Michael Mann on Blu-ray - Blu-ray Forum

James Luckard · 08-23-2021, 10:17 AM

Michael Mann's films have been released in so many iterations that I think it would be more confusing than useful to divide things up into formats. Instead, I'm going to go chronologically by film:

THE JERICHO MILE - 1979

THIEF - 1981
BD

UHD

The Criterion BD and UHD contain only the 2014 revised director's cut. The UHD is a new 2024 4K master from the negative. The color timing has been debated here, at great length. It's very blue. Whether this is what original 35mm prints actually looked like is still being argued here.

The Arrow UHD LE, and the Arrow BD LE, both of which are OOP, contain the only HD releases of the theatrical cut. (Note that the BD of the theatrical cut in the 2015 BD set has incorrect audio pitch, while that error is corrected on the theatrical cut BD in the 2025 set.) The Arrow UHD and BD also both have superior compression to their Criterion peers.

The original director's cut, which dates back to laserdisc, is only available on this OOP DVD, because it was created in standard definition. The only real difference between it and the current DC is a few artificially sped up shots. It also has the old color timing though.

THE KEEP - 1983

MANHUNTER - 1986

The OOP MGM BD contains only the theatrical cut.

This OOP Shout SE contains both the theatrical cut and the director's cut (which, buyer beware, I find unwatchable due to footage being VHS-sourced).

The Anchor Bay SE DVD set has two unique versions of the film. The first is incorrectly labeled "Theatrical Version," but it is not the theatrical cut. Instead, it is a hybrid pre-release cut that excludes a few things from the proper Theatrical Cut, but adds many scenes that appear in the Director's Approved Cut. The other cut, labeled "Director's Cut" is different from the official Director's Cut on all other releases. It is a badly cropped 4:3 video transfer, but has a unique scene of Graham meeting Dr. Chilton that is not contained in the real "Director's Cut," or any other cut of the film.

CRIME STORY - 1987

Mann directed one episode. All DVDs of this series apparently suffer from really distracting music replacement, dropping all the period pop songs. The Amazon streaming version is apparently the original broadcast version, including the songs and possibly also in HD.

L.A. TAKEDOWN - 1989

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS - 1992

The Fox BD contains only the 2010 third "Director's Definitive Cut" of the film. It's a 4K master from the negative, but the color timing has been changed radically. It's super dark, and colors are digitally adjusted, with the reds being SUPER over-saturated.

This Australian BD set contains the 1992 theatrical cut and the 2010 BD cut. It also contains the commentary and documentary from the 2010 BD. (Some people prefer the French disc set. It's brighter, exposing more digital noise, but has slightly better compression.

The 1999 "Director's Expanded Edition" DVD cut has never been released in HD. The OOP Limited Edition German BD set that included it was an unwatchable upscaled SD file, with 100 gallons of DNR slathered on it to try and hide this.

HEAT - 1995

Only the old Warner DVDs contain the unaltered theatrical cut

The Warner BD has two lines of dialogue edited out, but uses the same transfer as the DVD and has the original color timing.

The Fox BD contains the same cut as the WB BD, but is remastered, with slightly different color timing.

The Disney UHD contains the same cut as the other 2 BDs, and includes the Fox BD. The UHD is the same transfer as the Fox BD, but slightly darker.

THE INSIDER - 1999

The BD has no editorial changes, but the color timing is significantly changed:
https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&...=19743&i=2&l=0

ALI - 2001

The theatrical cut has only been released on DVD in the US. There are French and German BD releases, but my understanding is that the title cards are in the local languages.

The 2004 Director's Cut, with commentary by Mann, has only been released on DVD.

The 2017 Commemorative Edition cut does not contain the commentary, because the film was so radically re-edited that it does not match the new cut at all.

COLLATERAL - 2004

The UHD also includes the BD. The film has never been altered.

MIAMI VICE - 2006

The theatrical cut had only been released overseas until recently. It has just come out here from Mill Creek, but I prefer a legit Universal release that doesn't have a second film squeezed onto the same disc.

