Last Year In Marienbad (4K Remaster) - September 17, 2018

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by Killer Meteor

Are the subtitles fully in the film frame this time?

No, they are not.

Anyhoo here's my comparison!

Bitrates:

CC


SC


Screengrabs:

[Show spoiler]CC top/SC bottom

Here's the imgur page for a better look: https://imgur.com/a/Ot1j4DA

The SC looks a lot more filmic and has better compression. Colors look more true, though slightly whiter.

+EDIT+

I totally overlooked that there is a bit of a framing difference. The SC is ever-so slightly tighter than the CC and appears properly "centered" if that's the term I'm looking for.

[See Rad]

Interesting to note the differences in subtitle translations between this and the Criterion disc. The CC text is more elegant and poetic, while the SC is more terse. The Criterion approach might seem more appropriate at first, but then again the Robbe-Grillet novels I've read are more like the StudioCanal in their directness of language.

[JoePo]

Ignorant technical question but why wouldn't a company max out bit rates?

[PowellPressburger]

Got an extra copy of this and Indicator’s Absolution cause i accidently did a duplicate order didnt realize it until was too late.

I think image quality was really good, didn’t compare it to the Criterion yet... figure Caps a Holic will have screen comparisons up eventually.

Just wish this film could get a good audio commentary.

[ravenus]

This site review says "small but meaningful improvements" but to me the screenshots say major improvements. In comparison the older Criterion release seems to have been somewhat sharpened, while here you see more detail and a greater filmic look.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by ravenus

This site review says "small but meaningful improvements" but to me the screenshots say major improvements. In comparison the older Criterion release seems to have been somewhat sharpened, while here you see more detail and a greater filmic look.

To me it looks like the Criterion is using a source with less fine detail but greater contrast. Dont know which contrast level is correct. I dont think the Criterion was sharpened that much but it has significant compression artifacts that stand out.

Personally i prefer the detail and compression of the new SC release, but I also prefer the punchier contrast of the old Criterion release.

[Dubliner1]

Thanks to Svet for a great review

[TravisTylerBlack]

A little bit in love with this disc. Gorgeous presentation/restoration with strong encoding.

The StudioCanal catalogue (along with UK-only Arrow) was a huge incentive for my going region free here in the States. This title in particular is a real crown jewel, so needless to say I’m thrilled they got it right! ��

[minister_x]

Originally Posted by JoePo

Ignorant technical question but why wouldn't a company max out bit rates?

There might be no specific advantage above a certain point I would guess - if, to all intents and purposes, it looks virtually indistinguishable between 30Mbps and 34Mbps, there's no need for the higher one?

Also, as might be the case here, there's a few hours of bonus material taking up space...

...and speaking of that, how come Studio Canal decided something [the 49 min Alain Robbe-Grillet doc] the BBFC rated 15 is now acceptable at U?

[minister_x]

Had this come through yesterday. At initial glance, the image looks fantastic - also showcased on the restored trailer (although said trailer has also been redone for a modern audience, and the music is a bit jarring).

Other random, less important thoughts:
- Studio Canal have been up to their usual trick of locking down remote access to audio and subtitles and then stashing alternatives away under different language menus, so there's also a German DTS-HD MA track and French HoH and German subtitles under the respective language menus.
- For some reason, Studio Canal have decided to reauthor all of the supplements (except the trailer) into 1080i50 containers. Given the previous release used 1080p24 and 1080i60 as it was a dual region disc going to (NTSC) Japan as well, this seems like they've created extra work for themselves for no good reason - and arguably resulting in a lesser offering (should the short films not be 1080p24?). The mind boggles. At least the most important thing - the film - doesn't appear to have been screwed up!

[ionsi]

Originally Posted by minister_x

Had this come through yesterday. At initial glance, the image looks fantastic - also showcased on the restored trailer (although said trailer has also been redone for a modern audience, and the music is a bit jarring).

Other random, less important thoughts:
- Studio Canal have been up to their usual trick of locking down remote access to audio and subtitles and then stashing alternatives away under different language menus, so there's also a German DTS-HD MA track and French HoH and German subtitles under the respective language menus.
- For some reason, Studio Canal have decided to reauthor all of the supplements (except the trailer) into 1080i50 containers. Given the previous release used 1080p24 and 1080i60 as it was a dual region disc going to (NTSC) Japan as well, this seems like they've created extra work for themselves for no good reason - and arguably resulting in a lesser offering (should the short films not be 1080p24?). The mind boggles. At least the most important thing - the film - doesn't appear to have been screwed up!

Can someone tell me what sense does it make to do it that way? Why don‘t they just make all audio and subtitle options available easier?

[minister_x]

Because Studio Canal like to think they're being clever... Also frustrating that they lock out audio and subtitle switching on the fly. No good reason for it at all; it just makes for an incredibly frustrating experience.

[Matt89]

Just got this from Amazon the other day. Glad I replaced my Criterion with this edition, the transfer is absolutely gorgeous. Not that the Criterion looked bad, but considering it's from 2009, you can really see the improvements in the new transfer. The grain is so nicely rendered I was blown away watching this, it looks really beautiful.

My only gripe is SC's awful habit of splitting the subtitles between the bottom of the frame and the black bar beneath it. Ugh, it's so distracting.

~Matt

[kristoffer]

Just ordered this from Zoom. Have never watched!

[PGW]

Going by the screen caps, in every instance the SC looks a) more cropped, b) less detailed.

[israels]

Originally Posted by PGW

Going by the screen caps, in every instance the SC looks a) more cropped, b) less detailed.

I don't know what release you are comparing it to, but either way it sounds like you're looking att the old SC release.

Here is the new SC compared to the Kino and Criterion:

SC: https://images4.static-bluray.com/re...63_5_1080p.jpg
Kino: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/103/last_ye...ad_blu-ray.jpg
Criterion: https://images2.static-bluray.com/re...3_14_1080p.jpg

SC: https://images.static-bluray.com/rev...63_2_1080p.jpg
Kino: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/103/last_ye...ad_blu-ray.jpg
Criterion: https://images4.static-bluray.com/re...03_3_1080p.jpg

[Tuc0]

Originally Posted by Matt89

My only gripe is SC's awful habit of splitting the subtitles between the bottom of the frame and the black bar beneath it. Ugh, it's so distracting.

~Matt

With Panasonic players or well atleast with ub820 and 900 you can fortunately move subs although I prefer them always split between bar

[NeoNical]

What disappoints me most with this release is the cropping or tighter image they represent. I rather have the more looser image of Criterion. However, SC and Kino have wonderful detail and sharpness and the contrast is a little too light but they do seem to show more detail probably due to the brightened contrast.

In conclusion, it's a a close to perfection Blu-ray release.