Blade Runner 4K UHD (1982)

[triffid]

Anybody noticed any digital enhacements in this new transfer? Something removed (like the glass in Raiders) or polished (like some details in T2 3D)? Or do you think they did not touch the picture at all? I mean except for obviously enhanced sharpness, black levels, colors etc.

BTW I have the European edition, common for UK and many other countries here. My copy pixelates and even crashes during the fight with Leon, chapter 20. I am going to test the disc in another player tomorrow and I really hope the disc is faulty even if there are no visible scratches. If it is going to playback this scene fine, it may mean that my player is dying. Very, very unfortunate...

[Mierzwiak]

I have UK edition and didn't notice anything unusual during this or any other scene.

My player: Panasonic DMP-UB300.

[Aliendejoe]

Originally Posted by madfloyd

I blame Vangelis.

That could certainly be the case. Some people find Jazz and New Age too relaxing.

Vangelis's score for Blade Runner is probably my favorite score of all time.

[triffid]

Originally Posted by triffid

Anybody noticed any digital enhacements in this new transfer? Something removed (like the glass in Raiders) or polished (like some details in T2 3D)? Or do you think they did not touch the picture at all? I mean except for obviously enhanced sharpness, black levels, colors etc.

BTW I have the European edition, common for UK and many other countries here. My copy pixelates and even crashes during the fight with Leon, chapter 20. I am going to test the disc in another player tomorrow and I really hope the disc is faulty even if there are no visible scratches. If it is going to playback this scene fine, it may mean that my player is dying. Very, very unfortunate...

Just to answer my own question: It was a bad disc. A hour ago, I exchanged it in the store and my PC now reads chapter 20 with no problem.

To satisfy my curiosity, can you tell me how many English tracks are on your 4k discs, please? According to the detailed info on this site, both US and UK editions should contain Dolby Atmos AND TrueHD 7.1.
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Blade...lu-ray/183463/
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Blade...lu-ray/181637/

However my disc has only one English track, Dolby Atmos. It is an official European edition pressed in Austria and I assume it is distributed in all European countries like this. All other languages and subtitles are here as the link above says, only the English TrueHD track is missing.

[Weirded Wonder]

Anyone have any idea where to get Johnnie Walker Black Label The Director's Cut in the U.S.?

[Moonloop]

"However my disc has only one English track, Dolby Atmos "
If you have Atmos you have Dolby True . If your processor can not handle Atmos it will revert automatically to Dolby True .

~M~

[nissling]

Originally Posted by triffid

Anybody noticed any digital enhacements in this new transfer? Something removed (like the glass in Raiders) or polished (like some details in T2 3D)? Or do you think they did not touch the picture at all? I mean except for obviously enhanced sharpness, black levels, colors etc.

The added som EE in certain sequences for sure, and it looks rather bad. Since it's part of the 2007 restoration it's in the traditional Blu-Ray as well but not as apparent.

[triffid]

Originally Posted by Moonloop

If you have Atmos you have Dolby True . If your processor can not handle Atmos it will revert automatically to Dolby True.

Ah, I did not know this. Thus a single track can be counted for two tracks - Dolby Atmos and TrueHD. Interesting.

Originally Posted by nissling

The added som EE in certain sequences for sure, and it looks rather bad. Since it's part of the 2007 restoration it's in the traditional Blu-Ray as well but not as apparent.

Those are the "tweaks" Scott mentions in the foreword? OK, thank you, guys.

[nissling]

Originally Posted by triffid

Those are the "tweaks" Scott mentions in the foreword? OK, thank you, guys.

He did make several tweaks that certainly improved the overall experience, but some scenes have rather serious EE. Look at Rachael when she introduces herself to Deckard. It's bisarre, although the original shot was certainly out of focus.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by triffid

Ah, I did not know this. Thus a single track can be counted for two tracks - Dolby Atmos and TrueHD. Interesting.
.

It's the nature of lossless codecs by Dolby and DTS. They are based on a core + extension model. Depending on the amount of speakers used and the capabilities of the processor in a particular receiver or pre-amp model, the core plus various extensions are combined to create one main audio data packet.

Dolby TrueHD lossless is normally encoded like this (and is dependent on the type of soundtrack being compressed):

Stereo Lossless Core + 5.1 Lossless Extension + 7.1 Lossless Extension + Dolby Atmos object/metadata Lossless Extension.

Think of the structure like a Russian nesting doll...

[triffid]

Originally Posted by nissling

Look at Rachael when she introduces herself to Deckard. It's bisarre, although the original shot was certainly out of focus.

I will compare this particular shot with my old DVD to see the difference.

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

Dolby TrueHD lossless is normally encoded like this (and is dependent on the type of soundtrack being compressed):

Stereo Lossless Core + 5.1 Lossless Extension + 7.1 Lossless Extension + Dolby Atmos object/metadata Lossless Extension.

Think of the structure like a Russian nesting doll...

Thank you for the explanation. I am only beginning to learn what interesting improvements UHD discs may offer. Blade Runner is my 8th or 9th UHD BD. I can afford more, but I dont want to. Many movies from the actual UHD "catalogue" do not deserve to be released on anything better than a DVD, while old good top-movies are waiting in the archives.


If I may, here is my last question which I have in my mind for a long time. What the term Blade Runner means for you, people who speak English all your life? Our (Czech) translators never found an appropriate translation and thus they decided to leave the title in English (very common solution here, especially if the name of the movie is hard to explain or if the supposed translation sounds ridiculous in our language - Pulp Fiction, Total Recall, Terminator, Kill Bill etc).

