Mission: Impossible 1-5 4K UHDs (1996-2015)

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Custom combo mission...accomplished

Not a bad idea that...
Did you get the cases online?

[Geoff D]

Yep, fleabay. And it leaves me with a spare 5-disc UHD Elite case. Which is nice.

[ROSS.T.G.]

Looks nice but if I have to nitpick...RN is the only one with the ratings. That would drive me bananas.

[Fat Phil]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

[Show spoiler]Rogue Nation, then. I dug this flick when I first saw it and nothing has changed my mind, it's a proper twisty-turny spy thriller (though is actually a heist movie at its heart) very much in the mold of De Palma's original, and like that film it doesn't make a great deal of sense but it tries its damndest to make it stick, has some super set pieces (LOVE dat motorcycle chase) and Rebecca Ferguson is the ace in the hole, not simply a subordinate to Ethan but a main player in her own right. This came out the same year as Spectre and there's no doubt that Bond got his ass kicked by Ethan and Ilsa.

The UHD is a very solid upgrade over the BD but it comes down to the HDR. so people looking for a boost in resolution and resolution alone will find little to cheer. The upscaled UHD does still resolve everything with a touch more crispness however, like lines on faces and with the fine pattern on Benji's shirt when he's doing his "he is not my friend" speech during his polygraph test, and the grain is tighter than the BD. Yes, there be grain here because the movie was shot entirely on 35mm apart from the underwater torus sequence which was Alexa 65 (Tom Cruise is not a fan of digital, at all, and he dictates such things on these shows, they almost didn't go with anamorphic on MI3 because he was so concerned about all the dodgy focus pulls in MI2), and the DI was ultimately finished out to 2K 10-bit DPX files with the negative scanned on an Arri, according to AC August '15.

As for dat HDR, the first thing that struck me was how warm the exteriors now looked, there's a golden tinge to it that the BD lacks which is especially obvious in the 'six months later' bit and in the Morocco stuff later on. It's kinda like what Nolan's movies look on UHD, but unlike those films the skin tones in RN don't suffer, they actually look fresher and livelier than they do on the BD equivalent which has that usual kind of paler look to people's skin. The black level feels a bit lighter than the BD, it's not some wholesale Nolan-esque wrecking of the blacks but it raises them a touch and thankfully doesn't feel too out of place.

What this HDR grade excels at is retention of highlight detail, there's some beautiful stuff in here and yet it never feels like the brightness itself is going to cook your eyes in their sockets, as with Ghost Protocol the distribution of brightness is exceptionally well balanced across the frame. Clouds, lights, other speculars, the gang's all here and this UHD bring back a ton of it. Some shots still look a bit clipped in the highlights despite the HDR, but according to DP Robert Elswit they deliberately chose to blow out the highlights in the Morocco stuff, to make it look more "contrasty and harsh", and that intent has been maintained (although the UHD still retains more highlight information in these instances than the BD).

Spotted no encoding anomalies despite the constant presence of grain, but as this movie was shot on finer-grained modern stocks I'm not surprised that the compression can handle it better, whereas the first two MI movies both have the odd moment with some blotchy chroma noise.

I don't normally take photos these days because of andreas, capsaholic etc but I thought I'd do some anyway just so you's could understand what I'm seeing. Always, always, ALWAYS bear in mind that these are not 100% accurate images to either source, just pay attention to what I'm trying to show you.

Crooze in the room during the 'six months later' bit, you can see how warmed up it is but note how the skin doesn't look as one-note as it does on the Nolan movies that I compared it to, there's still nuance and variation there rather than a flat orange tone smeared onto his skin. Also note the improved highlights on the wall and on his shoulder.

[Show spoiler]
BD



UHD

Opera house, don't look at how desaturated the colour is on the UHD, that's the camera, but just look at the difference in the highlights. Oh mai. (I know that the lighting then dims in that shot but that's the same frame)

[Show spoiler]
BD



UHD

Lastly something from the bike chase to show how warmed up it looks, the greenery looks more verdant as well. The hill on the right doesn't look that rusty on either version, the saturation's a bit high on the camera but it's the same for both photos so it still gives some idea of the relative difference between them.

[Show spoiler]
BD



UHD

It's been a pleasure to revisit these films on UHD, mostly, so well done Paramount and bring on Fallout, which I'm sure will be another corker of an MI flick.

As always, thanks for taking the time.

The warmness was what struck me most about RN as well. Very nice.

Do you venture out to le cinema anymore Geoff, or is everything watched exclusively at home? I rarely go these days but will be making an exception for Fallout.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Fat Phil

As always, thanks for taking the time.

The warmness was what struck me most about RN as well. Very nice.

Do you venture out to le cinema anymore Geoff, or is everything watched exclusively at home? I rarely go these days but will be making an exception for Fallout.

