Queer 4K UHD (2024) - MUBI

[grmayshark]

Just wanted to give some impressions on this release as I watched this film for the first time today and was totally blown away by the technical quality as well as the film itself.

The picture quality and HDR is revelatory. It is truly one of the best looking films in my collection and I have seen hundreds of 4Ks at this point. It is Luca’s usual cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom but the look of the film and how it paints 1950s Mexico City and South America is really something else you dont get from his modern-day set films. Fantastic grading and color palette throughout. The Reznor-Ross soundtrack is fantastic as usual, and though we seemingly arent getting a Challengers 4K this will fill the gap because I really loved this movie. It is deeply sad but has an incredible heart and humor throughout and a really great take on sexuality and intimacy in the face of addiction and mental health.

The downside here is the Mubi release is as bare bones (and all) as they get. Just some art cards and one 14 minute featurette on Lucas work as a whole. The A24 blu-ray only totally dwarfs it in comparison. However, the 4K transfer is ****ing fantastic so I would always recommend that over some bonus features

[nicwood]

Can’t wait! Mine should be here Friday at the latest. So, so glad that MUBI stepped up and did the film justice.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by grmayshark

we seemingly arent getting a Challengers 4K

We'll most likely get one next year from Shout, after Amazon's 2-year exclusivity window ends, just like we did with Bones and All.

[Nitroes]

Never understood slipcovers with exactly same artwork as the plastic box but I'm glad to have supported MUBI*


*Thanks to the HMV 20% off tax credit. Bargains no longer available since HMVgate.

[nicwood]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

We'll most likely get one next year from Shout, after Amazon's 2-year exclusivity window ends, just like we did with Bones and All.

I wouldn’t yet bet on that unfortunately. Bones and All was produced and released right before the Amazon-MGM merger got through and the company became Amazon MGM. I don’t think we’ve gotten any of the Amazon MGM-produced films on disc except for what they put out themselves via Warner. Criterion attempted to license Nickel Boys but were turned down. Saltburn would’ve also been a wonderful candidate for a 4K disc via Shout but that hasn’t happened either although they surely asked just like Licorice Pizza, but that’s a whole different constellation.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d love nothing more than to see Challengers released in 4K but I’m pessimistic at the moment.

[Hedrox]

Originally Posted by nicwood

I wouldn’t yet bet on that unfortunately. Bones and All was produced and released right before the Amazon-MGM merger got through and the company became Amazon MGM. I don’t think we’ve gotten any of the Amazon MGM-produced films on disc except for what they put out themselves via Warner. Criterion attempted to license Nickel Boys but were turned down. Saltburn would’ve also been a wonderful candidate for a 4K disc via Shout but that hasn’t happened either although they surely asked just like Licorice Pizza, but that’s a whole different constellation.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d love nothing more than to see Challengers released in 4K but I’m pessimistic at the moment.

While I agree that noting is certain, looking through their catalogue there aren't that many movies that I can see studios being interested in doing a physical release for, and pretty much all the popular ones that came out after the deal went though (March 17, 2022 or October 4, 2023 if you want to go by when it officially took the Amazon MGM name) are less than two years old. Saltburn, American Fiction, Challengers, The Idea of You, Nickel Boys, maybe Roadhouse.

It could just be down to them wanting a two year streaming exclusivity, and not budging from that even for Criterion. We'll see, Saltburn turns two in November so that one might get a release by the end of the year, to confirm our theory.

[nicwood]

Originally Posted by Hedrox

While I agree that noting is certain, looking through their catalogue there aren't that many movies that I can see studios being interested in doing a physical release for, and pretty much all the popular ones that came out after the deal went though (March 17, 2022 or October 4, 2023 if you want to go by when it officially took the Amazon MGM name) are less than two years old. Saltburn, American Fiction, Challengers, The Idea of You, Nickel Boys, maybe Roadhouse.

It could just be down to them wanting a two year streaming exclusivity, and not budging from that even for Criterion. We'll see, Saltburn turns two in November so that one might get a release by the end of the year, to confirm our theory.

