Superman: The Movie 4K UHD (1978)

[motorheadache95]

Reference quality is pretty much a meaningless buzz term to me. I guess it means a title that uses the pristine 4K resolution and HDR lighting to it's most extreme limits? I wonder what the most "reference" 4K title is to date going by that.

I think Falaskan is questioning how much potential for improvement a new 4K version of Superman: The Movie could be, based on the way it was shot (with the diffusion filters purposely giving the film a softer, hazier look to it, for example).

I'll way for reviews (by that I mean Geoff, haha) but I think a new 4K scan of the negative versus the old HD transfer (2K from the IP I believe was stated) is going to yield quite a fantastic image. Maybe not quite as much as say, the upcoming 4K of 2001, but it'll be "reference" for Superman: The Movie, which is all it needs to be.

[Agent Kay]

Reference is the closest to the source, not how pretty it looks.

[Talal86]

I never watch this movie, so maybe now is the time

[Zimmy]

The real question is, what has WB done so far?
Was the last Blu-Ray release from a 4k remaster (which they will just re-purpose) or have they gone back and remastered again?

[guachi]

This is the 4k anniversary release I've been looking forward to the most.

We've had a great 20th (Saving Private Ryan), 30th (Die Hard), two 40th (Grease and Superman), and a 50th (2001). All are great movies but the one I wanted to see most in 4k is Superman.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Zimmy

The real question is, what has WB done so far?
Was the last Blu-Ray release from a 4k remaster (which they will just re-purpose) or have they gone back and remastered again?

So far in relation to what?

[mlabonte21]

Originally Posted by Zimmy

The real question is, what has WB done so far?
Was the last Blu-Ray release from a 4k remaster (which they will just re-purpose) or have they gone back and remastered again?

I really hope WB takes the smart approach with this and just does a 4K scan of ALL Superman I & II materials.

It's the 40th anniversary and-- more than likely-- the last time they will be doing any sort of restoration of this series.

4K restore all and provide all 3 cuts via branching: DONE

More expensive? Sure-- but at least it's done.

Superman II is a seperate beast:

First-- Do a 4K scan of all materials.

Second-- (WB will hate this) clean up the lame VFX created for the Donner Cut blu-ray.

I know the market for this is "small", but Youtubers have been doing better effects for years now--surely they can get it done relatively cheap.

If possible, re-cut the Donner Cut with a bit more Lester footage (specifically the ending).

Release the two cuts seperately: Done

Superman III, IV, & Returns:

Do a normal 4K scan and leave them be.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by mlabonte21

I really hope WB takes the smart approach with this and just does a 4K scan of ALL Superman I & II materials.

It's the 40th anniversary and-- more than likely-- the last time they will be doing any sort of restoration of this series.

4K restore all and provide all 3 cuts via branching: DONE

More expensive? Sure-- but at least it's done.

Superman II is a seperate beast:

First-- Do a 4K scan of all materials.

Second-- (WB will hate this) clean up the lame VFX created for the Donner Cut blu-ray.

I know the market for this is "small", but Youtubers have been doing better effects for years now--surely they can get it done relatively cheap.

If possible, re-cut the Donner Cut with a bit more Lester footage (specifically the ending).

Release the two cuts seperately: Done

Superman III, IV, & Returns:

Do a normal 4K scan and leave them be.

Superman II is anyone's guess. Both the Lester and Donner Cuts are incomplete and meshing the best of both together (yes, that means leaving in the Eiffel Tower intro) while leaving out the rough test reel footage in the Donner Cut and using Lester's Niagara version instead and including Donner's Marlon Brando Jor El stuff with much improved effects. The Metropolis fight can use footage from both cuts as long as they integrate Donner's material with much better compositing.


They have to also use some of Lester's ending as you can't use the turn back time sequence again that got tacked on to Superman: The Movie or you again run into continuity problems.



It would take very careful editing while adding in a bit of bridging footage from the ABC cut that never made it into either version. The bit about the Super-villains killing the kid running for help is essential as that adds a bit of weight to their evilness.



This will probably not happen any time soon, if ever. If there's a 4k version of Superman II it will probably just be the Lester-ized theatrical version.



