Blade Runner 4K UHD (1982)

[mzupeman]

Just got an update via email from Amazon that they anticipate my copy to arrive on September 14th. I knew this would likely be the case. When they don't know when product is goign to be available, they tend to overshoot the date by quite a bit so they don't get themselves in trouble.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Yeah I'd be careful about advising this to people in general. HDR is on these discs no matter what, it can't be removed, only "converted" to SDR by the player or TV. That can cause issues. I know with my Sony X800 there was no way to stop the SDR conversion from crushing the shit out of blacks, which would be a massive problem with this disc I bet.

Agreed. I'm of the opinion that the Panasonic UB900 (with an HD Fury product) is the only acceptable player for SDR conversion at this time. Shadow detail (and everything else) was excellent on my SDR set-up.

[madfloyd]

Originally Posted by maverick22

Could someone please sell me on this movie? I was only 1 when this came out. I have seen a ton of great reviews. When I watch the trailer though, it doesn't look like something I would enjoy. I'm not a huge sci-fi fan so that probably has a lot to do with it. It looks pretty outdated and, forgive me, cheesy.

It sounds like the 4k disc is top notch though, but it seems like a risky blind buy for me based on the trailer.

Looking forward to replies. Thanks!

For what it's worth, I do like the beginning of the movie but I always end up bored and falling asleep...

[pbz06]

Originally Posted by maverick22

Could someone please sell me on this movie? I was only 1 when this came out. I have seen a ton of great reviews. When I watch the trailer though, it doesn't look like something I would enjoy. I'm not a huge sci-fi fan so that probably has a lot to do with it. It looks pretty outdated and, forgive me, cheesy.

It sounds like the 4k disc is top notch though, but it seems like a risky blind buy for me based on the trailer.

Looking forward to replies. Thanks!

FWIW, the trailer is pretty terrible. Most trailers back then were, haha. Just give it a shot...it's a little "slow" so don't expect action packed sci do. It's more of an LA Noire type feel to it.

[UpsetSmiley]

Out of interest what trailer was it? This BFI trailer is spectacular, that's the one you should watch.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut (New Trailer) - In cinemas 3 Apr | BFI release - YouTube

[maverick22]

Thanks for telling me the movie is "slow".

I think it would help also if I liked Harrison Ford more. He's a great actor - just not a huge fan for some reason.

Leaning towards streaming it somehow as opposed to blind buying.

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by UpsetSmiley

Out of interest what trailer was it? This BFI trailer is spectacular, that's the one you should watch.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut (New Trailer) - In cinemas 3 Apr | BFI release - YouTube

Wow, much better trailer! Thank you!

My interest has risen haha.

[DJR662]

I've only seen this movie twice but I quite liked it because of its aesthetics. Honestly saying I would have liked it to have a little more action scenes though. If you're expecting this to be an action packed SF thriller, you'll end up a bit disappointed I think. Btw judging from the trailers it seems the sequel will feature more action scenes. Anyway I really do appreciate the movie though and have the UHD on its way and who knows, that after a couple of more viewings I might like it even more.

[flyry]

The bluray looks like absolute dog shit after watching the UHD. We're all screwed we're definitely buying ALL of our movies again if they come out this good.

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by flyry

The bluray looks like absolute dog shit after watching the UHD. We're all screwed were definitely buying ALL of our movies again if they come out this good.

Gulp.

I really need to see this UHD BD. After having just watched the Dangerous Days doc for the first time this week, I've come to appreciate it a lot more on so many levels.

And I'm really psyched for the sequel.

You're right, though. If the studios put enough effort into these UHD remasters, they're going to have plenty of us upgrading much of our collection. I already know for a fact that I'd pick up UHD versions of the Back to the Future trilogy and the original Star Wars trilogy. Hell, any Star Wars movie in UHD would have my attention.

[s2mikey]

Watched my UK version last night with the bro. Very impressed with the transfer and presentation. Great detail, no digital scrub, inky blacks(yeah, OLED helps ), nice HDR highlights, and on and on. What else can I say? Fantastic transfer. The bro was blown away. Leaps and bounds beyond the standard blu-ray.

