Fahrenheit 451 (1966) (50th Anniversary Edition) (Walmart Exclusive)

[Dan8700]

What an awful disc. This desperately needs a restoration.

[javi92]

Originally Posted by Dan8700

What an awful disc. This desperately needs a restoration.

Not even a "restoration." Just a new 2K scan without digital tinkering would probably work.

[yellowcakeuf6]

The DVD needed an upgrade, so this getting that much, rather than nothing at all, is appreciated by me. This being planned as a cheap Walmart exclusive is somewhat surreal though, at least that's how it felt purchasing this title there. I'm still trying to process it. As for this not getting a new scan, it looks like the new Universal sometimes lets the old Universal out of its cage.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by yellowcakeuf6

The DVD needed an upgrade, so this getting that much, rather than nothing at all, is appreciated by me. This being planned as a cheap Walmart exclusive is somewhat surreal though, at least that's how it felt purchasing this title there. I'm still trying to process it. As for this not getting a new scan, it looks like the new Universal sometimes lets the old Universal out of its cage.

I believe It's a timed exclusive along with a few other Universal titles, it will probably have a wide release in May. I agree with you though, a mediocre release is better than none at all. I'll be buying it when it's released widely (no local WM here).

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by Dan8700

What an awful disc. This desperately needs a restoration.

Yeah, I was disappointed when I watched the first ten minutes. Like someone else mentioned, it looks like an upscaled DVD. Hopefully Criterion will release it since they show much love to Truffaut.

[Blu2u]

This sounds exactly like the German disc I already have. I guess there is no point in buying this version. Maybe Arrow Academy will pick it up for the UK?

[DMRI2006]

For those wondering how it compares with the German disc, source looks to basically be the same as others have said. The US bit-rate is notably higher though from what I quickly sampled. Also the extras all look better on the US disc (not converted into PAL as they are in the Koch release).

[yellowcakeuf6]

Originally Posted by Blu2u

This sounds exactly like the German disc I already have. I guess there is no point in buying this version. Maybe Arrow Academy will pick it up for the UK?

From what I've been reading here and elsewhere, this has improved color from the German version, and, apparently, more detail. Stlll the same older master though.

[f451]

Originally Posted by javi92

Not even a "restoration." Just a new 2K scan without digital tinkering would probably work.

2K would probably do the job but I'd opt for a 4K just to future-proof the effort. Color grading and sharpening issues need to be addressed. I noticed some color shifts between successive scenes and there's enough oversharpening to cause edge haloing.

Universal has blazoned this release as being the "50th Anniversary Edition" but like Rodney Dangerfield -- it don't get no respect. My gawd -- this is Truffaut -- one of the acknowledged masters of film and Universal puts *this* out for the 50th? An upscaled retread scan? With the same DVD extras?

I wish Universal had made the effort to retrieve the audio and music stems to open the sound stage somewhat but my main concern is the variable image quality.

Universal -- you have a proud history of great films. Treat your assets and public with respect -- it won't cost you all that much more and in the long run may even make you more money. Sell a quality product at a decent price and it will happen.

[lilboyblu]

Thanks for the thorough review, Svet. Decided to not pick up my preorder so as to have the money spent on it credited back to my account. Will indulge in this film again some other time after a better presentation comes along.

[yellowcakeuf6]

Originally Posted by f451

2K would probably do the job but I'd opt for a 4K just to future-proof the effort. Color grading and sharpening issues need to be addressed. I noticed some color shifts between successive scenes and there's enough oversharpening to cause edge haloing.

Universal has blazoned this release as being the "50th Anniversary Edition" but like Rodney Dangerfield -- it don't get no respect. My gawd -- this is Truffaut -- one of the acknowledged masters of film and Universal puts *this* out for the 50th? An upscaled retread scan? With the same DVD extras?

I wish Universal had made the effort to retrieve the audio and music stems to open the sound stage somewhat but my main concern is the variable image quality.

Universal -- you have a proud history of great films. Treat your assets and public with respect -- it won't cost you all that much more and in the long run may even make you more money. Sell a quality product at a decent price and it will happen.

This is another alarming flag for collectors of physical video media. There is no longer any financial reason for the studios to spend anymore money on catalog titles like this, even TRUFFAUT!
This type of thing along with Twilight Time saying they may have only 3 viable years left has me a little worried about decent releases of catalog titles.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE THE END OF PHYSICAL MEDIA IS NIGH!

