The Matrix 4K UHD (1999)

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Originally Posted by GohanX

Only the original DVD and laserdisc releases have the original color grading. Subsequent releases were regraded and had more green to match the sequels. If you remember it looking different in the theater your are correct.

This is false. None of the home video releases have the original color timing, especially the original DVD which is further off than the Blu-ray.

Scenes set in the Matrix had a green push and scenes set in the real world were blue. As evidenced by the original prints which are a much better reference than wildly inaccurate telecines from almost two decades ago. Also, an archival interview with the DP also supports the blue/green color choices.

1999 DVD = Missing the green in the Matrix scenes (appear yellow and brown instead), real world scenes are too magenta-pushed and lacking blue.

Blu-ray = Mixture of too much and not enough green in the Matrix scenes, lacks blue in the real world scenes.

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Originally Posted by OutOfBoose

This scene looks really different on 35mm print. Far cry from both DVD and blu:

[Show spoiler]

As well as this one:

[Show spoiler]

They don't have any green tint. And if they're more or less accurate representations, no wonder I felt puzzled by the home releases.

These should only be used for a rough idea only. The first image hasn't been optimized for digital and has low gamma without the contrast and saturation you'd see on a print being projected.

The second image is a capture of the film being projected on a screen. Nonetheless, the green hue is still visible in both images.

[Mr Anderson]

Do the credits show who does the timing and color work on an UHD?

I'm wondering if we'll be able to find out if the Wachowski's personally supervised this release of The Matrix on UHD, or if someone else did with them checking a few scenes here and there.

I hope they are as hands on as they can be to help deliver whatever their best current intention for how they want the film to look in 2018 and for posterity's sake in the future.

I hope it turns out excellent and not like T2.

[DragoonClawNZ]

Here's the two shots from the 35mm scan if it helps:





Doubt the 4K BD will show much difference to what the previous BD has shown, but hopefully it'll be a good enough transfer to do a LUT colour grade on.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

And O Brother was an exception, being the first. Although, all the original trailers I've seen of it had the film's color timing.

I remember a proper trailer with the green as well.

O Brother Where Art Thou? Trailer with George Clooney - YouTube

[captainsolo]

None of the transfers really do the film justice. The ‘99 is great for its time and does what it can very well considering it was designed around vhs and Laserdisc ntsc standards as well as dvd. The real problem arose in 2004 when they made the new master for the reissue dvd and overzealously tried to match the sequels and in addition messed with contrast and black levels alongside the color palette.

[OutOfBoose]

The blacks are fine on the blu. The problem is highlights.

[eddievanhalen]

Originally Posted by captainsolo

None of the transfers really do the film justice. The ‘99 is great for its time and does what it can very well considering it was designed around vhs and Laserdisc ntsc standards as well as dvd. The real problem arose in 2004 when they made the new master for the reissue dvd and overzealously tried to match the sequels and in addition messed with contrast and black levels alongside the color palette.

Maybe they didn't even make a new transfer for the 2004 re-release, they just recicled the 1999 transfer and tweake it to look more like the two sequels.

[flyry]

I need that pre-order link in my life

[Mr Anderson]

Originally Posted by flyry

I need that pre-order link in my life

I'd settle for the release date and a press release.

[Viking61]

I don't know how much we should trust this, but CD Universe has Matrix 4K UHD up for pre-order with US release date May 22.

https://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=11307727

[Scottie]

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT
ANNOUNCES THE GROUNDBREAKING FILM
THE MATRIX
TO BE RELEASED ON ULTRA HD BLU-RAY COMBO PACK
AND DIGITAL MAY 22

ACCLAIMED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST SCIENCE FICTION FILMS OF ALL TIME, THE MATRIX WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4K RESOLUTION WITH HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE (HDR)

4K Ultra HD Combo Pack also includes a remastered Blu-ray Disc

BURBANK, CA, March 13, 2018 – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced today that 1999’s acclaimed sci-fi action classic The Matrix will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and Digital on May 22nd. Directed by the Wachowskis (The Matrix Trilogy, Cloud Atlas, Jupiter Ascending) and starring Keanu Reeves as Neo, Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus, and Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, The Matrix is widely considered to be one of the most influential films in recent history.

