Ghostbusters 4K UHD (1984)

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by spatafore

ugly as hell artwork

While I was initially disappointed with the artwork on these new releases as well (I would rather be getting the GB logos over a black background like some other countries are getting for this 4K release), in really thinking about it, and looking at them closely when I bought these new 4K releases earlier this week, oddly I think this might be the best cover art yet for any DVD/Blu-Ray release in the USA yet, though that isn't saying much...

These are the covers from the first DVD releases in the US:




These were just unusual and odd for these films. The first movie cover isn't too bad, I guess, but still has a look of photoshop "oddness" for lack of a better way of putting it.

The second movie's cover is just crap IMO. And, while far from being the biggest issue with the cover, I was never thrilled with them changing the roman numeral II to 2 for this release.

Then these were the next releases:



While it was otherwise nice having the logos front and center, IMO the green slime background just looks like crap. Perhaps it would have been a good idea if it had been executed better, but I really never cared for the end result with these.


Then there was the first Blu-Ray release and then the later "Mastered in 4K" release:



These basically have the same concept as those last DVD releases, but with the slime backgrounds colored blue to match the BD cases. I will say that I do think this look a little better than the green DVD releases, but I still would have preferred a black background, and these still don't look all that great IMO.

The only exception is the slipcover of that very first Blu-Ray release, which only seemed to come with the very first copies released and was discontinued shortly there after (I have this slip). It has a nice metallic/reflective look to the background that just looks really cool IMO:




Then there was this nonsense for the 30th anniversary releases (which is also the first release of GB2 at all on Blu-Ray). I don't think much needs to be said. They pretty much speak for themselves:






And that brings us to the new 4K releases (the image below is from before they "fixed" the slimers on the two covers):



While they do still leave something to be desired, overall I still feel that these might be the best covers for any DVD/Blu-Ray release yet in the US, with only that slipcover that came with the first Blu-Ray release of the first movie really giving these any "competition."

I realize that these are just my opinions, and maybe you and some others prefer some of the previous covers shown above, which is fine, but this is just how I feel about them.

[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by Resettito

It's kind of sad to see people who are only used to today's mostly crappy and generic and bland looking digital stuff and go "Yo what the hell is that thing?" when seeing film grain associated with film acquisition (you know, the superior format) on a movie.

Also, it's been said, but film cameras are just boxes, what makes the look are the lenses and film stocks used.

In fairness, the Ghostbusters UHD transfer is very grainy. I like grain, but I can understand if people watch this movie and are weirded out by how much they see.

[pawel86ck]

Originally Posted by waff

It's not about being "used to today's mostly crappy and generic and bland looking digital stuff", it's about getting the cleanest, clearest picture possible. I don't open my eyes and see things through a sands storm. I see clear, grain free lifelike images. That's what I want from a movie. I love movies, both classic and modern but if they all had grain removed, I'd be completely fine with that. Let's all be honest with ourselves, it adds nothing to the image quality other than it's just what was part of the original source.

When I see movie reviews that say, "... just the right amount of grain..." I'm hoping that means none at all.

People may not like grainy picture, but it's not possible to remove grain without sacrificing picture sharpness and fine details. DNR filtering leads to waxy looking faces and something like that looks 100000x times worse than grain alone.

Personally I prefer movies shot on digital (revenant, oblivion), but I have nothing against movies shot on film (with grainy look). The real problem is compression, because with low bitrate grain become a macro-blocking mess.

[Opips3]

Update website reviewed

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Ghost...151359/#Review

[rockin]

Even though I am quite happy with the recent Ghostbusters blu-ray, I will probably get this in UHD. I didn't expect there to be major differences, but according to the review, there is enough to justify it. I'm quite pleased with that review.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by rockin

Even though I am quite happy with the recent Ghostbusters blu-ray, I will probably get this in UHD. I didn't expect there to be major differences, but according to the review, there is enough to justify it. I'm quite pleased with that review.

Plus it has Dolby Atmos.

[rroeder]

I watched my copy last night and have to say was disappointed.

The grain is excessive and takes away from the movie watching experience IMO, it did seem to get better later in the movie and I made a few picture adjustments which seemed to tone down the grain, or maybe I just got used to it?