The "Unrated Director's Edition" cut includes Mann's commentary

There's a 2023 UK collector's edition that includes both cuts on separate discs, but it is Region B-locked and drops the Michael Mann audio commentary

A UHD was announced by Shout, but then un-announced. No word on if or when it may still come out.

PUBLIC ENEMIES - 2009

LUCK - 2011

Mann directed the pilot

BLACKHAT - 2015

The overseas BD is slightly altered, removing one line referencing a Mexican gang.

The Arrow UHD and BD special editions include the first commercial release of the re-edited director's cut (in HD), which has major changes, including the opening nuclear reactor sequence being moved to the middle of the film, as originally intended. There were apparently two slightly modified versions of the director's cut when it was run on cable a few years back, using alternate angles, etc. There are reports that Mann made some more slight changes to the director's cut for this BD, so there are now three subtly different director's cuts.

The Arrow set also includes both the US cut and the overseas cut, with the line removed.

TOKYO VICE - 2022

Mann directed the pilot of this series, and was the showrunner on the whole first season, as far as I know. This S1 UK/French BD (it's the same disc in both countries) is the only one to include English subtitles. Season 2 premiered on Feb 8, 2024. Mann did not direct any episodes of S2, and I'm not clear if he had any involvement in the season at all.

FERRARI - 2023

The US only got a BD, but the UK got a UHD:

James Luckard · 08-23-2021, 10:19 AM

My collection:

I have most of the other discs described above too, I just don't keep them on my shelf.

klauswhereareyou · 08-23-2021, 11:39 AM

Is the image on the Australian DVD at least marginally better than the bootlegs out there (or the old widescreen laserdisc)?

James Luckard · 08-23-2021, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

Is the image on the Australian DVD at least marginally better than the bootlegs out there (or the old widescreen laserdisc)?

I found it to be a perfectly decent DVD. It's a legitimately licensed transfer direct from Paramount. I have no idea how it slipped through the cracks and reached the market in Oz, since Mann has blocked any US release.

I've never owned any of the boots, I only ever had a rip of the laserdisc, which I guess they were sourced from. It's certainly MUCH better than that. There was also a widescreen version streaming on Netflix once, very briefly, about a decade ago. I don't know if some boots are sourced from that master, which I would assume is the DVD master.

The DVD is NTSC and region-free, has a reversible cover without the hideous Australian ratings logo, and is available from Amazon US, so it's totally American-friendly. Dunno where you're located.

I can try to do a few caps of the Aussie DVD tomorrow.

rocknblues81 · 08-23-2021, 09:31 PM

Thief: ****
Manhunter:***1/2
Last of the Mohicans: ****
Heat:*****
The Insider:****
Ali:***
Collateral:****
Miami Vice:***1/2
Public Enemies:***1/2

SGFfilmfan · 08-23-2021, 10:52 PM

Five-star scale:
The Jericho Mile **1/2
Thief ****
The Keep *3/4
Manhunter ****1/2
The Last of the Mohicans *****
Heat ***
The Insider ****3/4
Ali ***
Collateral ***1/3
Miami Vice **1/2
Public Enemies **3/4
Blackhat **

kwisatzhaderach · 08-23-2021, 11:40 PM

Thief ****
The Keep ***
Manhunter *****
The Last of the Mohicans *****
Heat *****
The Insider *****
Ali ***
Collateral ****
Miami Vice ****
Public Enemies ***
Blackhat ****

drush9999 · 08-23-2021, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I believe this DVD has a unique cut, but someone please correct me if I'm wrong, and I'll update this.

BLACKHAT - 2015

A director's cut exists, but has only been shown on cable and streaming outlets, it has had no commercial release.

That Anchor Bay release of Manhunter has two unique versions, the first is a hybrid pre-release cut that excludes a few things from the proper Theatrical Cut, but adds many scenes that appear in the Director's Approved Cut. The other cut labeled Director's Cut is a TV cut version and is a badly cropped 4:3 video transfer, but differs from later Director's Cuts because it has a unique scene of Graham meeting Dr. Chilton not available on later releases.

Blackhat has a third cut available outside the US on BD, which removes a line referencing a Mexican gang. It's a strange cut as people outside North America would not be offended or understand the reference.

