Altered States 4K UHD (1980) (Criterion Collection)

[MifuneFan]

Criterion will be releasing Altered States (1980) on 4K in October!

Altered States 4K UHD

https://www.criterion.com/films/29506-altered-states

4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New 4K digital restoration, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• Alternate 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• New audio commentary featuring film historian Samm Deighan
• Archival interviews with director Ken Russell and actor William Hurt
• New interview with special-visual-effects designer Bran Ferren
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by film critic Jessica Kiang

New cover by Richey Beckett

The ultimate cinematic head trip of the 1980s, British renegade Ken Russell’s first Hollywood film—adapted by the legendary screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky from his own novel—is part hallucinogenic freak-out, part gonzo creature feature, part transcendent love story, all played at a fever pitch. When researcher Eddie Jessup (William Hurt) begins using himself as a test subject for his mind-expanding psychological experiments, it sends him on an increasingly dangerous, substance-fueled odyssey from humankind’s primordial past to the outer limits of consciousness. It’s all visualized by Russell in a psychedelic supernova of out-there imagery that encompasses everything from the pagan to the cosmic sublime, culminating in a brain-wave-blasting battle between the mind and the heart.

[dressedtokill]

Omg yes!!! I was kind of hoping Arrow would release this one, but I'll take what I can get. One of my favorite films, exciting stuff for sure.

[SleazyForWeasley]

I'll take one.

[jess1581]

Day ONE!

[Kyle15]

Biggest release of the bunch honestly. Been long overdue for a remaster!

[DR Herbert West]

Nice!

[traths]

I’ve never seen this film but I’ve heard plenty about it so I will probably blind buy this one.

[BobSimms]

Never seen this myself but how long can I continue to say No to William Hurt?

[BigDmo531]

Getting a double dose of Hurt this month, eh? Very cool. Love the cover art for this

[Onlysleeping23]

YES!!!! And with both the stereo and 5.1 surround tracks!

[Scottie]

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Scottie

[Show spoiler]

In my defense, that thread was made based on false/incorrect information. At the time, the title was added to Criterion's new revamped site, but it only meant that it was being added to Filmstruck, rather than a physical release coming. I can assure you Criterion didn't have this title for 7 years. .. Lesson learned though, never say never.

[dissention]

Anything Ken Russell is an automatic buy.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

In my defense, that thread was made based on false/incorrect information. At the time, the title was added to Criterion's new revamped site, but it only meant that it was being added to Filmmstruck, rather than a physical release coming. I can assure you Criterion didn't have this title for 7 years. .. Lesson learned though, never say never.

Well now, knowing them, they probably have had it for 7 years.

[defwarrior4000]

I think the 5.1 alternative track is based on the Megasound 70mm mix. I remember the Blu-ray sounding pretty nice. Great to see this as a 4K! I have a feeling October is going to be pricey.

[cakefactory]

This was one of a tiny number of DVDs I still hadn't upgraded for whatever reason (in this case cause the blu-ray was barebones and I hadn't felt like rewatching it in many years). This is a great upgrade! I always wanted special features on it since it was such a weird movie, but neither the US DVD nor blu-ray had any. Glad to see that rectified. For me, this is definitely the most exciting Criterion announcement in years.

[PowellPressburger]

Congrats to Samm Deighan nailing another Criterion commentary track!
Nice


Always loved the opening titles of this one.

I have the film score CD soundtrack also.

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Probably the one I'm looking forward to the most out of these latest Criterion announcements. The Blu-ray looked more like a print scan than something sourced from an IP or the OCN, not that I believe it was literally a print scan though.

After The Stuff's pre-release version was located and included on the new UHD, then I was hoping something similar would have happened with an upcoming release of Altered States and its now mythical preview cut. I know there's other films where preview cuts still exist in film archives but have never seen the light of day outside of incredibly selective showings; maybe that's not the case for Altered States though.

[Crispy Noodle]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

Probably the one I'm looking forward to the most out of these latest Criterion announcements. The Blu-ray looked more like a print scan than something sourced from an IP or the OCN, not that I believe it was literally a print scan though.

After The Stuff's pre-release version was located and included on the new UHD, then I was hoping something similar would have happened with an upcoming release of Altered States and its now mythical preview cut. I know there's other films where preview cuts still exist in film archives but have never seen the light of day outside of incredibly selective showings; maybe that's not the case for Altered States though.

I saw a pre-release cut shortly before the premiere at one of those free pass sneak preview events. The most significant change I noted inthe version I saw on the blu-ray was the severe shortening of the sex scene between Hurt and Brown. The original was one of the most charged erotic scenes I had seen in a mainstream film, and was quite long. What's currently available is just a short shadow of the original.

I really have no hope of seeing that again.

[SpookyDollhouse]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Congrats to Samm Deighan nailing another Criterion commentary track!
Nice

Ya I love how Criterion is putting out more and more new commentaries, and they're all worth listening to. For a while that well was dry