Johnny Mnemonic (101 Films - Black Label 025)

[superunknown80]

Originally Posted by backslashio

This movie is begging for a 4K remaster, why must it be so unloved? Can't even buy it digitally on iTunes

101 films are terrible and never do replacements for faults. Their Monster Man blu has a digital error. It goes all pixilated for a second about 5 mins in. I unformed them and sent photos, but they didn't even reply. They're a scummy company. Only good releases of theirs is when they are using a transfer provided by another better label. E.g. Their release of Rabid used the SF transfer. But their release of Prom Night is yet again massively inferior to the German and US bluray. There's also a lot more print damage on their release of Prom Night so guessing they didn't even use the same master. What's more annoying about this release of Johnny Mnemonic is that they have charged premium rates. It's more expensive than their previous black label titles due to the outer box being more rigid card like the Silent Night, Deadly Night box set.

[Killer Meteor]

Originally Posted by superunknown80

I have the German Turbine bluray and have just received the 101 bluray. I confirm what another user said above. The German Turbine blu has better colour and better black levels. Detail also looks a little better on the German release. The 101 bluray looks particularly washed out in darker scenes. Also due to the PAL speedup a couple of Japanese characters who already have pretty high pitched voices sound like chipmunks on the 101 bluray. The runtime is the same as the NTCS American release on the German bluray, unlike the shorter runtime on the 101 release due to PAL speedup. Only negative of the German blu is that the opening text crawl is in German only, and a very brief moment where Takeshi speaks Japanese has burnt in German subs and no English translation. But it's a very short moment and the other character speaks English for the majority of that section, so for the most part you can make out what's being said roughly

Regarding the SD extended cut on the German blu. The opening text crawl is in English, and it can be set so there are English subs for the Japanese spoken segment from the theatrical cut. But there are no English subs for.the extended section which is spoken in Japanese

Wait, the 101 is a PAL-speed transfer?

[superunknown80]

Originally Posted by Killer Meteor

Wait, the 101 is a PAL-speed transfer?

Yep. Runtime is 92 mins 43 secs. It's really noticeable too. Keanu sounds like his balls haven't dropped yet. He's not got the deepest voice in this film anyway

[bigrob]

Originally Posted by superunknown80

Yep. Runtime is 92 mins 43 secs. It's really noticeable too. Keanu sounds like his balls haven't dropped yet. He's not got the deepest voice in this film anyway

I noticed that too actually when I was flicking through it. Wasn't too sure of it at first and was going to check it out a bit later.

This seems like a very mediocre release dressed up as something premium.

[superunknown80]

Originally Posted by bigrob

I noticed that too actually when I was flicking through it. Wasn't too sure of it at first and was going to check it out a bit later.

This seems like a very mediocre release dressed up as something premium.

That's 101 Films speciality. They're probably the most hit or miss boutique label out there.

[CelestialAgent]

The only excuse to release something 1080i in 2022 is if it’s a TV movie or was originally shot in that format. There’s no excuse otherwise as it’s not 2008 anymore. I’m fine with PAL speedup if it’s the only option or a couple of quid but not for £25. With The Cooler I just opted for the Tartan DVD for about 20p even if I would like to watch the making of eventually. Didn’t the director complain as well? At least the 1080i Fellinis from Cult Films got outmoded by the Criterion Fellini boxset (though not sure there’s individual releases in the correct speed.)

[backslashio]

Just read the cost for a 2K or 4K remaster of a movie. Does anyone have several hundred thousand US$ for Johnny?

[Mushi Minion]

Originally Posted by backslashio

Just read the cost for a 2K or 4K remaster of a movie. Does anyone have several hundred thousand US$ for Johnny?

Ask Keanu. He seems like a nice enough guy.

[backslashio]

Originally Posted by Mushi Minion

Ask Keanu. He seems like a nice enough guy.

[CrockettandTubbs]

If you want a great presentation of a Takeshi film he acts in but doesn't direct, probably best to watch:

[Show spoiler]

[kosvines]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

The only excuse to release something 1080i in 2022 is if it’s a TV movie or was originally shot in that format. There’s no excuse otherwise as it’s not 2008 anymore. I’m fine with PAL speedup if it’s the only option or a couple of quid but not for £25. With The Cooler I just opted for the Tartan DVD for about 20p even if I would like to watch the making of eventually. Didn’t the director complain as well? At least the 1080i Fellinis from Cult Films got outmoded by the Criterion Fellini boxset (though not sure there’s individual releases in the correct speed.)

A lot of streaming services in Europe use 1080i (with PAL speed-up), so I assume they just used a transfer provided by the UK rights holder, which was the same file provided for streaming. 101 Films most likely didn't care.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by kosvines

A lot of streaming services in Europe use 1080i (with PAL speed-up), so I assume they just used a transfer provided by the UK rights holder, which was the same file provided for streaming. 101 Films most likely didn't care.

I think we can pretty much put money on that.

You look at a label like Powerhouse, or Eureka, and their love for the material and product is blatantly obvious. Painstaking detail and TLC, with no corners cut.

101, you just get the sense that the move to a more premium product, ie the BLACK LABEL range, was an excuse to charge more for those releases, rather than a genuine desire to give those films the very best physical and on-disc presentation that they could for more altruistic reasons.

[Jerry_Dam]

Well thank god I own all the other editions and only ordered the 101 for the supplements...

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by Jerry_Dam

Well thank god I own all the other editions and only ordered the 101 for the supplements...

I didn’t order it only for the supplements but, yeah, since I own the Image disc, I guess the supplements on this 101 disc are all that’ll justify its existence on my shelf now.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

I didn’t order it only for the supplements but, yeah, since I own the Image disc, I guess the supplements on this 101 disc are all that’ll justify its existence on my shelf now.

[takewinswhereyoucangetthem]Swap out the case for a 2-disc case and Frankenstein your Image disc into the set.

At least the packaging is an upgrade I guess.[/takewinswhereyoucangetthem]

[BigNickUK]

I've seen worse. Looks ok on my Panasonic. A bit too heavy on the DNR definitely which may have contributed to the opinion of softness?.Audio is great though

[Jerry_Dam]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

At least the packaging is an upgrade I guess.[/takewinswhereyoucangetthem]

The packaging is pretty slick, so it's all the more disappointing that the film quality isn't on par with the care brought to the boxset and extras...

[Synchg]

oomph, this is ugly

for those wondering, looks like they used the Sony source...of a DVD.
caps from my 101 blu-ray. the sony JP blu-ray has more detail


to compare
https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=98...2&a=0&go=0&l=1

even the 'burnt' in subtitles have jaggies.




Apparently I paid $30 for a nice slipbox cover, because my german steelbook fits perfectly innit

[backslashio]

Holy moly, I was expecting bad but this is truly awful. Its not HD in any way, how can they sell this for 25 pounds? Why is an older japanese release vastly superior?

[Killer Meteor]

I feel ripped off.