Lawrence of Arabia 4K UHD (1962)

[matbezlima]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Yes but Sony doesn't usually play those games, at least not until now.

Maybe they decided to start in the last two years or so. Taxi Driver hasn't got even a steelbook release yet if I'm not mistaken, it's still exclusive to the Columbia Classics Collection set!

[matbezlima]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

99.9% of people will swoon over Lawrence on UHD, and rightly so. But it doesn’t quite look as good as it could IMO owing to a variety of factors like how badly damaged the negative was, as 10-year-old restoration work that looked seamless in SDR starts to creak a bit in HDR, and it doesn’t have that last scintilla of high frequency detail that I’d expect from 65mm. Old film is old, most certainly, but My Fair Lady is the first UHD of a vintage 65mm show where I truly felt that the grandeur and opulence of large format film had been adequately represented (2001 also suffering from some digitalitis like Lawrence). The colour and HDR are quite lovely on Lawrence though.

I'm curious to know what is the digitalitis you are talking about regarding 2001 A Space Odyssey. What I know is that contrary to the popular myth that all special effects in 2001 were done in-camera, a lot of them are actually opticals, which means that some sections of the film aren't the OG 70mm neg. And while Kubrick and Douglas Trumbull did an insane job to make the quality loss in the opticals be as small as possible (as they still look great), the quality loss is still unavoidable, not to mention a cinematography that often goes for diffusion.

I really hope and believe that Ben-Hur will come out in UHD next year. It has the potential of being the greatest UHD ever. I believe it will give you the same feeling of grandeur and opulence as My Fair Lady did.

And I hope and believe that Patton will get a UHD before 2026. It is 70mm, and the 4K transfer already exists and can be streamed outside the US.

The Searchers, while "only" being VistaVision, has the potential of being a mesmerizing UHD, especially all those Monument Valley vistas! And, if memory doesn't fail me, I don't think that there is a lot of soft focus shots in that film, if at all.

North By Northwest would also be an awesome UHD. It was shot in VistaVision. Imagine that cornfield in UHD. Though it uses a lot of soft focus on the lead actors. I believe it will get a UHD next year, and the 4K restoration already exists.

Last, but not least, I hope for Disney's Sleeping Beauty in UHD next year. Cel animation shot on large format (Technirama in this case) is not common. The film has plenty of stunningly detailed and sharp backgrounds!

[Surge92]

I ordered a copy from a third-party seller on Amazon. It was $10 more than the copy I'd originally ordered from Best Buy but still a lot cheaper than what other sellers have it for.

[DawnShadow]

4K steelbook just announced by Plaion Pictures in Germany.
https://shop.plaionpictures.com/lawr...hds-2-blu-rays

[TrueGent10]

Originally Posted by matbezlima

I'm curious to know what is the digitalitis you are talking about regarding 2001 A Space Odyssey. What I know is that contrary to the popular myth that all special effects in 2001 were done in-camera, a lot of them are actually opticals, which means that some sections of the film aren't the OG 70mm neg. And while Kubrick and Douglas Trumbull did an insane job to make the quality loss in the opticals be as small as possible (as they still look great), the quality loss is still unavoidable, not to mention a cinematography that often goes for diffusion.

I really hope and believe that Ben-Hur will come out in UHD next year. It has the potential of being the greatest UHD ever. I believe it will give you the same feeling of grandeur and opulence as My Fair Lady did.

And I hope and believe that Patton will get a UHD before 2026. It is 70mm, and the 4K transfer already exists and can be streamed outside the US.


The Searchers, while "only" being VistaVision, has the potential of being a mesmerizing UHD, especially all those Monument Valley vistas! And, if memory doesn't fail me, I don't think that there is a lot of soft focus shots in that film, if at all.

North By Northwest would also be an awesome UHD. It was shot in VistaVision. Imagine that cornfield in UHD. Though it uses a lot of soft focus on the lead actors. I believe it will get a UHD next year, and the 4K restoration already exists.

Last, but not least, I hope for Disney's Sleeping Beauty in UHD next year. Cel animation shot on large format (Technirama in this case) is not common. The film has plenty of stunningly detailed and sharp backgrounds!

Isn't there already a 4K DCP of Ben Hur and I think The Searchers?

[matbezlima]

Originally Posted by TrueGent10

Isn't there already a 4K DCP of Ben Hur and I think The Searchers?

The new restoration of The Searchers will premiere in the TCM festival next year.

About Ben-Hur, there is a 4K DCP, but I don't know if it's still the old restoration used for the blu-ray.

[samuelkhan999]

Originally Posted by DawnShadow

4K steelbook just announced by Plaion Pictures in Germany.
https://shop.plaionpictures.com/lawr...hds-2-blu-rays

Who is Plaion Pictures? Is this a German distributor for SPHE in Germany?

New SPHE titles like Gran Turismo 4K now says Elevation Sales

[PonyoBellanote]

Originally Posted by samuelkhan999

Who is Plaion Pictures? Is this a German distributor for SPHE in Germany?

