4K - 8K Resolution and/or Dolby Atmos/DTSX Content Reviews

[Movie2099]

Heat 4K was on sale, so I picked it up.

Love that movie!

I ordered the 3D version of the Super Mario Movie. It was in theaters with 3D but the studio never released a 3D version in the US, so had to special order it from Germany! Not sure why Universal decided against a US release of 3D? Still plenty of people that would purchase it.

Also, waiting on the final Dollars Trilogy release from Arrow video, The Good the Bad and the Ugly. They were only UK releases. So another overseas purchase for all 3. I would hope in the future they might be released in the US, but I think Kino has the rights for a while since they released the Dollars Trilogy a few years ago.

 

[Movie2099]

Kingdom of Heaven 4k Disc

PQ- Excellent! The picture for this movie was amazing. The team behind this 4k remaster did an excellent job. Shadow detail, color accuracy were all top notch.

SQ- They upgraded to an all new Dolby Atmos soundtrack. It is an "immersive, dynamic surround activity with nuanced environmental effects, crisp dialogue, and remarkable score fidelity—making full use of height channels and sonic space without ever sounding cluttered"-per Mighty Chroma. This website summed it up for me so I thought I would use it.

Overall- If you are a fan of this movie, you need this 4k edition in your library. It is the best version available. It is only being released in the special edition steelbook case. I have heard they are restocking and will have more available soon. The 4k only comes with the Directors cut. They do throw in the Roadshow cut, which includes an overture, intermission and exist music. Also comes full of special features. I wish Ridley Scott would make more movies just like this one. This was prime Ridley. I'm giving this movie and 4k release a solid 9.5/10.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Kingdom of Heaven 4k Disc

PQ- Excellent! The picture for this movie was amazing. The team behind this 4k remaster did an excellent job. Shadow detail, color accuracy were all top notch.

SQ- They upgraded to an all new Dolby Atmos soundtrack. It is an "immersive, dynamic surround activity with nuanced environmental effects, crisp dialogue, and remarkable score fidelity—making full use of height channels and sonic space without ever sounding cluttered"-per Mighty Chroma. This website summed it up for me so I thought I would use it.

Overall- If you are a fan of this movie, you need this 4k edition in your library. It is the best version available. It is only being released in the special edition steelbook case. I have heard they are restocking and will have more available soon. The 4k only comes with the Directors cut. They do throw in the Roadshow cut, which includes an overture, intermission and exist music. Also comes full of special features. I wish Ridley Scott would make more movies just like this one. This was prime Ridley. I'm giving this movie and 4k release a solid 9.5/10.

Definitely the best version available and a Must-Own for fans.

I've been waiting for Kingdom of Heaven 4K for years, as did many fans.

 

[j_garcia]

Watched Heat 4K over the weekend. The video looks very good, not great, but very good. There is a lot of grain in a few parts, which is certainly in the master, as that grain is there in previous versions as well. There are a number of dark scenes where this is very evident.

I don't recall the BD's DD TrueHD sounding this good. The dts-HD MA track sounded very enveloping and spacious upmixed to X in the right spots. Helicopter fly-by scenes, the shootout and the airport sound better than ever to me. Some quiet scenes, the dialog was a bit too low; not sure if that was there before as well.

 

[dolynick]

Watched Heat 4K over the weekend. The video looks very good, not great, but very good. There is a lot of grain in a few parts, which is certainly in the master, as that grain is there in previous versions as well. There are a number of dark scenes where this is very evident.

Is this a new release/remaster? The original 4k of Heat is so excessively dull and dim that it's almost unwatchable.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Is this a new release/remaster? The original 4k of Heat is so excessively dull and dim that it's almost unwatchable.

I just remember watching Heat 4K and saw more film grain than I wanted to see. So I stopped watching.

 

[Movie2099]

Watched Heat 4K over the weekend. The video looks very good, not great, but very good. There is a lot of grain in a few parts, which is certainly in the master, as that grain is there in previous versions as well. There are a number of dark scenes where this is very evident.

I don't recall the BD's DD TrueHD sounding this good. The dts-HD MA track sounded very enveloping and spacious upmixed to X in the right spots. Helicopter fly-by scenes, the shootout and the airport sound better than ever to me. Some quiet scenes, the dialog was a bit too low; not sure if that was there before as well.

The blu ray they released in 2020, the Directors Definitive Edition has the DTS 5.1 MA soundtrack. They used the same thing on this 4k. The blu ray released in 2009 had the Dolby True HD 5.1.

 

[Movie2099]

Is this a new release/remaster? The original 4k of Heat is so excessively dull and dim that it's almost unwatchable.

There is only one 4k release. He just happened to pick it up on sale. I thought the 4k edition was excellent. The movie is very dark. More blueish/grey tones all over. A choice Mann decided on.

