Sony "Mastered in 4K" Blu-ray Titles May 14 and July 16

[bobbydrugar]

Just a few thoughts.
1.) Hardware for scanning negatives in 4k got less expensive over the years
2.) The process for scanning and authoring Blu-rays has gotten less expensive over the years
3.) Many new Modern films are being either scanned or "filmed" (the quotes denote that it could be digitally recorded) in 4K or higer resolution
4.) Sony is putting on the disk content that as far as i can tell is Truth in Advertising (Mastered in 4k is Mastered in 4K not upscalled from 1080 or SD source) so they are just telling you what it is.

It seems to me that people are overreacting to a label on the case that simply states the truth. Is this any different the some of the lofty classics that have received transfers from 8K scans (like Ben-Hur I believe) for instance that have been praised again time and time again.

Buyers ultimately have a choice in what they purchase and if a buyer chooses to purchase a product that was scanned recently in 4k, with newer, better technology that has come available (or at least affordable for the risk in capitol the studio fronts) in the last 4 years (in the case of Ghostbusters) Why is it that many people go apes**t of that like the studio has targeted them personally. spouting nonsence like its a cash grab, and this is a gimmick.

Its not really a gimmick it fact. If you start with source that has a higher level of detail then the final product then the final product has a higher potential for quality when encoded for consumption. It has always been this way.

I actually think its quite nice that some films (for many different viewing preferences) are getting treatment that has untill now been reserved for only top shelf "Classics" like Ben-Hur and Lawerence of Arabia.

Bravo Sony

End of Soap box
Thanks
T

[K i r a]

Originally Posted by SethRex

I saw the 3 movies I wanted today at MovieStop. But it was interesting to see Angels and Demons for 16.99 and Amazing Spider-Man for 29.99. I didn't check Total Recall.

Angels and Demons came out in 2009, and Amazing Spider-Man just 7 months ago.

I do love that Sony did make these prices exactly the same as their Blu-rays, however. This is great pricing for what people have said, and is shown form screencaps to be a great improvement.


I read on the back that to output at it's full res, you need a xvYCC compatible TV and player. Is this to play it at 4k res only? If you play on a 1080p screen through regular HDMI, it will look like the Spider-Man screencaps exactly? Even then, it's worth the upgrade.

[vläd]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

This very thread.

Finally found it.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by vläd

Finally found it.

I hate when people try to play smartass when you ask them questions like that. Not everyone has time to follow a thread closely or read every single post made. Some actually have things to do.



Glad you found what you were looking for though.

[Danchez]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

I hate when people try to play smartass when you ask them questions like that. Not everyone has time to follow a thread closely or read every single post made. Some actually have things to do.



Glad you found what you were looking for though.

Yeah, it's pretty sad/ridiculous that a person would take time that could've been spent simply answering a question to help a fellow member and instead use it to be snide.

Anyways, this thread is kind of a thorn in my side, lol. I've invested so much time and money in my blu-ray collection, the approach of a new format on the horizon makes me .

[BluRayGator]

Anyone seen the "mastered for 4k" next to true 4k content? I did today and thought the mastered looked like a normal bd. Not bad but def not true 4k

[42041]

Originally Posted by BluRayGator

Anyone seen the "mastered for 4k" next to true 4k content? I did today and thought the mastered looked like a normal bd. Not bad but def not true 4k

i'm sorry, but
These are perfectly normal 1080p blu-rays.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by Danchez

Yeah, it's pretty sad/ridiculous that a person would take time that could've been spent simply answering a question to help a fellow member and instead use it to be snide.

Anyways, this thread is kind of a thorn in my side, lol. I've invested so much time and money in my blu-ray collection, the approach of a new format on the horizon makes me .

Exactly. It would help if information in the OP was updated like in the U&S thread (where it honestly gets annoying reading the same questions over again). But this something different.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by 42041

i'm sorry, but
These are perfectly normal 1080p blu-rays.

Yup, but Sony is trying to make it look like these will look near 4k when upscaled on a 4k player.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

Yup, but Sony is trying to make it look like these will look near 4k when upscaled on a 4k player.

Or at least they are claiming that the colors will be superior to a normal Blu-ray if you view it with the right equipment. They do make it seem like you would be future proofing your collection if you ever foresee a 4K TV purchase down the road. Who knows.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

Or at least they are claiming that the colors will be superior to a normal Blu-ray if you view it with the right equipment. They do make it seem like you would be future proofing your collection if you ever foresee a 4K TV purchase down the road. Who knows.

They want you to buy their 4K TVs to save them from financial disaster.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...074218878.html

The recent problems at Sony and Sharp are a microcosm of the industry's woes. Looking to protect its lead in bulky cathode ray tube televisions, Sony was late to the shift to flat-panel TVs and relinquished its lead to Samsung. As a result, its television business has lost money for nine straight years. All the while, Sony was too slow to cash in on new innovations such as e-readers and LED televisions, products first introduced by the company but made popular by rivals.

[marine92104]

Originally Posted by 42041

i'm sorry, but
These are perfectly normal 1080p blu-rays.

True 1080p Blu-rays scanned from a 4k master.

