Jurassic Park Collection 4K UHD (1993-2015)

[TiredOldCliche]

Looks surprisingly nice. Though not nice enough to shill for these hideous, overpriced steelbooks. I'm waiting for sequels and audio comparisons, but I will probably upgrade to inevitable 7-movie boxset.

[DyingSun]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

If those first two comparisons were reflective of the upgrade as a whole then it'd be an instant buy from me but I'm not sure if the difference in the remaining comparisons warrants an upgrade.

Same. Not worth buying the whole trilogy, anyway, if one only cares about JP. Will wait for an (eventual) individual release and reassess then.

[Modren]

Originally Posted by VickPS

Those are optical compositing shots.
If they look nearly as bad as they did on the previous UHD, due to DNR and EE, VFX shots are once again screwed as well.

I imagine the VFX shots are limited more by the limitations of film scanning and CGI in 1993 than by anything Universal has done with the master. There probably just isn't much resolution in the original shots to begin with, and for all we know some of that DNR and sharpening could be baked in from back in the day. Short of re-rendering all the effects, this could be as good as they could ever look.

[DyingSun]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

[...] I'm surprised anyone doesn't see a large upgrade in those caps compared to the first UHD. Maybe I'm high on my love for this movie though, I would have eagerly bought it for half this good of an improvement.

We'll see in motion though.

I love this movie too. It's one of my all-time favourites. But, apart from a few shots, I don't see a massive improvement to the inherent problems of this scan. As I said, I may consider buying it if it gets an individual release, but I'm definitely not spending €60 on a trilogy Steelbook for what I see here.

[Mierzwiak]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I'm surprised anyone doesn't see a large upgrade in those caps compared to the first UHD

It looks nice and I won't cancel my preorder, although after that first very promising screenshot I'm disappointed the whole movie wasn't regraded and it still looks mostly the same.

[Piriven]

Ordered. I just love JP too damn much, and the first UHD is painfully starved of grain. This looks like a clear upgrade, if not the complete neg-scan overhaul the film deserves.

T-Rex fingers crossed they haven’t neutered the bass in the Atmos mix. They did it to War Of The Worlds, they could do it here…

[StingingVelvet]

I'm not looking at all the caps but the Gemerro on the raft scene is warmer, the bronto scene is warmer, the harsh cool contrasts are lessened. I agree the magenta removal in the dig site is more obvious but to me sampling 15 caps or so there's a lot of impact.

[Evanos]

Too bad the VFX still look kinda crappy, but oh well.

How do TLW and JP3 look?

[Trekkie313]

Don't look at Grant's face in screencaps 5 and 7

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

If the 3D version is your current go-to then that's a whole different situation I can't speak to, but I'm surprised anyone doesn't see a large upgrade in those caps compared to the first UHD. Maybe I'm high on my love for this movie though, I would have eagerly bought it for half this good of an improvement.

We'll see in motion though.

Just not seeing it in most of the comparisons. It just seems like a rather cynical upgrade to me. Universal have repackaged and sold the same old discs for years now; they knew they had to do something different so they made some minor improvements and updated an older master instead of committing to a proper remaster and new grade (which wouldn't even require a new scan since the existing master is sourced from an archival-level scan).

I've seen this with some other unimpressive discs where it'll be like "Yeah, it doesn't look that great but here's a little bit extra highlight detail" and I really hope it doesn't become a trend. A lot of the improvements are things that could have easily been done the first time but weren't for whichever reason. If studios see that consumers will continue buying clearly imperfect releases every time there's an incremental upgrade, then is there really any incentive for them to get it right the first time or even the first couple of times?

Might hold out for the 35th Anniversary release where they add the original audio and bring back the wonderful-looking moody lighting in the T-Rex escape sequence.


Edit: Perhaps I'd be more forgiving if I didn't get so accustomed to the 35mm prints which looked absolutely gorgeous and much better and moodier color-wise than what I'm observing in those comparisons. The 3D Blu-ray has its own flaws, but as with T2, outside of seeing the 35mm prints then that is my preferred way to experience the film. Of course, if UHDs were released for those films which looked absolutely incredible with great HDR grades then I may never look back.

[VickPS]

Originally Posted by Darth Marcus

Checked the T-Rex scene at the end. Definitely soft with some blown out highlights

Predictable, but not sure really avoidable as those shot, technically, natively only contain 8 bit information. Only way for them to look natural or as intended would be to deviate as little as possible from the original timing, which is certainly not the case with Jurassic Park.

More curious about the white balance of said highlights, as previous Home Video versions presented the neutral whites/greys light sources in the Rotunda sequence as an electric violet mess.

Originally Posted by DonaldMcDonald

More shots: https://slow.pics/c/92bwAlwg

Glad for those satisfied with the upgrade, but I wonder when or if JP in Home Video will ever be nowhere near where it should be.

Originally Posted by jpilla415

Tried to snap the majority of the scenes I have heard folks asking for over the last few pages. Enjoy!

Much appreciated.



Definitively not something I'd watch, but better than the previous version at least.

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

I think I only watched the UHD once or twice before going back to the 3D version as my go-to

And who could blame you? The 3D version on a good VR set looks spectacular. And more importantly, looks like Jurassic Park.

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

I think I talked about this years ago on here, but most of the prints I've seen projected/handled did have a strong golden appearance not unlike what is shown in that post.

And you were right all along, for a decade or more I'd recon.

That's how Jurassic Park looks.

