Superman: The Movie 4K UHD (1978)

[Chad Rouch]

Originally Posted by Jedihunter

What's the glitch? I've heard of issues with the 2018 4k but haven't been able to find a clear example or answer on what is wrong with it

The best I can put together is that there is one frame during the credits where there is a red flash. I don't think that's a big deal.

On the audio side they don't like the Atmos mix and think the 5.1 was the original 70mm track with split surrounds. And I guess the new version leaves that off in favor of a 2.0 that's not original. That sounds like a fair complaint. I don't agree with it and think the Atmos is fun, so it doesn't bother me.

[Brian81]

Originally Posted by Chad Rouch

The best I can put together is that there is one frame during the credits where there is a red flash. I don't think that's a big deal.

On the audio side they don't like the Atmos mix and think the 5.1 was the original 70mm track with split surrounds. And I guess the new version leaves that off in favor of a 2.0 that's not original. That sounds like a fair complaint. I don't agree with it and think the Atmos is fun, so it doesn't bother me.

Wait, is the 2.0 a downmix or something? I thought they were including the soundtrack from the 35mm this time (prior edition having the 70mm mix).

[Spectacular Optical]

The 2.0 is not a downmix. It has quite a bit of hiss. But I like the sharp clear sound. I have the standalone version with the new disc, as was released on March 6th of this year.

[Dr. T]

Originally Posted by Jedihunter

What's the glitch? I've heard of issues with the 2018 4k but haven't been able to find a clear example or answer on what is wrong with it

Christopher Reeve's credit blinks to orange for one frame. It's a mistake in the 4K master. I posted photos here.

Originally Posted by Jedihunter

How does the 2.0 track compare to the 5.1? As I believe the 5.1 was lossy even though it was supposedly the 70mm mix. If that's the case wish wb just made it lossless and also included the mono mix

We've discussed this many times. The 2.0 is thin and has problems decoding into surround sound.

[K9 Mark V]

Does anyone know if the 2.0 theatrical track is the same one from the Anthology box (which I believe was derived from a laserdisc master) or if it's from a different source?

It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that WB would remove the one thing people credit the initial 4K release for. I wish they'd take a SF approach and include Atmos, 70mm 5.1, and 35mm 2.0 all on the same disc, with Atmos being the default.

[Jay Mammoth]

Atmos should never be the default unless it’s the theatrical track.

[captainsolo]

Originally Posted by K9 Mark V

Does anyone know if the 2.0 theatrical track is the same one from the Anthology box (which I believe was derived from a laserdisc master) or if it's from a different source?

It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that WB would remove the one thing people credit the initial 4K release for. I wish they'd take a SF approach and include Atmos, 70mm 5.1, and 35mm 2.0 all on the same disc, with Atmos being the default.

I'm not sure but my guess was they had done a fresh theatrical stereo transfer when first addressing the audio issues of the DVD 4 disc set. It certainly isn't the letterbox LD 2.0 which was the only other home release of the 70mm mix.
I've never owned the earlier pan n scan LD but that says stereo and I assumed it had the theatrical stereo.

[SpazeBlue]

Originally Posted by captainsolo

It certainly isn't the letterbox LD 2.0 which was the only other home release of the 70mm mix.

So that Laserdisc is a stereo downmix of the 70mm?

[Dreamliner330]

My local AMC theater had a "$5 Fan Faves" screening of Superman: The Movie. I'm not sure which master they used but it certainly looked and sounded fantastic.

I hadn't seen this since the 4K release in 2018, I had forgotten how much charm this movie has and how funny it can be! I almost didn't go but I'm so very happy I did.

I'll have to keep my eye open for more of these rereleases, I've been to Blade Runner & Star Trek: The Motion Picture. It'd be amazing if they also screened Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut!

[captainsolo]

Originally Posted by SpazeBlue

So that Laserdisc is a stereo downmix of the 70mm?

Yes something like that. I read an old post years ago talking about the mix being different and mentioning the opening title transition and how much better it was than the 1978 stereo in particular. When I got a copy and heard it for myself it became my go-to version for years and I thought it was the 70mm mix but couldn't confirm until the UHD arrived.

[nickg]

Originally Posted by captainsolo

Yes something like that. I read an old post years ago talking about the mix being different and mentioning the opening title transition and how much better it was than the 1978 stereo in particular. When I got a copy and heard it for myself it became my go-to version for years and I thought it was the 70mm mix but couldn't confirm until the UHD arrived.

ah the glory days of laserdisc, and to a much lesser extent early dvds, the only time we got 70mm tracks ported to home releases until very recently on a select few udh releases

[KC-Technerd]

Originally Posted by K9 Mark V

Does anyone know if the 2.0 theatrical track is the same one from the Anthology box (which I believe was derived from a laserdisc master) or if it's from a different source?

It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that WB would remove the one thing people credit the initial 4K release for. I wish they'd take a SF approach and include Atmos, 70mm 5.1, and 35mm 2.0 all on the same disc, with Atmos being the default.

