Halloween 4K UHD (1978)

[notops]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

They could have used a Betamax tape machine or early laserdisc player attached to the TV. VHS wasn't a thing yet.

While not yet widespread, VHS was introduced for sale in the US in August of 1977.

It's on the older commentary, but Carpenter explains the device he used in that scene. I wish I could remember what it was, but he explains it well.

[kamkam]

has anyone figured out how to fix the raised black levels with oleds for this movie?

[GeoffOliver]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

They could have used a Betamax tape machine or early laserdisc player attached to the TV. VHS wasn't a thing yet.

John Carpenter talks about it on one of the commentaries. It was his personal tape, but I forget what format (it wasn't a commercial copy from VHS or Betamax). I believe they also used Forbidden Planet simply because that was just another film he owned a copy of.

[jonam]

Thank You to lilboyblu, I picked up the Spanish blu ray and I must say the picture quality looks somewhat sharper than the US version ( although I had to play on two separate players so could be placebo)and the lossless mono is sublime.

[bobbyh64]

The page for the Spanish Blu-ray says it’s region free, so anyone who wants just the first film on BD with lossless original mono should probably import it.

[Markgway]

It's always sad when the bootleg is the better option.

[bobbyh64]

Originally Posted by Markgway

It's always sad when the bootleg is the better option.

Oh, it’s a bootleg? Didn’t know that... So Blu-ray.com allows listings of bootlegs but you can’t talk about them...

[BNex99]

Has anyone been able to confirm whether or not the new German UHD from Concorde has the actual original mono?

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by bobbyh64

Oh, it’s a bootleg? Didn’t know that... So Blu-ray.com allows listings of bootlegs but you can’t talk about them...

Spanish releases are often bootlegs.

[andreasy969]

I just took the time to look into the switching aspect ratio of the Lionsgate UHD. As I said in the other thread, I didn't notice when watching the movie, but it's clearly there, if you're paying attention @caps-a-holic.

It's switching exactly @36m36s as shown below and remains that way for the rest of the movie. I did include two according whitened black bars versions to show it.





It's also no surprise that no one noticed, since it's basically impossible to notice.


Here are two more examples to show the different aspect ratio from before and after said timestamp without having to do "black bar stunts":

before 36m36s:


after 36m36s:



So aspect ratio (next to the mono) is actually another win for the German release. If only that one came with the proper titles. Narf.

[Agent Kay]

They really fupped this movies up, yet again.

[KubrickKurasawa]

I rather enjoy the 7.1 DTS and the US 4K UHD now.

Doesn't hurt that I paid 7.99 for it on BF either.

I can hear the dialog better, I like the added thunder or if it is, the loudness. I've noticed dialog I never did after the cheer practice. LP's are more traditional but even watching h8ful 8's blu ray in 5.1 dts the other day and now the thing lp on youtube mondo / The dommie damergues theme and intro or other themes ennio morricone came up with still hold up mono or remastered surround. I prefer the lp no doubt but it's not worth *****ing about imho. Its old.

[Edenbeast]

Is the 1080p BD region free?

[lilboyblu]

Originally Posted by Edenbeast

Is the 1080p BD region free?

It's the 2007 Blu-ray that's included. If you're okay with the different color timing, it is Region Free according to this very site.

[Khronikos]

Originally Posted by crowe-t

I couldn't have said it better myself!

I have the THX DVD from 1999 and I recently picked up the 4K version. In some ways I like the 2007 BD that's included more than the 4K since it has a warmer look to it.

The opening credits on the 4K look strange to me. The pumpkin looks tan. I always remember the pumpkin being orange. The colors are just too muted.

My favorite look for Halloween is the THX DVD which is what I'll continue to watch. It has the best color timing in my opinion. It's an anamorphic DVD and when I sit on my couch the distance is enough that the DVD looks about as good as the 4K. This old movie shouldn't look very sharp anyway. My Sony XBR-X900F has amazing processing which makes about all my old DVD's look good.

I can see why both sides have a point. I honestly think I trend toward the UHD color timing. It just fits the horror theme better, and there is something off about the saturation of the other.

Fall has a variety of looks, some very close to summery vibes. I don't see the issue, but good the release has both of them.

