First Blood / Rambo: First Blood Part II / Rambo III 4K UHDs (1982-1988)

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

I haven't seen anything in the industry to say they're doing it much differently these days. Sure they're scanning off the original negatives usually for 4K restorations - and exactly how many have there been? A handful in comparison to what's already out there. If the IP is in great shape there's no reason to spend the money to go back to the salt mine vaults and pull the negative.

The IPs are stored in the vaults just like everything else, you just pull a different set of cans. But the reference point of the conversation here re: Rambo is about new transfers, not what exists already, and 9 times out of 10 the negatives are being disturbed for contemporary transfers of everything from A Fish Called Wanda to Zardoz, and not just for a 4K-finished restoration either as several gorgeous Arrow remasters have been done at 2K from the OG negative.

As I said, some outfits have an established IP workflow like WAC (when the final master is slated to be 2K/1080p) but the majors will default to a new transfer from camera original whenever they revisit their films for 4K and/or archival purposes. Unless your name is Chris Nolan of course, in which case you'll insist on using IPs.

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

The movie itself definitely has thin blacks.

That's absolutely not in question, but it's so lightweight in First Blood it does actually seem to affect the black bars on my TV and I don't think it's purely an LCD dimming issue if an OLED (we're not worthy! we're not worthy!) owner is also noticing how 'raised' the bars look.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

That's absolutely not in question, but it's so lightweight in First Blood it does actually seem to affect the black bars on my TV and I don't think it's purely an LCD dimming issue if an OLED (we're not worthy! we're not worthy!) owner is also noticing how 'raised' the bars look.

I didn't mention it before but I do think I saw a few "flutters" as you call them. I thought it might be my FALD messing up a bit, so I didn't blame the disc, but if others are seeing them then hey-o, there you go.

I didn't think the bars themselves looked weird outside of that, but the movie had such thin blacks I guess the bars would look true black by comparison either way.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I didn't mention it before but I do think I saw a few "flutters" as you call them. I thought it might be my FALD messing up a bit, so I didn't blame the disc, but if others are seeing them then hey-o, there you go.

I didn't think the bars themselves looked weird outside of that, but the movie had such thin blacks I guess the bars would look true black by comparison either way.

Yeah, I mean, flickering aside, the borders didn't look unduly bright to me but then we are both watching on an LCD where some general light leakage into the borders is to be expected i.e. they still look plenty dark but they won't genuinely dim down to off (with above-black content anyway) like they would on an OLED, so if Crowe is saying that the bars actually look a shade too bright compared to other content then I believe him.

[Bourne1886]

I’m glad I ordered the Lionsgate ones after SC bodge job on The Fog. Or will Lionsgate have the same issues as the U.K. ones?

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Bourne1886

I’m glad I ordered the Lionsgate ones after SC bodge job on The Fog. Or will Lionsgate have the same issues as the U.K. ones?

It seems for UHDs; LG is practically identical to the SC counterparts.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Bourne1886

I’m glad I ordered the Lionsgate ones after SC bodge job on The Fog. Or will Lionsgate have the same issues as the U.K. ones?

The US Lionsgate UHD discs are materially different in terms of authoring because they feature a Spanish language option whereas the StudioCanal Euro versions do not. BUT the US discs still appear to have been authored by SC so I would expect the video encodes to be bit-for-bit identical.

[Markgway]

So, which releases have the forced subtitles, again?

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

The US Lionsgate UHD discs are materially different in terms of authoring because they feature a Spanish language option whereas the StudioCanal Euro versions do not. BUT the US discs still appear to have been authored by SC so I would expect the video encodes to be bit-for-bit identical.

I find it ironic that LG didn't drop the French and German tracks on T2.

[Bourne1886]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

The US Lionsgate UHD discs are materially different in terms of authoring because they feature a Spanish language option whereas the StudioCanal Euro versions do not. BUT the US discs still appear to have been authored by SC so I would expect the video encodes to be bit-for-bit identical.

