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

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Is this a live play processing filter applied while watching? Or are you actually re-encoding the video into a new file?

Your wording above suggests it might be the latter.

New mkv file.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Grain gives the movie it's cinematic look. Now, can there be times that the grain level is too much? absolutely. Zach Snyder is a guy that uses a ton of film grain. Most directors use a thin layer of it, so it doesn't look overtly digital. Especially in movies that use a ton of CGI. Removing all the grain from older movies with CGI, makes the older graphics stick out like a sore thumb. Watch Aliens, when Ripley is confronting the Queen, the shot of her burning the eggs, the CGI background looks really bad and dated. Grain can help offset that look a bit.

RoboCop 4k had a great 4k restoration done to it. Arrow Video did a great job. Which Dracula are you referring to? the Gary Oldman one? I haven't watched that on 4k yet, so can't comment.

Last of Mohicans is one of my all-time favs. I wouldn't want that to look digital at all. It's a period piece movie. The grain gives a perfect look. I do hope Mann will be working on a 4k restoration soon. Give us both the Directors cut and theatrical cut. I prefer the theatrical.

I don’t see too many people complaining about the Se7en 4K copy, but perhaps some people also complained about it.

Everyone has their own thing. Gotta do what you think looks/sounds great. I’m not going to even try to convince anyone otherwise.

I couldn’t stand re-watching Last of the Mohicans 1992 or Bram Stoker’s Dracula 1992 because of all that noise and grain. Both of these movies have sentimental values to me - I saw both of these during Pharmacy school in 1992 so they always remind me of that time. Now I can enjoy my own “4K versions” of these 2 movies in my own little world. Just another reason to love this hobby. Never a boring day.

 

[Movie2099]

I don’t see too many people complaining about the Se7en 4K copy, but perhaps some people also complained about it.

Everyone has their own thing. Gotta do what you think looks/sounds great. I’m not going to even try to convince anyone otherwise.

I couldn’t stand re-watching Last of the Mohicans 1992 or Bram Stoker’s Dracula 1992 because of all that noise and grain. Both of these movies have sentimental values to me - I saw both of these during Pharmacy school in 1992 so they always remind me of that time. Now I can enjoy my own “4K versions” of these 2 movies in my own little world. Just another reason to love this hobby. Never a boring day.

I need to see this AcuDef "remaster" of Last of the Mohicans. How big is the file?

 

[j_garcia]

Grain gives the movie it's cinematic look. Now, can there be times that the grain level is too much? absolutely. Zach Snyder is a guy that uses a ton of film grain. Most directors use a thin layer of it, so it doesn't look overtly digital. Especially in movies that use a ton of CGI. Removing all the grain from older movies with CGI, makes the older graphics stick out like a sore thumb. Watch Aliens, when Ripley is confronting the Queen, the shot of her burning the eggs, the CGI background looks really bad and dated. Grain can help offset that look a bit.

RoboCop 4k had a great 4k restoration done to it. Arrow Video did a great job. Which Dracula are you referring to? the Gary Oldman one? I haven't watched that on 4k yet, so can't comment.

Last of Mohicans is one of my all-time favs. I wouldn't want that to look digital at all. It's a period piece movie. The grain gives a perfect look. I do hope Mann will be working on a 4k restoration soon. Give us both the Directors cut and theatrical cut. I prefer the theatrical.

Robocop looked great. Arrow generally does solid releases. Dracula did look better, but not as much as I hoped. That was an older restoration though.

 

[Movie2099]

Robocop looked great. Arrow generally does solid releases. Dracula did look better, but not as much as I hoped. That was an older restoration though.

I've been seeing more and more boutique labels picking up movies that already had 4k restorations done and now these other labels like Kino, Arrow, Criterion are now doing another "restoration" and releasing them at full cost.

Criterion is going to release a 13-disc special box set of Stanley Kubrik movies. I think all his movies but 1 in the set have been restored and released on 4k already. The set will set you back almost $500. Seeing that all the Kubrick movies were restored from Camera Negatives and given the lossless 5.1 or Atmos mixes with Dolby vision added, I'm not sure what Criterion is going to do differently, other than putting them in a special box, add some bonus material, slap their name on it and charge $500 for it. Many of the hardcore physical media folks are drooling over it. Not me.