As for the film itself? I was never a huge fan but this time around was my best viewing. The bro is a HUGE fan so maybe his "mojo" rubbed off on me? You have to go into with the right expectations. Its a detective/noir film with a beautifully "dirty" sci-fi backdrop. The characters arent the deepest in film history and I still find the pacing at times a little slow. But it works as a whole and the new film coming out has reinvigorated my interest in the series per se.

Regarding Deckard being a replicant?

[Show spoiler]IMO its fairly obvious watching this cut that he certainly is a replicant. The Unicorn? Batty letting him live? The glowing eyes?

[azmodeous]

Sadly nowhere near me seems to have any in stock, and with Irma insanity in full swing here I've been working long days and haven't had a chance to go around the outskirts and see if anywhere else might have it. I'm going to Greenville tomorrow for a family members birthday dinner and hopefully I can find it there beforehand. I really want to see this transfer.

[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

More effects weren't added, they just have better steering than the locked off channel based track, which had already been remixed once before and few complained.

I bet this Atmos track would sound amazing in a Trinnov Altitude equipped theater.

They most certainly did add new sound FX to the audio mix. I finally got this in the mail yesterday from Amazon and watched some of it. The transfer is outstanding, no doubt about it. It puts the 2007 Blu-ray to shame. And the HDR is very subtle, but effective. No real alteration of the film's intended look.

The soundtrack on the other hand is a different matter. I've seen that opening sequence over 100 times and no one can convince me those aren't new sounds for the fire belching from the smokestacks. Plus they're too loud and drown out Vangelis' iconic score.

I don't know why they couldn't include the original mix or at least the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track from the Blu-ray as an alternative. It's annoying that the movie looks so good, but sounds so different from what I've watched all these years.

[JackTwist]

Originally Posted by flyry

The bluray looks like absolute dog shit after watching the UHD. We're all screwed were definitely buying ALL of our movies again if they come out this good.

I agree. My copy came in yesterday and, of course, watched as soon as the sun went down. My SO (who doesn't rave about picture quality vocally like I do) both stared mouth agape at the visuals. This was especially true when any of the 65mm footage appeared. Every single window in the Tyrell corporation was sharp and vibrant with light. The blacks were filled with detail... and black. I adore this film and have seen it countless times, but even with my budget 4K HDR display, this presentation upped the ante.

After viewing, I went back to the Blu-ray. Now I know this is an old disc at this point with numerous problems, but seriously, what a difference. The blacks look like milky gray, the contrast makes faces blown out, facial details are lacking, the windows in the Tyrell building look mushy, etc. It makes me very worried about what kind of upgrades I'm going to want in my Blu-ray library after swearing it would only be select few titles (this was always one of them).

I haven't seen this much of a difference since I looked at the Blu-ray versus the 4K disc for "Life." And that's a recent movie.

[JackTwist]

[QUOTE=Adam_ME;14058837]They most certainly did add new sound FX to the audio mix. I finally got this in the mail yesterday from Amazon and watched some of it. The transfer is outstanding, no doubt about it. It puts the 2007 Blu-ray to shame. And the HDR is very subtle, but effective. No real alteration of the film's intended look.

The soundtrack on the other hand is a different matter. I've seen that opening sequence over 100 times and no one can convince me those aren't new sounds for the fire belching from the smokestacks. Plus they're too loud and drown out Vangelis' iconic score.[QUOTE]

I forgot to mention the audio in my assessment above. I don't know whether or not there were new sounds, as when I compared the Blu-ray, I didn't check the audio. All I know is this was a far more immersive mix than I remember. Since my last viewing, I have picked up a better receiver but I don't believe that to be the reason. I think the Atmos remix (even though I only have 5.1) has opened up the soundscape far more than previously configured. The mix was certainly adjusted as there were moments where the back channels intensified and sounded much more aggressive, especially against the dialogue in the center channel. I never felt it was improperly mixed, more that what was being said at that moment was irrelevant to the diegetic sound from the surrounding area. It may be slight revisionism but, along with the visuals, created an immersive and exhilarating experience.