Written and directed by the Wachowskis and produced by Joel Silver, The Matrix won four Academy Awards* and revolutionized the sci-fi action film genre. The Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures film was the first to sell more than one million DVDs, is included on multiple lists of the top sci-fi films of all time, and in 2012 was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.

The Matrix 4K UHD release is from a new scan of the original camera negative and is the first remaster of the film in nearly 15 years. The 4K UHD remaster was supervised by the film’s director of photography, Bill Pope (The Matrix Trilogy, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, Baby Driver). A remastered Blu-ray disc from the new 4K scan is also included.

Ultra HD** showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc of The Matrix will feature Dolby VisionTM HDR that dramatically expands the color palette and contrast range and uses dynamic metadata to automatically optimize the picture for every screen — frame by frame.

Also, the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray discs of The Matrix will feature a Dolby Atmos® soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. To experience Dolby Atmos at home, a Dolby Atmos enabled AV receiver and additional speakers are required, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar. Dolby Atmos soundtracks are also fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment.

The Matrix will be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack for $41.99 SRP and features an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the feature film in 4K with HDR and digitally remastered Blu-ray disc of the The Matrix. Fans can also own The Matrix in 4K Ultra HD via purchase from select digital retailers beginning on May 22, 2018. The 4K, Blu-ray and Digital versions of the film will include more than 3 hours of previously released extras. The 4K UHD disc and the digitally remastered Blu-ray will include the previously released written intro from the Wachowskis and four commentaries. The bonus disc will include the other previously released special features.

SYNOPSIS

Perception: Our day-in, day-out world is real.

Reality: That world is a hoax, an elaborate deception spun by all-powerful machines of artificial intelligence that control us.

Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne lead the fight to free humankind in the see-and-see-again cyberthriller written and directed by the Wachowskis, and winner of four Academy Awards.

Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Elements

The Matrix Ultra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:
· Written Introduction by the Wachowskis
· “Philosopher” Commentary by Dr. Cornel West and Ken Wilbur
· “Critics” Commentary by Todd McCarthy, John Powers and David Thomson
· “Cast & Crew” Commentary by Carrie-Anne Moss, Zach Staenberg and John Gaeta
· “Composer” Commentary by Don Davis with Music Only Track

The Matrix Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:
· The Matrix Revisited
· Follow the White Rabbit
· Take the Red Pill
· Marilyn Manson “Rock is Dead” Music Video
· Teaser Trailer
· Theatrical Trailer
· TV Spots

[Pieter V]

Scan from the original 35mm, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. However, I will wait for the backcover, then I am sure of the Dolby specs.

REMASTER FROM 4K SCAN SUPERVISED BY DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY BILL POPE

[imsounoriginal]

Love that cover.

[Batman1084]

We can probably expect the pre-order links to go up soon. This is pretty awesome! With last year us basically getting most of Nolan's flicks, the Apes trilogy, Blade Runner... would be awesome to get this, Alien and Aliens, and hopefully an awesome transfer of T1 on UHD.

One can dream, I know... but with us getting Gladiator and Matrix in 2018 - this year is looking fantastic. Just hoping we get more UHD releases for other awesome flicks as well - even not-action. I am always looking for a reason to upgrade my all-time favorite flicks.

[Jlouisbarrett]

That is a nice cover, looks like it will be foiled or holographic.

The press release mentions a “Dolby Atmos soundbar”... what would be the point of that? Isn’t the purpose of Atmos to deliver a fully immersive, surround audio experience? How can you possibly replicate that with a sound bar?

[bluescholar]

I--- I'm... I'm verklempt.

[Geoff D]

Oh sweet baby Morpheus. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! And you know what I'm loving about this? It's that Bill Pope is supervising it, not the Wachowskis, so he'll know exactly what his photography SHOULD look like.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Jlouisbarrett

That is a nice cover, looks like it will be foiled or holographic.

The press release mentions a “Dolby Atmos soundbar”... what would be the point of that? Isn’t the purpose of Atmos to deliver a fully immersive, surround audio experience? How can you possibly replicate that with a sound bar?

It says OR an Atmos soundbar, it's just being all-inclusive as to the Atmos-enabled tech that's out there. Kinda like the old "plays on PS3" sticker on Blu-ray when it first came out, don't worry about it.

[infiniteCR]

New bluray! If they do a standalone release of that, they'll definitely have a sale here.