New SPHE titles like Gran Turismo 4K now says Elevation Sales

Plaion is the german distributor. Elevation Sales is the UK distributor.

[goldenarm84]

So happy I snagged this on Ebay for 34.99 today new sealed. https://www.ebay.com/itm/31483325604...eSBYw&LH_BIN=1

[samuelkhan999]

Originally Posted by PonyoBellanote

Plaion is the german distributor. Elevation Sales is the UK distributor.

What is going on with SPHE? They've handed over distribution to different distributors. Disney has done this in Europe. Who else is on this handover bandwagon?

[DawnShadow]

Originally Posted by goldenarm84

So happy I snagged this on Ebay for 34.99 today new sealed. https://www.ebay.com/itm/31483325604...eSBYw&LH_BIN=1

7 more in stock now if you think the seller seems reputable

[Mark Malmstrøm]

Originally Posted by samuelkhan999

What is going on with SPHE? They've handed over distribution to different distributors. Disney has done this in Europe. Who else is on this handover bandwagon?

Sony, universal, Warner bros., paramount

At least here in Denmark

Now distributed by SF film

[PonyoBellanote]

Originally Posted by samuelkhan999

What is going on with SPHE? They've handed over distribution to different distributors. Disney has done this in Europe. Who else is on this handover bandwagon?

This isn't new. Studios have been leaving distribution themselves in some countries to other companies. In Spain, two different locals handle all of Hollywood's output as well. This isn't an end of physical format, it's just studios saving money. Hell, even in the US, Warner and Universal distribute together under SDS.

[samuelkhan999]

Originally Posted by PonyoBellanote

This isn't new. Studios have been leaving distribution themselves in some countries to other companies. In Spain, two different locals handle all of Hollywood's output as well. This isn't an end of physical format, it's just studios saving money. Hell, even in the US, Warner and Universal distribute together under SDS.

When I was in the Emirates 20 odd years ago, other distributors used to deal with the big 5 Studios. When I moved to the UK, the biggest thing I noticed was that UK distribution of Newline Cinema was handled by EIV rather than Warner itself due to video/physical distribution deals. I used to think that these distribution companies will wind up because of the big studios taking over their distribution. With 4K, its a full 180 degree turn and now these distributors are relevant again.

I bought off LoA 4K (released by Excel Video) from Amazon India but the 4K discs had the UK/EU ratings. Disc 1 was defective which I eventually got replaced by SPHE US. They sent me the whole copy of LoA from the set which I actually prefer than the steelbook.

[lgans316]

Originally Posted by samuelkhan999

When I was in the Emirates 20 odd years ago, other distributors used to deal with the big 5 Studios. When I moved to the UK, the biggest thing I noticed was that UK distribution of Newline Cinema was handled by EIV rather than Warner itself due to video/physical distribution deals. I used to think that these distribution companies will wind up because of the big studios taking over their distribution. With 4K, its a full 180 degree turn and now these distributors are relevant again.

I bought off LoA 4K (released by Excel Video) from Amazon India but the 4K discs had the UK/EU ratings. Disc 1 was defective which I eventually got replaced by SPHE US. They sent me the whole copy of LoA from the set which I actually prefer than the steelbook.

EiV UK - One of the worst distributors IMO

[s2mikey]

I almost feel bad to admit this but I got REALLY lucky and was able to snag a steelbook of this at Wally World(online, just happen to be perusing their site for disc deals as they do have great prices sometimes) for just $26.99 about a month or so ago. They sold out quick, I should have ordered more copies, LOL.

Its $74.99 now!!!

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

I almost feel bad to admit this but I got REALLY lucky and was able to snag a steelbook of this at Wally World(online, just happen to be perusing their site for disc deals as they do have great prices sometimes) for just $26.99 about a month or so ago. They sold out quick, I should have ordered more copies, LOL.

Its $74.99 now!!!

I tried to get one, but the f***ing Walmart website wouldn't let me log on to order, so I missed out on it. I ended up getting a copy from a third-party seller off Amazon, which wasn't in good shape. I'm either just going to wait for the German steelbook or maybe try my luck on eBay.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Surge92

I tried to get one, but the f***ing Walmart website wouldn't let me log on to order, so I missed out on it. I ended up getting a copy from a third-party seller off Amazon, which wasn't in good shape. I'm either just going to wait for the German steelbook or maybe try my luck on eBay.

Awe - sorry to hear. That was an insane timing thing.... I literally stumbled onto that deal. Right place, right time. I thought for sure once it got to the cart something would go wrong but it didnt! Phew!

hang in there - you'll come across one eventually.

[KilljoyEX]

Originally Posted by goldenarm84

So happy I snagged this on Ebay for 34.99 today new sealed. https://www.ebay.com/itm/31483325604...eSBYw&LH_BIN=1

Thanks got one. It is immaculate.

[shy86]

Reprint is up for pre-order in the U.K:

Release date: 12 February 2024

Amazon U.K.

Great for those in the UK who missed out.

This makes me wonder if we will get the Stand by Me steelbook as well?