Superman: The Movie 4K UHD (1978)

[sharky1999]

Originally Posted by Dave Mack

It's being released on October 1st and is actually more expensive on amazon at the moment.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...&condition=new

I did a search and there seems to be a lot of places that have it for about half the price with shipping included. I got excited and immediately ordered it from the wb shop, but now I'm canceling that order and getting it from DeepDiscount.com

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Archivy

I know where you're coming from. Ideally, it would have been nice to have all three cuts of the film in one release, but if they're going to choose only one cut to release, the theatrical cut was the right way to go. Also, there's talk that there simply was no way to release the other cuts in 4k, thus forcing WB to have had to seamlessly branch HD material of the other cuts with the 4k theatrical footage. Realistically, they were never going to go that route.

Keeping this in mind, I guess WB's only other option would have been to release the 4k set WITH the additional director's and TV cuts as stand alone regular HD blu-rays bundled in the set. But that would have boosted the price of the set overall. Besides, if you really want that material, you could simply buy the 4k release along with the TV cut release and you will effectively have exactly what WB would have released anyway. I'm sure WB's money people figured hardcore fans interested in owning all three cuts of the film already have the BD release of the TV cut from last year, so why bundle it in the 4k set only to unnecessarily raise the overall price of the set for the sake of discs that hardcore fans already have?

Yeah, if they were to bundle in the TV cut and the special edition cut then people would moan that they had them already, leave them out and people think they're missing something. I've already got the TV cut, the SE cut (twice, once in the boxset and once with the TV cut) and the theatrical cut on Blu-ray so I really don't need anything else on top of a 4K UHD.

The SE wasn't prepared with 4K in mind (ditto for the Donner Cut of II) so when they've got a conformed negative for the theatrical cut then it makes sense to start from there and worry about the other versions later. Preserve the original first and foremost (crazy, I know) and then if the market is still there do the other version(s) at a later date. Although...

Hmm, maybe WMPI could have gone back and rescanned the TV cut at 4k, but I guess we shouldn't have been surprised that they didn't. If WB had plans to ever release the TV cut in 4k, they would have originally scanned it at 4k rather than 2k. They probably felt there wasn't enough financial incentive to do that.

Who knows? Shrug.

The best thing Superman fans can do is have this 4k release fly off the shelves to send a signal to WB to give us more of the Reeve films in 4k (e.g. a box set of all the films).

Warners have said the TV cut was an IP but it can't have been struck from camera original because the neg exists as the theatrical cut only, i.e. it's a positive taken from a dupe neg of the TV cut that's already two generations removed from the original. When I watched the TV cut BD the grain looked extremely dupey to my eyes and the detail is very soft, it's almost like watching a print because it's just as many generations removed as a print would be. They could of course physically scan it in 4K if they wanted to but on a 4th gen source there's not a lot left to give.

Originally Posted by BNex99

It's very likely that the 2001 remix was used as a base for the new Atmos.

But as we were discussing earlier, it seems that the included 5.1 Dolby Digital track is sourced from the original 70mm six-track.

Yeah I highly doubt they'd have started over with the new 5.1 mix for the Atmos, it makes sense to use the existing 5.1 as a bed and build on it from there.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by MEB

Clearly Warner is giving us the original THEATRICAL version on the new 4K Blu. But the press release also mentions remixed sound for Dolby Atmos. The theatrical version was strictly stereo.

So, will the 4K have the "improved" soundtrack during the opening credits? The one that was introduced in about 2000 when the director's cut was created?

If so, then it won't be a "pure" theatrical version.

Mark

It's blade runner all over again

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

It's blade runner all over again

If the original is actually on there, then it won't be

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by MEB

Clearly Warner is giving us the original THEATRICAL version on the new 4K Blu. But the press release also mentions remixed sound for Dolby Atmos. The theatrical version was strictly stereo.

So, will the 4K have the "improved" soundtrack during the opening credits? The one that was introduced in about 2000 when the director's cut was created?

If so, then it won't be a "pure" theatrical version.

Mark

Actually, as has been discussed already, there was a theatrical 70mm 5.1 mix. This will be the first time that mix has been presented on home video. It's entirely possible that THAT mix will be used as a basis for the atmos and it will be "upmixed."

But, as I've stated before, you shouldn't be looking to Atmos mixes if you care about the original sound mix. However, most people on these boards don't care.

[Dubstar]

well wait, now I'm confused, I thought the split surround stereo stems for the 70mm master print was done as a 'test' - 'Apocalypse Now' was the first film to be released as such - was a full 143min soundtrack culled in 5.1, because I was under the impression, WB reneged on the idea and just released the 70mm print in Dolby A 'baby boom' ??

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

well wait, now I'm confused, I thought the split surround stereo stems for the 70mm master print was done as a 'test' - 'Apocalypse Now' was the first film to be released as such - was a full 143min soundtrack culled in 5.1, because I was under the impression, WB reneged on the idea and just released the 70mm print in Dolby A 'baby boom' ??

He means "5.1" in a general sense I think. I doubt we'll be getting the "test" 6-track mix of STM with split surrounds but if we do, then great. If not, we'll be getting the "4.2" 6-track in 5.1 with the bass hived off into one channel and the mono rear split into two, perhaps with some decorrelation.

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

Actually, as has been discussed already, there was a theatrical 70mm 5.1 mix. This will be the first time that mix has been presented on home video. It's entirely possible that THAT mix will be used as a basis for the atmos and it will be "upmixed."

