Superman: The Movie 4K UHD (1978)

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I knew that reply was incoming but I WANTS MOAR. It's the original 6-track mix and they're gonna waste a lossy encode on it? Why do Warners make things so ****ing awkward, first they revise the living shit out of Blade Runner but don't include a DTS-HD 5.1 backup like they've done on many of their Atmos UHDs before and after, and then when they get something else that truly deserves to have a lossless 5.1 representation they've already made the decision to switch to lossy DD (starting with Matrix 1, I think?). Gah.

Still, I said re: BR that I'd have taken a 640 DD 5.1 encode of the 2007 mix on the 4K as being better than nothing and I've got to stand by those words for STM. I'm just glad that a newly-mastered representation of the original audio is on the STM 4K disc along with whatever reimagined monstrosity they've come up with in the name of Atmos. We all win.

I live in a world with Fantasia - of all films - is remixed eliminating the iconic house right and left pans. Meanwhile, I'm a hypocrite because I was one of the lucky few who actually got to see the test re-release of Superman in theaters back in 2001, and loved hearing the (admittedly way overcranked) surround tracks. It was fun. Sometimes I'll take fun. I'd love both the original audio and the overcranked hellzaoppin remix, obviously. But Lex Luthor's blaring dog whistle message to Supes luring him into a trap and the audio suddenly blasting out of the rear channels and everyone in the audience jumping outta their seats...that was kinda fun. I'll admit it. Revisionist as hell, sure. Still...kinda fun.

[Agent Kay]

Wish the commentary was dropped for a lossless 5.1

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

Wish the commentary was dropped for a lossless 5.1

Yes, on that. I'd rather try to listen to a goldfish sneeze than listen to anything Ilya Salkind has to say about this film series.

[Torgon]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

I have never felt the urge to buy a Pop before but this one is different...

https://www.wbshop.com/products/supe...sd4bp6d8xby49a

[Show spoiler]

Agree; probably the coolest and first 'Pop' I've seen that I thought would be cool to have. But since I'm not going to pay for the 'extra' through WBSHOP, I'll just stick with my favorite piece I already have:

[Conan The Barbarian]

This will be my most watched 4k till the obvious one releases, if it ever does.

[Geoff D]

We're a ways away from any kind of anniversary for the original 1982 Conan, but if King Conan ever happens you can bet that CtB will get a cash-in release where we will hopefully be able to listen to the lamentation of the women in the original audio

[Archivy]

Originally Posted by Mefan101

It's just that part of me wanted all three known versions of the movie to be in one set. It was wishful thinking. The other part of me probably knew it wasn't going to happen.

Originally Posted by Rizor

This release seems lazy. Like a stop gap measure to coincide with the 40th annivcersary until they can give us a big box set with all the cuts and extras or even all the Reeve movies. I think the theatrical cut may be the best version, but why not at least include all the extras and not just these lame ones?

I know where you're coming from. Ideally, it would have been nice to have all three cuts of the film in one release, but if they're going to choose only one cut to release, the theatrical cut was the right way to go. Also, there's talk that there simply was no way to release the other cuts in 4k, thus forcing WB to have had to seamlessly branch HD material of the other cuts with the 4k theatrical footage. Realistically, they were never going to go that route.

Keeping this in mind, I guess WB's only other option would have been to release the 4k set WITH the additional director's and TV cuts as stand alone regular HD blu-rays bundled in the set. But that would have boosted the price of the set overall. Besides, if you really want that material, you could simply buy the 4k release along with the TV cut release and you will effectively have exactly what WB would have released anyway. I'm sure WB's money people figured hardcore fans interested in owning all three cuts of the film already have the BD release of the TV cut from last year, so why bundle it in the 4k set only to unnecessarily raise the overall price of the set for the sake of discs that hardcore fans already have?

EDIT:

From the blu-ray.com review of the expanded TV cut:

The discovery of a source suitable for Blu-ray occurred when WAC noticed an odd entry in Warner's massive catalog: nineteen reels of film marked "Superman; TV version" with no further technical specifications. When the film cans were pulled from the warehouse, opened and examined, they were found to contain a complete interpositive of the Extended Cut, which Warner's Motion Picture Imaging facility proceeded to scan at 2K.