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by yellowcakeuf6

This is another alarming flag for collectors of physical video media. There is no longer any financial reason for the studios to spend anymore money on catalog titles like this, even TRUFFAUT!
This type of thing along with Twilight Time saying they may have only 3 viable years left has me a little worried about decent releases of catalog titles.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE THE END OF PHYSICAL MEDIA IS NIGH!

Well, in 3 more years, pretty much every major catalog title should be out anyway. There's only so many films (and I'm counting major US studio releases, not a lot of the B-pictures). Studios will still remaster titles for their vaults, they just won't be released on disc.

Originally Posted by Dan8700

What an awful disc. This desperately needs a restoration.

No, it needs a remaster. Clearly not the same thing in the slightest.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by yellowcakeuf6

This is another alarming flag for collectors of physical video media. There is no longer any financial reason for the studios to spend anymore money on catalog titles like this, even TRUFFAUT!
This type of thing along with Twilight Time saying they may have only 3 viable years left has me a little worried about decent releases of catalog titles.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE THE END OF PHYSICAL MEDIA IS NIGH!

Not true:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...ostcount=25448

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Well, in 3 more years, pretty much every major catalog title should be out anyway. There's only so many films (and I'm counting major US studio releases, not a lot of the B-pictures). Studios will still remaster titles for their vaults, they just won't be released on disc.

Those type of posts crack me up, especially nowadays. I was concerned a few years ago once the main studios started slowing down. People have been calling catalog dead for like 5 years. If you polled people 5-10 years ago, I think we are WAY beyond where people thought the blu-ray market would eventually go as far as depth and breadth of catalog.

Of course it will probably die eventually, but not before the vast majority of the studios back catalog are out there. Hell, I've even bought in a few times that catalog was dieing. But these last couple of years and the rise of the niche labels show that anyone calling on the death of blu-ray or the death of catalog releases are getting way ahead of themselves. If anything, right now seems to be the opposite with deeper and deeper catalog getting release. Are we missing plenty of hollywood A tier films? Sure, but I think many of those will continue to get filled in eventually.

A release like this just means Universal got lazy. The same crap happens on previous formats. There is no rhyme or reason to when a "classic" gets treated like this. If the "right people" favored this film, it might have gotten a 4K scan. Unfortunately, it was just one of those that got a half-assed effort to be sent off as a Wal-Mart exclusive. Hopefully it gets corrected with a Criterion release in the future.

[yellowcakeuf6]

Originally Posted by oildude

Not true:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...ostcount=25448

Sorry for the inaccurate drivel. I myself have made the prediction that you will still be able to buy physical media ten years from now, so I'm sticking with that.

[yellowcakeuf6]

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

Those type of posts crack me up, especially nowadays. I was concerned a few years ago once the main studios started slowing down. People have been calling catalog dead for like 5 years. If you polled people 5-10 years ago, I think we are WAY beyond where people thought the blu-ray market would eventually go as far as depth and breadth of catalog.

Of course it will probably die eventually, but not before the vast majority of the studios back catalog are out there. Hell, I've even bought in a few times that catalog was dieing. But these last couple of years and the rise of the niche labels show that anyone calling on the death of blu-ray or the death of catalog releases are getting way ahead of themselves. If anything, right now seems to be the opposite with deeper and deeper catalog getting release. Are we missing plenty of hollywood A tier films? Sure, but I think many of those will continue to get filled in eventually.

A release like this just means Universal got lazy. The same crap happens on previous formats. There is no rhyme or reason to when a "classic" gets treated like this. If the "right people" favored this film, it might have gotten a 4K scan. Unfortunately, it was just one of those that got a half-assed effort to be sent off as a Wal-Mart exclusive. Hopefully it gets corrected with a Criterion release in the future.

Good, because that last line was meant to crack you up. The main point was the end of even new scans for a lot of these type (films most have heard of and that have reputations) of catalog titles.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by yellowcakeuf6

Sorry for the inaccurate drivel. I myself have made the prediction that you will still be able to buy physical media ten years from now, so I'm sticking with that.

I think big new releases and certain genre classics will be on disc for many years to come. The kind of dramas Twilight Time deal in though? Lesser modern stuff? Probably not. Basically I think we're heading into a time where the default is digital but certain things get physical editions for collectors and enthusiasts.

[HD Goofnut]

Found this at Wal-Mart yesterday and decided to go ahead and get it. Yeah, the PQ is rough. It's only marginally better than a DVD, but the AQ is much better. For $7.96 I am not complaining.

[MifuneFan]

This is getting a wide release on June 6th.

[Jett Rink]

Finally got my hands on a copy of this. I called/went to 6 different stores to track this down. They had the DVD of course, but no thanks. Most said they had returned it during the last reset.