[grodd]

Originally Posted by andreasy969

I just took the time to look into the switching aspect ratio of the Lionsgate UHD. As I said in the other thread, I didn't notice when watching the movie, but it's clearly there, if you're paying attention @caps-a-holic.

It's switching exactly @36m36s as shown below and remains that way for the rest of the movie. I did include two according whitened black bars versions to show it.


after 36m36s:



So aspect ratio (next to the mono) is actually another win for the German release. If only that one came with the proper titles. Narf.

Its a bit more complicated than that. Concorde also zooms in throughout the movie a little bit, and even more so after the 36m mark. So you are actually getting a hair less picture on the top and bottom and then especially on the sides from the German version after the 36 min mark. Concorde is also brighter and is very slightly softer throughout.

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=2&x...&l=0&i=10&go=1
https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=2&x...&l=0&i=10&go=1
Overall you are getting a noticeable less picture and zoom in from Concorde.

[andreasy969]

There really is nothing complicated about it. It's also not about more or less picture, it's about proper framing. Switching aspect ratio with Halloween isn't proper at all and a much bigger issue than a slightly zoomed/cropped picture (and we don't even know if less picture resp. the Concorde is wrong here).

Also, if we assume that Lionsgate is correct before it switches the aspect ratio, it follows that the Lionsgate is completely off after that. If we assume the Lionsgate is correct after that, it's completely off before that. Simple as that. The Lionsgate is (most likely) only showing much more picture after said 36 mins mark, because they ****ed up the framing/aspect ratio from there on.

Long story short: The Lionsgate is a **** up. Both with the mono and the aspect ratio. Note that I'm not saying the latter is a big issue - I didn't even notice it when watching the movie, so luckily consider it a small issue and the Lionsgate is still the best version I ever owned. But it's still a **** up. And if the Concorde had the proper titles (localized titles are one of my pet peeves) I'd switch for sure.

[ROSS.T.G.]

I’ve seen the movie many times and didn’t notice. I’m more than pleased with what LG did. I’m sue they will adjust in the next 10 release.

[grodd]

Originally Posted by andreasy969

There really is nothing complicated about it. It's also not about more or less picture, it's about proper framing. Switching aspect ratio with Halloween isn't proper at all and a much bigger issue than a slightly zoomed/cropped picture (and we don't even know if less picture resp. the Concorde is wrong here).

Also, if we assume that Lionsgate is correct before it switches the aspect ratio, it follows that the Lionsgate is completely off after that. If we assume the Lionsgate is correct after that, it's completely off before that. Simple as that. The Lionsgate is (most likely) only showing much more picture after said 36 mins mark, because they ****ed up the framing/aspect ratio from there on.

I'm not saying Liongate didn't screw up. They did. But yes, its worth pointing out that your not getting more picture with Concorde on the top and bottom and after the 36 min change, your getting a bunch less on the sides because of the zoom in. If you compare from previous versions they shouldn't have had the change on the top and bottom at all. So while Lionsgate is incorrect from previous versions on the top and bottom after 36 min, Concorde made things worse by zooming way in, cutting off side and top information that was on previous versions.

I'll take the aspect ratio change over the increased zoom-in any day, as you are getting slightly less picture, slightly less detailed.

Anchor Bay comparison
https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&...28916&i=10&l=0

[Geoff D]

The AR does indeed change, but it's such a minor thing to get enraged about. I know that's rich, coming from the King of the Nerds, and I'm not saying that people can't get mad at incompetence. But as far as incompetence goes it's a very small error and this is nothing like, say, They Live on the old transfer which was inexplicably cropped to 2.20-ish and then reverted to 2.35 literally midway through the fight between Roddy Piper and Keith David (later releases of which simply matted the 2.20-ish scenes to look like proper 2.35, before the new 4K transfer came along).

In Halloween's case it starts out at 2.35 and then ends up at 2.39, it's such a tiny difference (and both within spec for 2x anamorphic) that I'm not surprised it took some pixel peeping to discover it. And, just from them pixel peeps alone, the encode of the Concorde doesn't look all that great so even with the OG mono I won't be buying it.