Hmm, maybe WMPI could have gone back and rescanned the TV cut at 4k, but I guess we shouldn't have been surprised that they didn't. If WB had plans to ever release the TV cut in 4k, they would have originally scanned it at 4k rather than 2k. They probably felt there wasn't enough financial incentive to do that.

Who knows? Shrug.

The best thing Superman fans can do is have this 4k release fly off the shelves to send a signal to WB to give us more of the Reeve films in 4k (e.g. a box set of all the films).

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

We're a ways away from any kind of anniversary for the original 1982 Conan, but if King Conan ever happens you can bet that CtB will get a cash-in release where we will hopefully be able to listen to the lamentation of the women in the original audio

Funny you mention Conan as I just watched the 82 version the other night and was thinking when Universal would release this on UHD BD with whatever the next tie-in will be. The Blu actually held up a bit better than I expected, but a lot of room for improvement here.

[Sky_Captain]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

Good call, done ta

Now £17.99 here, with a free t-shirt, (no fat bastard sizes )
https://shop.warnerbros.co.uk/dc/superman/4k

Use the code Welcome to get 10% off 'first' order...

Oh, almost forgot...

[Show spoiler]

That's how I roll.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

Now £17.99 here, with a free t-shirt, (no fat bastard sizes )
https://shop.warnerbros.co.uk/dc/superman/4k

Use the code Welcome to get 10% off 'first' order...

Oh, almost forgot...

[Show spoiler]

That's how I roll.

God I want those 2

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

Oh, almost forgot...

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

That's how I roll.

I have that Batman figure above the bed. It's a thing of beauty.

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by Archivy

Hmm, maybe WMPI could have gone back and rescanned the TV cut at 4k, but I guess we shouldn't have been surprised that they didn't. If WB had plans to ever release the TV cut in 4k, they would have originally scanned it at 4k rather than 2k. They probably felt there wasn't enough financial incentive to do that.

I'm pretty sure that's what it is. The 2001 expanded version and the 3-hour TV cut both exist in finished form on film (albeit probably a generation or two removed from the negative), so they could be scanned in 4K like any other pre-DI movie.

Same with the "archival" versions of Blade Runner. They might have to use IPs, but it could be done.

But I imagine all of that would be pretty expensive.

[mrjeff]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

I have never felt the urge to buy a Pop before but this one is different...

https://www.wbshop.com/products/supe...sd4bp6d8xby49a

I did a search, this pop seems to be widely available, so you can probably skip getting it from WB for this price.

[fighthefutureofhd]

Originally Posted by ROSS.T.G.

I’m ready for this.

"Are you ready? (I'm ready)
Are you ready? (uh, yeah)
Are you ready for this? (I guess so)
Come on baby, say whoa!"

[MEB]

Clearly Warner is giving us the original THEATRICAL version on the new 4K Blu. But the press release also mentions remixed sound for Dolby Atmos. The theatrical version was strictly stereo.

So, will the 4K have the "improved" soundtrack during the opening credits? The one that was introduced in about 2000 when the director's cut was created?

If so, then it won't be a "pure" theatrical version.

Mark

[Dave Mack]

Originally Posted by mrjeff

I did a search, this pop seems to be widely available, so you can probably skip getting it from WB for this price.

It's being released on October 1st and is actually more expensive on amazon at the moment.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...&condition=new

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

There must be an alternative universe where Reeve and Keaton starred in Superman/Batman crossover movie that left the planet Speechless with giddy-joy.

[GasmaskAvenger]

Since this 4K is coming out, I'll just buy it and the Warner Archive Extended/Director's Cut set together.

I'm sure Superman II and Superman Returns are to follow, as well as a Warner Archive Extended Cut of Superman IV.

[postmodel]

Originally Posted by chip75

There must be an alternative universe where Reeve and Keaton starred in Superman/Batman crossover movie that left the planet Speechless with giddy-joy.

Ooh..ooh..ooh.

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by MEB

Clearly Warner is giving us the original THEATRICAL version on the new 4K Blu. But the press release also mentions remixed sound for Dolby Atmos. The theatrical version was strictly stereo.

So, will the 4K have the "improved" soundtrack during the opening credits? The one that was introduced in about 2000 when the director's cut was created?

If so, then it won't be a "pure" theatrical version.

Mark

It's very likely that the 2001 remix was used as a base for the new Atmos.

But as we were discussing earlier, it seems that the included 5.1 Dolby Digital track is sourced from the original 70mm six-track.