Link 4K UHD (1986)

[ZombAid]

Got my copy yesterday and straight away gave it a swirl.
The 4K-UHD does indeed have HDR this time around and it's a wonderful transfer as usual from the Smoking Cats. Pristine Grain, no dirt can be found at all, besides the obligatory hair in the bottom corner sometimes. Subtitles can be disabled but the song at the beginning is with forced french subs. Strange choice, but okay.

Also, the running time on the package is declared wrong, thankfully and the movie has the correct running time of 103 minutes.

I'm very happy with every movie I bought from them so far and will continue to support their fabulous work.

[Liersi]

Originally Posted by ZombAid

Got my copy yesterday and straight away gave it a swirl.
The 4K-UHD does indeed have HDR this time around and it's a wonderful transfer as usual from the Smoking Cats. Pristine Grain, no dirt can be found at all, besides the obligatory hair in the bottom corner sometimes. Subtitles can be disabled but the song at the beginning is with forced french subs. Strange choice, but okay.

Also, the running time on the package is declared wrong, thankfully and the movie has the correct running time of 103 minutes.

I'm very happy with every movie I bought from them so far and will continue to support their fabulous work.

Where is this song with forced subs? I'm assuming they are forced by user prohibitions, not actually burnt in. I was finally able to rip the disc and it looks phenomenal on a quick check as you said. Finally HDR from Le Chat qui fume. And it seems to be a very cinematic grade as well. I skipped through a few daytime scenes and luminance topped out around 200 nits on a typical shot. No light cannon, very filmic. Glad LCQF finally saw the light, so to speak.

Bayan Ko is also HDR with the same qualities, btw. Very nice.

[ZombAid]

Originally Posted by Liersi

Where is this song with forced subs? I'm assuming they are forced by user prohibitions, not actually burnt in. I was finally able to rip the disc and it looks phenomenal on a quick check as you said. Finally HDR from Le Chat qui fume. And it seems to be a very cinematic grade as well. I skipped through a few daytime scenes and luminance topped out around 200 nits on a typical shot. No light cannon, very filmic. Glad LCQF finally saw the light, so to speak.

Bayan Ko is also HDR with the same qualities, btw. Very nice.

No, they're not burned in, forced by prohibition.
Right at the beginning of the movie, after the opening scene.

[Sleazeaddict]

They're not happy with HDR so don't expect it on next releases..

[Liersi]

Originally Posted by Sleazeaddict

They're not happy with HDR so don't expect it on next releases..

Found the response on FB. "Don't get used to it, not all releases are going to have it. We think it's ugly." What an odd statement, as it is only what you make of it. They're not saying they're abandoning it either, though. I'm guessing they have titles without in the pipeline and want to ward off any criticism. Ugly, though...when someone dislikes the tool instead of its application, it makes me wonder.

[okayflint]

Originally Posted by Liersi

Found the response on FB. "Don't get used to it, not all releases are going to have it. We think it's ugly." What an odd statement, as it is only what you make of it. They're not saying they're abandoning it either, though. I'm guessing they have titles without in the pipeline and want to ward off any criticism. Ugly, though...when someone dislikes the tool instead of its application, it makes me wonder.

I think your theory is 100% spot on. They have a few being worked on without it and would prefer to insult something rather than be honest

[NKB2017]

There seems to be a GERMAN version of 'LINK' coming soon... does anyone know if this new German release will be the same as this French one???

[EvilJames]

The German release of Link Der Butler (as it's titled over there) is Blu-ray only, not UHD, and is the same as the UK Blu-ray except for the addition of a German dub mono track.

[goodstuff]

Got mine yesterday, looking forward to checking it out!

[NKB2017]

Originally Posted by EvilJames

The German release of Link Der Butler (as it's titled over there) is Blu-ray only, not UHD, and is the same as the UK Blu-ray except for the addition of a German dub mono track.

OK. Thanks

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

man just can't find this, not even a single one for sale on ebay at any price
made so few not even scalpers got them

[OSHAN]

Arrived today with Blue Sunshine and Bayan Ko. Bought a lot of movies during BF sales as well. Now just need to find the time to watch all this stuff.

[samlop10]

Got something in the mail today…

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

has anyone spotted this turning up for sale anywhere? seems like it is one of the hardest to find discs ever made

[okayflint]

Originally Posted by WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW

has anyone spotted this turning up for sale anywhere? seems like it is one of the hardest to find discs ever made

No but I’d wait a couple weeks, people are just getting theirs, I’ll keep my eyes peeled tho

[samlop10]

Originally Posted by WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW

has anyone spotted this turning up for sale anywhere? seems like it is one of the hardest to find discs ever made

It was a very limited run and it sold out from the distributor. You’ll probably see it pop up on eBay or such, but likely at inflated/scalper prices.

It might get a release by a different company in a different country but time will tell.

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

Originally Posted by samlop10

It was a very limited run and it sold out from the distributor. You’ll probably see it pop up on eBay or such, but likely at inflated/scalper prices.

It might get a release by a different company in a different country but time will tell.

i'm surprised no copies have shown up on ebay already since the full on scalpers usually pre-list even before their copy/copies arrive

[samlop10]

Originally Posted by WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW

i'm surprised no copies have shown up on ebay already since the full on scalpers usually pre-list even before their copy/copies arrive

Lol yeah that is true. You might also find the odd case where a person doesn’t like the film and just wants to get rid of it so they sell it for what they paid for.

[brainofj72]

My oh my, what a beautiful transfer. Sad to hear LCQF aren’t planning on keeping up the HDR on future releases, because it really was the missing ingredient, as evinced by this lovely disc. All of their UHD work I’ve seen has been terrific, but the HDR finally brings them up to the level of one of the very best in the biz. Such a natural, understated, filmic presentation (and encoded flawlessly). I loved it.

Never seen the movie before, and kinda loved that too. I give Richard Franklin a lot of credit for pulling off a horror movie in which the antagonist is an ape. And not only does it not turn out laughable, but Link is a genuinely unsettling character.

Only downside to this disc is, as another poster mentioned above, there are some strangely random instances of forced French subs. Not a big deal since they don’t pop up much, but still.

[Liersi]

Originally Posted by brainofj72

Sad to hear LCQF aren’t planning on keeping up the HDR on future releases, because it really was the missing ingredient, as evinced by this lovely disc.

They didn't say that, just that it wouldn't be on all of them. I ventured a guess further up that it could be due to non-HDR material already in the pipeline. They did say they didn't like it, which I can't understand at all. As you say, the HDR on Link is a subtle extension of the dynamic range. Very filmic, no garish highlights. The same goes for Bayan Ko, which LCQF themselves restored. Sounds like it's more about saving face because they've been against it for so long.