Michael Jackson's music videos in 4K - Blu-ray Forum

Galactus123 · 11-12-2022, 04:29 AM

HD version of Thriller and Beat It music videos are now on Tidal and Apple Music. Youtube versions will probably be in 4K when they get updated. Would be awesome if all the videos got released in 4K at some point. They said couple of years ago on the official site that they are working on remastering them. They said it might be hard on some of them:

https://www.michaeljackson.com/faq/w...t-films-to-4k/

Edit: Thriller and Beat It are now on Youtube.

Fendergopher · 11-12-2022, 06:21 AM

There's a great fan-restored 4K version of Smooth Criminal up on Youtube, presumably done with a Moonwalker film print. Really any material shot on film shouldn't be an issue to scan and restore to 4K (unless it's too damaged to salvage), aside from cost. The real issue is that no one seems to know the whereabouts of a lot of MJ film material. I guess maybe Michael was too focused on moving forward to care much about aspects like proper archiving.

For example, it's a known fact that several Bad tour shows were at least partly shot on film (you can see film cameras here and there in photos and on the video feeds shown on the Jumbotrons) but where all that film material ended up is anyone's guess. Aside from the HD film scans they've used on the Bad and Off the Wall anniversary documentaries (which in Bad's case was a combination of several different shows) the estate doesn't seem to have possession of very much film material. Hopefully that changes (or fans somehow do the legwork) but I'm not holding my breath.

blackprojection · 11-12-2022, 01:35 PM

I wonder why there aren't many 4K remastered music videos around in general. not only MJ but some videos on the net don't even have HD quality

Marv Inc. · 11-13-2022, 10:42 AM

I hope get a disc release at some point with it being Sony.

Ben_R · 11-13-2022, 10:53 AM

I’d settle for Thriller, Ghosts and an uncut Moonwalker.

figrin_dan · 11-13-2022, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackprojection

I wonder why there aren't many 4K remastered music videos around in general. not only MJ but some videos on the net don't even have HD quality

There is quite an interesting Tom Scott video on youtube called "Why some "remastered" music videos look awful"

slimdude · 11-13-2022, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackprojection

I wonder why there aren't many 4K remastered music videos around in general. not only MJ but some videos on the net don't even have HD quality

Typically, old music videos don't get remastered in HD due to the cost, and studios feel it wouldn't be worth the time and investment. Whenever music videos are featured on DVD or Blu-ray as bonus features, they are always in their original 480i/p resolution.

Marv Inc. · 11-13-2022, 05:07 PM

I hope Thriller gets a 1:85:1 transfer. Jacksons personal 35mm print was in 1:85:1 and in the old 4:3 version you can see the overhead studio lights in some shots which would have been matted out for 1:85:1.

Galactus123 · 11-13-2022, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben_R

I’d settle for Thriller, Ghosts and an uncut Moonwalker.

Ghosts is great. I hope we get Bad and Dangerous era videos too. Remember the Time and Give In To Me would look great in 4K.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marv Inc.

I hope Thriller gets a 1:85:1 transfer. Jacksons personal 35mm print was in 1:85:1 and in the old 4:3 version you can see the overhead studio lights in some shots which would have been matted out for 1:85:1.

I saw some pics of the IMAX 3D version from 2017 and it didn't seem to have much more info on the sides.

slimdude · 11-13-2022, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marv Inc.

I hope Thriller gets a 1:85:1 transfer. Jacksons personal 35mm print was in 1:85:1 and in the old 4:3 version you can see the overhead studio lights in some shots which would have been matted out for 1:85:1.

If it does ( which I doubt it will) it wouldn't be in its original aspect ratio. If all the old TV shows from the 50s-80s were re-formatted to widescreen, it wouldn't be the same.

Marv Inc. · 11-14-2022, 06:26 AM

IMDB list it as 1.33 : 1 and 1.90 : 1 for Imax . I've not seen the Imax version so be interesting to know if they framed out the overhead studio lighting in that version.

Galactus123 · 11-14-2022, 06:32 AM

Beat It has been updated to 1080p on Youtube:

Edit: Its now in 4K.

davidsal · 11-14-2022, 05:51 PM

Remastered 4K music videos are soooo good. It's like seeing it for the first time. For example, search for Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer in Apple, Dead or Alive's You Spin Me Around, Wham's Last Christmas, U2's Where the Street have No Name to name a few. Revelatory. There's a playlist in Youtube that feature Remastered videos only NO upscales.

SpazeBlue · 11-15-2022, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidsal

There's a playlist in Youtube that feature Remastered videos only NO upscales.