Same settings for the entire film (not reel, let alone scene-by-scene basis) were used, and pro scanner had no attachment/knowledge/bias whatsoever in regards to how the movie should look.
I compared the scan with press material from '93 on the left (boosted contrast/gamma by publishers, not something you'd find on a professional scan), and BD version on the right:



Night scenes (which are simply breathtaking on a good print) were photochemically treated on the final print, so don't match most press material or Trailers.



Jurassic Park is an astonishing looking movie, with an incredibly rich and encompassing palette.
Makes the fact it has been presented for three decades as the flattest, dullest, amateurishly shot movie all the more baffling.

[Trekkie313]

Those scans are not accurate to what the color-timing would've looked like on an actual screen or the final edit before prints were struck. The intensity of xenon bulbs would make it appear less golden.

That being said, the kitchen scene needs more adjustments.

[Evanos]

Man, seeing those 35mm caps is depressing. I'm sure they're not 100% accurate in terms of color, but it still looks much nicer. There's just so much more life to those shots.

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

Those scans are not accurate to what the color-timing would've looked like on an actual screen or the final edit before prints were struck. The intensity of xenon bulbs would make it appear less golden.

I think I talked about this years ago on here, but most of the prints I've seen projected/handled did have a strong golden appearance not unlike what is shown in that post. The intensity of the gold varied with a print or two looking more "natural" but also desaturated and they were the odd ones out by far.

It'd be strange if Universal didn't have an answer print, show print or multiple prints in their possession that they could use as a reference to create an ideal grade for home video.

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by Modren

I imagine the VFX shots are limited more by the limitations of film scanning and CGI in 1993 than by anything Universal has done with the master. There probably just isn't much resolution in the original shots to begin with, and for all we know some of that DNR and sharpening could be baked in from back in the day. Short of re-rendering all the effects, this could be as good as they could ever look.

The VFX shots were struck as a filmout and combined with the final camera negative. Ergo, there would be grain there on top of whatever could have been done in the digital realm back in the day. They've clearly been given a big wipe, this has been apparent since the old 2k master. And this time around they stick out in comparison to the rest of the DNR appearing to have been walked-back! Twister on 4k is a good example of VFX shots left well enough alone. Those were similarly nuked until the 4k release.

[BenjaminG]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

Those scans are not accurate to what the color-timing would've looked like on an actual screen or the final edit before prints were struck. The intensity of xenon bulbs would make it appear less golden.

That being said, god how much better do they look?

[steel_breeze]

Oof, now I'm leaning toward grabbing this once it gets a solo release. I've always been fine with the color (since I finesse it in my projector, as mentioned), but that sharpening of the detail and tightening of the grain field is mighty tasty. I heart well-defined grain. Weird choices of shots to compare, but was glad to see 'em.

[Robert George]

So...I just finished sampling the actual disc on an actual TV accompanied by an actual 7.2.2 Atmos rig anchored by a pair of 15" Velodyne subs. My comments are based on real world viewing, not internet world bullsh!t.

To recap hardware, the display is a well set-up LG 83" C4 OLED. The Atmos audio is powered by Denon with a combination of KEF (fronts), B&W (surrounds and height). Already mentioned the subs.

Cutting right to the chase, this remaster is not just good, but bordering on spectacular. Whatever flaws one may nitpick in still frames I am quite certain lie in the source, not the transfer or encode. The Dolby Vision grade offers exceptional depth and dimensionality with virtually perfect black level, contract and color density. Fine detail is excellent without a trace of over enhancement or obvious processing.

What about the audio, right? The first wide release with DTS sound, right? You remember the '90s version of DTS with overcooked bass and sketchy highs and mids, right? Well this astounding Atmos track will make you forget about DTS, assuming one has a system to do it justice. Low frequencies will rattle whatever is not nailed down while dialog and effects clarity is superb. This Atmos mix make excellent use of height and surround channels. This is what Atmos was made for. A perfect compliment to the gorgeous visuals.

I'm not going to say this is the best 4K disc I've seen, but I can't think of one that is better. Enjoy the show.

[PowellPressburger]

Robert George I hope all you stated is true.

Especially the Dolby Atmos mix, cause the one thing I have is a great system with Atmos in ceiling speakers and I feel like most Atmos mixes are meh.

It's a big check I hope your mouth cashes when I buy this set just for this disc

[VickPS]

Originally Posted by Robert George

So...I just finished sampling the actual disc on an actual TV accompanied by an actual 7.2.2 Atmos rig anchored by a pair of 15" Velodyne subs. My comments are based on real world viewing, not internet world bullsh!t.

To recap hardware, the display is a well set-up LG 83" C4 OLED. The Atmos audio is powered by Denon with a combination of KEF (fronts), B&W (surrounds and height). Already mentioned the subs.

Cutting right to the chase, this remaster is not just good, but bordering on spectacular. Whatever flaws one may nitpick in still frames I am quite certain lie in the source, not the transfer or encode. The Dolby Vision grade offers exceptional depth and dimensionality with virtually perfect black level, contract and color density. Fine detail is excellent without a trace of over enhancement or obvious processing.

What about the audio, right? The first wide release with DTS sound, right? You remember the '90s version of DTS with overcooked bass and sketchy highs and mids, right? Well this astounding Atmos track will make you forget about DTS, assuming one has a system to do it justice. Low frequencies will rattle whatever is not nailed down while dialog and effects clarity is superb. This Atmos mix make excellent use of height and surround channels. This is what Atmos was made for. A perfect compliment to the gorgeous visuals.

I'm not going to say this is the best 4K disc I've seen, but I can't think of one that is better. Enjoy the show.

Glad to read about the audio.