It 4K UHD (2017)

[bradnoyes]

While I do think it's mildly shameful that a site like bluray.com still doesn't have the equipment to review DV discs (I mean, I have the equipment and I'm a complete deadbeat), I don't think the DV element of a disc deserves to be anything more than a footnote in a review and it shouldn't impact the overall score. DV and HDR10+ (whenever it arrives) aren't standard, so I'm fine with reviews just taking HDR10 into consideration in their score since that's the baseline.

That said, this review is still a black mark for the site. IT is the only movie I've taken the time to deactivate Dolby Vision on my Oppo so I could compare HDR10 to Dolby Vision. And sure, it does look better in DV. There is an appreciable uptick in PQ, particularly in the richness of the color and the sense of depth. But it just gives a boost to an already lovely HDR10 layer that obliterates what I saw when I briefly scanned through the BD.

I'm mostly just posting because I hope that people who lurk on this site don't pay much heed to the review and they listen to the folks on this forum. IT is a great UHD. Even after watching it back to back with the untouchable BR2049 disc I felt IT held its own, and that speaks volumes.

[djgcue]

I wished the reviewers on this site would respond to the feedback re: their reviews. At least, Ralph Potts over at the AVS forums responds to its forum members. I've always taken the reviews on this site with a grain of salt.

[aetherhole]

Thankfully most of us have eyes and opinions of our own on these discs and even reviewers, but just imagine the poor individual who doesn't know about the forums who searches for a review of the film and tech specs, stumbles across the blu-ray.com review, and makes a decision based solely on it. It'd be such a shame to have someone turn away from supporting the format (even if it is just for this disc) because of a side DEDICATED to disc formats like this.

[bradnoyes]

Originally Posted by aetherhole

Thankfully most of us have eyes and opinions of our own on these discs and even reviewers, but just imagine the poor individual who doesn't know about the forums who searches for a review of the film and tech specs, stumbles across the blu-ray.com review, and makes a decision based solely on it. It'd be such a shame to have someone turn away from supporting the format (even if it is just for this disc) because of a side DEDICATED to disc formats like this.

I learned my lesson the hard way when I was still new to the format and hadn't discovered these forums. I saw that this site gave a 4.5 PQ score to a movie I already had on bluray and I immediately went out and grabbed the UHD. The movie?

[Show spoiler]3:10 to Yuma

[ROSS.T.G.]

Originally Posted by aetherhole

Thankfully most of us have eyes and opinions of our own on these discs and even reviewers, but just imagine the poor individual who doesn't know about the forums who searches for a review of the film and tech specs, stumbles across the blu-ray.com review, and makes a decision based solely on it. It'd be such a shame to have someone turn away from supporting the format (even if it is just for this disc) because of a side DEDICATED to disc formats like this.

Sadly this is happening. How many threads are created weekly about nonsense “fake 4K” or “marginal to no differences”. People read them and claim them as their own opinion when the majority haven’t sat through a 4K title, or worse they stare at a panel under heat lamps at BestBuy on vivid mode and say “it looks fake” lol well of course it does under those conditions.

[mackguyver]

I have a calibrated 65" OLED set and It looks amazing in Dolby Vision. Yes, it's desaturated (as the director/cinematographer intended) and yes, it's not as razor sharp as "true" 4K releases, but it looks damned good and the review score makes it look like a lousy release. Between this and a few other reviews in the past year, I'm really starting to question the reviews on this site.

[horroru]

Count me in as another person who is bewildered by that IT 4k review.

I have two Sony Players (one 4k, one region free blu) so I am able to toggle back and forth between the inputs for the 4k and blu, and the 4k is definitely a solid upgrade from the blu, especially the HDR.

Doubt he'll reassess his review, but based on the many technically savy posters here that disagree with him, he really should.

[barrycameron]

Originally Posted by ROSS.T.G.

A lot

Too much info.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by mzupeman

This fallacy again? I mean, it’s your own opinion in regards to whether this is actually a 5/5 knockout reference disc, but if your thought process is ‘Hahaha it’s a 2K native what are you smoking’, then you’re way, way, way off the mark. I’m not even to go through the reasons why as it’s been said a million times before, even by myself. I’ll just say that 4K native isn’t always the preferred presentation for many. John Wick and John Wick 2 are great examples of this.

According to this thread, John Wick, the first one, was sourced from a 4K master or higher.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=270798

and the review on this site suggests the same:

"this digitally shot feature (reportedly finished at a 4K DI) has been aggressively color graded to a number of different hues throughout its running time, and there's a really fascinating new amount of interstitial tones that are quite apparent."

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/John-...169542/#Review

I just wanted to point this out. I am not someone who reflexively dismisses films sourced from a 2K D.I., although I admit I was very skeptical at first.

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by frogmort

I don't even have 4K, I just find it odd that they're reviewing the quality of a DV encoded disc without even having the equipment available to view it that way.

They also reviewed Atmos tracks for a while before they had Atmos sound equipment (and I get it, I personally have 5.1 so that's the track I selected, but do feel professional reviewers should have the equipment for a release).

