Scanners - 4K UHD from Second Sight in March

[BobSimms]

Originally Posted by LeDroitDeTuer

Eh, they've gotten better, you have to evaluate case by case. Arrow Videodrome was definitely better, but Criterion also did really solid work with the Repo Man UHD which was a pleasant surprise.

Shame about the lack of original art, but if this version outdoes the Criterion, I'll definitely pick up the standard down the line. I have zero interested in these shoebox editions with 300 page essays by Rachel Bisquick and ugly comic book art.

There’s basically zero chance that a Criterion encode would be better (or even equal), so I’ll be ordering the standard ed. from SS. I also have zero interest in their art cards or useless (to me) essays, and while I don’t really like this artwork, I’m not crazy about Criterion’s BD art for this film either, so I’ll just commission a replacement slipcover and sleeve for my own private use and be done with it.

[Telemachus]

Anytime it's not a Criterion is a good time, so in

[LeDroitDeTuer]

Originally Posted by BobSimms

There’s basically zero chance that a Criterion encode would be better (or even equal), so I’ll be ordering the standard ed. from SS. I also have zero interest in their art cards or useless (to me) essays, and while I don’t really like this artwork, I’m not crazy about Criterion’s BD art for this film either, so I’ll just commission a replacement slipcover and sleeve for my own private use and be done with it.

Yeah, ultimately the video quality, encode and original audio being present override any cosmetic packaging concerns for me, even if I'll complain about the original art not being used.

If you've got the best version, you can slap a big old 18 Certificate and a SMOKING KILLS sticker on the cover and I'll still pick it up.

[Dingus1539]

I’m a big fan of Cronenberg and both of these films, so I am very interested. I haven’t dipped into Second Sight releases yet, I’m about to pick up The Hitcher from last year. Also a favorite film. I love original poster art, but I also think it’s fantastic these labels are employing and supporting talented illustrators to take a whack at new designs. These are very well done, very professional, and evocative of the films.

Be glad they’re not simply generating this stuff through AI, which unfortunately is probably going to become more commonplace. So celebrate physical releases employing actual original illustrations and giving an audience to these artists. SS also has developed a nice and consistent house style through all of their recent releases, this continues that.

[dj_intrepid]

Awesome! Another classic 80's horror in the month of March and from Second Sight to boot!

[geomon]

Preordered the standard. Late March can't come soon enough.

[BluProofie]

Ordered both.

[CouncilSpectre]

Where’s the Michael Ironside interview from? Doesn’t look like it was on the original BD but it’s not flagged as new…?!

[fattyjoe37]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

Where’s the Michael Ironside interview from? Doesn’t look like it was on the original BD but it’s not flagged as new…?!

It looks like this disc will collect all the extras from foreign releases of the film. So that interview comes from the Wicked Vision Blu. Same thing appears to be the case with The Brood, if you have the new Second Sight 4K plus the Criterion Blu you will have all the special features.

[PowellPressburger]

Pre-ordered from ATOMIC

I'm guessing Fidelity in Motion will be handling the encodes for this and The Brood

Just hope we don't have that sickly Criterion transfer look their BLU had.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by fattyjoe37

It looks like this disc will collect all the extras from foreign releases of the film. So that interview comes from the Wicked Vision Blu. Same thing appears to be the case with The Brood, if you have the new Second Sight 4K plus the Criterion Blu you will have all the special features.

Not all the Wicked Vision extras are carried over.

Extras comparison

New extras

Audio commentary by Caelum Vatnsdal
Cronenberg's Tech Babies: video essay by Tim Coleman
120-page book with new essays

Carried over from Second Sight BD

My Art Keeps Me Sane, The Eye of Scanners, The Chaos of Scanners, Exploding Brains & Popping Veins, Bad Guy Dane

Carried over from Wicked Vision BD

Audio commentary by William Beard
Monster Kid, Mind Fragments, Method in his Madness

Missing from Criterion BD

The Scanners Way, Mental Saboteur, The Ephemerol Diaries
David Cronenberg on The Bob McLean Show
Stereo (also on Arrow Early Works)
Kim Newman essay

Missing from Wicked Vision BD

Scanners II-III
CD soundtrack
Audio commentaries with Rolf Giesen and Gerd Naumann and Marcus Stiglegger (German)
Isolated Score
Telepathic Visions
Pierre David on Scanners
The Ephemerol Diaries (also on Criterion BD)
Inside Scan: Scanners 1
Interview with Cronenberg and Shore
Trailers

Plaion Pictures 4K includes Audiokommentare, Dokumentationen, Interviews, Trailer, TV/Radio Spots, the sequels on BD, Booklet von Stefan Jung

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Originally Posted by tama

Let's see if the color timing wildly changes again.

A lot has been said about the colors on the Criterion disc, but I think the brightness/contrast is the main difference compared to previous editions as opposed to the overall color itself. There were comparisons to a print posted elsewhere years ago and IIRC, the only real color differences I could see was that the Criterion Blu-ray retained the green hue from fluorescent lighting in a couple of sequences whereas it was dialled out on the print and other editions.

Re: brightness/contrast. I find a lot of these grades that some describe as "dull" or "washed out" can look vastly different depending on the display. Since it was a somewhat controversial disc and is dimmer than most home video masters, I actually compared how the film looked on various display technologies at the time and found it to look completely flat on the calibrated LED TV I used for the comparison, but it looked fantastic on OLED and fared well in projection too. I recently praised Criterion's SDR UHD of Seven Samurai which some felt was flat, but on a UST projector that disc looked incredible with plenty of depth. I did however add a caveat to my comments stating that YMMV when it comes to such discs and that such a presentation may not play nice with different displays.

That said, I am incredibly excited for this and The Brood. All of the Cronenberg UHDs so far have been absolutely fantastic (especially Naked Lunch) so I'm hoping for more of the same with these two.

[SpacemanDoug]

Will this release have the mono track?

[KhangPham2006]

Just pre-ordered the Limited Edition cause why not, love me some Cronenberg's 4ks.

[geomon]

Originally Posted by SpacemanDoug

Will this release have the mono track?

It's listed as having a DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo track.

[KhangPham2006]

FIM confirmed

[Rollo Tomassi]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

Re: brightness/contrast. I find a lot of these grades that some describe as "dull" or "washed out" can look vastly different depending on the display. Since it was a somewhat controversial disc and is dimmer than most home video masters, I actually compared how the film looked on various display technologies at the time and found it to look completely flat on the calibrated LED TV I used for the comparison, but it looked fantastic on OLED and fared well in projection too. I recently praised Criterion's SDR UHD of Seven Samurai which some felt was flat, but on a UST projector that disc looked incredible with plenty of depth. I did however add a caveat to my comments stating that YMMV when it comes to such discs and that such a presentation may not play nice with different displays.
.

That explains it: I never understood all the hate for the Criterion release. On my OLED it looks great!

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by geomon

It's listed as having a DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo track.

I bet that is an accidental error, same with The Brood listing. Those were both mono. Can't imagine they would want to deviate from the original audio.

[Rollo Tomassi]

Originally Posted by KhangPham2006

FIM confirmed

YEESSS!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DDArjBv-TCY

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by KhangPham2006

FIM confirmed

My head exploded.