The Abyss 4K UHD (1989)

[Ben_UK]

Yea some of the pics I’ve seen it looks like there is a blanket blue now across peoples faces, losing the nuanced flesh tones that were likely there before.

[cybersoga]

I think they should just not bother including the regular blu-ray, i'm never going to watch it

[DaylightsEnd]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

Why don’t they put the UHD in a single spot and stack the two Blu-rays?.

What? Do something obvious, common-sense, and responsible, in 2024? Rubbish. It’s fairly outrageous and offensive even to suggest such a thing. Something may have been perfectly acceptable in 2010 but obviously things have changed and I don’t think folks are willing to be exposed to this kind of ugly, stressful thinking-man-should-use-his-brain crap anymore. We’ve removed it from all the schools and it probably doesn’t belong on the intrawebs anymore either. Reported!!!!

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by cybersoga

I think they should just not bother including the regular blu-ray, i'm never going to watch it

Others do though. The BD has the correct audio for example and still looks terrific.....well, considering the AI. I'm sticking with the BD for those reasons. I was considering exchanging my copy for a new one since my 4K disc is scratched but I have no use for the 4K now since it doesn't have the correct audio anyway. Also, the 4K disc being scratched doesn't appear to be an isolated incident.

[Steedeel]

You guys need to start reporting these disc scratches, it’s a trend across several releases, it’s obviously to do with the production plant over there, no such issues in U.K., every single 4K disc I have bought has been perfect (over 200 now, including a handful of German releases)

This is a far more concerning issue than some A.I upscales.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

Why don’t they put the UHD in a single spot and stack the two Blu-rays?

I think we have to assume that the bean counter that suggested going to stackable cases over a two disc case and tray or one disc case and two disc tray and saved a unit price of four cents got a $3,000,000 bonus and their department got a Wednesday afternoon omelette bar.

Between the cases and the Mexico plant moonlighting as a grid factory... the joy of physical media.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

You guys need to start reporting these disc scratches, it’s a trend across several releases, it’s obviously to do with the production plant over there, no such issues in U.K., every single 4K disc I have bought has been perfect (over 200 now, including a handful of German releases)

This is a far more concerning issue than some A.I upscales.

I've had a few scratched discs from Second Sight. Told them about it and they said they'd take it up with the manufacturer.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I've had a few scratched discs from Second Sight. Told them about it and they said they'd take it up with the manufacturer.

You'd think some of the distributors would send people down to see what's going on, but I can imagine a lot of them take our complaints with a pinch of salt, like when we mention that they've ballsed up one of their discs.

I also think that some of them wash their hands once they're with retailers, any scratches aren't their fault.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by chip75

You'd think some of the distributors would send people down to see what's going on, but I can imagine a lot of them take our complaints with a pinch of salt, like when we mention that they've ballsed up one of their discs.

I also think that some of them wash their hands once they're with retailers, any scratches aren't their fault.

The trouble with the North American side of things is that there's one major plant left, it's either get it from there or not at all (or pay more to source them from European plants like Paramount have done, there's a reason why you rarely hear about scratches with their stuff). So although Kino et al have raised these points re: things like gunky cases (which have gotten betterer, not perfick but betterer) there's only so much they can do, if the replicators think it costs too much to give a shit then it ain't gonna happen, and they're on thin margins as it is which is why I think quality control has taken such a nosedive. May even have been the only way to keep it viable, strip everything back and just get them discs out the door as quickly as possible.

[Bourne1886]

A.I is no match for a proper 4k scan. Hence it should be called the poor man’s budget version. Although it wouldn’t surprise me in this day and age that A.I versions cost more. That’s how messed up the world is becoming in all areas. Nothing is done properly now and things are becoming more and more fake. The Abyss is definitely the best in terms of picture quality compared to Aliens and True lies but the A.I tampering is still noticeable.

[BluIsGold]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

The trouble with the North American side of things is that there's one major plant left, it's either get it from there or not at all (or pay more to source them from European plants like Paramount have done, there's a reason why you rarely hear about scratches with their stuff). So although Kino et al have raised these points re: things like gunky cases (which have gotten betterer, not perfick but betterer) there's only so much they can do, if the replicators think it costs too much to give a shit then it ain't gonna happen, and they're on thin margins as it is which is why I think quality control has taken such a nosedive. May even have been the only way to keep it viable, strip everything back and just get them discs out the door as quickly as possible.