Jurassic Park movies were re-released because they added Dolby Vision and Atmos to the movies. Originally, they just had HDR and DTS:X. The studio behind Rambo, re-released a special Amazon only edition that of course sold out immediately and we don't know when they will restock. I guess there were some issues with the previous dics, so instead of fixing them and sending out replacements, they decided to create an all-new release and charge over $100 for it. The physical media market is getting crazy!

I know this isn't a movie, but Rockstar has decided to release GTA 6, the most hyped-up game in years, as digital only. So, you can purchase a case, but it will only have a digital code in it. The cost will be $80 for "normal" edition and $100 for Ultimate edition.

 

[j_garcia]

I've been seeing more and more boutique labels picking up movies that already had 4k restorations done and now these other labels like Kino, Arrow, Criterion are now doing another "restoration" and releasing them at full cost.

Criterion is going to release a 13-disc special box set of Stanley Kubrik movies. I think all his movies but 1 in the set have been restored and released on 4k already. The set will set you back almost $500. Seeing that all the Kubrick movies were restored from Camera Negatives and given the lossless 5.1 or Atmos mixes with Dolby vision added, I'm not sure what Criterion is going to do differently, other than putting them in a special box, add some bonus material, slap their name on it and charge $500 for it. Many of the hardcore physical media folks are drooling over it. Not me.

Jurassic Park movies were re-released because they added Dolby Vision and Atmos to the movies. Originally, they just had HDR and DTS:X. The studio behind Rambo, re-released a special Amazon only edition that of course sold out immediately and we don't know when they will restock. I guess there were some issues with the previous dics, so instead of fixing them and sending out replacements, they decided to create an all-new release and charge over $100 for it. The physical media market is getting crazy!

I know this isn't a movie, but Rockstar has decided to release GTA 6, the most hyped-up game in years, as digital only. So, you can purchase a case, but it will only have a digital code in it. The cost will be $80 for "normal" edition and $100 for Ultimate edition.

At the same time, CDs are making a comeback like they were vinyl.

The Abyss 4k was finally back in stock, so I ordered it Yep, sorta restoration.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I need to see this AcuDef "remaster" of Last of the Mohicans. How big is the file?

Haha. It’s Topaz Video AI Pro.

Mohicans is 40GB. But most of the movies are coming out 50-70GB.

 

[Movie2099]

If anybody is interested in getting into the K-scape ecosystem, now is a great time to pick up a gently used model. Just go on AVS forums, click forms and under Video Source Items, you will find tons of new ads for K-scapes. K-scape has just released a new model, so now everyone is going to sell their current 4k models just to have the new one with 8k capabilities! hahaha. So, I'm seeing prices as low as $1500-$2500. Jump while it's hot!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If anybody is interested in getting into the K-scape ecosystem, now is a great time to pick up a gently used model. Just go on AVS forums, click forms and under Video Source Items, you will find tons of new ads for K-scapes. K-scape has just released a new model, so now everyone is going to sell their current 4k models just to have the new one with 8k capabilities! hahaha. So, I'm seeing prices as low as $1500-$2500. Jump while it's hot!

So $1500-$2500 just for the used/preowned Media player?

How much for the HDD?

Then how much for each movie download?

 

[Movie2099]

So $1500-$2500 just for the used/preowned Media player?

How much for the HDD?

Then how much for each movie download?

If you get a used Strato V I believe that comes with a 1TB Drive in it. But with K-scape you don't need to keep all your movies on the hard drive. Once you purchase them, you can download it watch it and remove it from the HD and it will always be in available to you, you would just need to download it again. 4k movies on gig internet download in under 10 mins.

Movie costs are at all different prices. Starting as low as $5 and going up to $35 depending on who it's from and if it's brand new. They are always putting movies on sale down $10-$15. There is also a way to hook up an external blu ray drive. For every blu ray you have, K-scape will recognize it and offer you the 4k upgrade for $5. So basically $5 per 4k movie for every Blu ray copy of a movie you have. They also release new releases on the same day they hit digital. So, you don't have to wait for physical disc. You can also rent movies as well. I think those are like $5-$7 for the rental and the movie will stick around for a couple of days and then be gone.

