Nashville (1975) (Paramount Presents #24)

[BlueRagtop]

Originally Posted by SGFfilmfan

The colors seem to be a little over-ripe on the Paramount version. I'll keep my Criterion.

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yeah that's how I feel as far as colors. Some clear improvements in clarity, but it's a little too saturated in some instances.

My 2 cents:

NASHVILLE is my favorite film. I have seen it more times than any other film -- including 15+ times in a theater -- going all the way back to its initial release in 1975. I even wrote papers on it for film classes in college.

It has never looked as saturated as those Paramount caps. That was not the look in the mid-70s and it really flies in the face of the semi-documentary feel that Altman was going for.

You can readily tell how boosted the color is in the shot of Albuquerque and Kenny walking down the side of the road. Her top is practically neon yellow, and the trees in the background are a uniformly unnatural green. And check out the jeans on Bill (Allan Nicholls) in the last screencap. They've become cerulean blue!

I'm keeping the Criterion.

[BluProofie]

I’ll keep the Criterion until Paramount releases a UHD.

[nearjm]

I purchased the Paramount redo of the NASHVILLE Blu-ray, and I regret it. The colors are definitely oversaturated, especially the actors' faces (so red!). But I'm puzzled by statements that the new version is clearer than the OOP Criterion; both in the posted screen caps and in motion on my screen, the Paramount version seems out-of-focus compared to the Criterion. I don't see evidence of artificial sharpening in the Criterion--just a well-focused, clear image. So I'm afraid, to my eyes, the Paramount has nothing going for it compared with the Criterion (which I'm glad I didn't sell!). Very disappointing.

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by nearjm

I purchased the Paramount redo of the NASHVILLE Blu-ray, and I regret it. The colors are definitely oversaturated, especially the actors' faces (so red!). But I'm puzzled by statements that the new version is clearer than the OOP Criterion; both in the posted screen caps and in motion on my screen, the Paramount version seems out-of-focus compared to the Criterion. I don't see evidence of artificial sharpening in the Criterion--just a well-focused, clear image. So I'm afraid, to my eyes, the Paramount has nothing going for it compared with the Criterion (which I'm glad I didn't sell!). Very disappointing.

Sounds like TO A CATCH A THIEF redux. Definitely something amiss with a few of these "Presents" 1080p transfers.

[postmodel]

Is the 4K stream similar to how the PP Blu looks or is it its own beast?

[SGFfilmfan]

It just looks...um...bad. Some shots are fine, but at least half of it appears to be a pre-Criterion print. Very dark and, as I said before, overripe colors. The commentary is fine, but the "24 Tracks" thing is only 15 mins.

[JohnCarpenterFan]

I'd say it definitely looks less electronic than the Criterion. The saturated colors and contrast give it a more print-like appearance, although having never seen this on 35mm, I can't say if it's completely accurate or not.

The thing that bothered me the most about the Criterion was the strange warped and distorted geometry. Although it's less noticeable for me in those screenshots compared to watching it on a large screen, it looks like it's been corrected for the Paramount Presents disc.

[tama]

I haven't watched the whole presentation but jump around a bit of it a few nights ago.

I gotta agree with Dailyan on this one. I too prefer the Paramount release. Criterions colors looked to faded.

I do believe a proper UHD release, which this is likely an HDR to SDR conversion here, would fix and reel in a bit of the color saturation but overall it's a bit hard for me to go back to the Criterion release.

[bubbamoo]

Anyone upgrading want to sell me their criterion for $23 shipped? I think I like the older dated look of it better but will grab the new paramount if I can’t find one.

[unityofsaints]

Look, I'm not 100% happy with my Paramount Presents but the OOP Criterion goes for insane amounts of money. At least saturation is something correct using your T.V.'s settings, unlike print damage, instability etc. I'll hold onto this until that inevitable 50th anniversary re-release.

[unityofsaints]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Personally, I prefer the new Paramount. Not only do I find the color grading more appealing but it also doesn't have that slight sharpened look and gets rid of that funky looking Spirit-scanner grain.

Interesting, is that grain look particular to the spirit brand of film scanners?

[jkoffman]

This is one of my favorite films as well. While I’ve seen it countless times on DVD and then Criterion BD, I only saw it once on 35mm in the theater. While I can’t say if this is a true representation of the original look of the film, it’s too dark at times and the colors stray way too far from natural, especially the skin tones. It looks like a vintage 70s TV show pallate, but honestly, even if that’s “accurate” to the original film — Somehow I doubt this — it’s too hard for me to go backwards having seen it look far better before. At bare minimum, I don’t see how this is considered an upgrade, from 4K no less. I wouldn’t dream of selling my Criterion copy.

[jjlikesonions]

Based (solely) on the screencaps, the Paramount's colors look more life-like. The Criterion is too undersaturated and grey. Although, of course original intent may or may not have been one way or the other.

It kinda looks like there was some DNR on the Paramount. I hope I'm wrong. But I'm probably going to buy it anyway since it's much more affordable than the Criterion. I'll see what it looks like on my TV. Fortunately I've never watched this film before, so I have no preconceptions about how previous versions looked.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by jjlikesonions

Based (solely) on the screencaps, the Paramount's colors look more life-like.

It's interesting to hear that assessment because having watched the Paramount and Criterion, the former has the least life-like skin tones I've seen. Which screencaps are you using to compare?

[hamsterburger]

Rewind states that the new US Paramount blu-ray is region A locked. Can anyone who owns it confirm if this really is the case or not?

Thanks

[critterdvd]

Originally Posted by hamsterburger

Rewind states that the new US Paramount blu-ray is region A locked. Can anyone who owns it confirm if this really is the case or not?

Thanks

For what it's worth I just threw it in my multi-region player (which is always set for region B) and it worked just fine.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by hamsterburger

Rewind states that the new US Paramount blu-ray is region A locked. Can anyone who owns it confirm if this really is the case or not?

It played fine when I put it in my region free machine set to Region B.

[latehong]

Caps-a-holic: Criterion vs Paramount Presents

[PowellPressburger]

Reason why I will stick with my Criterion Blu-Ray which I bought the day it was released.

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&...177444&i=7&l=0

Other shots don't look as drastic, but this one is great proof the color is NOT correct on the Paramount

[Matt89]

Call me crazy but based on those caps, I actually prefer the look of the Criterion. Did not think I'd be saying that, either. I held onto my Criterion edition for the extras and haven't yet picked up the Paramount Presents release, but now I think I'm actually okay with just my Criterion.

Might check out the 4K DV stream on iTunes but yeah I think I'm gonna pass on the new blu-ray.

~Matt