Up next is going to be Mann's Miami Vice coming to 4k in August, I believe. Personally, I really liked Miami Vice. I thought it was a great movie. Sure, there were some issues story wise, but it was a fun movie overall.

 

[dolynick]

A choice Mann decided on.

Yes. It seems this is the way he wanted it to look. Consensus out there seems to be that the BluRay version of the movie (which isn't so terribly dark) is the better version to watch.

I was just curious if there was a re-release that may have made some changes. I don't usually buy into all the chatter about this sort of thing on the internet but having looked at the 4k, I have to agree with them that it's bad. It's like watching the film on a projector who's bulb is more or less end of life.

 

[j_garcia]

Yes. It seems this is the way he wanted it to look. Consensus out there seems to be that the BluRay version of the movie (which isn't so terribly dark) is the better version to watch.

I was just curious if there was a re-release that may have made some changes. I don't usually buy into all the chatter about this sort of thing on the internet but having looked at the 4k, I have to agree with them that it's bad. It's like watching the film on a projector who's bulb is more or less end of life.

I have the 2009 disc, obviously since mine has the TrueHD track, so I am pleased with how this one sounds and looks. The review I read on Blu-ray.com said the 2020 BD and this one look pretty similar, with that color temp difference.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I only saw the beginning of Pitch Black 4K Atmos.

At first I thought it only had DTS-HD MA. But when I heard really nice overhead sound effects during the shipwreck, I then realized that it was in Atmos, which is a lot more fun than plain DTS-HD.

So far I think the 4K video looks great.

BluRay.com gave it 4.4-Star for 4K Video and 4.5-Star for Atmos, which seems accurate.

 

[Movie2099]

I only saw the beginning of Pitch Black 4K Atmos.

At first I thought it only had DTS-HD MA. But when I heard really nice overhead sound effects during the shipwreck, I then realized that it was in Atmos, which is a lot more fun than plain DTS-HD.

So far I think the 4K video looks great.

BluRay.com gave it 4.4-Star for 4K Video and 4.5-Star for Atmos, which seems accurate.

I liked the 4k edition of Pitch Black. I never owned it on Blu Ray, went from DVD to 4k. So for me it was a big upgrade.

A few months ago I watched the new 4k edition of The Chronicles of Riddick. I thought Arrow did a great job (as usual) with the 4k master. They included the Directors Cut on 4k as well. I didn't check, but I had the option to watch with Atmos and instead watched it in 5.1 MA track instead. Which wasn't bad, but I would've loved to hear it with Atmos.

I have yet to watch the Riddick 4k. It's on the list.... But that comes from Shout Factory. They can be a hit or miss with their 4k remasters.

 

[j_garcia]

I liked the 4k edition of Pitch Black. I never owned it on Blu Ray, went from DVD to 4k. So for me it was a big upgrade.

A few months ago I watched the new 4k edition of The Chronicles of Riddick. I thought Arrow did a great job (as usual) with the 4k master. They included the Directors Cut on 4k as well. I didn't check, but I had the option to watch with Atmos and instead watched it in 5.1 MA track instead. Which wasn't bad, but I would've loved to hear it with Atmos.

I have yet to watch the Riddick 4k. It's on the list.... But that comes from Shout Factory. They can be a hit or miss with their 4k remasters.

I've owned it on DVD, BD and now 4K. Bought it when it came out. It is a limited pallet and noisy/grainy in a lot of scenes, so it is already rough from the source. I thought Pitch Black looked and sounded pretty good overall.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Can't wait for the new 8-episode Alien Earth TV series (Aug 2025), shot in 4K digital, mastered in 4K digital, Atmos.

 

[j_garcia]

Can't wait for the new 8-episode Alien Earth TV series (Aug 2025), shot in 4K digital, mastered in 4K digital, Atmos.

Hoping it is good.

 

[isolar8001]

Can't wait for the new 8-episode Alien Earth TV series (Aug 2025), shot in 4K digital, mastered in 4K digital, Atmos.

Noah Hawley hasn't disappointed anyone yet...

Hoping for a physical release afterwards.
This looks far too good to only have a neutered streaming version.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Noah Hawley hasn't disappointed anyone yet...

I love “Fargo” TV series. Hoping this Aliens TV series writing will be just as awesome as Fargo.

 

[panteragstk]

I love “Fargo” TV series.

Don't forget the pile of crazy that was "Legion". Such a weirdly awesome show.

 

[isolar8001]

I love “Fargo” TV series. Hoping this Aliens TV series will have just as good of writing.

Hawleys "Legion" was a masterwork.
Fargo is pure gold.

 

[panteragstk]

Hawleys "Legion" was a masterwork.

Ha. Pretty sure we posted at the exact same time.