The Hobbit Trilogy 4K UHD Extended & Theatrical (2012-2014)

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Bourne1886

I just find it amazing that their customers in the U.K are treated differently not that I’m a big lover of digital but it just doesn’t seem right as we pay the same price but get less.

Trouble is, we don't really have the greatest infrastructure for redeeming the copies. Ultraviolet is dead, Jim. We don't have Vudu or Movies Anywhere or FandangoNow, and while iTunes is a thing not all studios support it. So basically alls we got left is Google sodding Play.

[HarcourtMudd]

Well, shazzbot...

Irony rears it's ugly head in the last place I would expect it to. "TDoS" has the kind of significant scuffing I was expecting from the BTTF set, with the "award-winning" packaging of cardboard sleeves, which were all, ironically, pristine. Same thing with "BotFA", though not as bad, and the rest of the discs are fine. I ordered from Bull Moose (I didn't want another of Amazon's bubble envelopes), and am wondering if anybody has had to replace a defective title with them? How easy did it go? I am hoping something similar to Amazon, in that they send me the replacement before I send in the defective set, allowing me to replace only the bad discs (avoiding a crap-shoot). If need be, I will buy another set (so they aren't out any money), but I am concerned that they will not give a refund for the defective set since it is opened. Anybody? Thanks!

[neurotank]

Why does it look like DNR was applied to the Hobbit films as well? The Blu-rays look a lot more natural, and the 4k versions seem to have quite a bit of sharpening applied. I just don't get it.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by neurotank

Why does it look like DNR was applied to the Hobbit films as well? The Blu-rays look a lot more natural, and the 4k versions seem to have quite a bit of sharpening applied. I just don't get it.

I think that's exactly what it looks like, at least with the DNR side of things, and that it wasn't just about doing it to LOTR "to make it look like The Hobbit" as people keeps repeating, it was about ensuring a separately derived "look" across all six.

[morphinapg]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I think that's exactly what it looks like, at least with the DNR side of things, and that it wasn't just about doing it to LOTR "to make it look like The Hobbit" as people keeps repeating, it was about ensuring a separately derived "look" across all six.

If DNR/sharpening is a desired look? yikes lol

[neurotank]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I think that's exactly what it looks like, at least with the DNR side of things, and that it wasn't just about doing it to LOTR "to make it look like The Hobbit" as people keeps repeating, it was about ensuring a separately derived "look" across all six.

I swear it almost looks like they copy and pasted the settings from LOTR to The Hobbit, but because they're already digital it made things look extra DNRed and sharpened. I'm not sure I've seen a movie shot digitally that looks like this. Very bizarre. But anyway, I'll keep the criticism to a minimum, don't want to get this thread locked as well...

I will just say that I'm actually more happy overall with how LOTR turned out than these Hobbit films, in regards to this.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by morphinapg

If DNR/sharpening is a desired look? yikes lol

And yet we keep on seeing it on new transfers, do we not? Some techs and indeed some filmmakers just cannot leave well enough alone.

[panasonicst60]

I'm currently watching, An Unexpected Journey and about halfway through. I do notice over sharpening (I can see some ringing on beards) and maybe some light dnr. Some scenes look absolutely gorgeous, while others look pretty good. Nothing looks really bad or stands out like a sore thumb so far. The hdr does get really hot at times and I'm not talking about specular highlights, but full bright daylight in the open scenes. Definitely pushed my panel to the max.

Audio on the other hand is extremely good. Very enveloping with all the ambient noise. One of the best I've heard with ambient sound. The surround sound placement is near perfect to my ears. On a bad note, bass seem a bit lacking, even during the rock monster fighting scene. Anyone else noticed the lack of bass?

[morphinapg]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

And yet we keep on seeing it on new transfers, do we not? Some techs and indeed some filmmakers just cannot leave well enough alone.

Perhaps too many people in the biz are looking to their overly processed phone camera images for inspiration

[Spartan21]

Originally Posted by morphinapg

If DNR/sharpening is a desired look? yikes lol

I'm very annoyed and disappointed that the LOTR films especially were given the DNR and EE treatment. All the positives are great, HDR, colors, contrast....but I HATE and DESPISE when studios overuse DNR and EE and it has been done to the LOTR trilogy and the Hobbit trilogy to a lesser extent.

I was hoping the LOTR movies would be given the 5 star treatment of that beautiful organic filmic look with fine grain. And obviously the VFX shots would be softer compared to non-VFX shots and that's just fine...any artificial sharpening is not needed and it actually ruins the look of the film.

