Close Encounters of the Third Kind 4K UHD (1977) (40th Anniversary Edition)

[Indiana Jonezzz...]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

No, I use a gamma for SDR that's actually lighter than most folks use (2.2 vs 2.4) because I don't like how slowly it comes out of black at 2.4. But that's irrelevant to the screenshot comparison because that was ripped directly from the discs - you're telling me you can't see how badly crushed the darker parts of the image are compared to the previous version?!? Hey, if that's what you want your black levels to look like in a movie then you'll have a whale of a time with the 2017 BD.

I could have sworn I remember you mentioning about clicking your black a notch lower than is maybe correct, because you preferred that. Maybe in the AAWIL thread? Anyway, ok, yeah her face is pretty dark in that new screenshot, but otherwise I don't really mind it. I'm just viewing it on an iPad though, so maybe on my TV it'll be FUBAR. I guess it might be a problem if you can't see her face in the scene, with the whole acting thing and all that jazz.

[Geoff D]

That was prior to current calibrations on my new TV which I recieved a few months ago, there's no need to click the black lower because it does black like a boss, and the sidelighting artefacts on the TV which that slightly darker setting also helped to alleviate are a non-issue thanks to my new set having a full array LED backlight, not edge lit like before. So that's still a no.

As for viewing caps on an iPad, I never use it to gauge caps. Never. To glance at, sure, but to actually evaluate? **** no. The gamma is ridiculously high on my iPad 2, it crushes down black like crazy so that may be why you're not seeing a big difference in the comparison shots?

[Indiana Jonezzz...]

Possibly, but as both shots are being viewed on my iPad, they'd both be affected by the same issues, so it's at least a fair comparison. Other than her face, I don't find the new remaster looks massively crushed compared to the old one, just a tiny bit darker near black. But I'll check it out on my TV when I get it.

[rroeder]

Originally Posted by MEB

We are showing CE3K with 'Wonder Woman' in the Booth Bijou Garage Theater this weekend. Since our garage projector is still "only" 1080p, I've only watched a couple of sections of the 4K version of CE3K on our new Sony X940E in our main viewing room. Absolutely gorgeous! It makes me want a 4K projector in the garage NOW. We plan to get one sometime in 2018.

Before our guests arrive this weekend, I plan to compare a few sections of the 30th anniversary standard Blu-ray to the same sections of the 40th anniversary standard Blu-ray. I'll particularly be looking at darker scenes to see if the newer one is too dark. That will guide my decision on which standard Blu-ray to use for our showing.

One thing is for sure.. I'm glad I haven't sold or given away my 30th anniversary discs yet. I'll let my own eyes make the decision if I should keep both or let the 30th discs go.

Mark

I'm so drooling over the 940E right now, would love to have a projector setup too for the big screen feel.

I've got Boogie Nights and The Frighteners on tap for this wkd

[bluescholar]

Originally Posted by rroeder

I've got Boogie Nights and The Frighteners on tap for this wkd

Interesting double feature.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Indiana Jonezzz...

Possibly, but as both shots are being viewed on my iPad, they'd both be affected by the same issues, so it's at least a fair comparison. Other than her face, I don't find the new remaster looks massively crushed compared to the old one, just a tiny bit darker near black. But I'll check it out on my TV when I get it.

But so much is being lost to the black crush on the new BD that the ipad crushing it down further barely makes any difference to that image, whereas crushing down the image from the old BD will affect its black level far more profoundly. I can only reiterate that on my PC screen (and indeed my TV) the differences are NOT subtle, and you calling the new one "a tiny bit darker" is the understatement of this or any other year and lends credence to what I've just said re: the crush on the ipad display.

[chip75]

What did they do with the new BD release? It looks a bit of a mess from [granted] that one capture. Did they re-composite the effects or just fiddle with matte lines? They look better now, but the whole thing looks a bit filtered.



Looking forward to seeing this on caps-a-holic.

[Geoff D]

read on and all shall be revealed...

Originally Posted by Geoff D

As far as I can tell most of the shots of the base at the mountain have been digitally stabilised, they've also smoothed over the seams in some of those shots. The comparison that I posted above is an example, obviously a still frame doesn't show you how the VFX element behind Melinda Dillon is now rock solid rather than gently weaving about as those kinds of hold-out mattes often did. And the edges of the compositing were also smoothed over, see how the thick black matte lines around the rocks are gone? That's not just because the new Blu-ray is dark as shit either, the UHD reveals far more shadow there and the matte lines are gone, just gone.

