Altered States 4K UHD (1980) (Criterion Collection) - Page 4 - Blu-ray Forum

HundredYearLurker · 07-16-2025, 05:55 PM

I'd add that Russell's best work is from two periods: (1) the amazing run of feature films starting with Women in Love (1969) through Mahler (1974), and (2) the arts documentaries he made for Omnibus and Monitor throughout the 60s.

His late-70s stuff (Tommy, Valentino, Lisztomania) are insane spectacles and I love them dearly.

His 80s stuff, starting with Altered States, loses me a bit but I find a lot to like here. In fact, I just watched the recent BFI release of Gothic last weekend as part of a Frankenstein themed thing I've had going on lately. Salome's Last Dance and Lair of the White Worm are also lovely morsels of Russell goodness, but certainly pale next to his monumental early-70s masterpieces.

DimitriL · 07-16-2025, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

Still, cringing in anticipation of dat inevitable subpar compression.....But I can't NOT buy it. We shall see how it fares.

Criterion hasn't had a real compression issue since they started doing 4k. All that extra bandwidth did wonders for them.

(The only place where that seems to rear its head is when they jam in a full feature film as a glorified extra - like Texasville, or more notoriously, the color version of Basquiat. Those "supplements" are generally really problematic in terms of compression. Even then, the main features have been gorgeous.)

dallywhitty · 07-16-2025, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HundredYearLurker

His 80s stuff, starting with Altered States, loses me a bit but I find a lot to like here. In fact, I just watched the recent BFI release of Gothic last weekend as part of a Frankenstein themed thing I've had going on lately. Salome's Last Dance and Lair of the White Worm are also lovely morsels of Russell goodness, but certainly pale next to his monumental early-70s masterpieces.

Okay, but what do you think of Wh0re?

ghostof82 · 07-16-2025, 06:10 PM

It's an ugly cover. Gets uglier every time I see it. Admittedly it's a very strange movie, but the design team must have been doing mushrooms for research, ahem 😃.

DimitriL · 07-16-2025, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostof82

It's an ugly cover. Gets uglier every time I see it. Admittedly it's a very strange movie, but the design team must have been doing mushrooms for research, ahem 😃.

I love it EXCEPT the artist has this obsession with skulls, which is, like, not even a little bit of a motif in Altered States? As I mentioned somewhere else, William Hurt isn’t disintegrating in this film, his body isn’t decomposing - he’s devolving into an earlier form. I feel like the artist’s obsession took hold.

And yet? I love the general loopiness of the design.

ghostof82 · 07-16-2025, 06:47 PM

It would probably fit the recent-ish The Colour Out of Space better. An all-black void with the silhouette of a submerged William Hurt down in the corner, as if lost and alone in an expanding void.... That would fit and be an arresting image.

Rayjg · 07-16-2025, 07:13 PM

Lair of the White Worm is my favorite.

Dubstar · 07-16-2025, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HundredYearLurker

I'd add that Russell's best work is from two periods: (1) the amazing run of feature films starting with Women in Love (1969) through Mahler (1974), and (2) the arts documentaries he made for Omnibus and Monitor throughout the 60s.

His late-70s stuff (Tommy, Valentino, Lisztomania) are insane spectacles and I love them dearly.

His 80s stuff, starting with Altered States, loses
me a bit but I find a lot to like here. In fact, I just watched the recent BFI release of Gothic last weekend as part of a Frankenstein themed thing I've had going on lately. Salome's Last Dance and Lair of the White
Worm are also lovely morsels of Russell goodness, but certainly pale next to his monumental early-70s
masterpieces.

My least favorite is "Wh*re".

What no one likes "The Boyfriend" ??

My top three are:
- The Devils
- Women in Love
- The Boyfriend

Quote:

Originally Posted by Driver78

Never seen this. Is this supposed to be Ken Russell's best film? I couldn't quite get into Crimes of Passion and I sort of dislike Lair of the White Worm.

Kyle15 · 07-16-2025, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DimitriL

Criterion hasn't had a real compression issue since they started doing 4k. All that extra bandwidth did wonders for them.

Oh, that's not

eXtofer · 07-16-2025, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Okay, but what do you think of Wh0re?

[Show spoiler]

Omg! I never heard of this motion picture but after watching that clip I must watch the entire thing now.

dallywhitty · 07-16-2025, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eXtofer

Omg! I never heard of this motion picture but after watching that clip I must watch the entire thing now.

Don't let anybody tell you that Wh0re is a bad film. It's ace. Theresa Russell is brilliant in it.

HundredYearLurker · 07-16-2025, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Okay, but what do you think of Wh0re?

***** (1991) - A Dinner Date with a ***** & Her Pimp - YouTube

I think it's time for me to revisit this movie! I haven't seen it in maybe... three decades?

dissention · 07-16-2025, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Don't let anybody tell you that Wh0re is a bad film. It's ace. Theresa Russell is brilliant in it.

