The Abyss 4K UHD (1989)

[Telemachus]

Still waiting for Jaws 19

[SpacemanDoug]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

Still waiting for Jaws 19

the teaser trailer was already released

Jaws 19 Trailer | "This time, it's really, really personal." - YouTube

[Chad Rouch]

Originally Posted by DigitalDeluge24

is the abys good?

There's a mystique surrounding it because of its unavailability on any high quality disc format since LaserDisc. It was last physically released on DVD using that LD master, but was not enhanced for 16x9 TVs as DVDs so often were. DVD geeks started asking for that enhanced DVD, and we didn't get it. Then we hoped we'd get a Blu-ray but never got it. And this was all fed by constant rumors each year that THIS would finally be the year it was properly released. This went on for somewhere along the lines of two decades.

So, it became this mythical thing whereby us middle aged film geeks who wanted it in a high quality format would put it at the top of our wish lists for a few decades, and younger people would think it must be amazing if it's so highly desired. It's myth, and in turn its estimation, grew.

But the truth is it's just a solid sci-fi/Cold War thriller with a weak ending in both its forms. Cameron was unable to marry the two stories he set-up, the drama on the oil rig and the aliens, into a truly satisfying conclusion, so he tried to just make a Close Encounters-like spectacle of its ending. That ending works okay, I guess, but has never been truly inspiring - and the Special Edition ending can read a little corny.

I'm happy to finally have it on iTunes due to its exclusion from high-def formats for the better part of a quarter century, but I doubt it will be in heavy rotation on my watchlist. I suspect that if it had been properly released on Blu-ray all those years ago that it would be that well-thought of anymore. It probably would rank near the bottom of Cameron's oeuvre with "True Lies."

[Indiana Jones]

Originally Posted by beadelf

Cheers

never heard of them. have you ordered from the site before? Do they take the money straight away?

hopefully the 4k wont have burned in subs.

unfortunately don't have a region free 4k player so avoiding USA release as wont be able to play bonus features disc

They take money when the order ships and the disc will definitely not have any burnt it subs, think its very likely it will be the exact same disc as the US gets.

I would actually be surprised if the Blu-ray in the US release is region locked, thought Disney abandoned region locking along time ago.

[SpacemanDoug]

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

They take money when the order ships and the disc will definitely not have any burnt it subs, think its very likely it will be the exact same disc as the US gets.

I would actually be surprised if the Blu-ray in the US release is region locked, thought Disney abandoned region locking along time ago.

All of the majors did several years ago, even in cases where they only have domestic rights they don't region lock anymore

At this point it's really only labels that region lock and almost always it's on only the blu-ray disks, almost all 4K disks are region free as it's against policy to region lock them

Anyone who thinks the blu-ray of The Abyss is gonna be region locked is surely mistaken

[cherrybomb]

iTunes has the special edition now in 4K Dolby vision with Dolby atmos

[KcMsterpce]

I'm gonna wait until the disc is released before I watch it. I know it's not as bad as TRUE LIES (and with ALIENS I am on the fence, but leaning towards not getting it), so I will purchase it.

[thesaxmaniac]

Originally Posted by Chad Rouch

There's a mystique surrounding it because of its unavailability on any high quality disc format since LaserDisc. It was last physically released on DVD using that LD master, but was not enhanced for 16x9 TVs as DVDs so often were. DVD geeks started asking for that enhanced DVD, and we didn't get it. Then we hoped we'd get a Blu-ray but never got it. And this was all fed by constant rumors each year that THIS would finally be the year it was properly released. This went on for somewhere along the lines of two decades.

So, it became this mythical thing whereby us middle aged film geeks who wanted it in a high quality format would put it at the top of our wish lists for a few decades, and younger people would think it must be amazing if it's so highly desired. It's myth, and in turn its estimation, grew.

But the truth is it's just a solid sci-fi/Cold War thriller with a weak ending in both its forms. Cameron was unable to marry the two stories he set-up, the drama on the oil rig and the aliens, into a truly satisfying conclusion, so he tried to just make a Close Encounters-like spectacle of its ending. That ending works okay, I guess, but has never been truly inspiring - and the Special Edition ending can read a little corny.

I'm happy to finally have it on iTunes due to its exclusion from high-def formats for the better part of a quarter century, but I doubt it will be in heavy rotation on my watchlist. I suspect that if it had been properly released on Blu-ray all those years ago that it would be that well-thought of anymore. It probably would rank near the bottom of Cameron's oeuvre with "True Lies."