James Luckard · 08-24-2021, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drush9999

That Anchor Bay release of Manhunter has two unique versions, the first is a hybrid pre-release cut that excludes a few things from the proper Theatrical Cut, but adds many scenes that appear in the Director's Approved Cut. The other cut labeled Director's Cut is a TV cut version and is a badly cropped 4:3 video transfer, but differs from later Director's Cuts because it has a unique scene of Graham meeting Dr. Chilton not available on later releases.

Blackhat has a third cut available outside the US on BD, which removes a line referencing a Mexican gang. It's a strange cut as people outside North America would not be offended or understand the reference.

Thanks! I knew I was a bit off about the AB disc. Is it okay if I cut and paste your description of it in my OP?

drush9999 · 08-24-2021, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Thanks! I knew I was a bit off about the AB disc. Is it okay if I cut and paste your description of it in my OP?

Sure no problem.

James Luckard · 08-25-2021, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

Is the image on the Australian DVD at least marginally better than the bootlegs out there (or the old widescreen laserdisc)?

Here are some caps from the Aussie DVD of THE KEEP.
It's a decent DVD, certainly better than anything else out there, though that's not a high bar.

I posted these yesterday, but I forgot to quote your post in mine, so you would see the reply in your feed. I deleted the original post and reposted them.

klauswhereareyou · 08-25-2021, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Here are some caps from the Aussie DVD of THE KEEP.
It's a decent DVD, certainly better than anything else out there, though that's not a high bar.

They look great compared to the only versions I've ever seen (VHS and the streaming version on Prime). Thanks. I'm going to try to get it now.

James Luckard · 08-25-2021, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

They look great compared to the only versions I've ever seen (VHS and the streaming version on Prime). Thanks. I'm going to try to get it now.

Just be sure you get that exact edition. All the bootlegs have very similar cover artwork.

This is the only legit one:

I can't tell where you're located, but this is the US Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083TMYV86/

James Luckard · 08-11-2022, 12:51 AM

Here's a great new retrospective interview Mann did about his career, to promote this week's release of HEAT on UHD and the "Heat 2" novel.

https://deadline.com/2022/08/michael...ro-1235088828/

Rayjg · 08-11-2022, 01:59 PM

I just wish the Aussie DVD included the alternate ending from the laserdisc release. I wonder if the film elements are lost for that.

postmodel · 08-11-2022, 02:06 PM

How’s the quality on the LA Takedown dvd? Better worse or the same as what’s currently on YouTube?

James Luckard · 08-11-2022, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rayjg

I just wish the Aussie DVD included the alternate ending from the laserdisc release. I wonder if the film elements are lost for that.

For The Keep? I think I saw that alternate ending on YouTube, so at least it's out there.

I believe KL said they were offered the film as a DVD-only release in the US, but turned it down.

There's no HD master, and Michael Mann apparently refuses to allow one to be created unless they allow him to rework the film.

James Luckard · 08-11-2022, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by postmodel

How’s the quality on the LA Takedown dvd? Better worse or the same as what’s currently on YouTube?

I would guess the YouTube version is a rip of the DVD. It's a watchable disc. I'll have to check mine at home tonight, but I believe it has PAL speedup.

I think that UK DVD is the only legit release of the film.

Rayjg · 08-11-2022, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Luckard

For The Keep? I think I saw that alternate ending on YouTube, so at least it's out there.

I believe KL said they were offered the film as a DVD-only release in the US, but turned it down.

There's no HD master, and Michael Mann apparently refuses to allow one to be created unless they allow him to rework the film.

Yup, I wonder how that ended up on the laserdisc? Did Paramount allow Mann to make a quick director's cut or was it a similar situation to Blade Runner where an alternate version was used accidentally and no one knew what it was.

postmodel · 08-11-2022, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I would guess the YouTube version is a rip of the DVD. It's a watchable disc. I'll have to check mine at home tonight, but I believe it has PAL speedup.

I think that UK DVD is the only legit release of the film.

Thanks! Yeah I would think what’s on YouTube would just be from the dvd, but while watchable it could definitely look better.

