Superman: The Movie 4K UHD (1978)

[nick4Knight]

It was a costly movie for the time. An inflated, runaway budget went to the months, hell near-on-year of testing/effects work, Brando cameo, Hackman starring; and likely the other depts. needs were well behind all that in the rung of spending.

While the aesthetics might be "fantasy-esque", that doesn't mean it was heavily laboured and crafted like say a Blade Runner or Lord of the Rings was with it's art dept. and visual mastery for those films.

[Croweyes1121]

Originally Posted by Bourne1886

There is a reason it looks like that. It’s always looked like that, it was a deliberate decision by Geoffrey Unsworth.

Yeah, I'm wondering with some of the comments whether some have ever seen this movie at home before. There's never been a single release that hasn't had a low contrast / hazy look to it. It was an intentional choice, and it's always been that way. Maybe it's a matter of people getting used to the previous blu-rays and their contrast boosting which, in retrospect and direct comparison, was unquestionably an issue. As I said, I think one's appreciation of this disc is going to correlate directly with how intimately familiar they are with this particular film's home presentations over the years. The UHD absolutely blows the blu-rays out of the water. There's no comparison honestly.

[JAWS]

I only watched some parts of it last night.. Overall I think it looks great.. Easily the best it has looked on Home video.. The films is filmed soft and grainy but it still looked great overall. Me personally I am happy.

But man that Dolby Atmos..... That is worth the price of admission all on its own. WOW.

[ditcin]

Originally Posted by JAWS

I only watched some parts of it last night.. Overall I think it looks great.. Easily the best it has looked on Home video.. The films is filmed soft and grainy but it still looked great overall. Me personally I am happy.

But man that Dolby Atmos..... That is worth the price of admission all on its own. WOW.

I haven't gotten mine yet...
Can you state some of the Atmos effect you heard. Really curious.

[madfloyd]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

The film's cinematographer, British industry veteran Geoffrey Unsworth, had a liking for using a lot of diffusion, that is to say, a filter or piece of material (often ladies' stockings) placed over the lens that softens the image and causes a gentle halation (or bleed, to use a cruder term) of light around light sources, like a soft halo. Combine that with the usage of anamorphic lenses that squeeze a wider image into the taller, almost square 35mm film frame, lenses which at that time had their own issues with softness and distortion, and you've got a recipe for a film that will never, ever, EVER be the most objectively good-looking piece of eye candy you'll ever see, no matter how many K's or HDR's are thrown at it.

BTW I totally called this reaction a month ago, I didn't know it'd be you specifically but you've stepped up to the plate regardless.

Thanks, Geoff. That totally explains it. So it's really just a case of "this is how the movie is supposed to look" which is pretty much what I thought (I didn't think it was a botched job) but just couldn't appreciate why someone would want it to look this way. Obviously subjective.

[JAWS]

Originally Posted by Croweyes1121

First, a disclaimer. I am an unabashed Superman fanboy (see my avatar). Second disclaimer: this is my most anticipated 4K UHD title since the format launched. A few things about this disc (I need to bullet point my thoughts or they will go on forever):

1. This disc is absolutely, unquestionably flat-out STUNNINGLY GORGEOUS. And it’s my firm belief that your appreciation for it will correlate directly to how intimately familiar you are with this movie. Anyone who has watched S:TM countless times over the years on various releases, and has bought each of them with a “take my money!” reckless abandon will be absolutely FLOORED by this presentation.

2. I STRONGLY disagree about the Krypton sequences. I don’t know if it comes down to a display or setting difference, but to my eyes, the white suits were EXTREMELY bright. Wonderfully, organically so even. I never imagined these scenes could look this beautiful. I have ZERO complaints. Note: I did watch this in Dolby Vision.

3. This disc is an absolute revelation with regard to the diffused look of the cinematography. The film is still soft focused, as it should be, but the *incredibly* increased detail goes a loooong way.

4. Color. Oh. My. God. This is one of those transfers where you just don’t realize how utterly wrong prior releases have looked until you see it. The suit is just jaw-droppingly beautiful. The magenta push of the reds and the light mustard yellow is gone. Replacing those is a deep, lush, full red and golden yellows. SO PERFECT. Finally. If I have any small gripe it’s that Reeve’s face might veer a tad on the yellowish side now...but more likely than not, that’s only because I’ve been watching this movie with overly pinkish skin tones for decades.

5. Grain is handled SO well. Just sublime. From the first shots of Krypton this is immediately evident.

6. The 5.1 audio is more subdued than I had expected, but it’s FANTASTIC to finally have a faithful sound mix that fills the room properly. If I have a complaint, I was a tad underwhelmed by the low end, but once the San Andreas stuff starts, look out.

I cannot possibly imagine any huge Superman fan being remotely disappointed with this release. I was grinning ear to ear just flipping through it and absolutely cannot wait to watch the whole thing.

I am not even close to the Superman fan you are.. But I have owned this movie on RCA video disc, VHS, DVD, Blu ray, and now 4K and I agree with you 100%

As I mentioned in another post the Dolby Atmos is really something also.. Really fills the room. I think this is a great release.

