Die Hard 4K UHD (1988)

[jeffster15]

Originally Posted by FilmBufffff

Nabbed at WM for $18. And for those curious, my local BB had one copy each of Braveheart and Gladiator in 4K. I nabbed them both!

How much?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Film analysis and criticism can be a great thing, but that's not what that article is. It's not analysis, it's narcissism.

Eh, you've gotta be a narcissist to be a reviewer IMO. What? Oh.

[Fat Phil]

Originally Posted by Croweyes1121

Question for you guys. Do you have one tiny moment that’s your absolute favorite in Die Hard? Mine has always been after John gets shot by Karl, when he kicks him and then leaps into him, and says “motherf**ker, I’ll kill you!”, and then there’s that primal yell after the line that I won’t attempt to spell. I know it’s a minor thing, but I remember as a kid thinking “whoa, this is a serious fight”, and “he actually may kill this guy”. lol The combination of that audio, the extreme close up of fights flying where you can’t exactly tell how much hurt McClane’s laying in him, and the hard cut from that moment back to Theo...I just love that moment so much. Feels like when everything in the film is at its craziest pitch.

I don't know I can pick one moment. But watching it again last night I did immensely enjoy the brutality of the whole thing. Perhaps it's just the improved colours of the UHD but it seemed bloodier than I remember it being

The fight you mentioned is insane and the stuntman fall through the pane of glass that Geoff mentioned of course. To add to those moments, I would mention Al Leong's death when he opens the door at the bottom of the stairs and McLane blasts him with the beretta - my god, those glorious squibs. Why in the f*** did Hollywood ever stop using those things!?

There's also a wonderful moment when Powell is under fire and he's reversing like a maniac and McTiernan includes this great shot filmed through the back window of the limo where Argyle is partying and you see Marco's limp body fly off the hood of Powell's car as he drives over an obstacle. Just freaking amazing.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I'll cheat and mention a few: there's a stunt in the film which is one of the craziest I've ever seen in a Hollywood movie, it's like something from one of Jackie Chan's mid-80's Hong Kong classics. It's just before the "shoot the glass!" bit, when McClane shoots out the knees of the on-rushing villain and he goes flying through the air, smashing headfirst through a pane of glass in slow motion. It's an absolutely insane stunt and it's a reminder that they really don't make them like this any more.

The other is during the John/Karl fight, when he headbutts him on the stairs: the sound effect is so brutal it makes me wince every time. I've heard bones break (my own in fact) and it's not some raspy, sibilant noise that the movies paint it as, but a deep low-end crunch and that bit captures it perfectly. Followed by McClane saying "first I'm gonna kill ya, then I'm gonna ****ing cook ya, then I'll ****ing eat ya!" which is just darkside, man.

Then there's the gag with McClane on the rooftop firing his MP5 to get the hostages downstairs and the guys in the helicopter open up on him, there's one particular shot there that amazes me every time because there really is a giant helicopter hovering behind Bruce Willis firing at him while a load of squibs go off around him as he runs for cover, it's another superb shot in a movie littered with them.

The cinematography in general is sublime, the usage of three-point compositions throughout the show means it's one of the greatest examples of 2.39 'scope there's ever been. I could go on about this movie forever.

Hat-tip for knowing three-point composition. Jaws is a master-class, use it when teaching media design. Kids brains explode.

[Croweyes1121]

Originally Posted by balthazar_bee

I really don't understand this guy's compulsion to answer the question if he's incapable of doing so without kvetching.

Who complained? I just answered in a snarky way. At least I answered this time. I was actually taken to task last time for NOT answering directly. I hardly have a "compulsion" to do so.

Originally Posted by balthazar_bee

There's a latent snobbery at work too -- like, "Oh, people still care about blu-ray? UHD is sooo much better! Why are you wasting our time with this?"

I can't speak for others, but 4K vs BD has absolutely nothing to do with my irritation at this question. It's just that it is asked on virtually EVERY PAGE OF THE THREAD. It does get old. But again...at least I just answered this time. I'm not going to pretend to like it each time I do so. If someone's going to be lazy enough not to see if a question has been answered literally dozens of times before asking it, they're sort of inviting a pithy response.

Originally Posted by balthazar_bee

But if someone could update the original post, it would prevent irritating the lord masters of this thread.

Yeah...that really would be nice. But then...why check the first post when you could just ASK AGAIN?? Ammirite?? lol

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Eh, you've gotta be a narcissist to be a reviewer IMO. What? Oh.

Opinion Journalism can be insightful and honest, and usually is - but there are moments where people cross the line into self-congratulatory condescension.

[balthazar_bee]

Originally Posted by Croweyes1121

Who complained? I just answered in a snarky way. At least I answered this time. I was actually taken to task last time for NOT answering directly. I hardly have a "compulsion" to do so.