Absolutely. On the other hand, Kino licensed and announced their Bottoms release less than a year after the theatrical release. That’s technically an Orion title but it’s going through MGM and they seemingly had no problem to give them the film pretty much straight away. The time it took for Kino to release the actual disc was due to Tarzi waiting for the director and cast members to record a commentary. Whatever’s been the case with Shout and the ~ two-year windows they had to adhere to, Kino proved that things could go sooner with MGM. Heck, maybe even Shout licensed the films as early as KL but didn’t put them out sooner for whatever reason.

At any rate, here’s hoping for great news in the months ahead!

[cubanlinx]

Disc Size: 92,687,350,886 bytes
Protection: AACS2
Playlist: 00003.MPLS
Size: 88,542,204,096 bytes
Length: 2:17:08.041
Total Bitrate: 86.09 Mbps
Video: MPEG-H HEVC Video / 74997 kbps / 2160p / 24 fps / 16:9 / Main 10 @ Level 5.1 @ High / 10 bits / HDR10 / BT.2020
Audio: English / DTS-HD Master Audio / 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3498 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio: English / DTS-HD Master Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2045 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio: English / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -26dB
Audio: German / Dolby Digital Audio / 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -30dB
Audio: German / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -29dB
Subtitle: English / 0.194 kbps
Subtitle: English / 11.706 kbps
Subtitle: English / 20.058 kbps
Subtitle: German / 0.812 kbps
Subtitle: German / 14.475 kbps
Subtitle: Turkish / 11.980 kbps

[nicwood]

Got both the A24 BD and MUBI 4K today. Clearly an embarrassment of riches all at once.

I’ll make it short and sweet: Both releases can be highly recommended. No need to be sad if one’s only BD-compatible or doesn’t want to import MUBI’s essentially barebones disc.

The A24 is expertly encoded with no discernible filtering and / or blocking. It really is a spectacular presentation of the film.

The MUBI BD is like the A24 in terms of how well it resolves grain but they filtered the image gently. Most viewers won’t notice it, probably not even in a back-and-forty comparison but that’s okay. It’s still a very good presentation.

The 4K is also very good but not excellent. Of course it’s ever-so-slightly finer and more detailed than the A24 disc and the gentle HDR (~220 nits maximum) makes the 4K disc a remarkably film-like experience and definitely the preferred disc. The one slight downside is some blocking in the highlights here and there, particularly in the second half of the film. Nothing egregiously bad at all but pixel-peepers will probably notice it.

MUBI still deserves credit for releasing this wonderful film in 4K and I hope it does well for them. The all-around better release however is the A24 due to the bonus features and the inclusion of the Atmos mix.

[birdztudio]

Originally Posted by cubanlinx

[Show spoiler]Disc Size: 92,687,350,886 bytes
Protection: AACS2
Playlist: 00003.MPLS
Size: 88,542,204,096 bytes
Length: 2:17:08.041
Total Bitrate: 86.09 Mbps
Video: MPEG-H HEVC Video / 74997 kbps / 2160p / 24 fps / 16:9 / Main 10 @ Level 5.1 @ High / 10 bits / HDR10 / BT.2020
Audio: English / DTS-HD Master Audio / 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3498 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio: English / DTS-HD Master Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2045 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio: English / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -26dB
Audio: German / Dolby Digital Audio / 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -30dB
Audio: German / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -29dB
Subtitle: English / 0.194 kbps
Subtitle: English / 11.706 kbps
Subtitle: English / 20.058 kbps
Subtitle: German / 0.812 kbps
Subtitle: German / 14.475 kbps
Subtitle: Turkish / 11.980 kbps

is this A24? i wondered since there's German audio & subtitle

[nicwood]

Originally Posted by birdztudio

is this A24? i wondered since there's German audio & subtitle

This is the MUBI 4K disc as released in the UK and later Germany.

[Hedrox]

Did you compare the two versions for any cuts? Namely the scene at about 41 min in. I mentioned in the Luca Guadagnino BD thread how the A24 streaming version is missing a shot compared to MUBI's theatrical release (as reported by those who watched it in theaters).

[nicwood]

Originally Posted by Hedrox

Did you compare the two versions for any cuts? Namely the scene at about 41 min in. I mentioned in the Luca Guadagnino BD thread how the A24 streaming version is missing a shot compared to MUBI's theatrical release (as reported by those who watched it in theaters).

