Sony "Mastered in 4K" Blu-ray Titles May 14 and July 16

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

I try my best, but some people are just resistant.

Late last year, I saw an older lady walking around with a copy of Brave DVD in her hands. It was obvious that she was hesitant b/c the price was $20.

I picked up the BD/DVD combo and showed it to her. "Ma'am, this is $15. It's cheaper than the DVD, and you get both versions."

"But I don't have a Blu-ray player."

"Yes, but this includes the same DVD that you have in your hands, and it's $5 cheaper."

"But I don't have a Blu-ray player."

"That's okay, it's cheaper and you can play the DVD that is an entirely separate disc."

"Oh."

She was clearly still confused, though she picked up the BD/DVD combo and at least started looking at the specs on the back of each version.

I hope that she bought the BD/DVD combo.

That kind of stuff happens to me all the time. I've also noticed that in the last year or so that fewer people are looking at the DVD section in Best Buy. Most people in the store now are looking for BDs and if they are picking up DVDs they are TV shows.

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

I ordered Ghostbusters and Taxi Driver, there are really the only two 4K titles so far I'd want to own. I haven't come across any Taxi Driver 4K reviews yet.

Since the previous release of Taxi Driver was mastered in 4K, wouldn't this new version be identical? Minus special features and a snazzy DigiPack, of course.

[Patsfan123]

Originally Posted by JavaJulien

According to the Ghostbusters review, it seems most of these new tranfers are pretty negligble save for Ghostbusters and Glory.

The difference for Spiderman is not negligible. I have both the original (boxset edition) and this release.. the difference is mind-blowing. The 4K remaster looks like the movie was filmed this year.

I also have both the original release of Ghostbusters and the 4K remaster and the upgrade is substantial.

I have never seen Glory but may look into it if the 4K remaster falls to $10 or below.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by Sigma

Since the previous release of Taxi Driver was mastered in 4K, wouldn't this new version be identical? Minus special features and a snazzy DigiPack, of course.

I believe they may have put the film over more disc space, I just think of the 4K line as "Superbit" blu-ray.

I hope I didn't waste my money.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Sigma

Since the previous release of Taxi Driver was mastered in 4K, wouldn't this new version be identical? Minus special features and a snazzy DigiPack, of course.

Yes, virtually. About like the difference in The Amazing Spider-man, which is barely marginal.

[img eL]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

Dumb question but this is my 1st experience w/4k. Will they play in a regular bluray player or do they only work in certain ones??

If you have a 4K display some very new blu ray players with new video processor chips will up convert 4K a lot better

[bigdaddyhorse]

Originally Posted by JavaJulien

According to the Ghostbusters review, it seems most of these new tranfers are pretty negligble save for Ghostbusters and Glory.

Originally Posted by Dubstar

anyone get Glory? a penny for your thoughts?

I'd like to know what could be improved on Glory and Taxi Driver. They are 2 of the best overall quality BD's I've seen, and TD was already from a 4K source. I hear Glory is a 2K scan (existing BD) but it looks as good as the 4K TD IMO. Looking forward to screens and reviews myself, although I can't see upping either as I like features too. Those Spidey screens certainly didn't sell me on this marketing gimmick, although the Ghostbusters ones almost did.

Basically this could be good if they take old problem transfers and redo them right. But sticking to stuff that has perfectly fine existing BD's, some already from 4K, is ****ing stupid and wasteful: In my opinion of course.

[I-C-Blue]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

I try my best, but some people are just resistant.

Late last year, I saw an older lady walking around with a copy of Brave DVD in her hands. It was obvious that she was hesitant b/c the price was $20.

I picked up the BD/DVD combo and showed it to her. "Ma'am, this is $15. It's cheaper than the DVD, and you get both versions."

"But I don't have a Blu-ray player."

"Yes, but this includes the same DVD that you have in your hands, and it's $5 cheaper."

"But I don't have a Blu-ray player."

"That's okay, it's cheaper and you can play the DVD that is an entirely separate disc."

"Oh."

She was clearly still confused, though she picked up the BD/DVD combo and at least started looking at the specs on the back of each version.

I hope that she bought the BD/DVD combo.

LOL at least you're trying to save the world by explaining to them. I've come across conversations where people own blu-ray players but still buy DVDs that are more expensive than the combo packs. And the two titles were stacked BESIDE each other, contrasting the price difference and benefits with the cheaper combo pack. And they still went for the DVD copy -__-

But for the Sony Mastered in 4K Blu-Rays I'm willing to let it go. At least 'til the time actual 4K content becomes mainstream anyway.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by bigdaddyhorse

I'd like to know what could be improved on Glory and Taxi Driver. They are 2 of the best overall quality BD's I've seen, and TD was already from a 4K source. I hear Glory is a 2K scan (existing BD) but it looks as good as the 4K TD IMO. Looking forward to screens and reviews myself, although I can't see upping either as I like features too. Those Spidey screens certainly didn't sell me on this marketing gimmick, although the Ghostbusters ones almost did.