Granted, I saw it in a bit of a older, smaller screen theater, but wasn't that impressed with the visuals theatrically, and while I wouldn't put it as reference release, I was pretty impressed with it (watched Stand by Me for the first time the night before as well, and good companion cause if you take away Pennywise those films are actually very similar in many ways, also was fairly impressed with the regular Blu of Stand by Me as an older title). A lot of bright outdoor scenes you sometimes don't get in horror movies, and was really impressed by the contrast and black levels in the scene with the lighter in the sewer (honestly, felt like it looked better here than on the big screen).

Also, while I imagine Atmos would improve it, the 5.1 track did a good job of adding to the immersion and atmosphere.

[formula_nebula]

Originally Posted by horroru

Count me in as another person who is bewildered by that IT 4k review.

I have two Sony Players (one 4k, one region free blu) so I am able to toggle back and forth between the inputs for the 4k and blu, and the 4k is definitely a solid upgrade from the blu, especially the HDR.

Doubt he'll reassess his review, but based on the many technically savy posters here that disagree with him, he really should.

Sounds like my setup. What do you do when your remote is controlling both players at the same time? Right now I unplug the player not being used at the time, but there has to be an alternative.

[horroru]

Originally Posted by formula_nebula

Sounds like my setup. What do you do when your remote is controlling both players at the same time? Right now I unplug the player not being used at the time, but there has to be an alternative.

I've done that as well, as unfortunately I think it's the easiest way.

There is another way -- it's kind of a hassle but if I plan on doing a lot of comparisons this is what I do:
I have open shelving for all my equipment, so I actually move my smaller region free Sony as far as my HDMI (10 foot) and an extension cord will go, and I face the blu unit in an opposite direction from the other 4k unit (which obviously is facing front and still inside the shelving).
The distance as well as the wooden shelving and a wooden blu ray storage unit between the two players helps the signal to reach one player at a time.

Wish I had an easier answer but that way works for me, and if you plan on doing a lot of back and forth it's worth it.

I've done it that way comparing IT, Valerian, John Wick 1&2, and The Dark Knight Trilogy to their blu counterparts -- and have definitely been happy with the results for all of them except Batman Begins, but I am on the side that it's still an upgrade from the DVD in my opinion.

Hope that helps!

[Geoff D]

Heh, I just use two different brands of player.

[nusilver]

I just got one of those $10 Best Buy coupons, so I picked this up today. Looking forward to watching after work!

[Vilya]

Some players, like Oppo, have a small switch inside the battery compartment of the remote that allow you to select a different number, 1, 2, or 3 in this case, from your other Oppo player's remote thereby making each remote independent of the other and thereby commanding only one player each. There is another simple step where you aim each remote at the player you want it to command and press a small sequence of buttons. The manual gives the specifics.

My Oppo 203 remote is set to 1 and my Oppo 93 remote is set to 2 and they no longer interfere with each other.

Maybe other makes have a similar feature?

[EbonDragon]

Originally Posted by Vilya

According to this thread, John Wick, the first one, was sourced from a 4K master or higher.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=270798

and the review on this site suggests the same:

"this digitally shot feature (reportedly finished at a 4K DI) has been aggressively color graded to a number of different hues throughout its running time, and there's a really fascinating new amount of interstitial tones that are quite apparent."

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/John-...169542/#Review

I just wanted to point this out. I am not someone who reflexively dismisses films sourced from a 2K D.I., although I admit I was very skeptical at first.

He’s referring to the quality of 4K John Wick vs 2K John Wick 2. Many believe John Wick 2 to be the superior disc, though that by no means makes John Wick 1 a slacker. They’re both great.

[formula_nebula]

Originally Posted by horroru

I've done that as well, as unfortunately I think it's the easiest way.

There is another way -- it's kind of a hassle but if I plan on doing a lot of comparisons this is what I do:
I have open shelving for all my equipment, so I actually move my smaller region free Sony as far as my HDMI (10 foot) and an extension cord will go, and I face the blu unit in an opposite direction from the other 4k unit (which obviously is facing front and still inside the shelving).
The distance as well as the wooden shelving and a wooden blu ray storage unit between the two players helps the signal to reach one player at a time.

Wish I had an easier answer but that way works for me, and if you plan on doing a lot of back and forth it's worth it.

I've done it that way comparing IT, Valerian, John Wick 1&2, and The Dark Knight Trilogy to their blu counterparts -- and have definitely been happy with the results for all of them except Batman Begins, but I am on the side that it's still an upgrade from the DVD in my opinion.

Hope that helps!

Thanks for the reply and tips. I also thought about putting some tape or sticker over the IR sensor on the player in question.

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Heh, I just use two different brands of player.

OK smartass.

[horroru]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Heh, I just use two different brands of player.

LOL yeah I never thought about it when I bought my 4k, I just saw the x800 for $149 on Amazon and it was mine!!!

[horroru]

Originally Posted by formula_nebula

Thanks for the reply and tips. I also thought about putting some tape or sticker over the IR sensor on the player in question.

I thought of that too, but you don't need to point your remote to the IR sensor for it to turn on the power. You can point your remote away from your players, hit power, and the power will come on.
Eject works the same as well, as if it just picks up the signal.
So I don't think that will work

[formula_nebula]

Originally Posted by horroru

I thought of that too, but you don't need to point your remote to the IR sensor for it to turn on the power. You can point your remote away from your players, hit power, and the power will come on.
Eject works the same as well, as if it just picks up the signal.
So I don't think that will work

Ya, you're probably right. Oh well. Minor issue anyway. I still love both my players.