The Abyss 4K UHD (1989)

[Geoff D]

Abyss really does look good tho, it's worth it.

[levcore]

Originally Posted by figrin_dan

I think this would have made a lot more money (out of me, at least) if it was a standard transfer without all the weirdness, if it had separate blu and 4k versions and if they made a UK cut. Instead they've released an expensive set that doesn't look great and I might pick up when it's under £20 delivered.

Wait until Amazon Spain has a £10 off voucher or something. I got my copy from there for just over £16 delivered.

[spiltmilk]

Originally Posted by bebbsie23

Whilst I didn't mind the presentation, and thus have not bothered to chime in on this particular release, I can still see the AI processing and other shenanigans at work. As such, I fully empathize with anyone who is bothered by it.

Titanic and Avatar also have bothersome issues for some people. We are all different, we all see and react to things differently. I'm not sure why you feel the need to keep disparaging people for being critical of something that bothers them

I agree. The sensitivity to AI processing seems to be very divisive. I'm in the camp that is bothered by even slight AI tinkering. Faces and hair are the worst, but even the texture and shading of different clothes and fabrics stand out to me (in a bad way). It looks like computer graphics and not like photography. If you're sensitive to it, it it's very hard to ignore.

I'm happy for those that aren't too bothered by it. I mean, Geoffy even tolerates Aliens if I remember correctly. I'll probably still buy it when it eventually drops in price though (i.e. The Abyss, not Aliens). It's just too bad that there's no other option.

[dmollenauer]

Originally Posted by levcore

I thought the teal grade was worse than the artificial sharpening personally. Overall though I'm just glad to have the movie in HD on disc.

I totally agree here. The lack of grain was a bit jarring to me too. But some close ups seem to have a lot of detail whether that is real or not. Overall happy to have this one. And the audio was pretty good. Special edition played through just fine and no scratches on the discs. Got a slip with no sticker. This was a recent Amazon order.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by figrin_dan

I think this would have made a lot more money (out of me, at least) if it was a standard transfer without all the weirdness, if it had separate blu and 4k versions and if they made a UK cut. Instead they've released an expensive set that doesn't look great and I might pick up when it's under £20 delivered.

The thing is, it does look great.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Urdad

They are. Regardless of having been supervised by Cameron they are practically what was seen at the movie theaters.

Had the DVD been anamorphic it would be reference.

They're really not, Mij.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Urdad

Had the DVD been anamorphic it would be reference.

Lulz. Fox did an anamorphic transfer. It was rejected.

[figrin_dan]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

The thing is, it does look great.

Not to me. I've watched this version twice.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by figrin_dan

Not to me. I've watched this version twice.

I thought you said you might pick it up when it’s £20 or under?

Regardless, I find it remarkable that people find this anything less than impressive. I think people are just getting carried away with the anti-A.I sentiment how.

[bebbsie23]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I thought you said you might pick it up when it’s £20 or under?

Regardless, I find it remarkable that people find this anything less than impressive. I think people are just getting carried away with the anti-A.I sentiment how.

What I find remarkable is your need to police other peoples opinions as if yours is the only valid perspective

Also this "anti-A.I sentiment" argument of yours is beyond reductive.

[ghostof82]

I think the 4K of The Abyss looks fine. Sure, a few uncanny valley moments but on the whole, it's great- I'll take this over the nothing we've had since that ancient DVD. Or the older VHS. I love the film so really, I'm just ecstatic to at least have something. Boycotting this to wait another ten or more years for a hypothetical future release is not an option.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by bebbsie23

What I find remarkable is your need to police other peoples opinions as if yours is the only valid perspective

Also this "anti-A.I sentiment" argument of yours is beyond reductive.

So you and others can keep repeating the same thing over and over, yet when I do it, it’s off limits! Gotcha!

It’s not about policing other’s opinions, it’s about questioning what exactly they don’t like, in a transfer that looks fantastic 99% of the time.

All this talk of dashing to buy Spanish bootlegs and the like, we all know many already formed their opinion before these discs were released, and now, they can’t back down on that stance, despite Titanic and The Abyss looking ace.