Ya know, I didn't even think about it until the past few days when I watched "Beverly Hills Cop 3" and "Terms of Endearment" from Paramount. Before watching I saw no scratches at all. I thought my flashlight was broken. But after watching BHC3 I noticed a stamp on the back of the case, the same stamp which was on the TOE case: "Disc(s) Made In Germany."

And the disc stacking, yeah, no one is gonna listen. I think when it came to three disc releases from studios known for stacking, I received maybe one or two where the 4K was by itself on one side of the case. Throw loose discs into the picture and what exactly are we supposed to do about this? If I had problems with scratched discs not playing, my entire life would consist of exchanging these things over and over.

Dare I say digital is our only real solution here? You guys are right about that Mexican plant not going anywhere. Money is meant to be made. We've come this far without boycotting. Why would anyone change their methods now?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by BluIsGold

Ya know, I didn't even think about it until the past few days when I watched "Beverly Hills Cop 3" and "Terms of Endearment" from Paramount. Before watching I saw no scratches at all. I thought my flashlight was broken. But after watching BHC3 I noticed a stamp on the back of the case, the same stamp which was on the TOE case: "Disc(s) Made In Germany."

And the disc stacking, yeah, no one is gonna listen. I think when it came to three disc releases from studios known for stacking, I received maybe one or two where the 4K was by itself on one side of the case. Throw loose discs into the picture and what exactly are we supposed to do about this? If I had problems with scratched discs not playing, my entire life would consist of exchanging these things over and over.

Dare I say digital is our only real solution here? You guys are right about that Mexican plant not going anywhere. Money is meant to be made. We've come this far without boycotting. Why would anyone change their methods now?

IIRC Paramount switched to Sonopress in Germany two or three years ago. I have to laugh tho, that they're serious enough about the quality and/or supply of the product they stopped using NA replicators completely, but not so serious that they'll employ competent authorers to encode most of their UHDs.

[amorphously]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

The trouble with the North American side of things is that there's one major plant left, it's either get it from there or not at all (or pay more to source them from European plants like Paramount have done, there's a reason why you rarely hear about scratches with their stuff). So although Kino et al have raised these points re: things like gunky cases (which have gotten betterer, not perfick but betterer) there's only so much they can do, if the replicators think it costs too much to give a shit then it ain't gonna happen, and they're on thin margins as it is which is why I think quality control has taken such a nosedive. May even have been the only way to keep it viable, strip everything back and just get them discs out the door as quickly as possible.

Those who have adopted 4K UHD discs are like what 3% of the general pop. I bet peeps who still have ONLY VHS tapes and VCRs are more than 3%. That is why they care nothing about quality control. As others have mentioned European releases don't have these issues.

[BluIsGold]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

IIRC Paramount switched to Sonopress in Germany two or three years ago. I have to laugh tho, that they're serious enough about the quality and/or supply of the product they stopped using NA replicators completely, but not so serious that they'll employ competent authorers to encode most of their UHDs.

The encodes, yep. If you use HDR (I have a Samsung television) you'll probably get the crap end of the stick. You just hope it's watchable, and nowhere near the disaster that was Universal and "Love Actually", where everyone saw that hot mess. I can overlook plenty, but sometimes I'm just like, "Uh, no." Consider it part of the collection after one view and maybe watch it again later if I've forgotten.

[emw107]

Originally Posted by petermaverick

On youtube midlevelmedia says there are people claiming to have received scratched unplayable discs because this three disc set is in a 2 disc case. Given how cheap 4k players are, would people really care if the included blu-ray edition of the movie was excluded?

I wouldn't care - but only if a standalone blu-ray edition was available as well. But since there is only one combo edition available, we're all stuck in this together.

While I have both a blu-ray player and a 4k player, I only have a handful of 4k discs. For me, most often, the blu-ray version suffices.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

Why don’t they put the UHD in a single spot and stack the two Blu-rays?

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I've had a few scratched discs from Second Sight. Told them about it and they said they'd take it up with the manufacturer.

I had a good amount of scratched discs in my German Turbine Knight Rider set. A replacement set also had a good number of scratched discs. Though the standard edition case was horrendous and was seemingly designed to scratch discs so I don't know how much was due to manufacturing and how much was due to the case.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Been looking for a gif of that for ages! Nice.

[Scorsese]

Have been looking for this recently (even tho I said I wouldn't buy any of these AI4Ks )

But then I remembered that this disc had been cancelled for sale in the UK

[KcMsterpce]

Originally Posted by Scorsese

But then I remembered that this disc had been cancelled for sale in the UK

Maybe it's time for some anarchy over there.