The Thing (1982)

[jgo435]

Does anyone happen to know if the version available on iTunes is the same master as the old Universal blu-ray or the master used by Shout Factory? I understand that the distributer listed on iTunes is Universal, but I don't know whether Shout Factory would've done their own master or if it would've been provided to them by Universal.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Definitely the old Universal master. The transfers used on the Scream and Arrow BDs are ones they created themselves, and usually a master a specialty label created is their property until the licences expire (though sometimes they share the same master with labels in other regions if they don't have access to the best version available in their country, to reduce costs, or ala SF's upcoming steelbook of the Thing, licencing Arrow's 4k transfer to bring in more sales and a higher premium over their standard edition).

Very rarely does the studio use a label's transfer when their video lease hasn't expired, though there have been a few cases a their master was used ether because the studio didn't have their own to work with and be too costly to make one (depending on their financial state) or cut them a deal to use it in exchange for more higher profile titles or other incentives.

[Mr. Joshua]

Originally Posted by jgo435

Does anyone happen to know if the version available on iTunes is the same master as the old Universal blu-ray or the master used by Shout Factory? I understand that the distributer listed on iTunes is Universal, but I don't know whether Shout Factory would've done their own master or if it would've been provided to them by Universal.

I'm watching The Thing on iTunes now and it looks great. I'm watching on the LG OLED E9 65"

[asertywny]

Originally Posted by jgo435

Does anyone happen to know if the version available on iTunes is the same master as the old Universal blu-ray or the master used by Shout Factory? I understand that the distributer listed on iTunes is Universal, but I don't know whether Shout Factory would've done their own master or if it would've been provided to them by Universal.

iTunes 4K master seems to be the same as Shout Factory (even framing is the same) but color timing is more neutral to my eyes (e.g. daylight snow is not so blue/purple).

[JoeBandy]

Just saw it switched over to the 4k section in my library. Excited to rewatch!

[Big-D]

The Thing has now gone 4K HDR in the UK iTunes store.

Great colour and black blacks, looks very good.

[spider-neil]

Originally Posted by Big-D

The Thing has now gone 4K HDR in the UK iTunes store.

Great colour and black blacks, looks very good.

I agree. A fantastic transfer.

[Jambomakaveli]

Can’t wait to try this on 4k!

[stonesfan129]

It is available in 4K currently and looks very good imo. I believe the 4K Blu-ray/4K UHD digital uses the same master that Arrow created for their BD release a few years back.

[steev210]

Universal's 4K transfer looks fantastic, but I hope a boutique label gets their hands on this and releases it with the original 2.0 audio track.

[byron_hinson]

Bit of an old thread but just tried to watch this for the first time in ages on my Apple TV and noticed the audio is a tiny bit of out sync. No other title I’ve watched has this. I’ve been able to stop this by disabling the default audio in Apple TV to turning it into 5.1. It’s bizarre. Anyone noticed it out of sync at all