Back to the Future Trilogy 4K UHD (1985-1990)

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by KevinStriker

Well, I got it on discount this weekend and I have to say I'm really quite happy with the presentation in the remastered Blu-ray set, even if not as impressive as the 4K, it still represents a leap in quality long overdue for the trilogy (one that we could have gotten in 2015, but alas). But the important thing is is that we have it now, and oh boy. Gone is the aggressive DNR, gone is the haloing, the white crush, the unnatural-looking grain, waxy faces, and no more telling myself "these unrestored deleted scenes look better than the damn movie!" These films look like film and never-before-seen textures are revealed. Reds are desaturated bringing out their detail as well. It's fabulous

Audio is an overall improvement. The 1080p disc's DTS-HD MA 5.1 track is indeed a downmix of the 4K's Atmos track, with all the minor changes and (maybe?) flubs that comes with it, but I found dialogue more intelligible and the mix is more active in the surrounds. Music is loud but not fatiguing or prone to drowning out foley like Tim Burton's Batman in Atmos.
Back to the Future has never been a posterchild for awful revisionist audio and that continues to be the case, but there were a few changes that stuck out:
- The lightning that strikes the clock tower is "beefed up", and there's new ambient wind after the DeLorean travels back to 1985.
- Doc's old west "sniper rifle" has a new-sounding gunshot, which I expect will be treated with the same fervour as Strickland's 1985A shotgun (although not a big deal to me personally). I count my lucky stars that they all still sound like they exist in the world of the film, unlike The Good, the Bad and the Ugly for example.

I don't mean to convince anybody to go out and buy the 4K remasters (if you're reading this, you've probably already done that), but more to express my relief that these were worth the double dip... and maybe inspire a more comprehensive list of the trilogy's new audio changes.

Those audio descriptions make me sad

[KevinStriker]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

Those audio descriptions make me sad

How so, "There are more changes" sad, or I need a proofreader sad?

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by KevinStriker

How so, "There are more changes" sad, or I need a proofreader sad?

Revionism.
The 4k format should be about perfect preservation

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by KevinStriker

How so, "There are more changes" sad, or I need a proofreader sad?

That changes were made at all "sad", I'd guess.

Inclusion of the original 2.0 tracks would allow studios to do all the remix/multi-channel buggery they desire and still keep everyone happy.

But do they? No....

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Markgway

That changes were made at all "sad", I'd guess.

Inclusion of the original 2.0 tracks would allow studios to do all the remix/multi-channel buggery they desire and still keep everyone happy.

But do they? No....

Exactly! Options or erasure and they go with erasure.

[KevinStriker]

Yeah, I was just as excited, and then disappointed as anybody that the "Dolby Digital 2.0" track in the press release only amounted to a tease.

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by KevinStriker

Audio is an overall improvement. The 1080p disc's DTS-HD MA 5.1 track is indeed a downmix of the 4K's Atmos track, with all the minor changes and (maybe?) flubs that comes with it, but I found dialogue more intelligible and the mix is more active in the surrounds.

Not sure how far they got in the initial discussion about this, but to me that definitely sounds like a mistake. The first part of the line is noticeably sped up, and then "be here" is back in sync with picture. It's like someone accidentally dropped a time shift effect on part of the audio clip.

It's minor, but like that misplaced frame in the middle of the climax of The Dark Crystal, it's just sloppy.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by BNex99

Not sure how far they got in the initial discussion about this, but to me that definitely sounds like a mistake. The first part of the line is noticeably sped up, and then "be here" is back in sync with picture. It's like someone accidentally dropped a time shift effect on part of the audio clip.

It's minor, but like that misplaced frame in the middle of the climax of The Dark Crystal, it's just sloppy.

Home video departments have been steadily gutted. There are few truly talented AV techs left.

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

Home video departments have been steadily gutted. There are few truly talented AV techs left.

If that's the case, all the more reason to leave the legacy audio on there as an option.

