The Fifth Element 4K UHD (1997) (20th Anniversary Edition)

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Sony have been using artificial sharpening for years and it's pretty evident on The Fifth Element.

The grain doesn't look organic at all, because it isn't. It's noisy and harsh much like SF's The Thing where people didn't notice how badly it was sharpened until Arrow's remaster came out.

The 35mm prints were lush and gorgeous. Nothing looked harsh and there weren't edge halos in non-FX shots. I hope Gaumont do their own UHD and don't mess it up, I think a lot of people would be surprised at how artificial Sony's remaster would look compared to an untampered presentation.

[punisher]

I think it looks damn good on my C7 oled and my Oppo 203. Of course anything can be improved, even the best 4k discs as technology evolves.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

Sony have been using artificial sharpening for years and it's pretty evident on The Fifth Element.

The grain doesn't look organic at all, because it isn't. It's noisy and harsh much like SF's The Thing where people didn't notice how badly it was sharpened until Arrow's remaster came out.

The 35mm prints were lush and gorgeous. Nothing looked harsh and there weren't edge halos in non-FX shots. I hope Gaumont do their own UHD and don't mess it up, I think a lot of people would be surprised at how artificial Sony's remaster would look compared to an untampered presentation.

I agree on this disc. Even though the Sony UHD BD is the best/least processed the movie has looked from Sony, it still has a sharpened look to it that doesn't appeal to me.

[NARMAK]

Correct if wrong but isn't a side effect of 4K HDR enabled movies that grain becomes much more pronounced and they go through a process to temper it and ensure it's not an issue?

[Noremac Mij]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

Sony have been using artificial sharpening for years and it's pretty evident on The Fifth Element.

The grain doesn't look organic at all, because it isn't. It's noisy and harsh much like SF's The Thing where people didn't notice how badly it was sharpened until Arrow's remaster came out.

The 35mm prints were lush and gorgeous. Nothing looked harsh and there weren't edge halos in non-FX shots. I hope Gaumont do their own UHD and don't mess it up, I think a lot of people would be surprised at how artificial Sony's remaster would look compared to an untampered presentation.

Virtually all Sony releases are artificially sharpened, some are much worse than others. Not sure why Sony consistently gets a pass from senior members.

[ROSS.T.G.]

Originally Posted by Noremac Mij

Virtually all Sony releases are artificially sharpened, some are much worse than others. Not sure why Sony consistently gets a pass from senior members.

How many times are you going to say the same thing? We get it, you don’t like Sony.

It gets a pass because they are consistent with top notch UHD’s. Maybe since you’re the only one who doesn’t think it could be you?

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

Sony have been using artificial sharpening for years and it's pretty evident on The Fifth Element.

The grain doesn't look organic at all, because it isn't. It's noisy and harsh much like SF's The Thing where people didn't notice how badly it was sharpened until Arrow's remaster came out.

The 35mm prints were lush and gorgeous. Nothing looked harsh and there weren't edge halos in non-FX shots. I hope Gaumont do their own UHD and don't mess it up, I think a lot of people would be surprised at how artificial Sony's remaster would look compared to an untampered presentation.

[Noremac Mij]

Shout, Scream, whatever they are, have the same blind following Sony does. I think SF produced some of the worst looking Blu-rays out of any label. I even offered them free consultation on compression. Arrow did a great job on The Thing. BTW, I’m seeing it in 70mm soon.

[Colson]

Originally Posted by Noremac Mij

Shout, Scream, whatever they are, have the same blind following Sony does. I think SF produced some of the worst looking Blu-rays out of any label. I even offered them free consultation on compression. Arrow did a great job on The Thing. BTW, I’m seeing it in 70mm soon.

Where is it being shown in 70mm????

Edit: At the Somerville Theatre, at their 3rd Annual 70mm and Widescreen Film Festival. The Thing is showing on 9/28 and I will be on a boat that day. Color me envious.

[Noremac Mij]

Originally Posted by Colson

Where is it being shown in 70mm????

Edit: At the Somerville Theatre, at their 3rd Annual 70mm and Widescreen Film Festival. The Thing is showing on 9/28 and I will be on a boat that day. Color me envious.