She is HILARIOUS in it, a lot of the film hinges on her narration & she nails it. I’m also a big fan of her in Roeg’s Cold Heaven, which is just as maligned as Wh0re but I’ve always dug it.

Batgirl911 · 07-16-2025, 10:39 PM

That clip reminded me how terrible Russell is in *****. I blame Rusell

lesco · 07-16-2025, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubstar

What no one likes "The Boyfriend" ??

It's my favourite Russell. Saw it twice in a cinema, the shorter version first and then many years later the restored longer version. Shorter version's better. I met the musical arranger Peter Maxwell Davies at a party once, didn't know at the time that he'd also done the music for The Devils.

dallywhitty · 07-16-2025, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batgirl911

That clip reminded me how terrible Russel is in *****. I blame Rusell

HundredYearLurker · 07-16-2025, 10:45 PM

I may watch The Boyfriend tonight. Unfortunately don't have Wh0re or I'd give it a spin.

Led Zappa · 07-17-2025, 12:43 AM

I watched this around when it came out when I was 18 and it affected me

I watched it again probably 5 years ago and wasn't as impressed, but the video quality sucked wherever I saw it. Definitely time to give it another chance with this 4K release.

DenOfEarth · 07-17-2025, 04:58 AM

About time! A sci-fi horror trippy classic I first saw on video at 13 and been one of my favorite films of the sci-fi genre.

It’s quite a cronenberg type movie and should look amazing visually on 4k

Trekkie313 · 07-17-2025, 05:06 AM

I bought the old WB disc a few months ago in an Archives sale...glad I didn't open it?

07-16-2025, 05:55 PM	#61
HundredYearLurker Active Member Member since:Feb 2024 Location:SF 4K collection:413 Blu-ray collection:1383 DVD collection:463	I'd add that Russell's best work is from two periods: (1) the amazing run of feature films starting with Women in Love (1969) through Mahler (1974), and (2) the arts documentaries he made for Omnibus and Monitor throughout the 60s. His late-70s stuff (Tommy, Valentino, Lisztomania) are insane spectacles and I love them dearly. His 80s stuff, starting with Altered States, loses me a bit but I find a lot to like here. In fact, I just watched the recent BFI release of Gothic last weekend as part of a Frankenstein themed thing I've had going on lately. Salome's Last Dance and Lair of the White Worm are also lovely morsels of Russell goodness, but certainly pale next to his monumental early-70s masterpieces.

07-16-2025, 06:10 PM	#64
ghostof82 Senior Member Member since:Aug 2011 4K collection:34 Blu-ray collection:93	It's an ugly cover. Gets uglier every time I see it. Admittedly it's a very strange movie, but the design team must have been doing mushrooms for research, ahem 😃.

07-16-2025, 06:47 PM	#66
ghostof82 Senior Member Member since:Aug 2011 4K collection:34 Blu-ray collection:93	It would probably fit the recent-ish The Colour Out of Space better. An all-black void with the silhouette of a submerged William Hurt down in the corner, as if lost and alone in an expanding void.... That would fit and be an arresting image.

07-16-2025, 07:13 PM	#67
Rayjg Blu-ray Champion Member since:Aug 2016	Lair of the White Worm is my favorite.

07-16-2025, 10:39 PM	#74
Batgirl911 Active Member Member since:May 2015 Location:Oakland CA	That clip reminded me how terrible Russell is in *****. I blame Rusell

07-16-2025, 10:45 PM	#77
HundredYearLurker Active Member Member since:Feb 2024 Location:SF 4K collection:413 Blu-ray collection:1383 DVD collection:463	I may watch The Boyfriend tonight. Unfortunately don't have Wh0re or I'd give it a spin.

07-17-2025, 12:43 AM	#78
Led Zappa Senior Member Member since:Aug 2012 Location:Silicon Valley 4K collection:382 Blu-ray collection:648 DVD collection:83 Digital collection:192 Trading Score:5	I watched this around when it came out when I was 18 and it affected me I watched it again probably 5 years ago and wasn't as impressed, but the video quality sucked wherever I saw it. Definitely time to give it another chance with this 4K release.

07-17-2025, 04:58 AM	#79
DenOfEarth Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:May 2011 Location:Boulder City, Nevada 4K collection:164 Blu-ray collection:1556 DVD collection:229 Digital collection:1 Blu-ray reviews:1	About time! A sci-fi horror trippy classic I first saw on video at 13 and been one of my favorite films of the sci-fi genre. It’s quite a cronenberg type movie and should look amazing visually on 4k

07-17-2025, 05:06 AM	#80
Trekkie313 Blu-ray Baron Top contributor Member since:Nov 2010 Location:Ohio Home Theater Gallery:2 4K collection:206 Blu-ray collection:1650 DVD collection:547 Digital collection:156 Blu-ray reviews: 5 Trading Score:59	I bought the old WB disc a few months ago in an Archives sale...glad I didn't open it?

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