08-23-2021, 10:17 AM	#1
James Luckard Blu-ray Count Top contributor Member since:Jan 2011 Location:Los Angeles, CA 4K collection:397 Blu-ray collection:1805 Blu-ray reviews: 34	Michael Mann on Blu-ray Michael Mann's films have been released in so many iterations that I think it would be more confusing than useful to divide things up into formats. Instead, I'm going to go chronologically by film: THE JERICHO MILE - 1979 THIEF - 1981 BD UHD The Criterion BD and UHD contain only the 2014 revised director's cut. The UHD is a new 2024 4K master from the negative. The color timing has been debated here, at great length. It's very blue. Whether this is what original 35mm prints actually looked like is still being argued here. The Arrow UHD LE, and the Arrow BD LE, both of which are OOP, contain the only HD releases of the theatrical cut. (Note that the BD of the theatrical cut in the 2015 BD set has incorrect audio pitch, while that error is corrected on the theatrical cut BD in the 2025 set.) The Arrow UHD and BD also both have superior compression to their Criterion peers. The original director's cut, which dates back to laserdisc, is only available on this OOP DVD, because it was created in standard definition. The only real difference between it and the current DC is a few artificially sped up shots. It also has the old color timing though. THE KEEP - 1983 MANHUNTER - 1986 The OOP MGM BD contains only the theatrical cut. This OOP Shout SE contains both the theatrical cut and the director's cut (which, buyer beware, I find unwatchable due to footage being VHS-sourced). The Anchor Bay SE DVD set has two unique versions of the film. The first is incorrectly labeled "Theatrical Version," but it is not the theatrical cut. Instead, it is a hybrid pre-release cut that excludes a few things from the proper Theatrical Cut, but adds many scenes that appear in the Director's Approved Cut. The other cut, labeled "Director's Cut" is different from the official Director's Cut on all other releases. It is a badly cropped 4:3 video transfer, but has a unique scene of Graham meeting Dr. Chilton that is not contained in the real "Director's Cut," or any other cut of the film. CRIME STORY - 1987 Mann directed one episode. All DVDs of this series apparently suffer from really distracting music replacement, dropping all the period pop songs. The Amazon streaming version is apparently the original broadcast version, including the songs and possibly also in HD. L.A. TAKEDOWN - 1989 THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS - 1992 The Fox BD contains only the 2010 third "Director's Definitive Cut" of the film. It's a 4K master from the negative, but the color timing has been changed radically. It's super dark, and colors are digitally adjusted, with the reds being SUPER over-saturated. This Australian BD set contains the 1992 theatrical cut and the 2010 BD cut. It also contains the commentary and documentary from the 2010 BD. (Some people prefer the French disc set. It's brighter, exposing more digital noise, but has slightly better compression. The 1999 "Director's Expanded Edition" DVD cut has never been released in HD. The OOP Limited Edition German BD set that included it was an unwatchable upscaled SD file, with 100 gallons of DNR slathered on it to try and hide this. HEAT - 1995 Only the old Warner DVDs contain the unaltered theatrical cut The Warner BD has two lines of dialogue edited out, but uses the same transfer as the DVD and has the original color timing. The Fox BD contains the same cut as the WB BD, but is remastered, with slightly different color timing. The Disney UHD contains the same cut as the other 2 BDs, and includes the Fox BD. The UHD is the same transfer as the Fox BD, but slightly darker. THE INSIDER - 1999 The BD has no editorial changes, but the color timing is significantly changed: https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&...=19743&i=2&l=0 ALI - 2001 The theatrical cut has only been released on DVD in the US. There are French and German BD releases, but my understanding is that the title cards are in the local languages. The 2004 Director's Cut, with commentary by Mann, has only been released on DVD. The 2017 Commemorative Edition cut does not contain the commentary, because the film was so radically re-edited that it does not match the new cut at all. COLLATERAL - 2004 The UHD also includes the BD. The film has never been altered. MIAMI VICE - 2006 The theatrical cut had only been released overseas until recently. It has just come out here from Mill Creek, but I prefer a legit Universal release that doesn't have a second film squeezed onto the same disc. The "Unrated Director's Edition" cut includes Mann's commentary There's a 2023 UK collector's edition that includes both cuts on separate discs, but it is Region B-locked and drops the Michael Mann audio commentary A UHD was announced by Shout, but then un-announced. No word on if or when it may still come out. PUBLIC ENEMIES - 2009 LUCK - 2011 Mann directed the pilot BLACKHAT - 2015 The overseas BD is slightly altered, removing one line referencing a Mexican gang. The Arrow UHD and BD special editions include the first commercial release of the re-edited director's cut (in HD), which has major changes, including the opening nuclear reactor sequence being moved to the middle of the film, as originally intended. There were apparently two slightly modified versions of the director's cut when it was run on cable a few years back, using alternate angles, etc. There are reports that Mann made some more slight changes to the director's cut for this BD, so there are now three subtly different director's cuts. The Arrow set also includes both the US cut and the overseas cut, with the line removed. TOKYO VICE - 2022 Mann directed the pilot of this series, and was the showrunner on the whole first season, as far as I know. This S1 UK/French BD (it's the same disc in both countries) is the only one to include English subtitles. Season 2 premiered on Feb 8, 2024. Mann did not direct any episodes of S2, and I'm not clear if he had any involvement in the season at all. FERRARI - 2023 The US only got a BD, but the UK got a UHD: Last edited by James Luckard; Today at 02:23 AM.

