Alien 4K UHD (1979) (40th Anniversary Edition)

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by FLIR

Yes, it wouldn't be that much additional work to master the DC in 4K. Almost all scenes are identical (only 1-2 sec. shorter). Why did they introduce the DC, if they drop it now? We (the fans) bought all those Blu-Rays and DVDs over the years and learned to appreciate the DC.

They could even sell an "all cuts" edition, or some kind of luxury "Special Edition" (with some cover that can actually be called "artwork"). But I guess they make more money with selling kitschy plastic alien figures nowadays or smartphone games, than with selling the actual movies...

BTW:

I see that you have also got an OLED. When I bought my OLED two years ago I was mainly thinking about watching a future Alien UHD with perfect black levels. And when I finally saw the Blade Runner UHD, I started "dreaming" about how Alien would look in 4K HDR. The Blade Runner UHD looks absolutely stunning on an OLED, perfect inky blacks, I hope Alien comes close.

One question: You wrote "The blu-ray isnt the best". I always thought that the Alien Blu-Ray is very good. The only downside are the "altering" black levels. You can instantly spot if something is 0/0/0 black or slightly above when watching on an OLED. And sometimes (for example the "2001 shot" with the planetary system) the black background is slightly elevated in the Blu-Ray version and those near-black "grey" tends to be "bandy" and ugly on OLEDs. I hope they got rid of those elevated blacks for the UHD.

Amen, bro. I also dreamed of Alien/Aliens in UHD on the OLED. Damnit. Blade Runner was fabulous.

Yes, no reason to screw us like this. The DC was on the blu-ray aand should be on this disc too. Just no argument against it. If it goes on sale Ill probably cave in but what was going to be a Day1 purchase is NO longer a thing. Not doing it.

The blu-ray is decent but as you mentioned, some floating black issues here and there and afew scenes exhibited some crush too. Pretty trivial stuff though, the blu-ray looks great on my OLED overall. I was probably over-exaggerating.

[FLIR]

Originally Posted by lgans316

I doubt it. On my player, got both formats + HDR optimiser Turned ON. Never bothered to check what it was internally doing with HDR10+. With DV, the DV flashes up on my LG on the top right hand corner. DV looks nice most of the times besides couple of Netflix programmes which appears to have some metadata errors.

Thanks, so if the player sends normal HDR10 or HDR10+ to the OLED, do you still have the "Dynamic Tone Mapping" of the OLED "on"? Or is the player doing all the optimization?

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by FLIR

Thanks, so if the player sends normal HDR10 or HDR10+ to the OLED, do you still have the "Dynamic Tone Mapping" of the OLED "on"? Or is the player doing all the optimization?

You always want dynamic tone mapping on for static metadata HDR.

[FLIR]

Originally Posted by singhcr

You always want dynamic tone mapping on for static metadata HDR.

But you can set the UHD player itself to HDR TV Type "OLED". The player then "knows" that the TV is 800 nits max and does the according dynamic tone mapping in the player. The outcome is sent to the OLED TV.

If you would turn dynamic tone mapping "on" for the OLED TV, the TV would do another tone mapping above the tone mapping done in the player. You would apply tone mapping twice...

[lgans316]

Originally Posted by FLIR

Thanks, so if the player sends normal HDR10 or HDR10+ to the OLED, do you still have the "Dynamic Tone Mapping" of the OLED "on"? Or is the player doing all the optimization?

Yes, I have Dynamic Tone Mapping turned ON on my LG.

[FiendishlyInventive]

The Alien DC's trash, the "Marketing Cut" is all it is.

Won't miss it, will miss the smacks though.

[Majoran]

Originally Posted by FLIR

May I ask you a question:

The Alien UHD will support HDR10+ and not Dolby Vision. You have got an LG C8 OLED and the Panasonic UB820 (Dolby Vision/HDR10+).

LG OLEDs have no HDR10+ support. Can the UB820 "convert" HDR10+ to Dolby Vision for the LG OLED?

I ask because I have also got an LG OLED (C7 with DV) and dont know how I will be able to watch the Alien UHD (HDR10+).

Much like DV discs on displays that don’t support DV there is no need to convert. All discs have an HDR10 base layer and that is what will play for TVs/devices that don’t support HDR10+.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by mar3o

For me, I like to be taken back to when it was released. I like to imagine what it was like seeing this back in 1979, warts and all. Part of what impresses me so much with older films is when they pull off visual tricks or effects that still hold up well today. I like seeing a film and thinking "wow, that shot still looks amazing and totally seamless, even in 4k" or "well, that shot had some issues but they tried". By them removing the "warts", I'm no longer seeing some of the effects issues they had to try to overcome back then. When I see a shot that looks great, I have to wonder if it looks so good because they touched it up, or removed wires, or if it really did look that good originally. I hate wondering every time I see a cool shot if they did something to it.

