Halloween 4K UHD (1978)

[dlbsyst]

If Best Buy gets all these in stores on Tuesday I'll probably just grab them all there. Well, accept for the first movie. I already got that one.

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by Covcraig

For all intents and purposes, it is the Criterion audio because its the only release to have this "perfect" track and Criterion aren't sharing.

Not how this works. Criterion does not own Halloween in any shape or form. That they released it with the original audio doesn't make it theirs. They were released what they were given and made the choice not to perform any additional EQ work for the worse. People only refer to it as "the Criterion audio" because it's on their release.

It's up to the rights' holder to provide it. Either Shout was not given the option or they declined to bother because they technically do have the original audio, it's just horribly doctored.

Maybe it's me, maybe I just don't look at life and long for what I don't have but instead appreciate what I do have... And I do appreciate what we ended up with here. A group of people went to a lot of effort to put this together for us, actual fans of the movie and fans of the genre.. Unlike some corporate shills just churning out releases for the sake of solely making money.. Scream factory did their best with what they had and what they could get to bring this to us. But nope, apparently all that effort is for nothing cause it doesn't have the perfect audio track lol

Let's not ever criticize bungled releases ever again and take what we get, and we better be happy for it. Donnie Darko's framerate problem? Should have dealt with it. Shout's swapped audio channels? Ho hum. Be not entitled. Awesome!

[mad_max2000]

Originally Posted by Covcraig

Maybe Shout bit off more than they could chew with the distribution of these, five individual releases plus all the different combinations they're offering with posters and soundtracks and enamel pins etc.

I hadn't considered that but you might be right. That is a lot for them to coordinate. I'm wondering now if they're waiting to ship everything out at once now rather than the stagered release strategy they laid out in their last email.

Whatev's, I guess these will get here when they get here but still...

[Covcraig]

Originally Posted by Kyle15

Let's not ever criticize bungled releases ever again and take what we get, and we better be happy for it. Donnie Darko's framerate problem? Should have dealt with it. Shout's swapped audio channels? Ho hum. Be not entitled. Awesome!

I'm not saying let's just accept any old crap. If there is an inherent flaw like a frame rate issue then it is clearly a major problem but I don't think them missing the original mono track is a major issue, persoanlly. If you are an audiophile then you are bound to disagree but the sound provided is still more than good enough to listen to. It's not something that's going to take away from your enjoyment of the film like a stuttering picture would for example.

Should they have got it? - most would say yes but again, as arm chair movie enthusiasts the majority of us don't really 'know' what exactly goes into putting these releases together yet we're easy to criticise.

One thing I can guarantee, if it wasn't the audio people were complaining about it would be something else... there would be some obscure feature that would be missed and people would be complaining about that.

[Telemachus]

Originally Posted by Kyle15

Let's not ever criticize bungled releases ever again and take what we get, and we better be happy for it. Donnie Darko's framerate problem? Should have dealt with it. Shout's swapped audio channels? Ho hum. Be not entitled. Awesome!

Explorers, don't forget Explorers. I LOVE my Shout "Collector's Edition" BD! I'm so thankful it exists with a slipcover and reversible sleeve, they must have never even watched this thing at Shout because they couldn't take their eyes off the packaging it's so handsome, we live in amazing times for collecting movies I'm telling you, haven't had it this good since D-Theater.

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by Covcraig

I'm not saying let's just accept any old crap. If there is an inherent flaw like a frame rate issue then it is clearly a major problem but I don't think them missing the original mono track is a major issue, persoanlly. If you are an audiophile then you are bound to disagree but the sound provided is still more than good enough to listen to. It's not something that's going to take away from your enjoyment of the film like a stuttering picture would for example.

It's not about being an audiophile to care about the original audio being intact. An audio flaw can be a serious issue, whether or not one personally cares is their problem. If there's a video issue or a scene missing, would it be that only videophiles care and therefore it's not a big deal?

Throwing around all these names for people is more nonsensical fingerpointing but w/v.

Should they have got it? - most would say yes but again, as arm chair movie enthusiasts the majority of us don't really 'know' what exactly goes into putting these releases together yet we're easy to criticise.

Let's not criticize any of it in any capacity then, even when we're buying the release anyway. gotcha.

One thing I can guarantee, if it wasn't the audio people were complaining about it would be something else... there would be some obscure feature that would be missed and people would be complaining about that.

We call this argumentative fallacy a hasty generalization with a dash of strawman. Anyway:

[Jay H.]

Why do they do it? G*dd*mn kids...

[BillieCassin]

This thread has taken...a turn.

All I can say is that I hope everyone gets their copies ASAP - however they are getting them.

I'm amazed to be saying this, given that I am a self-professed minor Halloween fan, but I think this is a stellar release and was totally worth the premium price. I am impressed enough that I'm putting my cash where my mouth is and buying all five releases, which I was sure I wasn't going to be doing until there was some way to get them on sale.

The picture looks fantastic in DolbyVision, with a really nice thick bit rate, and I may be a blasphemer, but I really like the experience of the Atmos track.

This release has made me appreciate the original in a whole new way.

[JackForrester]

Laurie, the Criterion audio is outside

[Covcraig]

Originally Posted by Kyle15

It's not about being an audiophile to care about the original audio being intact. An audio flaw can be a serious issue, whether or not one personally cares is their problem. If there's a video issue or a scene missing, would it be that only videophiles care and therefore it's not a big deal?

Throwing around all these names for people is more nonsensical fingerpointing but w/v.



Let's not criticize any of it in any capacity then, even when we're buying the release anyway. gotcha.