In the dialogue, where they can't avoid to translate it somehow, they used terms like "bountyhunter"/ "assassin for hire" or "sharp squad" / "rough boys".

"Running a blade" means nothing. Is it close to the term "Living on the edge"?

[SS-3]

Originally Posted by SS-3

So I had to cobble together my own SE or ultimate version of this since I sold my limited edition suitcase version. First, I gave WB some grief over the phone about putting DVDs in a UHD set. I told the lady I spoke with that it would've been like including a VHS tape when I purchased the Blu-ray suitcase edition. Unfortunately they don't have any third discs left from the 30th anniversary edition, which included all the special features from the two DVDs back in 2007.

I luckily found the 30th anniversary edition at Barnes and Noble for $13.99. I will just replaced the DVDs from this edition with discs two and three from that edition. I will then have a complete set like my 2007 suitcase edition. All in UHD and Blu-ray with no DVDs. So actually it will be an upgrade from that version

I really shouldn't have to do this though. If WB put any sort of time into this release, they would have sold the version I am making. It's also my understanding that the European version will mimic the version I am making.

I am also convinced that WB is setting up a double dip here. I am fairly certain they will release a 4K SE within a few years just like my cobbled together version.

If your a fan in the US and want to make the version I am making. I believe B&N still has some 30th Anniversary copies left.

Well that didn't last long, B&N no longer has the 30th Anniversary edition in stock. Hopefully some other forum members were able to get it before it sold out. Mine actually arrived today and I will hold it along with UHD set that is due to arrive tomorrow. Between the two sets, I will have complete set.

Now at B&N the marketplace is price gouging. Over $60 for a set that I just purchased from B&N for $13.99 this past Thursday.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by triffid

"Running a blade" means nothing. Is it close to the term "Living on the edge"?

That is one interpretation. These bounty hunters called Blade Runners are dancing on the edge of a blade. Slip and they will die on the sharp edge. They are risk takers because the replicants they hunt can be dangerous and any mistake could mean the end of their lives.

It could also have reference to Asian lore since the story takes place in a city with an Asian influence (like Chinatown or Little Tokyo). The Ronin are a good example... lawless, leaderless samurai without direction who are for hire to the highest bidder. For a large sum of money, they will do battle with their swords and that could lead to an early grave.

[Brandon B]

Or it was a working title borrowed from a completely different and unrelated book that Ridley decided he liked the sound of and kept for the release.

[triffid]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

That is one interpretation. These bounty hunters called Blade Runners are dancing on the edge of a blade. Slip and they will die on the sharp edge. They are risk takers because the replicants they hunt can be dangerous and any mistake could mean the end of their lives.

It could also have reference to Asian lore since the story takes place in a city with an Asian influence (like Chinatown or Little Tokyo). The Ronin are a good example... lawless, leaderless samurai without direction who are for hire to the highest bidder. For a large sum of money, they will do battle with their swords and that could lead to an early grave.

Yes, thank you, both explanations make sense. I felt it must be something like that, although I couldn't explain it. Now I think the translators were right - there is no way to translate Blade Runner into our language using two or three words while still keeping the original meaning.
Sometimes it is not easy to translate some things, especially jokes.
For example, we have only one word for Turtle, thus all this tortoise/turtle joke in BR is completely lost for our audience.

[triffid]

Originally Posted by Brandon B

Or it was a working title borrowed from a completely different and unrelated book that Ridley decided he liked the sound of and kept for the release.

They aren't called Blade Runners in "Do androids dream of electric sheep" book? I did not read it in English, so I do not know.

EDIT: No, they are not. In the book they are bounty hunters, I just find an excerpt online.

[bbwiscfan]

And I can't wait to see it again. What a stunner of a UHD presentation. That's all there is to it. I know this is culled from the 4K DI they did in 2007 and boy does it show what we've been missing on blu. You see so much more detail on the UHD it's not even funny. Film grain is wonderfully preserved and like one poster mentioned above, it's like you're watching an actually film print in your living room. It's like you can see all the work they did with the models as it's redenedered here like never before.

The dark world of 2019 Los Angeles is brought to life in a whole new way. Blacks are remarkable and rich and deep and put the blu to shame. HDR further enhances the glows of neon signs and color in general are more precise and bold. I just had an awesome time. And the Atmos track! The initial "boom" you hear when the opening credits began is thunderous and literally made me jump. The track is immersive from beginning to end and the surrounds and height channels were always active to my ears. I can't believe this is a movie from 1982 and yet we're getting stunning sound design only enhanced to a new level with Atmos. I have zero complaints here on the a/v quality here folks. If you don't already have this disc, don't hesitate one bit.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by triffid

They aren't called Blade Runners in "Do androids dream of electric sheep" book? I did not read it in English, so I do not know.

I do not believe so, no. It sounds cool and that's probably the best explanation the movie is called that.

[Shimshuta]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

I do not believe so, no. It sounds cool and that's probably the best explanation the movie is called that.

Hell yes it sounds cool haha. Imagine a marketing team in 1982 trying to come up with marketing for a title involving dreaming and sheep.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Shimshuta

Hell yes it sounds cool haha. Imagine a marketing team in 1982 trying to come up with marketing for a title involving dreaming and sheep.

Unicornicopia?

Sheepopolis?

Raiders of the Lost Droids (aka These ARE the Droids You're Looking For)?