08-23-2021, 09:31 PM	#5
rocknblues81 Blu-ray Champion Member since:Nov 2009 Location:Shithole USA 4K collection:396 Blu-ray collection:2583 DVD collection:521 Digital collection:474 Trading Score:47	Thief: ** Manhunter:1/2 Last of the Mohicans: * Heat:* The Insider: Ali:* Collateral:** Miami Vice:1/2 Public Enemies:*1/2 Last edited by rocknblues81; 08-23-2021 at 09:37 PM.*

08-23-2021, 10:19 AM	#2
James Luckard Blu-ray Count Top contributor Member since:Jan 2011 Location:Los Angeles, CA 4K collection:397 Blu-ray collection:1805 Blu-ray reviews: 34	My collection: I have most of the other discs described above too, I just don't keep them on my shelf.

08-23-2021, 11:39 AM	#3
klauswhereareyou Blu-ray Knight Member since:Mar 2012 4K collection:232 Blu-ray collection:2199 Digital collection:22 Prime collection:1	Is the image on the Australian DVD at least marginally better than the bootlegs out there (or the old widescreen laserdisc)?

08-23-2021, 10:52 PM	#6
SGFfilmfan Senior Member Member since:Feb 2014 Location:Midwest, USA Blu-ray collection:55	Five-star scale: The Jericho Mile 1/2 Thief ** The Keep 3/4 Manhunter *1/2 The Last of the Mohicans * Heat * The Insider **3/4 Ali * Collateral *1/3 Miami Vice 1/2 Public Enemies 3/4 Blackhat

08-23-2021, 11:40 PM	#7
kwisatzhaderach Special Member Member since:Mar 2016	Thief ** The Keep * Manhunter *** The Last of the Mohicans * Heat * The Insider * Ali * Collateral ** Miami Vice Public Enemies * Blackhat ****

08-11-2022, 12:51 AM	#14
James Luckard Blu-ray Count Top contributor Member since:Jan 2011 Location:Los Angeles, CA 4K collection:397 Blu-ray collection:1805 Blu-ray reviews: 34	Here's a great new retrospective interview Mann did about his career, to promote this week's release of HEAT on UHD and the "Heat 2" novel. https://deadline.com/2022/08/michael...ro-1235088828/

08-11-2022, 01:59 PM	#15
Rayjg Blu-ray Champion Member since:Aug 2016	I just wish the Aussie DVD included the alternate ending from the laserdisc release. I wonder if the film elements are lost for that.

08-11-2022, 02:06 PM	#16
postmodel Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Aug 2012 4K collection:1024 Blu-ray collection:3023 DVD collection:90 MA collection:1 Trading Score:15	How’s the quality on the LA Takedown dvd? Better worse or the same as what’s currently on YouTube?

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