Superman: The Movie 4K UHD (1978)

[Fendergopher]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

10-bit 4:4:4 with 440 Mb/s video bitrate

Man, just imagine a world where those kinds of specs are available on consumer media, holy cow.

[reanimator]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

It's so well staged, shame Singer lost all his mojo there.

Are you guys talking about the space-shuttle sequence? That whole scene struck me as nothing more than an updated retread of the Lois Lane helicopter rescue from SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE. Which I gather was Singer's intent, but as with most of SUPERMAN RETURNS, it simply made me appreciate the charm of the '78 movie all the more.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Fendergopher

Man, just imagine a world where those kinds of specs are available on consumer media, holy cow.

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Lucasfilm-Son...-/123102792740

You can get close.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

HDCAM SR is "outdated" enough to be able to carry 10-bit 4:4:4 with 440 Mb/s video bitrate, specs that would smash any current consumer video format into smithereens. But hey, I guess it's only one step short of a wax cylinder or a piece of papyrus? And that format is what it was shot on, not what it was stored on, which is likely the same 10-bit DPX files that most DIs get rendered out to and then stored on LTO tape. The capability is there, whether you want to believe it or not.

As for the merits of the film itself, Warners consider it to be part of Superman canon and it has been re-released multiple times on Blu-ray (original DD 5.1 disc, then the DTHD/PCM re-issue, then the DTS-HD version included with the Superman boxset) so if they get around to doing the other Reeve pictures in 4K after STM then they will revisit SR in due course. I'm not saying it's "high on their list", I'm saying that they'll get to it eventually. And I'll be first in line.

I forgot about the PCM version!
I have that somewhere

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Fendergopher

Man, just imagine a world where those kinds of specs are available on consumer media, holy cow.

It illustrates the point nicely that the systems which the profession has been using to record, store, master and migrate this data are always far in advance of what we have on home video, bearing in mind that HDCAM SR is a good 15 years old. Sure, it's not capable of higher resolution than 1080p but when you compare it to its nearest consumer contemporary at that time - 8-bit 4:2:0 480i DVD with its scorching max video bitrate of 9 Mb/s - it should be plainly obvious how superior it was and still is in several respects.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Lucasfilm-Son...-/123102792740

You can get close.

Don't forget the 32MB Memory Stick Duo, lolz

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

I forgot about the PCM version!
I have that somewhere

I treasure mine, I loves dat PCM track.

[MisterXDTV]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

As for the merits of the film itself, Warners consider it to be part of Superman canon and it has been re-released multiple times on Blu-ray (original DD 5.1 disc, then the DTHD/PCM re-issue, then the DTS-HD version included with the Superman boxset) so if they get around to doing the other Reeve pictures in 4K after STM then they will revisit SR in due course. I'm not saying it's "high on their list", I'm saying that they'll get to it eventually. And I'll be first in line.

They released SR three times on Blu-ray (2006-2008-2011) always with the same HD-DVD encode. So it’s not like they put in a lot of effort...

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by MisterXDTV

They released SR three times on Blu-ray (2006-2008-2011) always with the same HD-DVD encode. So it’s not like they put in a lot of effort...

I know they always used the same encode but that was pretty much Warners' M.O. in general, not even the Harry Potter Ultimate Editions escaped that fate (Goblet of Fire is hot garbage). So if they do get around to releasing SR on UHD, they sure as shit won't be using the VC-1 encode this time. Capito?

[MisterXDTV]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I know they always used the same encode but that was pretty much Warners' M.O. in general, not even the Harry Potter Ultimate Editions escaped that fate (Goblet of Fire is hot garbage). So if they do get around to releasing SR on UHD, they sure as shit won't be using the VC-1 encode this time. Capito?

I get it Geoff, the point is just that you think a UHD disc is likely, I don’t..

[Geoff D]

It all depends on how well the eventual UHD of Superman IV: The Quest For Peace sells

Warners LOVE to rebox their movies though, even if SR weren't to get a standalone UHD (should the series get that far on 4K) I think they'd remaster it as part of a 4K boxset, along with whatever other bits and bobs they can do in 4K like the old cartoons.

[bongozoid]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It all depends on how well the eventual UHD of Superman IV: The Quest For Peace sells

Warners LOVE to rebox their movies though, even if SR weren't to get a standalone UHD (should the series get that far on 4K) I think they'd remaster it as part of a 4K boxset, along with whatever other bits and bobs they can do in 4K like the old cartoons.

Because suckers like me see the individual releases and think "hmmm... intriguing..." and then sees the box set of all the movies and go "oooh all Superman movies in a box set! Gimme gimme gimme!!!"

[KcMsterpce]

Haha. I forgot that I saw SR in IMAX 3d at Universal Studios. Lots of memories of that trip came rushing back!
Woah.

[BenjaminG]

Originally Posted by KcMsterpce

Haha. I forgot that I saw SR in IMAX 3d at Universal Studios. Lots of memories of that trip came rushing back!
Woah.

Wasn't it only the plane sequence that was converted to 3D? This was really early on for digital 3D cinema - same year as Nightmare Before Christmas re-release if memory serves.

[KcMsterpce]

Originally Posted by BenjaminG

Wasn't it only the plane sequence that was converted to 3D? This was really early on for digital 3D cinema - same year as Nightmare Before Christmas re-release if memory serves.

I think a total of 7-9 minutes was in 3d. So, the scene where he runs through the cornfield and jumps around was in 3d, as well as the plane sequence... and maybe one other scene.
If I recall correctly, an icon showed up on the bottom right that prompted viewers to put on their 3d glasses.

Actually, I have a review for a website I ran back then... when I have the time, I am going to drudge it up and see if I mentioned the 3d stuff.

[LexInHD]

Yes, you are correct about the glasses icon for the 3D footage.

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by captainsolo

Please, please please let this mean the Bat-films are forthcoming. I’ve been crusading for properly timed dark transfers of 89 and Returns and a good Forever for years. Seeing the Burton films on an actual print looks like an entirely different picture because of the darkness. Returns in particular looks absolutely staggering and not at all like any video edition. And I still run my LDs for all three because they sound better. (Returns less so as the 2.0 and 5.1 sound nearly identical-but the old mix of 89 has better low end and the 2.0 Forever is far better than the 5.1)

I would be very interested in this-- I believe Batman has always had a brighter transfer since it's original VHS release, because people were complaining it was "too dark" or something in the theater. I didn't realize Batman Returns was also brightened up for home video.

[Vangeli]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Don't forget the 32MB Memory Stick Duo, lolz

My goodness those were like $50

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by motorheadache95

I would be very interested in this-- I believe Batman has always had a brighter transfer since it's original VHS release, because people were complaining it was "too dark" or something in the theater. I didn't realize Batman Returns was also brightened up for home video.

Less so

[Stevie81]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It all depends on how well the eventual UHD of Superman IV: The Quest For Peace sells

This is no fantasy!

I would love to see that release, especially, with the GOD DAMN, HOLY GRAIL OF ALL HOLY GRAILS METRO CLUB SCENES!!!!!

[Dragon Ranger]

Originally Posted by Stevie81

This is no fantasy!

I would love to see that release, especially, with the GOD DAMN, HOLY GRAIL OF ALL HOLY GRAILS METRO CLUB SCENES!!!!!

Oh how I would love to see those and the scenes with the first Nuclear Man





Some of the deleted scenes were featured in the comic adaptation




In things I thought I would never see Nuclear Man is making his comic début soon, thirty one years after the movie!