Super Fly (1972) coming from WAC

[Ianzombie]

That blu ray case looks sweet, but as much as i like this movie it is going to take more than that for me to upgrade this time. I understand a lot of people prefer to have things on blu ray, regardless of quality, but in some cases you might as well just chuck the dvd into a blu ray case.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

I don't know how "much, MUCH" better it could look even if it was a new scan from the OCN. It never was and never will be a beautiful looking movie and the visual aesthetics are meant to be gritty to match the subject matter.

Again, many other movies made with the same aesthetic at the same time, with similar budget and film stock, look much better. Because they got new scans. This film did not get a new scan, as caps show obviously. So... not sure what else to say. I'm bummed this didn't get a proper new scan, which would have benefited it immensely. Perhaps it wasn't possible for X or Y reason, but I'm still bummed.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Again, many other movies made with the same aesthetic at the same time, with similar budget and film stock, look much better. Because they got new scans. This film did not get a new scan, as caps show obviously. So... not sure what else to say. I'm bummed this didn't get a proper new scan, which would have benefited it immensely. Perhaps it wasn't possible for X or Y reason, but I'm still bummed.

No?

According to the specs on the first post of the thread it's a new 2018 1080p HD master.

[tama]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Again, many other movies made with the same aesthetic at the same time, with similar budget and film stock, look much better. Because they got new scans. This film did not get a new scan, as caps show obviously. So... not sure what else to say. I'm bummed this didn't get a proper new scan, which would have benefited it immensely. Perhaps it wasn't possible for X or Y reason, but I'm still bummed.

It's a brand new 2K scan

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by tama

It's a brand new 2K scan

I think the Caps show that it's obviously not. It's way too similar, with the same issues and the same general grain structure and whatnot. If it is somehow a new scan then the materials used must have been in terrible, terrible shape. Much worse than even a 16 millimeter like The Hills Have Eyes.

[tama]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I think the Caps show that it's obviously not. It's way too similar, with the same issues and the same general grain structure and whatnot. If it is somehow a new scan then the materials used must have been in terrible, terrible shape. Much worse than even a 16 millimeter like The Hills Have Eyes.

WAC press release says it is. Not to mention they always give both Michael Reuben and Robert Harris over at HTF the details and specs of their releases. This is a new 2K scan from this year off an IP. This is not based off an outdated master from 04 for a DVD release.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by tama

WAC press release says it is. Not to mention they always give both Michael Reuben and Robert Harris over at HTF the details and specs of their releases. This is a new 2K scan from this year off an IP. This is not based off an outdated master from 04 for a DVD release.

Fine. Either way it's arguably the worst upgrade I've ever seen, and I own a lot of movies. That's the core point. Buyer beware.

[Wren]

I was especially disappointed with the audio. It should've been poppin', but it sounds anemic to my ears.

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by Wren

I was especially disappointed with the audio. It should've been poppin', but it sounds anemic to my ears.

With a little work the music at least could've been encoded in Hi Fi stereo. The CD sounds great and the reviewer goes out of his way to say how the music "was created in a studio with the era's best recording technology". Very disappointed upon discovering that the disc's audio was mono 2.0 and not stereo.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

With a little work the music at least could've been encoded in Hi Fi stereo. The CD sounds great and the reviewer goes out of his way to say how the music "was created in a studio with the era's best recording technology". Very disappointed upon discovering that the disc's audio was mono 2.0 and not stereo.

Warner Archive always use original audio and I'm guessing this was mono in theaters, hence the mono track on the BD.

[Early Memphis]

Oh, absolutely, and the original audio should always be included for those so inclined. But, time and technology move on and just because they had to go mono on a low budget film showing in low budget theaters back then, it shouldn't shut down or hamstring future tech releases showing on equipment which didn't exist back then - for me, that's all films where the music was recorded in stereo, but especially films where the music was such an integral part of the show. Maybe we'll have to wait until Warner Archive becomes Warner Classics, but I'll be long dead & gone by then.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

With a little work the music at least could've been encoded in Hi Fi stereo. The CD sounds great and the reviewer goes out of his way to say how the music "was created in a studio with the era's best recording technology". Very disappointed upon discovering that the disc's audio was mono 2.0 and not stereo.

When Superfly was released theatrically in 1972, the soundtrack in the movie was mono, but when the soundtrack album was recorded in the studio by the late: Curtis Mayfield, it was in stereo. As a matter of fact, all the movies that were made and released in the early 70s, had mono soundtracks. The first movie that was released in Dolby Stereo was Lisztomania (1975).

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Oh, absolutely, and the original audio should always be included for those so inclined. But, time and technology move on and just because they had to go mono on a low budget film showing in low budget theaters back then, it shouldn't shut down or hamstring future tech releases showing on equipment which didn't exist back then - for me, that's all films where the music was recorded in stereo, but especially films where the music was such an integral part of the show. Maybe we'll have to wait until Warner Archive becomes Warner Classics, but I'll be long dead & gone by then.

I used to be a theatrical purist but HDR has kind of turned me around on that, so I could be open to remixes. The problem though is that remixes often change sound effects or bury the music now-a-days, which kills it for me. If they remastered the sound and discreetly opened it up I'd be more for it, but all too often we get Terminator's gun sound changes or Superman's opening whooshes drowning out the music. Meh.

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by slimdude

When Superfly was released theatrically in 1972, the soundtrack in the movie was mono, but when the soundtrack album was recorded by the late: Curtis Mayfield it was in stereo. As a matter of fact, all the movies that were made and released in the early 70s, had mono soundtracks. The first movie that was released in Dolby Stereo was Lisztomania (1975).

Yeah, I've had the CD ever since it came out. Might be Mayfield's best, certainly his tripiest.

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I used to be a theatrical purist but HDR has kind of turned me around on that, so I could be open to remixes. The problem though is that remixes often change sound effects or bury the music now-a-days, which kills it for me. If they remastered the sound and discreetly opened it up I'd be more for it, but all too often we get Terminator's gun sound changes or Superman's opening whooshes drowning out the music. Meh.

That's why they've gotta include the original audio. I could do without the Terminator gun crap. I'm really only arguing for including the stereo soundtrack when it was recorded in stereo or 4-track. In those cases, one could reasonably argue that stereo music was the "original" intent and should be honored now that technology has caught up. When it's the original stems, I even like positioning of background sounds, but you've got to stay with the volume levels of the original mix or you're "repainting" the whole aural soundscape.