Not yet but I’m planning on watching the MUBI 4K later today. I’ll let you know if I can spot it.

[birdztudio]

Originally Posted by nicwood

This is the MUBI 4K disc as released in the UK and later Germany.

thank you very much
my bad, i thought i was in A24 thread

[nicwood]

Originally Posted by Hedrox

Did you compare the two versions for any cuts? Namely the scene at about 41 min in. I mentioned in the Luca Guadagnino BD thread how the A24 streaming version is missing a shot compared to MUBI's theatrical release (as reported by those who watched it in theaters).

I saw where A24 made the cut. They didn’t fully excise that particular shot but only what they must have thought was the most "explicit" part. Honestly, it’s ridiculous as the uncensored part of the shot still shows

[Show spoiler]Starkey in his underwear and not fully naked.

I don’t think there are any other cuts in that scene, at least I couldn’t see anything that caught my eyes. So, for the record, the MUBI seems to be uncut.

The A24 disc runs 2:16:25. Logos are the same between the two versions except for the missing MUBI and A24 logo vice versa. The difference beyond the cut may be due to 23.976 vs 24.000 FPS.

Another thing: While watching and occasionally glancing at the particular areas, none of the encoding things I mentioned earlier actually bothered me. The only time grain is coarser, but still not outright mushy is an early scene in the film with

[Show spoiler]Craig and Omar Apollo in the hotel

when the red doors are visible. Same on the A24 BD. Enjoy your discs, everyone! They’re fantastic.

[BluProofie]

I got mine yesterday, excited to revisit my favorite film of last year.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by nicwood

I saw where A24 made the cut. They didn’t fully excise that particular shot but only what they must have thought was the most "explicit" part. Honestly, it’s ridiculous as the uncensored part of the shot still shows

[Show spoiler]Starkey in his underwear and not fully naked.

I don’t think there are any other cuts in that scene, at least I couldn’t see anything that caught my eyes. So, for the record, the MUBI seems to be uncut.

The A24 disc runs 2:16:25. Logos are the same between the two versions except for the missing MUBI and A24 logo vice versa. The difference beyond the cut may be due to 23.976 vs 24.000 FPS.

Another thing: While watching and occasionally glancing at the particular areas, none of the encoding things I mentioned earlier actually bothered me. The only time grain is coarser, but still not outright mushy is an early scene in the film with

[Show spoiler]Craig and Omar Apollo in the hotel

when the red doors are visible. Same on the A24 BD. Enjoy your discs, everyone! They’re fantastic.

Huh, I didn't look at the spoiler because I haven't seen the film, but I'm annoyed with A24 if they've released a cut / censored version, however minor the deletion(s) might be. I guess that's another reason to get the MUBI 4K UHD release.

[james702283]

I received mine from Amazon UK today. For some reason the UHD disc won't play in my player or show up on my pc BD libre drive which is region free and I rip tons of discs with. It just loads forever and then says no disc. The 1080p disc works/rips fine.

[James Luckard]

I bought both the Mubi UHD and the A24 BD as well.

Midway through watching the commentary on the A24, and I agree, it's really not a huge step down from the Mubi UHD. I'll have to look for that one deleted shot.

I will add, the 15-minute featurette on the Mubi UHD is SPECTACULAR.

I would go as far as saying it's the best featurette I've ever seen in thirty years of buying DVDs/BDs/UHDs.

It does an utterly brilliant job of conveying Guadagnino's personal aesthetic and his approach to cinema. It draws from what seem to be dozens of video interviews he's given, along with clips from every one of his films, masterfully assembled into the best short summation I've ever seen of one director's work.

The final montage actually had me in tears, I'm not joking, it's that powerful and beautiful. That's only happened one other time during a film doc, the final montage in the Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures doc.

Honestly, I'm grateful I had to buy the Mubi version to get a UHD, just so it meant I got this featurette. I'm planning to write the editor of the featurette a fan letter on LinkedIn, it's that good!

[James Luckard]

Wow, Mubi put the featurette I was talking about online for free viewing:

Video essay: “Luca Guadagnino: Projecting Desire� | MUBI - YouTube