Maybe I'm under a misapprehension, but I know you suggested I use the search function to find the answer about ten pages ago, which was less than helpful. I don't think it's been asked quite as often as you think -- not in the last ten to fifteen pages anyway. I mean, I asked on page 60. This thread has moved quickly in the last few days.

[RustinCohle]

Might have been said already but Walmart has a bunch of copies of this in-store for $17.96.

[Bourne1886]

Well after watching the 4k version I decided to put the Blu-ray just to see the difference. Although the 4k doesn’t have that much more detail the colour palette and HDR is soooo much better.
The Blu-ray looks terrible in comparison.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Fat Phil

I don't know I can pick one moment. But watching it again last night I did immensely enjoy the brutality of the whole thing. Perhaps it's just the improved colours of the UHD but it seemed bloodier than I remember it being

The fight you mentioned is insane and the stuntman fall through the pane of glass that Geoff mentioned of course. To add to those moments, I would mention Al Leong's death when he opens the door at the bottom of the stairs and McLane blasts him with the beretta - my god, those glorious squibs. Why in the f*** did Hollywood ever stop using those things!?

There's also a wonderful moment when Powell is under fire and he's reversing like a maniac and McTiernan includes this great shot filmed through the back window of the limo where Argyle is partying and you see Marco's limp body fly off the hood of Powell's car as he drives over an obstacle. Just freaking amazing.

What makes that bit soooo good is that the blood goes all over the camera lens. In that sentence you also have the reason why Hollywood stopped using them just as soon as they could: too much mess

[Ernest Rister]

I only have the Fox "Five Star" two-disc DVD release of this title from a few lifetimes ago. Some of the responses in this thread stating it isn't much of an upgrade over the blu are giving me second thoughts. What do you guys think? Geoff? Worth the double dip?

[Croweyes1121]

Originally Posted by balthazar_bee

you suggested I use the search function to find the answer about ten pages ago, which was less than helpful.

That’s...literally its purpose.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

I only have the Fox "Five Star" two-disc DVD release of this title from a few lifetimes ago. Some of the responses in this thread stating it isn't much of an upgrade over the blu are giving me second thoughts. What do you guys think? Geoff? Worth the double dip?

Dude, it'll destroy the DVD. I'm never getting rid of that Five Star edition though, for how often do you get the chance to re-edit scenes from your favourite movie? Such a shame Fox didn't do something more to mark the 30th anniversary with new bonus features and all of the previous stuff collated onto a newly remastered BD, along with Decoding Die Hard on a separate disc.

[Brightstar]

Originally Posted by Croweyes1121

My God...you guys want to read just about the most insufferable reminder of why 1988 was better than 2018? Behold: the most pretentiously "woke" review of Die Hard ever: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/ri...the-first-time

was this guy watching the right movie ? its Die Hard for crying out load the best action film ever made

[balthazar_bee]

Originally Posted by Croweyes1121

But that’s...literally its purpose.

Bringing the snark. Okay, fine. You'll allow that the search terms might be difficult to settle on, if one wants a manageable number of results? Not seeing it answered in the previous two pages, I thought I'd ask. And in a blu-ray forum! The cheek.

[OutOfBoose]

Digital blood is one of my most hated things in present day Hollywood. I'm not some kind of blood maniac that needs constant depiction of gore in movies, but squibs felt real, impactful.

[lilboyblu]

Originally Posted by balthazar_bee

Bringing the snark. Okay, fine. You'll allow that the search terms might be difficult to settle on, if one wants a manageable number of results? Not seeing it answered in the previous two pages, I thought I'd ask.

Croweyes1121 point is valid. It's been asked everywhere. For months. This thread. The dedicated Blu-ray's thread. The old Blu-ray's thread. If you don't know how to search the forums, then know how to search the internet. Google will provide the answer many times over. People are just lazy to the extreme when it comes to taking the extra seconds to use their own brain power. Why do the work yourself when you can rely on somebody else (over, and over, and over again) to provide the answer they could have just as easily found for themselves? *End Rant*

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Dude, it'll destroy the DVD. I'm never getting rid of that Five Star edition though, for how often do you get the chance to re-edit scenes from your favourite movie? Such a shame Fox didn't do something more to mark the 30th anniversary with new bonus features and all of the previous stuff collated onto a newly remastered BD, along with Decoding Die Hard on a separate disc.

In Geoff we trust. Ordered.

[fighthefutureofhd]

I not sure if this has been asked before and I searched the threads but came up short so maybe you all can help. does ANYONE know if this 4k comes with a remastered blu-ray or not. I'm interested in the 4k at the price point, but not if it doesn't come with a remastered blu-ray (it's like they've all but forgotten about blu-ray). Can ANYONE help?

[ROSS.T.G.]

Lol