Got a link?

davidsal · 11-15-2022, 01:36 PM

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...wskh3ugYgmO_8r

CouncilSpectre · 11-15-2022, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidsal

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...wskh3ugYgmO_8r

MADNESS in 4K, oh my……

Marv Inc. · 11-17-2022, 12:41 PM

dallywhitty · 11-17-2022, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidsal

Remastered 4K music videos are soooo good. It's like seeing it for the first time. For example, search for Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer in Apple, Dead or Alive's You Spin Me Around, Wham's Last Christmas, U2's Where the Street have No Name to name a few. Revelatory. There's a playlist in Youtube that feature Remastered videos only NO upscales.

I love seeing genuine remasters of 80s music videos. There's too many shiitty upscales on YouTube, even from the labels themselves.

Galactus123 · 11-18-2022, 06:53 AM

Thriller is now on Youtube:

figrin_dan · 11-18-2022, 08:59 AM

Wow, that's impressive, although maybe a bit too clear. You can really focus on the dancers at the back who aren't as good! I had never noticed

[Show spoiler]

11-12-2022, 04:29 AM	#1
Galactus123 Power Member Top contributor Member since:Apr 2014 Location:Finland Blu-ray collection:174	Michael Jackson's music videos in 4K HD version of Thriller and Beat It music videos are now on Tidal and Apple Music. Youtube versions will probably be in 4K when they get updated. Would be awesome if all the videos got released in 4K at some point. They said couple of years ago on the official site that they are working on remastering them. They said it might be hard on some of them: https://www.michaeljackson.com/faq/w...t-films-to-4k/ Edit: Thriller and Beat It are now on Youtube. Last edited by Galactus123; 11-18-2022 at 06:55 AM.

11-18-2022, 08:59 AM	#20
figrin_dan Power Member Top contributor Member since:Sep 2011 Location:UK 4K collection:30 Blu-ray collection:687 DVD collection:84	Wow, that's impressive, although maybe a bit too clear. You can really focus on the dancers at the back who aren't as good! I had never noticed [Show spoiler]Far left at 8:54 claps way too late!

11-12-2022, 06:21 AM	#2
Fendergopher Expert Member Top contributor Member since:Oct 2017 Location:Norway 4K collection:104 Blu-ray collection:150	There's a great fan-restored 4K version of Smooth Criminal up on Youtube, presumably done with a Moonwalker film print. Really any material shot on film shouldn't be an issue to scan and restore to 4K (unless it's too damaged to salvage), aside from cost. The real issue is that no one seems to know the whereabouts of a lot of MJ film material. I guess maybe Michael was too focused on moving forward to care much about aspects like proper archiving. For example, it's a known fact that several Bad tour shows were at least partly shot on film (you can see film cameras here and there in photos and on the video feeds shown on the Jumbotrons) but where all that film material ended up is anyone's guess. Aside from the HD film scans they've used on the Bad and Off the Wall anniversary documentaries (which in Bad's case was a combination of several different shows) the estate doesn't seem to have possession of very much film material. Hopefully that changes (or fans somehow do the legwork) but I'm not holding my breath.

11-12-2022, 01:35 PM	#3
blackprojection Senior Member Top contributor Member since:Oct 2020 4K collection:179 Blu-ray collection:246	I wonder why there aren't many 4K remastered music videos around in general. not only MJ but some videos on the net don't even have HD quality

11-13-2022, 10:42 AM	#4
Marv Inc. Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Sep 2012 Location:The British Empire Blu-ray collection:5	I hope get a disc release at some point with it being Sony.

11-13-2022, 10:53 AM	#5
Ben_R Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Jul 2010 4K collection:540 Blu-ray collection:2583 DVD collection:117 Trading Score:7	I’d settle for Thriller, Ghosts and an uncut Moonwalker.

11-13-2022, 05:07 PM	#8
Marv Inc. Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Sep 2012 Location:The British Empire Blu-ray collection:5	I hope Thriller gets a 1:85:1 transfer. Jacksons personal 35mm print was in 1:85:1 and in the old 4:3 version you can see the overhead studio lights in some shots which would have been matted out for 1:85:1.

11-14-2022, 06:26 AM	#11
Marv Inc. Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Sep 2012 Location:The British Empire Blu-ray collection:5	IMDB list it as 1.33 : 1 and 1.90 : 1 for Imax . I've not seen the Imax version so be interesting to know if they framed out the overhead studio lighting in that version.

11-14-2022, 05:51 PM	#13
davidsal Senior Member Member since:Apr 2013 Trading Score:80	Remastered 4K music videos are soooo good. It's like seeing it for the first time. For example, search for Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer in Apple, Dead or Alive's You Spin Me Around, Wham's Last Christmas, U2's Where the Street have No Name to name a few. Revelatory. There's a playlist in Youtube that feature Remastered videos only NO upscales.

11-15-2022, 01:36 PM	#15
davidsal Senior Member Member since:Apr 2013 Trading Score:80	https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...wskh3ugYgmO_8r

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