I'm out in the sticks here and don't drive so I don't go as much as I'd like, but whenever's there's a big 15/70 IMAX release I try to make it into London for that, and for stuff that doesn't come to my local tinpot indie theatre (though they've upgraded to a Sony 4K projector, verr naice) I'll travel further afield if I absolutely must see it now e.g. Infinity War. Had a short break in another seaside town a couple of weeks ago and they've got a very decent little cinema so I watched Solo and Jurassic World 2 there (last year I watched Transformers 5, Wonder Woman and The Mummy at the same place).

For Fallout I doubt it'll be on at the local but I wanna see it, so I'll make it to somewhere or other. Did think about the BFI IMAX but it costs me over £100 all told and I can't justify that on a 2K digital presentation.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by ROSS.T.G.

Looks nice but if I have to nitpick...RN is the only one with the ratings. That would drive me bananas.

I knew that would get someone going. Geoffy does not care for such trifles, although if one was bilingual and the rest weren't I'd have chucked myself off the roof already.

[ROSS.T.G.]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I knew that would get someone going. Geoffy does not care for such trifles, although if one was bilingual and the rest weren't I'd have chucked myself off the roof already.

That’s 50% of my Collection...

[RodChester]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Custom combo mission...accomplished

[Show spoiler]

Looks great, but for some reason I’m finding that MI 3 cover pretty silly looking.

[ROSS.T.G.]

I haven’t been to the cinema since Conjuring 2. Every time a blockbuster like Fallout comes along I say I’ll go but once the buzz of opening weekend fades I end up waiting for the home release.

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Custom combo mission...accomplished

I must admit that looks pretty tight, especially the first two.

BUT... (and here's where my OCD kicks in), it has that distinctive blue bar with "Blu-ray,DVD,Digital copy" on the cover of GP. And when you flip them over, you'd be looking at the backcovers for the regular Blu-rays. That's what prevents me from doing these kinds of things.

Going to keep my regular (Euro) Blu-rays for 1+2 just for the covers.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I'm out in the sticks here and don't drive so I don't go as much as I'd like, but whenever's there's a big 15/70 IMAX release I try to make it into London for that, and for stuff that doesn't come to my local tinpot indie theatre (though they've upgraded to a Sony 4K projector, verr naice) I'll travel further afield if I absolutely must see it now e.g. Infinity War. Had a short break in another seaside town a couple of weeks ago and they've got a very decent little cinema so I watched Solo and Jurassic World 2 there (last year I watched Transformers 5, Wonder Woman and The Mummy at the same place).

For Fallout I doubt it'll be on at the local but I wanna see it, so I'll make it to somewhere or other. Did think about the BFI IMAX but it costs me over £100 all told and I can't justify that on a 2K digital presentation.

I toyed with the empire for fallout for the lasars.

[nick4Knight]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I knew that would get someone going. Geoffy does not care for such trifles, although if one was bilingual and the rest weren't I'd have chucked myself off the roof already.

I'm more sad for you that the blue "blu-ray + DVD" strip exists on the top of the ghost protocol cover (than of the ratings). That's unfortunate.

Us commonwealth folk are used to ratings plastered on our shit! I am growing to like the aussie ones of my home land more as time goes on and even the 14mm cases..

[Cap.T]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Rogue Nation, then. I dug this flick when I first saw it and nothing has changed my mind, it's a proper twisty-turny spy thriller (though is actually a heist movie at its heart) very much in the mold of De Palma's original, and like that film it doesn't make a great deal of sense but it tries its damndest to make it stick, has some super set pieces (LOVE dat motorcycle chase) and Rebecca Ferguson is the ace in the hole, not simply a subordinate to Ethan but a main player in her own right. This came out the same year as Spectre and there's no doubt that Bond got his ass kicked by Ethan and Ilsa.

Thanks for your Review as always! I will never get all the love for the motorcycle chase though. I haven't seen the movie in a while, but wasn't that sequence one big fat bad CGI fest, like a few minutes before the car flipping backwards? I remember thinking, that there wasn't one real looking vehicle in that entire chase sequence.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Cap.T

Thanks for your Review as always! I will never get all the love for the motorcycle chase though. I haven't seen the movie in a while, but wasn't that sequence one big fat bad CGI fest, like a few minutes before the car flipping backwards? I remember thinking, that there wasn't one real looking vehicle in that entire chase sequence.

Not even slightly.
The BMW flip is CGI, (and a little weightless) but the bike chase was real.
They inserted some stunt vehicles during the chase for safety, but that is TC on a bike, no helmet, world's best shirt flying down roads like a nutcase.

[DJR662]

Finished watching M: I 3.

Right from the get go, I got that same feeling again like I did back in 2006 when I first saw it. That scene at the beginning with Ethan, the way he reacts, and then right after that with the party at the house. I don't know, it just doesn't click with me and I guess it never will. And this goes on for the rest of the film. Also too much emphasis is being put on personal issues this time, and it doesn't fit a M: I movie IMO. There are other little things, like that "broken" van scene in Italy. But at least the action is good and Maggie Q's presence is most welcome.

