if Apocalypse Now is the early leader for Best Release of the Year. Can't wait to pick it up for $9.99 on Black Friday.

[gooseygander2001]

Originally Posted by Archivy

Nice thread. Seeing what the consensus is really helps me cut through the clutter and hyperbole that sprouts throughout the year.

Looks as if Apocalypse Now is the early leader for Best Release of the Year. Can't wait to pick it up for $9.99 on Black Friday.

I agree, great thread idea

[bradnoyes]

Originally Posted by birdztudio

this is great, did we do this last year? i didn't recall...

Yeah, I did the same thing last year. To spice things up, this year I'll try to continually update the OP with whatever disc gets the most votes for each category.

[bsandler32]

Best Overall Release: Apocalypse Now
Best Overall PQ: The Shining
Best Overall Audio: Apocalypse Now
Best Catalog Release: The Shining
Best Animated UHD: Toy Story 4
Best HDR Demo Scene: Black Hawk Down
Best Immersive Audio Demo Scene: Black Hawk Down
Biggest Upgrade from Previous BD: It's A Wonderful Life
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of Quality): The Natural
Most Pleasant Surprise (In Terms of the Fact That It Even Exists): Hannibal
Biggest Headscratcher (Of All the Movies in Existence, Why Release This on UHD?): Waterworld
Most Underrated Release (Why Isn’t Everyone Talking About This Amazing Transfer?): The Natural
Best Standard Cover Art/Slip: Apocalypse Now
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Announced): The Abyss (kinda announced)
Most-Wanted Disc for 2020 (Not Yet Announced): Breathless, Seven Samurai, Barry Lyndon

[imsounoriginal]

Was planning to get Apocalypse Now eventually anyway, but I guess I need to make it more of a priority.