If you take a Blu-ray that has been scanned from a higher master it has been said repeatedly that when you start with something that is better the end result will be better.

I'll take a better remaster of a film anytime. Others have mentioned other companies that done higher masters of films like "Ben-Hur", etc & the end result is a great picture.

To take advantage of the higher color reproduction you would need a Sony 4k display & turn on the 4k remastered mode in the TV when matched up with these Sony mastered from 4k blu-rays.

I'm not sure what the big deal is. People are treating these like Sony did something bad. I'll take the better PQ for $14.99

As for the person that is giving everyone a hard time & being rude if you don't like the product why camp out all day in a thread you have no interest in the product.

If the snide comments were taken out this would be a 10 page thread.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Sherlock_Jr

As well as the original Taxi Driver, already sourced from a 4K master, Guns of Navarone, Kwai, Close Encounters, etc... They do better than most when it comes to catalog special editions. So they "get it right" quite a lot.

In addition to their stellar direct releases they did excellent work on the stuff they licensed to Criterion, Twilight Time and Image.

One can certainly piss and moan about the number of Sony catalog releases but their quality is consistently top-notch.

[42041]

An upscale is an upscale. I don't care what fancy upscaling their TVs are using, native content will destroy it. Of course, I've got absolutely no clue why you'd buy a 4K display at this juncture.

[reanimator]

I fired up a few of these on a 10ft wide screen, and here’s some quick thoughts…

GHOSTBUSTERS: can’t add anything that hasn’t already been said, this is a substantial improvement over the previous BD. GHOSTBUSTERS will always be a soft/grainy film, but this treatment truly helps a lot. A few of the shots (Army showing up outside the building for the finale), look so clear they could have been shot yesterday.

GLORY: whoa, this looked stunning. If you like the improvement you see in the SPIDERMAN caps you’re going to love this. I don’t have the previous version to compare it to, but judging from the original BD caps this is a major improvement. Really surprised by how great this 4k mastered version looks!

ANGLES & DEMONS: the original BD must have been sourced from the DI, and I always felt the PQ on the original BD was near reference quality. So there wasn’t a lot of room for improvement here in my opinion. I was surprised to notice a very slight improvement in image detail – but I mean slight. There also appears to be some subtle color changes – the intro to Hanks in the swimming pool always looked a little “teal/orange” to me in the first BD, while the 4k mastered seems a bit less so. It is definitely darker – especially the helicopter sequence at the end. I liked it, but I’m sure others will scream bloody murder about it. Honestly, the original BD still looks quite strong by comparison – I’d be more interested to see a new stab at DAVINCI CODE.

[marine92104]

Originally Posted by reanimator

I fired up a few of these on a 10ft wide screen, and here’s some quick thoughts…

GHOSTBUSTERS: can’t add anything that hasn’t already been said, this is a substantial improvement over the previous BD. GHOSTBUSTERS will always be a soft/grainy film, but this treatment truly helps a lot. A few of the shots (Army showing up outside the building for the finale), look so clear they could have been shot yesterday.

GLORY: whoa, this looked stunning. If you like the improvement you see in the SPIDERMAN caps you’re going to love this. I don’t have the previous version to compare it to, but judging from the original BD caps this is a major improvement. Really surprised by how great this 4k mastered version looks!

ANGLES & DEMONS: the original BD must have been sourced from the DI, and I always felt the PQ on the original BD was near reference quality. So there wasn’t a lot of room for improvement here in my opinion. I was surprised to notice a very slight improvement in image detail – but I mean slight. There also appears to be some subtle color changes – the intro to Hanks in the swimming pool always looked a little “teal/orange” to me in the first BD, while the 4k mastered seems a bit less so. It is definitely darker – especially the helicopter sequence at the end. I liked it, but I’m sure others will scream bloody murder about it. Honestly, the original BD still looks quiteT strong by comparison – I’d be more interested to see a new stab at DAVINCI CODE.

+1 for a remaster of the DAVINCI CODE. A day 1 buy for me if it is done right.

Anyone have any screen caps or bought The Karate Kid? It's one of my guilty pleasures.

I would consider purchasing it if it is a definite upgrade in PQ. The price is definitely right if the PQ is worth it.

Thanks reanimator for the quick reviews by someone with a large screen.

I was considering Angels & Demons until I heard it wasn't the extended version.

[42041]

Don't get your hopes up. The original blu-ray is already sourced from a 4K digital intermediate.

[Blu-21]

The Davinci Code is also a far superior film to its sequel Angles & Demons which I've always found overrated.

[master gandhi]

I have to be the first to ask (or am I?), when do we think Wave 2 of the "Mastered in 4K" Blu-rays will be released? Maybe Sony will wait to announce them until after they've properly gauged the popularity of this initial output?

Makes me want to pick up the first Spider-Man now instead of waiting, since I've heard so many good things about it, and I'd like for Sony to know there's enough interest in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man for them to also re-release Spider-Man 2. Spider-Man 3 they can ignore. Heh

[tylergfoster]

I imagine Groundhog Day will be one of them, as the 4K has played in theaters.