Originally Posted by Geoff D

A quick comparison, these are JUST photos so the images blow out the highlights badly but they give you an idea. On the first comparison you can see how the light affects the ground but also the lens flares from the ship's light now overlap the tower as they would do in real life (that 4K shot is WAY darker than it actually is because I couldn't expose it properly on the camera).

[Show spoiler]2007 Blu-ray:



2017 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray:



2007 Blu-ray:



2017 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray:

[Nicolawicz]

This shot is bathed in DNR:

15909_1_1080p.jpg

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Nicolawicz

This shot is bathed in DNR

This shot is also a lossy JPG from the standard Blu-ray 1080p version (might even be the original 30th Anniversary one).
"The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date. "

No caps in any of the reviews on this site are from the 4K discs.

[ninfan81]

Steelbook on sale for $19.99 today if anybody wants to price match.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

This shot is also a lossy JPG from the standard Blu-ray 1080p version (might even be the original 30th Anniversary one).
"The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date. "

No caps in any of the reviews on this site are from the 4K discs.

It's not the 2007. That shot has been NEWLY COMPOSITED so it's not DNR, it's a completely different 2017 attempt at that shot.

[singhcr]

What I don't understand is how the opening titles on the new BD got so messed up. It's crushed for sure, but why would the lines that make up the text run together like that?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by singhcr

What I don't understand is how the opening titles on the new BD got so messed up. It's crushed for sure, but why would the lines that make up the text run together like that?

As well as the nuked blacks they've ALSO pushed too much light through it, this causes such things as white text on a black background to 'bloom' and bleed through. It's worth noting that the text looks much better on the 4K disc, not as defined as it does on the 2007 Blu but still way better than the 2017 Blu.

[imsounoriginal]

Just got my copy, minty mint with a slip too

Haven't seen this movie since high school, looking forward to rewatching. Hopefully this weekend.

[Storm_1980]

Ended up paying $34.18+ Tax for the Gift Set made it even more worth it. I bought the Gift set last week from Best Buy I didn't expect the price to Drop so quick but hey cool and Best Buy matched Amazon's price for me.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by robgmun

The thing is, if it's subtle fixed to VFX to classic movies like wire removal, removing matt garbage lines and fixing wobbling elements like in Bladerunner and Star Trek: TMP then i'm A OK with this. I hope they do the same with ET and i with they did it with Ghostbusters, that one desperately needs it because it would look so much better with these small fixes

The thing is, when I watch an effects-heavy film like this, I like to admire the effects work that was achieved at that time. Adding glows to mountaintops, wire removal, fixing wobbles, etc all changes those original effects, so as I'm, watching it, I can never say to myself, "wow, they did a great job with that shot" because I never know these days if the shot has been altered or not. It's hard to be impressed with 70's effects when they've been tampered with. Did they do a great job with that mountain glow, or is it new cgi? Did they do a great job hiding those wires? Or was it removed with cgi?

As a fan of older effects, these are things some of us pay attention to. Films/tv shows of that era often put a lot of work into hiding wires and mattes, for example. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not so much. But that's what I like to see - I like to see a shot and know this really looked this good when it was first seen. CGI tinkering kills that for me.

Maybe the overall effect is that the film's visuals are improved in a subtle way, but still, the theatrical edition should be left alone.

[imsounoriginal]

Sorry to ask, but does the digital copy redeem in 4K? I can't remember if Sony titles do.

[Indiana Jonezzz...]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

But so much is being lost to the black crush on the new BD that the ipad crushing it down further barely makes any difference to that image, whereas crushing down the image from the old BD will affect its black level far more profoundly. I can only reiterate that on my PC screen (and indeed my TV) the differences are NOT subtle, and you calling the new one "a tiny bit darker" is the understatement of this or any other year and lends credence to what I've just said re: the crush on the ipad display.

I understand, all I was meaning is that both screenshots would be getting equally crushed on my iPad, so it made it at least a fair comparison. And looking at them both under those conditions, I didn't find the new remaster looked horribly dark compared to the 2007 shot, apart from her face. But that's still a fairly big problem as we're meant to be seeing her reaction in that scene.

What'll be frustrating is if I generally love the remaster, apart from a few select moments during the big ending, but then the UHD will eventually fix that for me down the line. Hoping they'll be in a 2 for £10 by then . Na, no chance, but they'll quite probably be nearer £10 or in 2 for £25 deals, if they're already going into 2 for £30's now.

Still I can't resist getting the new Blu for £9 from Zoom, after selling the code, it'll be about £4. I'll keep my old digipak 2007 set regardless, for the old effects.

[ROSS.T.G.]

I bought the BD 2 years ago andnits still in the wrapper, was going to watch recently but held off. I'll gladly buy the UHD.