Superman: The Movie 4K UHD (1978)

[Ishai]

Originally Posted by MisterXDTV

I didn't expect Warner to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of THIS movie......

LOL

But it's also the 45th Anniversary of the first one, so a boxset might be possible!!

It's a much bigger celebration. It's WB's 100th, which I think is actually in April, and if there's one movie they could celebrate it with...

[CreasyBear]

Really hope Returns is included with a new transfer! Love that film.

[Steel76]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

Really hope Returns is included with a new transfer! Love that film.

Most of the film was shot on HDCAM SR (1080p/24), and 35mm used for high speed shots only.

Hopefully the raw HDCAM source is still available, so they can create a new transfer from that.

But I fear that, just like the Star Wars prequels, we might be stuck with that horrible 2K DI...

[david_blu]

Well hopefully they can do a new 8k scan and DV encode because I can't stand the current 4k of STM. Why? Find my comments in this thread so I don't bore anyone again.

Also while they are at it, let's get the other Supes films in 4k and the extended cuts of 2-4 in Blu ray at least.

On a related note I saw STM at the Royal Albert Hall recently in the summer. Interestingly it was a DCP as far as I could tell but it was not based on the 4k. It looked like the Blu ray master but with the blues corrected to be more blu than cyan like the current Theatrical Blu.
It had a different grey WB logo I think was noticed on TV or streaming last couple of years. One other thing of note, when Supes realises about Lois at the end and flies to her, in this version I could hear Supes say Lois when he has the realisation moment on the mountain top.
The music cues were interesting, they used some of the extended music cues like the ship escaping when played by the live orchestra.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Steel76

Most of the film was shot on HDCAM SR (1080p/24), and 35mm used for high speed shots only.

Hopefully the raw HDCAM source is still available, so they can create a new transfer from that.

But I fear that, just like the Star Wars prequels, we might be stuck with that horrible 2K DI...

They’ll upscale the DI, they won’t rebuild it. And it looked fine blown up to IMAX 15/70. But as my issues with how Returns looks stem from that bit starved HD DVD encode then just bypassing that and doing a new capture from the DI could make a big difference.

[grahams76]

Nice. In for Superman II and maybe III in a sale. I don't want to ever watch Returns again. Shite. I'd rather watch IV - at least it's a spectacular misfire.

[Deezer1986]

One would think the time right now would be good to cash in given the theatrical Superman news we’ve gotten lately. Would love all the Superman movies on 4k.

[cinematicsweetspot]

A box set would be cool, but just the thought of a 4K of II TC sends my heart all aflutter

[MisterXDTV]

Originally Posted by Steel76

Most of the film was shot on HDCAM SR (1080p/24), and 35mm used for high speed shots only.

Hopefully the raw HDCAM source is still available, so they can create a new transfer from that.

But I fear that, just like the Star Wars prequels, we might be stuck with that horrible 2K DI...

They would have to upscale the original DI, producing a new 4K master compared to the 2006 HD-DVD that we still have to this day...

We are talking about a 14.8 mbps VC-1 video encode (20.7 GB total for the main movie)

There's no way a UHD disc will not be a huge upgrade...

It's like going from a HDTV broadcast to a UHD disc...

[Steel76]

Originally Posted by MisterXDTV

They would have to upscale the original DI, producing a new 4K master compared to the 2006 HD-DVD that we still have to this day...

We are talking about a 14.8 mbps VC-1 video encode (20.7 GB total for the main movie)

There's no way a UHD disc will not be a huge upgrade...

It's like going from a HDTV broadcast to a UHD disc...

Sure, but it wasn't just the encode that was bad.
It's more about the overall image quality, when it came to the color, softness and overall ugly early digital look. Something I reacted to in the theaters as well.
Basically looked like it was drained out of colors:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Super...4/#Screenshots

Which is strange, as Singer went all in to make it fit in with the Reeves trilogy.

I'm usually against changing the original look and colors.
But in this rare case, I would love for them to give it an overhaul, when (if) they make 4K transfer with HDR.
Though I bet Hiventy LOVES the colors in this film

It's too bad they didn't shot the entire film on 35mm...

But, that's just my opinion.