[profholt82]

Well, you could always sync up the BetaMax, VHS, Laserdisc or DVD with the new 4k. Just display the 4k on the screen for video, and run the audio of the earlier format of your choice through your stereo system. Best of both worlds. I can't be the only one who has this movie on tons of formats, can I? I would assume that most of you have it on at least 2 or 3 formats.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by profholt82

Well, you could always sync up the BetaMax, VHS, Laserdisc or DVD with the new 4k. Just display the 4k on the screen for video, and run the audio of the earlier format of your choice through your stereo system. Best of both worlds. I can't be the only one who has this movie on tons of formats, can I? I would assume that most of you have it on at least 2 or 3 formats.

Doesn't work like that, rarely it would sync

[profholt82]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

Doesn't work like that, rarely it would sync

You sure? I use to do it with the first Predator blu and the Ultimate Hunter Edition. I'd play the audio from the latter with video from the former. Boy, was I happy about that one coming to 4k. Ha

[profholt82]

I think those earlier BttF formats are the only ones with 2 channel stereo. I bought the 2012 blu, and it didn't include it. I don't know about the later blu release though. But the original theatrical BttF audio track was Dolby Stereo, so if you want to hear it on home video, I think you have to go with an earlier format. I'm not even 100% that the DVD has it off hand, I'd have to check.

[KevinStriker]

Originally Posted by profholt82

I think those earlier BttF formats are the only ones with 2 channel stereo. I bought the 2012 blu, and it didn't include it. I don't know about the later blu release though. But the original theatrical BttF audio track was Dolby Stereo, so if you want to hear it on home video, I think you have to go with an earlier format. I'm not even 100% that the DVD has it off hand, I'd have to check.

The DVDs do not. But if the 2002 DVDs and 2010/2015 Blu-rays use the same 5.1 mix is worth checking but I lean towards yes.

[Stargrove]

$29.99 exclusive deal for Prime members right now.

Been holding out on this cuz digibook packaging is the devil but I broke down and surrendered to master Bezos.

Just please no send me scratchy disc-y

[Haddonfield81]

I’ve tried to locate this info with no luck (thread’s huge) have the glitches been given a replacement program? Do these glitches exist on both blu and 4K? Have the sets been rereleased on the market fixed? Thanks in advance

[SpazeBlue]

Originally Posted by Haddonfield81

I’ve tried to locate this info with no luck (thread’s huge) have the glitches been given a replacement program?

Nope.

Originally Posted by Haddonfield81

Do these glitches exist on both blu and 4K?

Yep:

Originally Posted by Geoff D

it's even visible on the newly remastered BD albeit not as obvious owing to the lower chroma resolution of that format, so it's something that's baked in at a fundamental level to this new transfer. Maybe it was a cock-up during mastering, maybe the physical scan itself was faulty for this reel, dunno

Originally Posted by Haddonfield81

Have the sets been rereleased on the market fixed?

Doubt it.

[Haddonfield81]

Originally Posted by SpazeBlue

Nope.



Yep:




Doubt it.

That’s very disappointing. This merits a replacement program. Thanks very much for the info.

[jonam]

Not read this thread entirely but can anyone clarify as posted by somerandomuser from another thread if?

Back To The Future 2:
---During the scene with Strickland + Marty + the drive-by thugs, Stricklands shotgun sounds different (I remember my old VHS sounded like the original shotgun sound too)

Has the sounds from the shotgun been fixed to the original elements?

[KevinStriker]

Originally Posted by jonam

Not read this thread entirely but can anyone clarify as posted by somerandomuser from another thread if?

Back To The Future 2:
---During the scene with Strickland + Marty + the drive-by thugs, Stricklands shotgun sounds different (I remember my old VHS sounded like the original shotgun sound too)

Has the sounds from the shotgun been fixed to the original elements?

In short, no. The Atmos mix is prone to more changes, not reversing them.
(Doc's sniper rifle and Buford's revolver during Marty's duel in Part III are also changed)