I'm probably the only one here. But Philip Seymour Hoffman (R.I.P.) as the main villain, who manages to put the world's best secret agent through hell, doesn't cut it with me. I'm sure he's a great actor in other movies but I just don't like his appearance as a M: I movie villain. Had he played a side character, I probably wouldn't have mind though. So yeah, this is a miscast to me.

PQ looked great. I loved how the blacks and high lights looked, a very appealing image. I thought there was a very nice sense of depth throughout.

I like all M: I movies enough to watch them multiple times a year. The third one however is the exception. I don't think I'll be watching this anytime soon again.

[Daz_85]

The motorcycle chase in Rouge Nation is flat out awesome. The car flip was CGI unfortunately, as the piston to flip the real car didn't work correctly and they didn't have time to reset, according to McQuarrie on Twitter.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by DJR662

Finished watching M: I 3.

Right from the get go, I got that same feeling again like I did back in 2006 when I first saw it. That scene at the beginning with Ethan, the way he reacts, and then right after that with the party at the house. I don't know, it just doesn't click with me and I guess it never will. And this goes on for the rest of the film. Also too much emphasis is being put on personal issues this time, and it doesn't fit a M: I movie IMO. There are other little things, like that "broken" van scene in Italy. But at least the action is good and Maggie Q's presence is most welcome.

I'm probably the only one here. But Philip Seymour Hoffman (R.I.P.) as the main villain, who manages to put the world's best secret agent through hell, doesn't cut it with me. I'm sure he's a great actor in other movies but I just don't like his appearance as a M: I movie villain. Had he played a side character, I probably wouldn't have mind though. So yeah, this is a miscast to me.

PQ looked great. I loved how the blacks and high lights looked, a very appealing image. I thought there was a very nice sense of depth throughout.

I like all M: I movies enough to watch them multiple times a year. The third one however is the exception. I don't think I'll be watching this anytime soon again.

That van scene cracks me up every time. Italians love to have an argument, and as I understand a little of what they're saying ("You broke it!" "Me?" "You!" "Me?" "You!") it makes it feel less of a caricatured comedy scene. About the only thing missing is them all stopping for a coffee

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

Not even slightly.
The BMW flip is CGI, (and a little weightless) but the bike chase was real.
They inserted some stunt vehicles during the chase for safety, but that is TC on a bike, no helmet, world's best shirt flying down roads like a nutcase.

Aye. That's the Cruise, the whole Cruise and nothing but the Cruise, and although most of the vehicles they're weaving through are CG and/or stunties that's still him barrelling along at ludicrous speed. Love that little moment when his knee touches the road and he pulls it back with a wince, obvs Tom's got pads on his knees but Hunt doesn't so it's a nice touch.

As for da dreaded CG Beamer, it's still rubbish but it didn't look anywhere near as bad as I remember, one of those cases of the ol' memory box being influenced by all the comments I suppose.

[MD-Blu]

I want Maggie Q to return.

[Cap.T]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

That van scene cracks me up every time. Italians love to have an argument, and as I understand a little of what they're saying ("You broke it!" "Me?" "You!" "Me?" "You!") it makes it feel less of a caricatured comedy scene. About the only thing missing is them all stopping for a coffee


Aye. That's the Cruise, the whole Cruise and nothing but the Cruise, and although most of the vehicles they're weaving through are CG and/or stunties that's still him barrelling along at ludicrous speed. Love that little moment when his knee touches the road and he pulls it back with a wince, obvs Tom's got pads on his knees but Hunt doesn't so it's a nice touch.

As for da dreaded CG Beamer, it's still rubbish but it didn't look anywhere near as bad as I remember, one of those cases of the ol' memory box being influenced by all the comments I suppose.

Ah ok. I just rewatched the movie and the CGI-Vehicles still take me out of it completely, no matter how good Cruise drives. If they were at least well done CGI-Vehicles. But I guess the compressed production schedule of Rouge Nation had to cause some casualties...

[DJR662]

Just finished Ghost Protocol.

I can honestly say I now like it a lot better, than the previous times I had seen it on Blu-ray. It's basically like the first movie only with more action, more places to go but unfortunately also a bit more humor. Somehow I never really cared for this as much as I do for 1,2 and 5 but this time, I really enjoyed it.

The first thing I did when the movie had started, was to check my TV's color temperature. I thought the picture looked too cool but my TV's color temp setting had not changed so I guess this is how this movie is supposed to look? I don't remember what the regular BD looked like in that aspect, but I thought the UHD was a bit on the cool side. And while the picture certainly has that pristine and clean image, I prefer the more organic and warm look of the first two movies. The third movie also had a more appealing look to me. But this has undoubtedly more to do with the way GP was shot than its transfer.

Next up: Rogue Nation (and Jack Reacher 2). I have never seen so many TC movies in one week.