Sure, but the problem is 4k resolution and HDR are already not at all like it looked in a 1979 theater. Also those wires would have been much less visible in those conditions than now. So at some point wanting the wires there for authenticity reasons rings a little hollow to me.

[Fendergopher]

Even though I heretically watched the DC of Alien first, I'll be just fine with the theatrical on UHD. As long as it looks and sounds good I'll be happy.

[FLIR]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Sure, but the problem is 4k resolution and HDR are already not at all like it looked in a 1979 theater. Also those wires would have been much less visible in those conditions than now. So at some point wanting the wires there for authenticity reasons rings a little hollow to me.

Yes, and seeing wires or other equipment is a complete immersion breaker.

Another point with "nostalgia" is that "things have to change to stay the same"...

If you want to experience something like a movie (or a game) the way you experienced it a long time ago, it somehow needs to have a far better quality than it had at that time. And sometimes, if you see it in that better quality, you say: "This is the way it looked back then, this is how I remember it". But it didn't look like that at all...

I still have Alien on VHS, but can't understand how I could watch movies on VHS in the 90s and actually adore the barely visible cinematography. Although, I also remember how excited I was for SVHS...

[Cvalda]

Originally Posted by tducken

Not sure if this was already posted in here, but does anyone know when this will be in U.S. theaters?

October:
https://www.fathomevents.com/events/...niversary-1979

[nick4Knight]

The criticism of Scott over Alien not having DC is kinda misplaced. This is studio driven. The likes of which only a handful of catalog have veered from and in the case of Gladiator and Robin Hood that branching protocol existed previously. This isn't DVD and blu-ray where the gimmick/selling point is to have all these extra footage/cuts/features.

Better is to deliver the films in the versions that were put up for, were nominated and often won the Oscar. Those versions are the official versions, even if you prefer another. And I empathise as some films like Costner's Robin Hood are on the chopping block as well but will swallow it for supporting 4K UHD's theatrical mantra from the studios. And because the dealbreaker of "options" is one best left in the past when these companies could afford to recoup their investment selling their telecine and 2K masters to cable TV networks around the world, not just physical media. Now it's just UHD discs and 'archiving' to justify the huge outlay.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by nick4Knight

The criticism of Scott over Alien not having DC is kinda misplaced. This is studio driven. The likes of which only a handful of catalog have veered from and in the case of Gladiator and Robin Hood that branching protocol existed previously. This isn't DVD and blu-ray where the gimmick/selling point is to have all these extra footage/cuts/features.

Better is to deliver the films in the versions that were put up for, were nominated and often won the Oscar. Those versions are the official versions, even if you prefer another. And I empathise as some films like Costner's Robin Hood are on the chopping block as well but will swallow it for supporting 4K UHD's theatrical mantra from the studios. And because the dealbreaker of "options" is one best left in the past when these companies could afford to recoup their investment selling their telecine and 2K masters to cable TV networks around the world, not just physical media. Now it's just UHD discs and 'archiving' to justify the huge outlay.

I dont blame Scott, actually. I blame the studio or whomever pulls the trigger for what versions we get of certain films. Its just a bad precendence that the defacto, creme dela creme home video format which has TONS of space cant throw a DC cut onto the released disc. It just doesnt work for me. I get your points about releasing the oscar nominted version, etc. Do that. But give us the other ones too. Far too often the DC IS the better cut as far as a lot of people are concerned.

Watch them release the theatrical cut only of Kingdom of Heaven too.... I swear, someone dies if that happens.

[wonderer99]

Not putting alternative cuts on 4K UHD is laziness and nothing else.

[FiendishlyInventive]

Kingdom Of Heaven's Director's Cut and Alien DC are not equivalents.

[LexInHD]

The Alien re-cut is simply Ridley offering a different cut of the film based on his - then - current sensibilities as a Director and giving a glimpse of something new. The KOH re-cut is Ridley giving the audience what he wanted them to see in the first place. You cannot compare the two or weigh them equivocally, as they occupy completely different roles and have their own individual purpose.

[Bobbyjoe766]

Originally Posted by LucyTheAlien

The Alien DC's trash, the "Marketing Cut" is all it is.

Won't miss it, will miss the smacks though.

The Lambert and Alien slaps are classics.

[StingingVelvet]

I'd honestly rather the "director's cut" be left off to avoid any possible branching issue. Come at me bros.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I'd honestly rather the "director's cut" be left off to avoid any possible branching issue. Come at me bros.

studios need to start releasing these titles in 2 disc sets with the theatrical cut on one disc, and a director's cut on the other.

Let's just face the facts--- these movies are catering to collector's, not the mass public. They want the best possible and will pay it if they get the release they want.

I still haven't bought the 4k disc of BLADE RUNNER because of the lack of other versions (which I already have on blu ray).... and I don't want multiple versions on the same disc....

[Bobbyjoe766]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I'd honestly rather the "director's cut" be left off to avoid any possible branching issue. Come at me bros.

Agreed. A separate 4K disc for the DC would be nice though.