Dressed to Kill (1980)

[rdandura]

Will there be an update to the Blu-Ray review when the corrected disc comes out, so we can know if it is worth buying?

[Mr. Chaverria]

Color grading is the same as the original CC remaster, no?

[DaveyJoe]

Mulvaney confirmed that the color timing will be the DVD-era magenta push that folks on this forum seem to prefer.

[Needleman]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

If resolution isn't everything, then why aren't we still watching VHS tape?

That said, I never said resolution was everything. What I DID say was that straight 1080p films in the early days of digital can't hold a candle to 35mm, and it's a shame so many films were shot that way and compromised their visuals, since film is first and foremost a visual medium. And nothing you said changes that fact.

If the 2.5K Alexa is perfect then why are all of Arri's new cameras 4K?

First point is a ridiculous comparison. The threshold at which resolution isn't "everything" obviously caps out after VHS. VHS had more problems than just the resolution, too, FYI.


Impaired resolution impairing films because films are a visual medium is foolish. They are a visual medium, but there is no way that isn't idiotic to assert that they are a visual medium that necessitates or even naturally imply cleanliness. Many films intentionally look worse than they could. All grounds are grounds to play on. Things looking worse may be better for the film. Heck in the early days of digital there was an effort from the art house cinema community to push how unimportant the superior quality of 35mm can be to a film. Lars Von Trier probably is the best example of it, given that he's probably the best of the troupe that was doing that sort of thing.

4k Arri cameras are here because more resolution can still be appreciated. 4k itself is a marketing term being pushed that's as dumb as the bit wars were in early video game consoles. It's simply easier to focus on the resolution than take up the other billion factors that affect image quality on home media. 4k Arri cameras probably look better than the 2.5k ones in ways that aren't even tied to resolution, 4k just happens to be one of the new things important to its quality.

There's no great loss that many films have been shot in 2k/2.5k. But since people like to complain about anything, especially when it pertains to the most superficial of modern technology measurements, many people will continue to feel this way.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by DaveyJoe

Mulvaney confirmed that the color timing will be the DVD-era magenta push that folks on this forum seem to prefer.

He did? That's odd. De Palma obviously wanted the new grading.

[Geoff D]

My sarcasm detector's twitching with Davey's comments, Velvet...

[pro-bassoonist]

DRESSED TO KILL: SECOND PRESSING REVIEW

Dressed to Kill Blu-ray REVIEW



We have posted photos for you to see how to recognize the correct version. You have to see the back cover or the disc (Clickable photos are in the review, linked above)

The presentation is very different and much better now. There could have been a tiny bit more space on the top in a few sequences, but it's fine. Criterion deserve a lot of credit for fixing this release so quickly

I hope people like it.





Pro-B

[Todd Tomorrow]

The overall greenish look and the pink skin color still looks off to me. Will stick with the Arrow.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

The overall greenish look and the pink skin color still looks off to me. Will stick with the Arrow.

Looks amazing to me, and De Palma supervised is good enough for me. Can't wait to get this in a few days.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

It's always nice when I'm perfectly satisfied when I don't feel the need to get a criterion version. Glad they fixed the squishing problem for those who want the criterion release. Arrow release is good enough for me.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Looks amazing to me, and De Palma supervised is good enough for me. Can't wait to get this in a few days.

Friedkin supervised The French Connection and this doesn't look far off from that to me. I've never seen Dressed to Kill with a green hue and this desaturated looking. Nancy Allen's face is an unnatural shade of pink in the close ups, if the screen caps accurately represent the Blu-ray.

I'd be annoyed if there weren't alternatives available but thankfully there are and to my eyes they look superior. While a 4K scan may represent the slightly grain better, considering the soft focus visual style De Palma favoured in his 70s and 80s films, I doubt there will be a lot more detail visible than in the previous releases either.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

I'd be annoyed if there weren't alternatives available but thankfully there are and to my eyes they look superior. While a 4K scan may represent the slightly grain better, considering the soft focus visual style De Palma favoured in his 70s and 80s films, I doubt there will be a lot more detail visible than in the previous releases either.

Actually, there is more visible detail, density is much better, and color balance is superior. It is very easy to see. And there is no such "green hue". Screencaptures #14, 18, and 19 very clearly demonstrate the wide range of color tonalities. The cold lighting is either in the subway or in the police station.

Old transfer
Blown out whites. See the lights.



New transfer



And so on.

Pro-B

[Wireduck1]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Actually, there is more visible detail, density is much better, and color balance is superior. It is very easy to see. And there is no such "green hue". Screencaptures #14, 18, and 19 very clearly demonstrate the wide range of color tonalities. The cold lighting is either in the subway or in the police station.

Old transfer
Blown out whites. See the lights.



New transfer



And so on.

Pro-B

Hmmm. Shirley you can't be serious?

[Todd Tomorrow]

OK, maybe I'm slowly coming round to it.

Still happy with the Arrow though and I prefer its warmer colours, so maybe its just a matter of taste. The Criterion does look awfully bright in comparison. May risk an upgrade when there is a sale, can't justify getting this for the third time on Blu at a premium price, considering reservations I have.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

OK, maybe I'm slowly coming round to it.

The Arrow release is fine, Todd, but the transfer has very obvious limitations. What I liked about it -- and what I also like about Obsession -- is that it actually does a pretty good job of replicating that "hazy" look which Mr. De Palma favored at the time. So, these films are not supposed to look sharp, but when density is improved, the difference is obvious.

The new presentation, however, is very clearly superior.

OK, have a great day, Todd

Pro-B

[Wireduck1]

Ah, problem solved...

[MifuneFan]

Was Cronenberg there to assist in supervising

[filmo70]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Was Cronenberg there to assist in supervising

The Brood will have the same awful look

[montyb]

Originally Posted by rdandura

Will there be an update to the Blu-Ray review when the corrected disc comes out, so we can know if it is worth buying?

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Dress...139897/#Review

[montyb]

Originally Posted by filmo70

The Brood will have the same awful look

Actually THE BROOD looks very good. For quiet awhile Hulu has been showing the Criterion print of THE BROOD and it looks great compared to my import blu rays. This title has been slated for a blu ray release for a long time. I do not see the coloring problems like in SCANNERS or Arrow's RABID (which I love the colors on the RABID blu ray!). I am looking forward to having THE BROOD in my collection (except for that ugly cover. Yuck!!).