[Bourne1886]

Originally Posted by Croweyes1121

Yeah, I'm wondering with some of the comments whether some have ever seen this movie at home before. There's never been a single release that hasn't had a low contrast / hazy look to it. It was an intentional choice, and it's always been that way. Maybe it's a matter of people getting used to the previous blu-rays and their contrast boosting which, in retrospect and direct comparison, was unquestionably an issue. As I said, I think one's appreciation of this disc is going to correlate directly with how intimately familiar they are with this particular film's home presentations over the years. The UHD absolutely blows the blu-rays out of the water. There's no comparison honestly.

I agree that the UHD is miles better than the Blu-ray. It has its flaws but it bests the Blu-ray in more ways than one. I’ll take the UHD over the Blu-ray all the time.

[RalphoR]

Originally Posted by Torgon

Well, I hope to have this in a few days, and based on reviews, I see it like this: The 4K UHD has some problems, but it's still the best version we have. I'm happy with that. Not sure if Warner will ever fix these issues, so I'll take it and enjoy it.

I don't think there's much to "fix". The vast majority of issues are really either because of the decisions made by the creators themselves or a product of the time imo. The bottom line is does Superman look the best it can based on the vision of what Donner and crew wanted? I truly believe that's what we've gotten.

[JAWS]

Originally Posted by ditcin

I haven't gotten mine yet...
Can you state some of the Atmos effect you heard. Really curious.

It just really filled the room... It made the film feel bigger.

Go back and forth between the Dolby 5.1 and the Atmos and its extremely noticeable. Its fantastic IMO.

[Blu Ray McHone]

Can’t wait for my copy to arrive!

[rjruby]

Originally Posted by JAWS

I am not even close to the Superman fan you are.. But I have owned this movie on RCA video disc, VHS, DVD, Blu ray, and now 4K and I agree with you 100%

As I mentioned in another post the Dolby Atmos is really something also.. Really fills the room. I think this is a great release.

I also have it on Laserdisc and HD-DVD

[jh901]

Originally Posted by madfloyd

Thanks, Geoff. That totally explains it. So it's really just a case of "this is how the movie is supposed to look" which is pretty much what I thought (I didn't think it was a botched job) but just couldn't appreciate why someone would want it to look this way. Obviously subjective.

Are you picking up the new lamp based JVC flagship? Or waiting for the next laser?

Back on topic, we all must advocate for informed opinions on image quality. We must demand that studios dismiss the lowest common denominator. Appeasing the uninformed by manipulating image quality using DNR and other tools must come to an end. Frankly, far too many on this forum are out looking for affirmation rather than exercising curiosity. Learning is far more rewarding than clinging to ignorance.

[methos1975]

I would love to watch my copy but unfortunately I decided this would be my first order from the WB Shop and little did I know they are the most incompetant bunch of jokers ever. Preordered weeks ago and my copy still hasn't shipped and they absolutely refuse to answer email inquiries about it. Never again.

[PeterTHX]

Got the disc. I thought it looked terrific.

Also must disagree on the suits - they glowed like they should, but had added texture that was blown out on previous releases.

I did see the vertical banding on the final shot of Supes in space.
It almost appears to be an optical artifact, like garbage matting.

[5x10]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Got the disc. I thought it looked terrific.

Also must disagree on the suits - they glowed like they should, but had added texture that was blown out on previous releases.

I did see the vertical banding on the final shot of Supes in space.
It almost appears to be an optical artifact, like garbage matting.

I also noticed a black box following baby supes space ship, whole flying in space
Figured they could have eliminated that in this version, but I’m just being picky here

[y2jman]

i didn't get this in mail today from best buy but i pre order this past sat along with air force one i don't understand why i got air force one 4k today but not this

said get them by Friday still showing in progress is this going to shipped out at all or going to be cancel i have used 25 best buy gift card get price down on these movies btw

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by 5x10

I also noticed a black box following baby supes space ship, whole flying in space
Figured they could have eliminated that in this version, but I’m just being picky here

They could only fix it (if they wanted to that is) if the original SFX plates and original model shots were still available and in good shape to do a digital composite to replace the optical track mattes that contained sometimes visible garbage mattes.

[y2jman]

I just call best buy they said either this will get shipped today or tomorrow hopefully get this in mail on Friday

man I hope won't get delay or cancel and it seems already sold out online at website

again I just don't get it pre order both this and air force one sat night using 25 gift card get price down got ford but no superman today

well I guess even if I wanted to pre order Rambo 1,3 movies amazon I guess need to wait if they give me refund if something happens meh

[JAWS]

Originally Posted by Croweyes1121

I wish I wasn't such a purist on the audio for this film and could appreciate the remix, I just can't get passed some of the alterations.

1. The added swooshing effects on the phantom zone.
2. The constant added crystal sound effects throughout the destruction of Krypton sequence.
3. The mixing issues that all-but erase the wind-in-the-wheat moment as Clark leaves the farm.
4. The added door sound effects when Clark first changes into Superman.
5. The added flying sound effect after Superman leaves Lois after saying "A friend". Such a beautiful moment in the original mix with the silent ascent is just ruined IMO.
6. My biggest gripe though is one that no one ever mentions. There's an added flying effect after Superman angrily mouths "Lois!" before flying off to save her. The wind effect as he flies off of the rock totally overwhelms what is perhaps my favorite music cue in the film.

I get why people hate redone tracks.. JAWS and the Terminator drive me crazy. But I like the Superman version. But I don't know that one like I do the other two mentioned films.

[afr52]

I had it on Betamax originally.