I'm gonna checkout the bluray, I'm thinking this movie will look better at lower resolution, don't get me wrong I don't mind a little grain for the sake of a quality original image, but again it was a little too much for my tastes.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by rroeder

I watched my copy last night and have to say was disappointed.

The grain is excessive and takes away from the movie watching experience IMO, it did seem to get better later in the movie and I made a few picture adjustments which seemed to tone down the grain, or maybe I just got used to it?

I'm gonna checkout the bluray, I'm thinking this movie will look better at lower resolution, don't get me wrong I don't mind a little grain for the sake of a quality original image, but again it was a little too much for my tastes.

You have to learn to roll with it. Not every film has the same inherent look.

[Batman2]

Arrived in the UK today from the USA.

[rroeder]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

You have to learn to roll with it. Not every film has the same inherent look.

I know this is blasphemy here but a little DNR might actually help this movie

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by rroeder

I know this is blasphemy here but a little DNR might actually help this movie

Nope. It would take away any detail. Think Predator.

Yuck! No thanks.

[Rocklandsboy]

Originally Posted by rroeder

I'm gonna checkout the bluray, I'm thinking this movie will look better at lower resolution, don't get me wrong I don't mind a little grain for the sake of a quality original image, but again it was a little too much for my tastes.

That's why standard BD is the optimum format in my ways. Superb enough to make movies from all eras shine, but not so insane that special effects are ruined and grain is intrusive. The perfect 2K experience.

[42041]

Originally Posted by rroeder

I know this is blasphemy here but a little DNR might actually help this movie

Do it on your TV please.

This thread is reminding me of blu-ray.com circa 2008.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Rocklandsboy

That's why standard BD is the optimum format in my ways. Superb enough to make movies from all eras shine, but not so insane that special effects are ruined and grain is intrusive. The perfect 2K experience.

2k is only a portion of the 35mm film experience and 1080p Blu-ray is limited to 8 bit, Rec. 709 video.

[Rocklandsboy]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

Blu-ray is limited to 8 bit, Rec. 709 video.

The horror of it. My eyes bleed every time! Rec 709. Nightmare!

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Rocklandsboy

The horror of it. My eyes bleed every time! Rec 709. Nightmare!

However, 8 bit is more apt to have heavy banding. With 10 bit it's either diminished significantly or eliminated completely. Plus with 12 bit Dolby Vision things will only get better.

Can't say that about regular Blu-ray, however.

[Rocklandsboy]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

However, 8 bit is more apt to have heavy banding. With 10 bit it's either diminished significantly or eliminated completely. Plus with 12 bit Dolby Vision things will only get better.
Can't say that about regular Blu-ray, however.

Can't say I'm really bothered to be honest. I have a plasma. Gorgeous colours but banding occurs often, so the level of banding on the disc is kind of irrelevant.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

However, 8 bit is more apt to have heavy banding. With 10 bit it's either diminished significantly or eliminated completely. Plus with 12 bit Dolby Vision things will only get better.

Can't say that about regular Blu-ray, however.

Eh, you'd think so FF but from my experience that's really not the case. PQ at 10-bit is still liable to band as it's above the Barten threshold for banding, which is partly why Dolby went with 12-bit for their system in the first place as banding really should be a thing of the past with 12-bit PQ-encoded HDR.

[rroeder]

I watched the opening library scene on both discs back to back, changed the resolution and color format on the player between discs. Pretty much confirmed to me the bluray looks better, little less detail and the colors of the books on the shelves didn't pop as much I guess, but cleaner smoother image. There's still grain just not in your face.

Is the Samsung player region free or is it UHD discs that are region free??

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Eh, you'd think so FF but from my experience that's really not the case. PQ at 10-bit is still liable to band as it's above the Barten threshold for banding, which is partly why Dolby went with 12-bit for their system in the first place as banding really should be a thing of the past with 12-bit PQ-encoded HDR.

Some of it could be display issues. Not all models are full 10 bit, rather dithered 8 bit panels, especially the cheaper UHD TV's.

But yes, 12 bit throughout the chain and higher bitrates would be the best.