Oh well, at least I got them about £7 cheaper!And I prefer the artwork more.

[monstermidget]

Watched First Blood tonight, really nice uptick in fine detail and generally a very nice looking scan but, and forgive me if this was already talked about ad nausum but, was this a Ritrovata joint...because it had all the hallmarks.

The yellow tint was ameliorated by doing the usual color temp change fix for Ritrovata grades (going from warm2 to warm 1 on the B7 was sufficient) but as always there was no getting around them polluted blacks and the weird milky contrast that smacked of Ritrovata magic and which unfortunately rendered things very flat at times.

Don't get me wrong it looked really good in places (certainly the best I've ever seen it) but then in the next sequence it would be completely undermined by milky grey green blacks.

Compression wise I did notice a few split second foibles along the way but it was mostly very solid...I agree with Geoff though, SC haven't got this HDR compression thing down yet... even when they're not giving up huge chunks of bitrate to a DV layer.

[TheSweetieMan]

I’m watching FIRST BLOOD right now—and I’m extremely happy with it, elevated blacks and all.

So, this is what a Studio Canal release without DNR and edge enchanting looks like?

Very happy with the color and HDR more than anything else. But I felt the uptick in detail and depth, was more noticeable to me than others.

Loving this release!

Perfect fall, rainy night, to be watching this, too!

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Bourne1886

Oh well, at least I got them about £7 cheaper!And I prefer the artwork more.

No regrets here either, the digital codes should fetch a few bob as well.

Originally Posted by Dailyan

I find it ironic that LG didn't drop the French and German tracks on T2.

They've done a 'one size' version of Evil Dead 2 UHD as well, I'm not quite sure why the Rambos got two different pressings.

[DR Herbert West]

The blacks are definitely raised on First Blood. Thanks to my bias light I didn't notice it on my first viewing.

Keep up the great work StudioCanal!

[Noremac Mij]

Watched First Blood. One of my favorite movies of all time, easily top 20. On my C8 via One X, the black bars are absolutely perfectly black. No flickering, or anything of sort at all. The blacks are elevated, but I run gamma of 2.4 (much more cinematic), so it’s acceptable. The UHD is gorgeous and the movie is beautifully shot. Not sure what the fuss is about.

[StingingVelvet]

"I have an OLED so I don't notice raised blacks" is a new one on me.

[HDMan72]

I noticed the milky/raised blacks also on First Blood. I did not notice the black bars fluctuating, the tv was a Vizio P-series which had gamma at 2.1. The raised blacks on First Blood did distract me for a moment probably because I've owned that movie on different formats in the past. Overall very pleased, only have Rambo III left to watch.

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

I really hope Lionsgate puts out a 4K UHD for the fourth film in time for Last Blood.

Both cuts.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by rocknblues81

Both cuts.

^ This.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

"I have an OLED so I don't notice raised blacks" is a new one on me.

OLED purchase justification is a wonderful thing

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by monstermidget

Watched First Blood tonight, really nice uptick in fine detail and generally a very nice looking scan but, and forgive me if this was already talked about ad nausum but, was this a Ritrovata joint...because it had all the hallmarks.

The yellow tint was ameliorated by doing the usual color temp change fix for Ritrovata grades (going from warm2 to warm 1 on the B7 was sufficient) but as always there was no getting around them polluted blacks and the weird milky contrast that smacked of Ritrovata magic and which unfortunately rendered things very flat at times.

Don't get me wrong it looked really good in places (certainly the best I've ever seen it) but then in the next sequence it would be completely undermined by milky grey green blacks.

Compression wise I did notice a few split second foibles along the way but it was mostly very solid...I agree with Geoff though, SC haven't got this HDR compression thing down yet... even when they're not giving up huge chunks of bitrate to a DV layer.

Apparently it was restored by Eclair Paris and they've got themselves a lil' bit of a reputation of doing the same things as Ritrovita, e.g. treating contrast like a dirty word. I didn't mind the colour though as I can seemingly tolerate 'too green' more than I can 'too yellow'.