Lawrence of Arabia 4K UHD (1962)

[Hedrox]

Sony have been doing limited runs for catalogue 4Ks for a few years now, it seems like anything that isn't a new movie is either included in a box set or gets a limited steelbook run (Fright Night, Insidious).

At this point I'm not so sure they'll return to regular-print keepcase editions. They seem pretty happy with making stuff that sells out quick, then maybe doing a reprint later if they feel like it.

[TravisTylerBlack]

Originally Posted by MartinScorsesefan

I bought It Happened One Night and Annie on eBay for 15-20 bucks apiece. But I ended up paying 80 dollars for Taxi Driver. They need to release these movies separately. I got the LOA steelbook when it was released.

Why not just buy the full set? Vol.2 was discounted to 80-something for a good chunk of time before it sold out.

[MartinScorsesefan]

Originally Posted by TravisTylerBlack

Why not just buy the full set? Vol.2 was discounted to 80-something for a good chunk of time before it sold out.

Unfortunately I waited way too long to be able to order the sets. Maybe the next one(if there is another one).

[NotASpeckOfCereal]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterLives

... I simply refuse to believe they will never release a regular standalone edition of this and Taxi Driver.

And I refuse to pay $180+ for LoA on eBay.

They're not just leaving a lot of money on the table, they're enabling a market where a lot of private parties are making it. The full Collection box price is obscene (well over a grand US).

[MechaGodzilla]

I don't even need a widely available standard release, I would be happy with another limited edition of some kind. Maybe a digibook instead of a steelbook this time, similar to the Labyrinth 35th anniversary edition? Anything that gives me another shot at owning the movie on UHD.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

I don't even need a widely available standard release, I would be happy with another limited edition of some kind. Maybe a digibook instead of a steelbook this time, similar to the Labyrinth 35th anniversary edition? Anything that gives me another shot at owning the movie on UHD.

I agree - I missed out and now have to hope....

[matbezlima]

As Geoff D and other users explained eloquently in previous pages, this 4K release is not as fantastic as it could be, I thank their thoughtful answers. I now just have one more question: how great does this 4K blu-ray look in absolute terms when compare to the very best-looking 4K releases overall (including both classic and new films)?

What I mean is: if you were ranking the most gorgeous-looking and detailed 4K blu-rays that exist in the market in purely absolute terms, which means not judging them relatively to the expectations of how good each film can look, how high does this Lawrence Of Arabia 4K rank?

[Hedrox]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

I don't even need a widely available standard release, I would be happy with another limited edition of some kind. Maybe a digibook instead of a steelbook this time, similar to the Labyrinth 35th anniversary edition? Anything that gives me another shot at owning the movie on UHD.

What limited availability does to a mf. This is exactly why Sony have adopted this strategy.

[matbezlima]

Originally Posted by Hedrox

What limited availability does to a mf. This is exactly why Sony have adopted this strategy.

Who remembers the Disney Vault?

[thebarnman]

Originally Posted by matbezlima

As Geoff D and other users explained eloquently in previous pages, this 4K release is not as fantastic as it could be, I thank their thoughtful answers. I now just have one more question: how great does this 4K blu-ray look in absolute terms when compare to the very best-looking 4K releases overall (including both classic and new films)?

What I mean is: if you were ranking the most gorgeous-looking and detailed 4K blu-rays that exist in the market in purely absolute terms, which means not judging them relatively to the expectations of how good each film can look, how high does this Lawrence Of Arabia 4K rank?

It would probably rank several notches below 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968.)

[matbezlima]

Originally Posted by thebarnman

It would probably rank several notches below 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968.)

Thanks for the reply!

[Bostonyte]

Originally Posted by matbezlima

What I mean is: if you were ranking the most gorgeous-looking and detailed 4K blu-rays that exist in the market in purely absolute terms, which means not judging them relatively to the expectations of how good each film can look, how high does this Lawrence Of Arabia 4K rank?

I sat with a shit eating smile on my face for the entire 226 runtime, not believing I could be watching something so beautiful from the comfort of my own couch....9 out of 10!

[matbezlima]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

I don't even need a widely available standard release, I would be happy with another limited edition of some kind. Maybe a digibook instead of a steelbook this time, similar to the Labyrinth 35th anniversary edition? Anything that gives me another shot at owning the movie on UHD.

Before that happens, what about the Kaleidescape version? 115GB, and a higher video bit-rate than the UHD actually.

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by matbezlima

Before that happens, what about the Kaleidescape version? 115GB, and a higher video bit-rate than the UHD actually.

I’m not sure “what about the option for the fabulously wealthy global jet-setters?” is gonna be most people’s go-to solution.

[thebarnman]

Originally Posted by matbezlima

Thanks for the reply!

There are lots of examples of discs that look spectacular, but doing my best to do a apples to apples comparison; both "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) and "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) were both shot on 65mm film...and I do believe both were scanned at a much higher resolution when compared to a nice 4K scan.

"The Sound of Music" (1965) might be a better example to compare since it's more colorful and was also shot on 65mm film and scanned at 8K and being more close to years (only 3) from 1962 meaning film stock might be closer technology wise when compared to a movie shot in 1968 as "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) was. However as far as I know, it does not have a true UHD (4K) Blu-ray release only a standard Blu-ray release from that restoration.


Even so, I think it's a fair comparison.

[thebarnman]

Originally Posted by matbezlima

Before that happens, what about the Kaleidescape version? 115GB, and a higher video bit-rate than the UHD actually.

Yes, that would be better as long as it does not get filtered or mucked up in some way before it gets released on Kaleidescape. It would probably look better than the release I saw in 70mm at some anniversary showing. In that case I remember the color looking not as saturated as it probably should have been.

[matbezlima]

Originally Posted by thebarnman

There are lots of examples of discs that look spectacular, but doing my best to do a apples to apples comparison; both "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) and "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) were both shot on 65mm film...and I do believe both were scanned at a much higher resolution when compared to a nice 4K scan.

"The Sound of Music" (1965) might be a better example to compare since it's more colorful and was also shot on 65mm film and scanned at 8K and being more close to years (only 3) from 1962 meaning film stock might be closer technology wise when compared to a movie shot in 1968 as "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) was. However as far as I know, it does not have a true UHD (4K) Blu-ray release only a standard Blu-ray release from that restoration.


Even so, I think it's a fair comparison.

I've quickly started to realize that common "Best 4K releases" lists online are often very misleading and superficial (a film can look much better than other on absolute terms not became the transfer or compression is ideal, but because the film is inherently so pretty, while there are movies that will simply never be reference material).

The Sound Of Music and Ben-Hur really deserve to get 4K releases.

2001 and Lawrence were both scanned at 8K.

[Galiocerdo]

It’s not unheard of for a standard release to follow a steelbook exclusive, but Paramount put six months between those editions of Shutter Island. It’s been a year since the Lawrence steelbook came out. It will be a shame if Sony never does a standard 4K release.

[iaragorn1]

I just discovered this video released by the BBC on Youtube about 6 months ago. I don't recall seeing it before.

I apologize if it's old news.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTMeRPPeGFw

On location in Almeria, during a break in filming, Peter O' Toole is interviewed by fellow actor Kenneth Griffith for BBC Monitor. O' Toole discusses how he is tackling the demanding title role of T.E. Lawrence in director David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia.

[trespoochies]

For those who have BritBox, there's a new 90 minute documentary called Peter O'Toole - Along the Sky Road to Aqaba. It's a great documentary.