[figrin_dan]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I thought you said you might pick it up when it’s £20 or under?

Regardless, I find it remarkable that people find this anything less than impressive. I think people are just getting carried away with the anti-A.I sentiment how.

I don't really like the way my Aliens blu ray looks either so I'm not going to get the 4k. I don't own the abyss 4k yet but have seen it. I'm fine with my true lies blu. It's ok to me

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by figrin_dan

I don't really like the way my Aliens blu ray looks either so I'm not going to get the 4k. I don't own the abyss 4k yet but have seen it. I'm fine with my true lies blu. It's ok to me

I thought Aliens looked great on Blu-Ray. The Abyss is the best looking of all four of the recent JC releases, hope you don’t regret it when only second hand copies remain.

[spiltmilk]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It’s not about policing other’s opinions, it’s about questioning what exactly they don’t like, in a transfer that looks fantastic 99% of the time.

All this talk of dashing to buy Spanish bootlegs and the like, we all know many already formed their opinion before these discs were released, and now, they can’t back down on that stance, despite Titanic and The Abyss looking ace.

It's not really that complex. Some people find the AI sharpening to do more bad than good. I for one prefer a less sharp image that looks like the original photography, instead of an AI sharpened image that (to me) looks strange and unnatural.

You're not going to be able to change people's opinion about how they feel about this by repeating that you think it looks good.

Why do people have a different opinion than you? Well, it might be personal preference, a higher sensitivity to the uncanny valley phenomenon, different TVs, or a combination of the above.

[bebbsie23]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

So you and others can keep repeating the same thing over and over, yet when I do it, it’s off limits! Gotcha!

It’s not about policing other’s opinions, it’s about questioning what exactly they don’t like, in a transfer that looks fantastic 99% of the time.

All this talk of dashing to buy Spanish bootlegs and the like, we all know many already formed their opinion before these discs were released, and now, they can’t back down on that stance, despite Titanic and The Abyss looking ace.

No Spanish bootlegs for the The Abyss, sorry. Perhaps you walked into the wrong thread.

To be clear, I very much enjoyed the The Abyss 4k. I did on streaming and I did when I received the physical copy, but I don't feel the need to question anybody who is unhappy with this release, because I have eyes. I can see the issues that some may be sensitive to.

How quickly you forget who likes to repeat himself twice as much as me (and more than anybody else for that matter) and who, when the consensus is against them, blathers on about echo chambers, yet when the consensus is with you, the contrary voice incurs your condescension. Gotcha!

[CompleteCount]

One thing I'm not sure has been mentioned comes near the beginning, when the two helicopters are heading towards the Explorer, the one in front almost looks like a cardboard cutout when it's face-on, with no depth to it. Not something I've noticed before.

[mr.burr.jangles]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I thought Aliens looked great on Blu-Ray. The Abyss is the best looking of all four of the recent JC releases, hope you don’t regret it when only second hand copies remain.

Yeah im not sure how the abyss was able to escape most of the AI molestation, while the other movies, especially aliens and extra especially true lies had so much more ai done to them, but man i am glad it did. Granted it being the only movie that didnt already have a serviceable hd option id probably have still gotten it just to have something better than the dvd

[-JKR-]

Originally Posted by Urdad

They are. Regardless of having been supervised by Cameron they are practically what was seen at the movie theaters.

Had the DVD been anamorphic it would be reference.

Come on, don't act like a stubborn fool.

No ancient telecine master can do a movie justice .

The technology simply wasn't advanced enough to truly represent a movie's look.

That breakthrough finally came well into the Blu-ray era, when new remasters finally started getting the textures and contrasts of film right.

[-JKR-]

Originally Posted by Urdad

False but not here to convince. Will keep watching The Abyss on DVD.

Same applies for Matrix, Fight Club, LOR Fellowship, JFK, Amadeus, Robocop, Casablanca, The Terminator, Stalker, Solaris, Kagemusha etc. Even if BR or UHD are in my collection and several are.

Delusional.

Aside from how the new transfer turned out (I'm not a fan), the DVD definitely isn't a good representation of the movie and its originally intended look.