[rubystone356]

there happens to be 2 version of the Donner cut.. the one version includes more lester footage that many fans want before it was cut.

vudu has that version. its possible they could use that version.
https://www.capedwonder.com/superman...te-donner-cut/

Jacob

[Sky_Captain]

Originally Posted by grahams76

I don't want to ever watch Returns again. Shite...

It was the cause of my Narcolepsy.

[MisterXDTV]

Originally Posted by Steel76

Sure, but it wasn't just the encode that was bad.
It's more about the overall image quality, when it came to the color, softness and overall ugly early digital look. Something I reacted to in the theaters as well.
Basically looked like it was drained out of colors...

Of course with HDR being applied, the color grading would be redone from scratch with software much more advanced than what was available in 2006

[innerlightfilms]

I LOVE part 3! Its such a fun movie, and reminds me of how the superman comics would play out. The evil superman parts along with everything in Smallville make this movie awesome. Never understood all the hate.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by innerlightfilms

I LOVE part 3! Its such a fun movie, and reminds me of how the superman comics would play out. The evil superman parts along with everything in Smallville make this movie awesome. Never understood all the hate.

I was going to post similarly: III is very much comic-book like and Smallville is nice to see.

III is not on the level of I or II, but I've come to appreciate it more over time.

[david_blu]

Superman 3>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Thor Love and Thunder

[MartinScorsesefan]

Originally Posted by innerlightfilms

I LOVE part 3! Its such a fun movie, and reminds me of how the superman comics would play out. The evil superman parts along with everything in Smallville make this movie awesome. Never understood all the hate.

I think it was just disappointment because the first two movies were epic in scope, and III had a different tone from the other two. I saw it opening night, and felt disappointed. But I still.enjoyed it. I.went back to.see it a few times, and it grew on me. Now it's one.of my favorite movies.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by MartinScorsesefan

I think it was just disappointment because the first two movies were epic in scope, and III had a different tone from the other two. I saw it opening night, and felt disappointed. But I still.enjoyed it. I.went back to.see it a few times, and it grew on me. Now it's one.of my favorite movies.

I remember as a kid being immensely disappointed by III having loved the first two. But over time, especially once it was released on BD in that initial boxset, it grew on me more.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Steel76

Sure, but it wasn't just the encode that was bad.
It's more about the overall image quality, when it came to the color, softness and overall ugly early digital look. Something I reacted to in the theaters as well.
Basically looked like it was drained out of colors:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Super...4/#Screenshots

Which is strange, as Singer went all in to make it fit in with the Reeves trilogy.

I'm usually against changing the original look and colors.
But in this rare case, I would love for them to give it an overhaul, when (if) they make 4K transfer with HDR.
Though I bet Hiventy LOVES the colors in this film

It's too bad they didn't shot the entire film on 35mm...

But, that's just my opinion.

It was graded with the usual teal and orange trend of the time, exaggerated even more for the home video pass. But there's a fookin ton of UHDs of DIs from that time which threw out the teal completely so an HDR pass could do the world of good for it. Never minded the softness though, nor did I mind the look of the Genesis which was a cracking camera for the time.

Though the intent wasn't so much to match the visuals to the OG movies, it very much follows on from them story wise but visually, ehhhhh. They wanted a golden "nostalgic" look to it, using "golds, yellows and bronzes".

[yanksno1]

Originally Posted by ShellBeacher

No one's said that.

[Show spoiler] Someone just found an Amazon listing for III as a 4K. It could mean something, it could mean nothing. But if III is getting a 4K, you can be damn sure that II (Theatrical) will, as well as probably IV...and I would assume probably a Box Set option for the U.S., at least.

As has been stated numerous times above and by Feltenstein over the past couple of years, Warners has located the workprint of IV but it lacks complete VFX and sound. I could see them just dumping it on the IV 4K disc as a Bonus Feature. They apparently haven't located a preserved version of the TV Cut of II, yet, but they could be just waiting to make a splash announcement all together. I hope we'll know more soon...

Went off the picture up-thread that showed I, II & III with no mention of IV yet. That's how I came to that conclusion. Hope you're right and it's a full box set.