 

[j_garcia]

If you get a used Strato V I believe that comes with a 1TB Drive in it. But with K-scape you don't need to keep all your movies on the hard drive. Once you purchase them, you can download it watch it and remove it from the HD and it will always be in available to you, you would just need to download it again. 4k movies on gig internet download in under 10 mins.

Movie costs are at all different prices. Starting as low as $5 and going up to $35 depending on who it's from and if it's brand new. They are always putting movies on sale down $10-$15. There is also a way to hook up an external blu ray drive. For every blu ray you have, K-scape will recognize it and offer you the 4k upgrade for $5. So basically $5 per 4k movie for every Blu ray copy of a movie you have. They also release new releases on the same day they hit digital. So, you don't have to wait for physical disc. You can also rent movies as well. I think those are like $5-$7 for the rental and the movie will stick around for a couple of days and then be gone.

Might have to consider it. I have no room to store my current media lol. Literally hundreds of discs

 

[dolynick]

K-Scape i rather expensive on the hardware front for what it is, but I am quite glad that someone built an ecosystem of digital delivery full UHD quality movies.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

But with K-scape you don't need to keep all your movies on the hard drive. Once you purchase them, you can download it watch it and remove it from the HD and it will always be in available to you, you would just need to download it again. 4k movies on gig internet download in under 10 mins.

So what happens if their server is down or if they have a malfunction with their HDD or if they go out of business?

All that money that you've paid for in their DIGITAL library will be gone.

If I pay for something, I would like to be able to keep it in my own SDD at home and back up as many SDD as I want.

Everyone has their own preferred method.

I would rather get a physical disc and copy it or buy a digital copy and keep my own DIGITAL copy at home. And just use KODI for free as the media player.

 

[Movie2099]

K-Scape i rather expensive on the hardware front for what it is, but I am quite glad that someone built an ecosystem of digital delivery full UHD quality movies.

Yes, K-scape is a premium product. But really, if you're in the home theater hobby expensive really shouldn't surprise anybody. Everything is expensive.

 

[Movie2099]

So what happens if their server is down or if they have a malfunction with their HDD or if they go out of business?

All that money that you've paid for in their DIGITAL library will be gone.

If I pay for something, I would like to be able to keep it in my own SDD at home and back up as many SDD as I want.

Everyone has their own preferred method.

I would rather get a physical disc and copy it or buy a digital copy and keep my own DIGITAL copy at home. And just use KODI for free as the media player.

That's always the question that is asked. What if? Really, we could say that about everything. The 4k player market for physical discs has been slowly dying. Down to just a few players on the market. Panasonic still has their players out there. For their top-of-the-line player, you're going to drop $1000. Now check out some players made from other countries like Magnetar. Their new 4k players came out and just to get the entry level model is $1800 and goes up to $3300. That's just for the player. Still have to purchase all the physical discs. What if Magnetar goes out of business in the next 5 years, how will those players be serviced? Remember Oppo? who would've thunk Oppo would go out of business? Their players sold like hot cakes. Then boom, gone.

Kaleidescape has been around for 25 years. They've had their ups and downs, but I really think their new-ish CEO has really pushed the company forward. They have released so much new stuff within the last 2 years. I would say more new things in the last 2 compared to previous decade or more. The entry price has been cut down. Their digital library has been growing non-stop. Which, they have massive deals in place with almost every single studio. The studio's send them the actual metadata file to which K-scape can make even better.

Their brand-new players now support 8k, which of course nothing is out for, but now is future proofed. But what they've created is a new 4k format called 4k Cinematic. Which is added at no additional cost when purchasing a movie. What K-scape did was expand the bit rates and jump the color chroma up to 4:4:4. Movie theater chains are now purchasing K-scapes to use in their theaters. When they play older movies, they can now show them in true 4k picture and lossless sound quality.

Don't get me wrong, I do like physical disc. I continue to purchase physical discs every single week. The biggest issue for me is, I'm running out of space. I don't want to keep an entire room filled with bins that are full of movies. I rip all of my movies to HDD's and use a Zidoo UHD8000 to watch. I sometimes call it the "poor mans" version of K-scape. But in reality, it's not too far off the cost of having a K-scape. When you add in cost of player, movies, HDD's and other.

Again, to each his own. The home theater hobby is open to do whatever makes you happy. K-scape will most likely always be there, and it will always be a love hate with tons of people. If people do end up pulling the string and getting one, they will not be disappointed.