[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by JackTwist

I forgot to mention the audio in my assessment above. I don't know whether or not there were new sounds, as when I compared the Blu-ray, I didn't check the audio. All I know is this was a far more immersive mix than I remember. Since my last viewing, I have picked up a better receiver but I don't believe that to be the reason. I think the Atmos remix (even though I only have 5.1) has opened up the soundscape far more than previously configured. The mix was certainly adjusted as there were moments where the back channels intensified and sounded much more aggressive, especially against the dialogue in the center channel. I never felt it was improperly mixed, more that what was being said at that moment was irrelevant to the diegetic sound from the surrounding area. It may be slight revisionism but, along with the visuals, created an immersive and exhilarating experience.

I don't have a problem with intensified back channels. That's common in 5.1 and 7.1 remixes of older titles. But I can't stand it when new sound FX are mixed in. What's sad is that this happens far too often. Other examples that come to mind off the top of my head are On Her Majesty's Secret Service(compare the gunshot sounds between the 5.1 and mono tracks in the final scene), The Terminator(the entire movie has new sound FX), and even The Jerk(the glass shattering in the "he hates these cans!" scene).

And in those instances, only On Her Majesty's Secret Service offers the original mono track(unfortunately a lossy one) for purists like myself. The Blu-rays for The Terminator and The Jerk only have the remix as an option(at least if you plan on watching the movie in English).

[Vangeli]

I hate when they go extreme and add CG sounds blocking the entire sound plane, and completely cut up some scenes. Those digital sound effects are so 1997 and were dated when they came out; don't know why they bother changing ANYTHING at all.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by flyry

The bluray looks like absolute dog shit after watching the UHD. We're all screwed were definitely buying ALL of our movies again if they come out this good.

Heh. Why do you think certain people have been talking it down in the main Blu-ray thread for a while now? It's always been an outdated bitstarved HD DVD encode and it quickly got left behind, as most of Warners old HD DVD encodes have done. If/when we get 2001: A Space Odyssey on 4K then it is going to burn down the old Blu-ray and piss on the ashes.

Originally Posted by Adam_ME

They most certainly did add new sound FX to the audio mix. I finally got this in the mail yesterday from Amazon and watched some of it. The transfer is outstanding, no doubt about it. It puts the 2007 Blu-ray to shame. And the HDR is very subtle, but effective. No real alteration of the film's intended look.

The soundtrack on the other hand is a different matter. I've seen that opening sequence over 100 times and no one can convince me those aren't new sounds for the fire belching from the smokestacks. Plus they're too loud and drown out Vangelis' iconic score.

I don't know why they couldn't include the original mix or at least the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track from the Blu-ray as an alternative. It's annoying that the movie looks so good, but sounds so different from what I've watched all these years.

You know that they actually redid the audio mix for the Final Cut, right? A whole bunch of sounds got added or replaced, particularly the foley, it's been different from the moment I first saw it in 2007. I haven't watched the UHD yet so I can't say either way as to what's happened to that specific mix, but I'd be very surprised if they've actually done any more changes to it. What are you listening on? Someone earlier in the thread mentioned how the sound effects drowned out the score when they were listening in stereo, it doesn't appear to downmix all that well.

[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

You know that they actually redid the audio mix for the Final Cut, right? A whole bunch of sounds got added or replaced, particularly the foley, it's been different from the moment I first saw it in 2007. I haven't watched the UHD yet so I can't say either way as to what's happened to that specific mix, but I'd be very surprised if they've actually done any more changes to it. What are you listening on? Someone earlier in the thread mentioned how the sound effects drowned out the score when they were listening in stereo, it doesn't appear to downmix all that well.

Yes, I noticed some changes in the 2007 Blu-ray, but nothing to this degree. Trust me, watch the UHD and then get back to me.

[Geoff D]

Will do.