Chicago Music Box Theater on 09/14. My peeps there tell me the print is a bit faded, but it should be fun all the same.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

Sony have been using artificial sharpening for years and it's pretty evident on The Fifth Element.

The grain doesn't look organic at all, because it isn't. It's noisy and harsh much like SF's The Thing where people didn't notice how badly it was sharpened until Arrow's remaster came out.

The 35mm prints were lush and gorgeous. Nothing looked harsh and there weren't edge halos in non-FX shots. I hope Gaumont do their own UHD and don't mess it up, I think a lot of people would be surprised at how artificial Sony's remaster would look compared to an untampered presentation.

Been hearing that for years regarding Sony and while their DVDs and early BDs may have suffered I don't think they've been doing anything like that in the modern BD and UHD era. I know you've got a bee in your bonnet about how they represent grain in 4K - I even agree with you, to a point - but are we seeing their stuff look so grainy because they sharpen or because everyone else filters off detail? Maybe a bit of both, but whatever Sony are doing I like it. Mostly.

Yes, Fifth Elephant is the exception here because it's sharpened up the ying-yang but so was the previous Sony BD, whatever's going on here is less to do with Sony's dastardly sharpening agenda but more to do with the elements that Sony are using, which they maintain is the original negative. I call bullshit on that and would love to see what Gaumont could do with it, but that the localised German UHD uses the Sony transfer (thanks for taking that hit, mike) isn't a good sign.

One overbaked UHD doesn't make an oversharpened summer.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Been hearing that for years regarding Sony and while their DVDs and early BDs may have suffered I don't think they've been doing anything like that in the modern BD and UHD era. I know you've got a bee in your bonnet about how they represent grain in 4K - I even agree with you, to a point - but are we seeing their stuff look so grainy because they sharpen or because everyone else filters off detail? Maybe a bit of both, but whatever Sony are doing I like it. Mostly.

Yes, Fifth Elephant is the exception here because it's sharpened up the ying-yang but so was the previous Sony BD, whatever's going on here is less to do with Sony's dastardly sharpening agenda but more to do with the elements that Sony are using, which they maintain is the original negative. I call bullshit on that and would love to see what Gaumont could do with it, but that the localised German UHD uses the Sony transfer (thanks for taking that hit, mike) isn't a good sign.

One overbaked UHD doesn't make an oversharpened summer.

Yeah, it's not the Neg, it absolutely isn't and I suspect Christine isn't either.
And do you want to buy a copy of the fifth elephant?

[Geoff D]

Nah I'm good thanks

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Nah I'm good thanks

2 copies?

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Noremac Mij

Virtually all Sony releases are artificially sharpened, some are much worse than others. Not sure why Sony consistently gets a pass from senior members.

Sorry if I don't take advice on picture quality from the guy who defends the T2 DNR atrocity.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by Noremac Mij

I even offered them free consultation on compression.

And they didn't take you up on your offer? Shocking! Positively shocking!

[Noremac Mij]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Sorry if I don't take advice on picture quality from the guy who defends the T2 DNR atrocity.

While T2 is flawed, it’s still a very well done modern scan of the o-neg. Even with heavy DNR, fine details are preserved. It also has a very faithful color grade to original 35mm projection. It could be better, sure, but I think it looks great.

There’s no positives that I can mention in regards to Sony’s efforts on The Fifth Element. It may be the single most artificially sharpened UHD. You can literally use the screen as a cheese grater. And the color grade is completely off from 35mm. Gaumont is much more faithful.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by Noremac Mij

While T2 is flawed, it’s still a very well done modern scan of the o-neg. Even with heavy DNR, fine details are preserved. It also has a very faithful color grade to original 35mm projection. It could be better, sure, but I think it looks great.

[birdztudio]

Originally Posted by Noremac Mij

While T2 is flawed, it’s still a very well done modern scan of the o-neg. Even with heavy DNR, fine details are preserved. It also has a very faithful color grade to original 35mm projection. It could be better, sure, but I think it looks great.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Noremac Mij

While T2 is flawed, it’s still a very well done modern scan of the o-neg. Even with heavy DNR, fine details are preserved. It also has a very faithful color grade to original 35mm projection. It could be better, sure, but I think it looks great.