2K Blu-ray Remasters From 4K Film Scans

Introduction

I've been hesitant to jump on the 4K train on account of I haven't seen any eye-popping enticements yet. The last time I saw eye-popping enticements, from a television, was in June of 2009 when I saw some Pioneer Kuro plasma TVs in two different stores. I immediately negotiated a good deal on their 60" model and forked over the cash with pleasure. In the subsequent years I quietly saved my nickels in anticipation of the day when Pioneer (or maybe some other brand) would come out with something bigger and better. Imagine my bitter disappointment when I learned that Pioneer was getting out of the plasma market and that the world was switching over to *choke* LED and all its myriad variants.

I recently had another eye-popping experience when watching the 2K Blu-ray version of Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight". While I liked the movie when I saw it in the theater, I wasn't impressed with the video quality. It was a good quality print, but nothing to make a thread about. After viewing and reviewing the Blu-ray, I did some research and found that the print shown in theaters was from a 35 mm reduction print made from the original 65 mm film stock on which the movie was photographed. Further, the 2K Blu-ray was made from a 4K master which was scanned from the 65 mm film. The difference in detail, depth, and color saturation was quite stunning. The screen captures below can only hint at the wonderful video quality of this Blu-ray transfer.


Figure 1. The Hateful Eight screen capture. Outstanding depth of field and three dimensionality.


Figure 2. The Hateful Eight screen capture. Outstanding detail, black levels, and low light detail. Watching the scene where they were all eating a pot of stew made me hungry for some beef and vegetable stew.


Figure 3. The Hateful Eight screen capture. Outstanding color saturation. On my television, it looked like I would be able to feel the soft leather of Samuel Jackson's gloves if I touched the screen.

After this spectacle, I wondered if there were any other movies in my collection that had been mastered or remastered in 4K resolution. I found three:

1. "Being There" (1979), $7 million budget ($24.180 million in 2018 dollars). The 2K Blu-ray was released in 2009. The 2K Blu-ray remastered from a 4K master was released in 2017.

2. "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" (1989), $1.2 million budget ($2.428 million in 2018 dollars). The 2K Blu-ray was released in 2009. The 2K Blu-ray remastered from a 4K master was released in 2017.

3. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000), $17 million budget ($24.736 million in 2018 dollars). The 2K Blu-ray was released in 2010. The 2K Blu-ray remastered from a 4K master was released in 2016.

I only had the DVD versions of the above three movies in my collection. Used copies of the original version Blu-rays and 4K remastered 2K Blu-rays were available online.

"Being There" Version Comparisons


Figure 4. Being There DVD screen capture.


Figure 5. Being There Blu-ray screen capture, 2K master.


Figure 6. Being There Blu-ray screen capture, 4K remaster.


Figure 7. Being There close up of Peter Sellers' beard shadow, left - right: DVD, 2K mastered Blu-ray, 4K remastered 2K Blu-ray.

"Sex, Lies, and Videotape" Version Comparisons


Figure 8. Sex, Lies, and Videotape screen capture, 2K master Blu-ray on left, 4K remastered 2K Blu-ray on right. At first glance, the picture on left might be perceived to be the more detailed picture because it is brighter. However, if you study the facial contours, and shadow details, you will find that the 4K remastered picture on the right is less flatter in perspective and is more three dimensional. Skin details, such as facial pores and veins in the forehead are also more discernible.


Figure 9. Close up of Andie McDowell's left eye, 2K master Blu-ray on left, 4K remastered 2K Blu-ray on right.

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" Version Comparisons


Figure 10. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon DVD screen capture.


Figure 11. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2K master Blu-ray screen capture.


Figure 12. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 4K remaster Blu-ray screen capture.


Figure 13. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon DVD screen capture.


Figure 14. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2K master Blu-ray screen capture.


Figure 15. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 4K remaster Blu-ray screen capture.


Figure 16. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon eye detail screen capture left-right: DVD, 2K master Blu-ray, 4K remastered 2K Blu-ray.

Conclusion

Based in the 2K renderings of Blu-ray movies from 4K masters, even with movies that are two or more decades old, I expect the full 4K renderings would be quite spectacular...if I had a 4K Kuro plasma.

By the way, I dropped by Best Buy this week to take a look at the 4K sets. The only set that caught my eye was the Sony X850F 85" LED TV. A salesperson saw me continually looking at other sets and going back to the X850F and lingering. He told me the upgrade model X900F 85" was on display in the Magnolia room. The X900F retails for $800 more than the X850F and has better processors, but I didn't see a difference in picture quality with the X900F playing the same demo loop as the X850F.



Figure 17. Sony X850F 85" 4K LED TV on display at Best Buy. For the first time since June 2009, I saw a television picture I actually liked watching...but not as much as my Kuro though. If had watched this on my Kuro, I would have wanted to stick my hand through the TV screen and touch the cars.