For one thing, Donner will have to give his blessing to creating a complete super-cut that makes sense... even if that means a dual director's credit at the front. He didn't want Lester's name associated last time and that's why so much meat was taken out of the story and it still felt incomplete. There's a rule at the Director's Guild about what majority percentage of a movie shot by two or more directors determines who gets single billing. Donner made sure to cut enough of Lester out, so he could get sole credit. His animus towards Lester and the Salkinds is still great and the fans have to suffer for it.

[fighthefutureofhd]

I don't blame Richard. They threw him under the bus and ran right over him. The Salkinds may have been the worst thing to happen to Superman. I don't know how we were able to get two really good movies out of the whole mess. Richard Donner deserves some sort of award for getting a terrific Superman movie out of all of it.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by fighthefutureofhd

I don't blame Richard. They threw him under the bus and ran right over him. The Salkinds may have been the worst thing to happen to Superman. I don't know how we were able to get two really good movies out of the whole mess. Richard Donner deserves some sort of award for getting a terrific Superman movie out of all of it.

You can only do it by carefully meshing the two cuts together with some other footage not used in either cut but seen in the ABC and international cuts and finish the film. There's enough there to make a complete story that blends with Superman: The Movie , it just means more of Lester's footage must be used with no test footage reel material... something Donner is loath to do as that, again, means a double Director billing in the credits.

[HeavyHitter]

I watched the BD theatrical version of SII recently. I couldn't help but notice how hard the contrast was being pushed - definitely not natural. The rest of the transfer was very solid, but hopefully this is rectified on a future UHD BD release. This was not really an issue on the Donner cut, but it suffers from some off colors (overly reddish skin tones at times, etc.) and all too common overly smooth VC-1 encoding along with some filtering.

[Bolty]

What is Warner's track record in adding Atmos/DTS:X to catalog titles?

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Bolty

What is Warner's track record in adding Atmos/DTS:X to catalog titles?

It depends. On their top catalog stuff, they seem to be willing to remix the audio. Fox, on the other hand...

[Pieter V]

Originally Posted by Bolty

What is Warner's track record in adding Atmos/DTS:X to catalog titles?

So far:

• All Harry Potters (DTS:X)
• Blade Runner (1982) (Dolby Atmos)
• The Matrix (1999) (Dolby Atmos)
• Game of Thrones (S1) (R-released Blu-rays was Dolby Atmos remixed as well)

[fighthefutureofhd]

All except for their Nolan stuff of which includes some of their biggest catalog movies to date. I think it may be dependent on the director and what not. It wouldn't surprise me if 2001's audio is lacking.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Bolty

What is Warner's track record in adding Atmos/DTS:X to catalog titles?

As long as it has the original audio on it, they can stick Auro 3D And DTS Neo X on it for all I care.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

As long as it has the original audio on it, they can stick Auro 3D And DTS Neo X on it for all I care.

[Bolty]

Originally Posted by Pieter V

So far:

• All Harry Potters (DTS:X)
• Blade Runner (1982) (Dolby Atmos)
• The Matrix (1999) (Dolby Atmos)
• Game of Thrones (S1) (R-released Blu-rays was Dolby Atmos remixed as well)

I only have two Warner titles Blade Runner and Watchmen -- Blade Runner had Atmos and Watchmen was DTSMA -- so I wasn't sure. They don't seem to have released too many catalog titles yet. Thanks.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Bolty

I only have two Warner titles Blade Runner and Watchmen -- Blade Runner had Atmos and Watchmen was DTSMA -- so I wasn't sure. They don't seem to have released too many catalog titles yet. Thanks.

Except for the Nolan stuff (because Nolan has no idea what good audio is) and some more dialog driven catalog titles, Warner has added DTS: X or Dolby Atmos on their big stuff. If they don't consider it a big seller, then they seemingly won't take the time or make the effort.

[OutOfBoose]

Originally Posted by fighthefutureofhd

SHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! They'll hear you. We don't need Mr. Freeze in HDR/Dolby Vision. The movie's bad enough on its own. Let's not make it any worse.

I still want it.