I believe that is the assumption (and is my assumption as well), but I don't think there is any confirmation of that. I have the Blu-ray of the theatrical cut that was included with the 4K in the US (which is supposedly the same as included with the Anthology box). The Original Theatrical 2.0 track from it is the one that is bright, harsh, and seems to suffer from at least some dynamic compression and a somewhat narrow stereo field. It really sounds lacking when compared with the 5.1 DD track from the previously available 4K (which is assumed to be sourced from the 70mm 6-track split surround).

I wish the same as you except for the Atmos. I really don't think it belongs with the theatrical cut, because it is built from the Michael Thau creation for the SE, and then has been cut to almost fit the theatrical cut here (extremely small exception at the very end of the end credits). Instead it really belongs with a release of the SE. I wouldn't object to its inclusion if it didn't compromise anything else. I'd prefer that it NOT be the default.

[KC-Technerd]

Originally Posted by Jedihunter

How does the 2.0 track compare to the 5.1? As I believe the 5.1 was lossy even though it was supposedly the 70mm mix.

The 2.0 (from the theatrical cut Blu-ray Disc) sounds rather bright, harsh, and seems to suffer from some dynamic compression and a narrow stereo field. The 5.1, although delivered in a lossy digital format, sounds far superior.

[Mick B]

Hi,
And there you have it!
The lossy 5.1 taken from a 70mm copy sounds better than the 2.0 MA taken from the theatrical cut.
I am amazed! Amazed at how studios are not utilizing the very technology that quite a lot of us now have on our homes.
Surely, the 5.1 70mm mix should be presented as 5.1 MA on both Blu-ray and UHD formats as that would be the best sound available for this film and should be the default option too.
As I said before, wouldn't it be nice if there were 3 options, 2.0 for sound bar users, the 5.1 MA (70mm mix) for people with 5.1 setups and a Atmos mix for those who prefer that.
This way everyone is basically covered.

I can remember back in the day of DVD where some films had lossy DTS tracks on them which were actually better (bitrate wise) than the Dolby Digital tracks were at the cinema.
It just goes to show that the studios can (and have in the past) put out better sound on home media when they want to. I can only assume here then that they don't want to or are just incompetent at trying to do so.
Either way another missed chance.

In a perfect world we would get a 3 disc set with.
Superman (Theatrical cut) with the 2.0, 5.1 (70mm mix) and Atmos.
Superman (SE) with 2.0 5.1 (Michael Thau mix) and Atmos.
Superman (TV cut) in mono.
BTW all audio as Lossless and not lossy!
That should sort STM once and for all and then we can move on to SII.

Mick.

BTW that's me in the Black jacket and white top coming out of 220 East 42nd Street many many years ago when it was owned by the New York Daily News. I did have a walk past it last year in November and the globe is still there in the foyer. I have a picture at home taken years ago too with me in front of the globe. So much film history to be had here!
Not sure if you still can, but if you go in during office hours and ask the concierge nicely, he may let you take a picture/selfie (not video) of the globe.
As the interior office space of the Daily Planet was all filmed in England, the foyer and outside of this building is all that remains in NYC and has not changed much in over 40 years.

[nickg]

the 70mm track is also from the theatrical cut just the 70mm film version instead of the 35mm. also the 448kbps dolby digital on dvd was also higher than the 320kbps dolby digital on film :P

[Poya]

Would be nice to see the barcode for each release.

BTW, sorry if this has been asked already but will the UK w/ SE be affected?

[s2mikey]

Ugh. I am so confused, lol. I dont own any Superman in 4K yet due to now knowing what to buy. I know that box set is coming out but I refuse to get that due to it forcing films on me I cannot stand(SM3 & 4). So, I see that Superman 2 in 4K is coming out soon with both the Lester and Donner cuts. Good. I see this new "No 5.1, 2.0 audio" version has the same iffy transfer as the 2018 4K release.

So....how do I buy the upgraded Superman 1 4K transfer? Can you buy it separately?

My head is spinning here. I am willing to import if need be.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Ugh. I am so confused, lol. I dont own any Superman in 4K yet due to now knowing what to buy. I know that box set is coming out but I refuse to get that due to it forcing films on me I cannot stand(SM3 & 4). So, I see that Superman 2 in 4K is coming out soon with both the Lester and Donner cuts. Good. I see this new "No 5.1, 2.0 audio" version has the same iffy transfer as the 2018 4K release.

So....how do I buy the upgraded Superman 1 4K transfer? Can you buy it separately?

My head is spinning here. I am willing to import if need be.

I dont think anyone really knows what's going on with the first Superman movie and its re-release yet.

[starmike]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

I dont think anyone really knows what's going on with the first Superman movie and its re-release yet.

Well, the EU set has the same release as the current standalone (the version with the 2.0 audio, not the 5.1 70mm).

[Dr. T]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

I dont think anyone really knows what's going on with the first Superman movie and its re-release yet.

We know exactly what's going on. The 2018 release with the 5.1 70mm six-track audio is no more. The current catalog release is the same picture and Atmos track from 2018 but now with the sonically inferior 2.0 track.