Unless they've found an undamaged copy of the original sound FX stem (which was what created the need for all the new sounds in the first place), I don't think that's very likely. It's technically possible, but it'd be a weird way to do it.

Originally Posted by Dubstar

well wait, now I'm confused, I thought the split surround stereo stems for the 70mm master print was done as a 'test' - 'Apocalypse Now' was the first film to be released as such - was a full 143min soundtrack culled in 5.1, because I was under the impression, WB reneged on the idea and just released the 70mm print in Dolby A 'baby boom' ??

It's probably the mono surround version re-formatted to 5.1 with identical LS and RS.

But again, I'm just speculating on all this. We'll see. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

He means "5.1" in a general sense I think. I doubt we'll be getting the "test" 6-track mix of STM with split surrounds but if we do, then great. If not, we'll be getting the "4.2" 6-track in 5.1 with the bass hived off into one channel and the mono rear split into two, perhaps with some decorrelation.

that's what I'm thinking as well, as only one San Francisco theater during it's premier engagement - presented the movie in split surround as a 'test run' - the 70mm prints were 4.2 with a 'split-surround playback option'.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

well wait, now I'm confused, I thought the split surround stereo stems for the 70mm master print was done as a 'test' - 'Apocalypse Now' was the first film to be released as such - was a full 143min soundtrack culled in 5.1, because I was under the impression, WB reneged on the idea and just released the 70mm print in Dolby A 'baby boom' ??

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

I take my tweets with a grain of salt

seems to be a Warner's trend lately: this and '2001' going back to the 65mm/6-track sound elements.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I take my tweets with a grain of salt

seems to be a Warner's trend lately: this and '2001' going back to the 65mm/6-track sound elements.

That tweet was posted pages ago by a page is pretty damn reliable.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

That tweet was posted pages ago by a page is pretty damn reliable.

okay, you sold me.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I take my tweets with a grain of salt

seems to be a Warner's trend lately: this and '2001' going back to the 65mm/6-track sound elements.

At least 2001 has lossless

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Picking this up thanks to the remastered Blu-ray.

Haven’t seen this since the snap case DVD release. Very excited.

[MEB]

I actually like the 2000 Director’s Edition’s opening credits soundtrack with the emphasized swoosh sounds and more dramatic boom when the Superman logo appears. If that gets used on the 4K Blu it won’t be strictly the theatrical version but I’ll still buy the disc.

But if any music other than ‘Rock Around The Clock’ is playing on the kid’s car radio during the early Smallville scene, no sale to me.

Yes, I realize it’s a bit hypocritical to hold both of those views. Pure theatrical should be pure theatrical. But the enhanced credits sound is still swooshes and the boom, only more dramatic. The switch away from ‘Rick Around The Clock’ is a more fundamental change to the actual storyline.

Mark

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by MEB

I actually like the 2000 Director’s Edition’s opening credits soundtrack with the emphasized swoosh sounds and more dramatic boom when the Superman logo appears. If that gets used on the 4K Blu it won’t be strictly the theatrical version but I’ll still buy the disc.

But if any music other than ‘Rock Around The Clock’ is playing on the kid’s car radio during the early Smallville scene, no sale to me.

Yes, I realize it’s a bit hypocritical to hold both of those views. Pure theatrical should be pure theatrical. But the enhanced credits sound is still swooshes and the boom, only more dramatic. The switch away from ‘Rick Around The Clock’ is a more fundamental change to the actual storyline.

Mark

Pretty sure the TV cut is the only version without "Rock Around The Clock."

As for the 2001 remix, the opening credits sequence is far from the only thing that was changed. The sound effects track for the whole film was almost completely reconstructed, and the music track was rebuilt from the original recording masters. Same edits, but far better fidelity.

But again, we have it on pretty good authority that the 5.1 DD track on the UHD will be taken from the original 70mm sound mix. So the "pure" theatrical version (if you want to call it that) will be there.

You'll be able to take your pick.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

well wait, now I'm confused, I thought the split surround stereo stems for the 70mm master print was done as a 'test' - 'Apocalypse Now' was the first film to be released as such - was a full 143min soundtrack culled in 5.1, because I was under the impression, WB reneged on the idea and just released the 70mm print in Dolby A 'baby boom' ??

Superman: The Movie was the beta test at 1 theater in NY and 1 in SF from my archived info. Apocalypse Now was the first wide release of the finalized format. Just as Star Trek VI was the first film in Dolby Digital (at a couple locations), followed by Newsies (another test) and Batman Returns was the first finalized wide release.
It's possible Warner still had the 5.1 master.

Superman II was also released 70MM 5.1 (and so was Supergirl believe it or not).

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Superman: The Movie was the beta test at 1 theater in NY and 1 in SF from my archived info. Apocalypse Now was the first wide release of the finalized format. Just as Star Trek VI was the first film in Dolby Digital (at a couple locations), followed by Newsies (another test) and Batman Returns was the first finalized wide release.
It's possible Warner still had the 5.1 master.

Superman II was also released 70MM 5.1 (and so was Supergirl believe it or not).

I had read that the SF theater was the Northpoint, but what was the NY theater?

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I had read that the SF theater was the Northpoint, but what was the NY theater?

My memory's fuzzy but I'm pretty sure it was the Loews’ Astor Plaza - which is where I saw it for the second and third times in Feb. of 1979.
First time I saw it was at Mann’s South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA opening week after.