And what's funny is many people are totally ignoring the fact that DNR and EE have been used. It's not ok. Many scenes look ugly and digital. Some scenes look ok, but many don't.

So as a huge LOTR and film fan, I'm disappointed with these 4K UHDs. Perhaps sometime in the future there can be a re-release with brand new scans and no DNR or EE.

[1924]

Maybe if everyone floods WB’s customer service line they could fix these releases. One could hope

[Farerb]

Originally Posted by 1924

Maybe if everyone floods WB’s customer service line they could fix these releases. One could hope

Did it work when people complained about the green tint in the Blu-ray?

[captveg]

Originally Posted by Spartan21

I'm very annoyed and disappointed that the LOTR films especially were given the DNR and EE treatment. All the positives are great, HDR, colors, contrast....but I HATE and DESPISE when studios overuse DNR and EE and it has been done to the LOTR trilogy and the Hobbit trilogy to a lesser extent.

I was hoping the LOTR movies would be given the 5 star treatment of that beautiful organic filmic look with fine grain. And obviously the VFX shots would be softer compared to non-VFX shots and that's just fine...any artificial sharpening is not needed and it actually ruins the look of the film.

And what's funny is many people are totally ignoring the fact that DNR and EE have been used. It's not ok. Many scenes look ugly and digital. Some scenes look ok, but many don't.

So as a huge LOTR and film fan, I'm disappointed with these 4K UHDs. Perhaps sometime in the future there can be a re-release with brand new scans and no DNR or EE.

I doubt it. This seems to be the look Jackson wants. Remember, this was Park Road that did the work on these, not WB.

[morphinapg]

Originally Posted by farerb

Did it work when people complained about the green tint in the Blu-ray?

Eventually, it seems

[Tlen]

Pheraps if the DNR matter would be considered a DISK DEFECT,

(considering the fact that DNR is applied/not-applied without any apparent logic

inside the same scene, as shown by screens in the last posts in the other thread),

one could complain asking for a fixed replacement disc, without the problem.

If thousand of users would flood with complaining, pheraps it would be a chance

that they could check the master.

Who knows if that was really an unwanted problem of the mastering software??

Eventually they could fix in the 2021 release.

[Farerb]

Originally Posted by morphinapg

Eventually, it seems

Because of a new format, not because people were unsatisfied.

[Farerb]

Originally Posted by Tlen

Pheraps if the DNR matter would be considered a DISK DEFECT,

(considering the fact that DNR is applied/not-applied without any apparent logic

inside the same scene, as shown by screens in the last posts in the other thread),

one could complain asking for a fixed replacement disc, without the problem.

If thousand of users would flood with complaining, pheraps it would be a chance

that they could check the master.

Who knows if that was really an unwanted problem of the mastering software??

Eventually they could fix in the 2021 release.

It's not going to happen. Firstly, you don't have thousands of people to complain about that. Second, studios only do this when there's a HUGE problem, like scenes out of place or audio issue, not because people don't like DNR. Third, do you honestly think that Warner will spend more money on a new restoration worth of 12 hours of material and have it done in mere months for summer?

[Tlen]

I'm not saying they have to do a new restoration.

I was meaning check the master, and if it is indeed a software unwanted problem,

alle they have to do is "click here and there" and problem is gone.

I don't think (if as you say there was a critical mass of users) THAT work would be unbereable.

Consider that Gladiator had the same problem, that is, DNR that zeroed parts of the scene.

And it was re-released fixed of that.

This is the same situation.

Personally, I would accept even the current release (how pathetic i am), just without dnr.

[Cook]

Originally Posted by Mierzwiak

I think it should have been one 3-hours long movie with maybe 30-40 minutes longer extended cut on Blu-ray.

My dream adaption is an animated film adaption made by Pixar or Dreamworks animation. I would keep it firmly focused on Bilbo with the dwarves supporting characters, and I would make Smaug's destruction of Laketown and his death the climax. Have Erebor right beside Laketown so the dwarves can follow Smaug back to Laketown and try to kill him then have Bard make the killing shot. Id cut the battle of the five armies entirely.

[Farerb]

Originally Posted by Cook

My dream adaption is an animated film adaption made by Pixar or Dreamworks animation. I would keep it firmly focused on Bilbo with the dwarves supporting characters, and I would make Smaug's destruction of Laketown and his death the climax. Have Erebor right beside Laketown so the dwarves can follow Smaug back to Laketown and try to kill him then have Bard make the killing shot. Id cut the battle of the five armies entirely.

I like that, only I would have wanted a Disney hand drawn film. The Hobbit seems more suitable for Disney Animation than Pixar or Dreamworks.