Unforgiven (1992) (Remastered)

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

True, but I was more speaking of brightness in nits. The projector he used was calibrated for 100 nits brightness, which is like 2% of what this disc is mastered for (4,000 nits). Warner titles are especially demanding in HDR because they master for super high nits and make no compromises. As I just wrote elsewhere, you need a set with high brightness, good tone mapping and great color volume to really see Warner UHDs as they were meant to be seen. If you don't have that it's going to look dark and washed out.

The UHD of Unforgiven IS a little darker than the BD, but it looks much more accurate and like film than the BD does. The BD is no slouch though, I think every fan will be happy with either.

Was that darkness with the UHD transfer for Unforgiven a similar situation as the Goodfellas release? I ask because I never really got a real grasp on why that transfer is so poorly received.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

Was that darkness with the UHD transfer for Unforgiven a similar situation as the Goodfellas release? I ask because I never really got a real grasp on why that transfer is so poorly received.

Yep. All Warner discs are done the same way, but it's more obvious on the ones without bright HDR highlights. Pacific Rim for example has such amazing color and pop that people with weaker sets don't notice as much as they do on something like Goodfellas. Even my set, with 1400 nits and good tone mapping, is not seeing Warner discs at their fullest. I just get closer than a lot of others.

This speaks directly to your post above btw, about some saying it's a big improvement and others the opposite. UHD is much more equipment dependent than BD was, as an upgrade. Without an HDR Premium set you're not seeing a lot of discs how they should be seen, and then you get on the forum and "meh" about it. I should know, I did exactly that with my old set, before I upgraded.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Without an HDR Premium set you're not seeing a lot of discs how they should be seen, and then you get on the forum and "meh" about it. I should know, I did exactly that with my old set, before I upgraded.

I'm going to try to take a step here toward not being as antagonistic as I have been lately toward UHD and acknowledge that I do not have an HDR Premium set (I have a JS8500, which I think I read is only around 500ish nits?). So, in truth, my lackluster reaction to HDR may owe to this.

My experience with UHD presentations on Amazon has been very unsatisfying. Watching The Man in the High Castle, the black levels are so dark that I can barely see anything in certain scenes (this is not helped by the blinding lights coming from windows, lamps, etc. in those scenes). Conversely, while watching Mozart in the Jungle, the black levels seem too light. In both cases, watching the SDR 1080p versions provides a MUCH better viewing experience.

If this experience is different for those with proper Premium sets, that would be good to hear.

However, I just bought my 4K set last year and have no plans to replace it any time in the foreseeable future (particularly as I am loving having 3D capability for the very first time and finally enjoying 3D films as they are meant to be seen).