We call this argumentative fallacy a hasty generalization with a dash of strawman. Anyway:

The irony of your videophile statement (argumentative fallacy lolz) is.. This is a 4k Ultra HD release.. That is a video format. To say people are buying this primarily for a video upgrade would be an understatement - so yes, if there was something wrong with the picture quality then yes "videophiles" would be rather upset. No one is buying a 4k release for an audio upgrade. They're buying it for a video upgrade whether it's for resolution or HDR enhancement with the inclusion of an audio upgrade as a secondary. Its not the other way round.

You seem personally taken aback with my opinion, which is crazy cause its MY opinion. To be rattled so easily by someone you don't know, who you'll never meet's black and white words on a forum is abit disturbing. I think this whole lack of audio thing has gotten to you abit. I've made my stance clear, be offended, don't be offended.. I'm not going to argue with you anymore, no matter how much you attempt to pick my statements apart

[BluProofie]

You guys know that you can just not buy it, right? The audio sounds to disappointing to me, too. But, we’ve had this same discussion for like 400 pages now lol. No new information here.

Originally Posted by Markgway

So... any chance Arrow will pick up the UK rights and do it properly?

Yeah, it’ll just be delayed for two months and then come out with a new framing and a disc that skips and stutters with no replacement program. Just a customer service rep that gaslights you.

[DaylightsEnd]

I agree with BillieCassin and others about the Atmos track. It's really solid and enjoyable.

Do I want the original mono audio, unadulterated, in glorious lossless? Hell, yes. It didn't happen. Does this release have some minor pq issues, and the utterly shite mono audio? Yes it does. But I'll say this......I'm one of the pickiest mothers on this forum about shoddy pq and half-ass aq, and this is one of my favorite old skool horror flicks, so I'm going to be super-critical. And yet, between the improved color timing, solid depth of field, and the strong, immersive new atmos track, and especially considering this film's long history of weak, wanting prior releases, I wouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater this time around. This release isn't perfect, granted, but it's much better than anything that's come before it, as far as I'm concerned. The atmos track might be a bit revisionist in terms of the volume levels of the crickets, the rain, the thunder, Michael's breathing, general outdoors ambience....but it's all clear, well-prioritized, powerful, and sounds to be original to the film. Dialogue is clear and as precise as I can ever remember it. For now, this release is how I will choose to watch, and listen to, this film.

This atmos mix for this H1978 4k uhd is NOTHING like the unfortunate, revisionist DTX audio on Thing 4k uhd release, which has amazing pq but literally had me reaching for the prior blu ray for the proper audio experience that I know belongs with the film.

[JCRW82]

Originally Posted by BluProofie

You guys know that you can just not buy it, right? The audio sounds to disappointing to me, too. But, we’ve had this same discussion for like 400 pages now lol. No new information here.

Exactly, I'm not buying this particular film because the audio quality matters and Shout Factory did not deliver. I have purchased the remaining films because they used the best possible picture and audio sources for H2-H5. I think the issue has been clearly pointed out with an array of comparison videos. Now is the time to raise the issue with Shout Factory Customer Service and see what they will do. They either apologize and promise to do better next time, or even better with enough customer feedback they actually address the problem with a replacement program (low chance of this happening but you can't rule it out). Nothing wrong with honest, polite feedback on a product.

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by Covcraig

The irony of your videophile statement (argumentative fallacy lolz) is.. This is a 4k Ultra HD release.. That is a video format. To say people are buying this primarily for a video upgrade would be an understatement - so yes, if there was something wrong with the picture quality then yes "videophiles" would be rather upset. No one is buying a 4k release for an audio upgrade. They're buying it for a video upgrade whether it's for resolution or HDR enhancement with the inclusion of an audio upgrade as a secondary. Its not the other way round.

Oh yes exactly, that means any sort of fault in the audio presentation shouldn't be held as such or criticized. Again, gotcha. You can mind read an entire audience, very awesome!

You seem personally taken aback with my opinion, which is crazy cause its MY opinion. To be rattled so easily by someone you don't know, who you'll never meet's black and white words on a forum is abit disturbing. I think this whole lack of audio thing has gotten to you abit. I've made my stance clear, be offended, don't be offended.. I'm not going to argue with you anymore, no matter how much you attempt to pick my statements apart

[JCRW82]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Here's a template...

Dear Shout,

Re. Halloween UHD.

Your mono track is shit.

Fix it.

Regards,

*insert name*

"It was dumb! It was obvious! It was pointless! It was... short... I loved it!"

[Jay H.]

Oh, for mux sake...

[moviebuff75]

I wrote Shout about the mono. I still can't hear the difference, but I sent it for the cause.

[aloop]

As others have said, the compression is pretty bad compared to the 2018 Lionsgate disc.

I'm linking some examples below. Note that these are PNGs, so they are 5-6MB each!

lionsgate-1.png
screamfactory-1.png
lionsgate-2.png
screamfactory-2.png
lionsgate-3.png
screamfactory-3.png

Edit: Forgot to mention 2 things: I haven't actually watched the disc on my TV yet, so these issues might not be as noticeable in motion (to most people), and don't take the color as very accurate, I only used madVR's default HDR-to-SDR settings. Not that an HDR-to-SDR conversion is ever accurate.

[dylrichard02]

"I met this new release, with this remixed, weak, non-dynamic mono, and the lossy audio... the devil's audio!"

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by aloop

As others have said, the compression is pretty bad compared to the 2018 lionsgate disc.

I'm linking some examples below. Note that these are PNGs, so they are 5-6MB each!

lionsgate-1.png
screamfactory-1.png
lionsgate-2.png
screamfactory-2.png
lionsgate-3.png
screamfactory-3.png

Dear God shout, seriously? Again?

First shot the Lionsgate has way more detail and looks like DNR on the shout or some smoothing