Basically this could be good if they take old problem transfers and redo them right. But sticking to stuff that has perfectly fine existing BD's, some already from 4K, is ****ing stupid and wasteful: In my opinion of course.

Agreed. Battle: Los Angeles, Taxi Driver, and The Amazing Spider-man are not going to look hardly any different than the existing BDs. Most people wouldn't be able to see a difference in motion.

[42041]

Originally Posted by bigdaddyhorse

I'd like to know what could be improved on Glory and Taxi Driver. They are 2 of the best overall quality BD's I've seen, and TD was already from a 4K source. I hear Glory is a 2K scan (existing BD) but it looks as good as the 4K TD IMO. Looking forward to screens and reviews myself, although I can't see upping either as I like features too. Those Spidey screens certainly didn't sell me on this marketing gimmick, although the Ghostbusters ones almost did.

Basically this could be good if they take old problem transfers and redo them right. But sticking to stuff that has perfectly fine existing BD's, some already from 4K, is ****ing stupid and wasteful: In my opinion of course.

Hm? Taxi Driver is way better than the original Glory disc. The restoration is essentially a perfect representation of a 70s film to my eyes, but the BD compression has some room for improvement, as the grain gets a bit mushy from time to time. The difference will be minor.

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by 42041

Hm? Taxi Driver is way better than the original Glory disc. The restoration is essentially a perfect representation of a 70s film to my eyes, but the BD compression has some room for improvement, as the grain gets a bit mushy from time to time. The difference will be minor.

I'm thinking Taxi Driver is one of these new "Mastered in 4K" (for the second time) releases that will only look even slightly better if a person:

1. Has a giant screen.
2. Sits a couple inches away from it.
3. Obsessively looks for improvement so as to justify the purchase.

[Scorxpion]

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/8983...l_2012_4k.html

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/8985/spider-man_4k.html

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/8995...spider_4k.html

As you noticed in Total Recall only one incident about Dolby True HD

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Scorxpion

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/8983...l_2012_4k.html

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/8985/spider-man_4k.html

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/8995...spider_4k.html

As you noticed in Total Recall only one incident about Dolby True HD

From the Amazing Spider-Man review. No real shocker here.

The Video: Sizing Up the Picture


Considering how strong the last release was (the 2D version received a 5-star video rating from us) I really wasn't expecting to see any kind of an improvement from this disc -- especially since it's my understanding that the previous version was already mastered in 4K.Though I was a little surprised to discover that the two transfers aren't quite identical looking, for most users, the differences here will be negligible. Yes, the bitrate is technically higher (most scenes hover around the 30s as opposed to the 20s in the last release), but in motion I really could not detect any kind of discernible improvement. With that said, as the included screenshots demonstrate, there actually is an increase in apparent clarity and contrast in this transfer (though it looks like this was likely accomplished through artificial sharpening). It's much more visible in these shots than it is under normal viewing conditions, however, and once again, I want to reiterate that I could not detect any major differences between the two as I switched from source to source on my HDTV (even in fast moving scenes which usually benefit the most from increased bitrates). In fact, it was only after capturing the screenshots that I noticed any differences at all.

With the exception of the small increase in sharpness and contrast and some slight differences in framing, this transfer is virtually identical to the last already reference quality disc. For those unfamiliar with the movie's appearance on Blu-ray, here's what Nate Boss had to say about the video in his original review:

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

From the Amazing Spider-Man review. No real shocker here.

So, with The Amazing Spider-Man and Total Recall, we're getting vaporware.

[Dubstar]

I must admit I've never been fan of the color scheme for Spider-Man - they seemed way too boosted for my taste.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

So, with The Amazing Spider-Man and Total Recall, we're getting vaporware.

Yep, and I am betting Battle: Los Angeles and Taxi Driver will be the same story.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Yep, and I am betting Battle: Los Angeles and Taxi Driver will be the same story.

I see your Battle: LA and Taxi Driver, and I'll raise you The Other Guys and The Karate Kid.

[PowellPressburger]

Taxi Driver 4K at the least could be a decen't Superbit blu.

These were the specs as listed from DVDbeaver.com for the original Blu Release.

Disc Size: 48,035,571,734 bytes
Feature: 29,532,616,704 bytes
Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Total Video Bitrate: 24.03 Mbps

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

So, with The Amazing Spider-Man and Total Recall, we're getting vaporware.

Pretty much

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Pretty much

[Show spoiler]