This is a pretty fair take. I've always absolutely LOVED the non alien portion of the story and kinda ben meh and the alien part. The real draw for me is the nuclear sub stuff, Michael Biehn's character, the mini-sub fight, the crane and subsequent flooding scene, and the underwater swim. All the rest of the alien stuff definitely feels tacked on.

[Geoff D]

I've always loved the film, even in its theatrical form. If other folks want to put a revionist spin (or 'hot take') on what they think of it then go for it, but don't speak for me. It's not like I haven't watched the film in the last 20 years just because it wasn't on Blu-ray, or not revisited the superb DVD supplements in that time.

[Kris Deering]

I finally watched this from beginning to end yesterday so wanted to give an update. As mentioned before, I have the 4K of this via Kaleidescape, so 4K Blu-ray quality or better. I also saw this in Dolby Cinema for its brief one showing only event.

This still looks fantastic in my opinion. If I was grading on a scale of out of 5, I would easily give it a 4.5. There were only two scenes in the movie that I noticed any issues with the image (mainly DNR softening of her face). Otherwise this looks fantastic. There are moments that the technology of the time hurts the image slightly (opticals, fades, etc), but I would expect that. After watching True Lies in the same fashion this is a huge step in the right direction compared to that one.

After watching about 15-20 minutes of Aliens I deleted it as I greatly prefer the HD version I already had on my K system. Obviously don't have that choice for True Lies, so it is what it is.

So anyone getting this on disc in a couple months will be in for a treat.

[AllOuttaBubbleGum]

Looking forward to the disc(s). For me, The Abyss is the perfect antidote for the later, tad too rendered period of Cameron's career, with some of his better writing and directing of actors. The practical filmmaking achievement of it feels more palpable than anything on Pandora. I forgive JC his Close Encounters of the Spielbergian kind because it'd be a bummer if there wasn't something spectacular waiting down there.

[thesaxmaniac]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

I finally watched this from beginning to end yesterday so wanted to give an update. As mentioned before, I have the 4K of this via Kaleidescape, so 4K Blu-ray quality or better. I also saw this in Dolby Cinema for its brief one showing only event.

This still looks fantastic in my opinion. If I was grading on a scale of out of 5, I would easily give it a 4.5. There were only two scenes in the movie that I noticed any issues with the image (mainly DNR softening of her face). Otherwise this looks fantastic. There are moments that the technology of the time hurts the image slightly (opticals, fades, etc), but I would expect that. After watching True Lies in the same fashion this is a huge step in the right direction compared to that one.

After watching about 15-20 minutes of Aliens I deleted it as I greatly prefer the HD version I already had on my K system. Obviously don't have that choice for True Lies, so it is what it is.

So anyone getting this on disc in a couple months will be in for a treat.

Man they really f’d up True Lies and Aliens didn’t they

[starmike]

Originally Posted by thesaxmaniac

Man they really f’d up True Lies and Aliens didn’t they

It's one person's opinion.

[By_His_Strypes]

Aliens looks almost as fantastic as The Abyss does. These should finally be up for pre-order next week.

[mng]

Originally Posted by cherrybomb

iTunes has the special edition now in 4K Dolby vision with Dolby atmos

iTunes for us it is only HD, not 4K (US)

[THF90]

Originally Posted by By_His_Strypes

Aliens looks almost as fantastic as The Abyss does. These should finally be up for pre-order next week.

lol.

[David Cronenberg]

Originally Posted by thesaxmaniac

Man they really f’d up True Lies and Aliens didn’t they

Americans.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by David Cronenberg

Americans.

Loved you in Jason X!

[Modren]

Originally Posted by thesaxmaniac

Man they really f’d up True Lies and Aliens didn’t they

Blame Cameron for not bothering to get new scans done. The Abyss (and Titanic to a somewhat lesser extent) prove that, when given a solid 4K scan to work from, Park Road can deliver a mostly pleasing image. But Aliens and True Lies use decade-old 2K transfers as their base, and the results speak for themselves. Cameron is one of the richest men on the planet, he can afford a new scan even if Disney wouldn't shell out for one. He just doesn't care.

[Cvalda]

Originally Posted by Modren

Blame Cameron for not bothering to get new scans done. The Abyss (and Titanic to a somewhat lesser extent) prove that, when given a solid 4K scan to work from, Park Road can deliver a mostly pleasing image. But Aliens and True Lies use decade-old 2K transfers as their base, and the results speak for themselves. Cameron is one of the richest men on the planet, he can afford a new scan even if Disney wouldn't shell out for one. He just doesn't care.

It's already been demonstrated in the Aliens thread that upscaling the Aliens blu-ray with Topaz AI looks far, far better than Park Road's massacre. Park Road just sucks at what they do.