A Universal Monsters 4K box will be out in time for Halloween. The box includes 4K versions of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman, and the Invisible Man. It will be out October 5th and, yes, I'm sucker enough to buy it. I need to feed my 4K player something (plus, I have too much spare cash laying around). Hi, everybody.
I'm gonna wait for the 5K set coming out at Christmas.
I'm sure they'll look great, but I'm happy enough with my Blu-rays and DVDs. Plus, I can't imagine trying to explain to my wife that I'm buying these films again, lol.
Quote from: Mike Scott on August 05, 2021, 05:24:35 PM
I'm gonna wait for the 5K set coming out at Christmas.
Let's see you be that dismissive when they announce that 16K smellorama Creature set.
Quote from: Mord on August 06, 2021, 02:59:50 PM
. . smellorama Creature set.
Yuck! Old stinky fish smell!
Quote from: Lunkenstein on August 05, 2021, 09:35:16 PM
I'm sure they'll look great, but I'm happy enough with my Blu-rays and DVDs. Plus, I can't imagine trying to explain to my wife that I'm buying these films again, lol.
Didn't you have the same reaction when they first started talking about BLU-Rays? ("I've already bought them on VHS tapes and DVD's; I don't need to buy them again.")
How many DVD's have you replaced with BLU-Rays?
Quote from: Monsters For Sale on August 06, 2021, 03:43:22 PM
Didn't you have the same reaction when they first started talking about BLU-Rays? ("I've already bought them on VHS tapes and DVD's; I don't need to buy them again.")
How many DVD's have you replaced with BLU-Rays?
I did go the VHS to DVD to Blu-ray bit with many cherished titles and Universal Monster sets, but there were also a lot of DVDs that looked quite good on my Blu-ray player that I didn't replace. I also have to watch money a little more since retiring. I'm good for now, but never say never. If technology keeps advancing and prices are good, I may bite again someday.
Quote from: Lunkenstein on August 06, 2021, 07:20:07 PM
If technology keeps advancing and prices are good, I may bite again someday.
I'm only rebuying when technology can put me into the movie as one of the characters.
Quote from: Mike Scott on August 06, 2021, 07:46:36 PM
I'm only rebuying when technology can put me into the movie as one of the characters.
Lol, I was thinking something similar. A holograph version where the movie is going on all around you. I didn't think of playing a character, but that could a cool, bonus material option.
Probably pass mostly cause I don't have a 4K player anyways. Plus I more or less decided when I got the 30 film set that would likely be the last time I'd buy these movies to that extent.
I'd like to see The Wolf Man in 4k. I think it is the best-looking of all the Universal classic monster films. So atmospheric.
When I bought my last TV (I hope it's my last TV) I bought a 4k smart TV that I can watch YouTube on. Amazon had it on sale with a really deep discount. I didn't get a 4k player, because they were really expensive and there weren't many 4k discs available.
I have only a few 4k discs that I bought when they were offered along with the BLU-Ray upgrades that I wanted for just a very few dollars more.
Are all 4k discs region-free? I can't remember ever seeing a warning about discs not being viewable in all areas.
Quote from: Monsters For Sale on August 07, 2021, 10:33:59 AM
Are all 4k discs region-free? I can't remember ever seeing a warning about discs not being viewable in all areas.
I did a quick search and it looks like they are region-free at least for now.
The standard/restored HD prints used on the Blurays look fantastic and are good enough for me.
Quote from: Monsters For Sale on August 07, 2021, 10:33:59 AM
I'd like to see The Wolf Man in 4k. I think it is the best-looking of all the Universal classic monster films. So atmospheric.
What's sad is technically The Wolf Man wasn't even properly restored for the original Blu-ray release. It's basically the transfer originally made for the 2010 DVD but has been scrubbed up a bit. Bearing that in mind it'll be interesting to see what people's thoughts are on that films 4K presentation.
I honestly like the way Dracula looks better on Blu-ray. The 4K is way too dark, and you can barely see any of the set design in Dracula's castle at the beginning of the film.
Quote from: Rich on April 11, 2022, 10:01:23 AM
I honestly like the way Dracula looks better on Blu-ray. The 4K is way too dark, and you can barely see any of the set design in Dracula's castle at the beginning of the film.
That reminds me. I watched a film in 4k on Prime that I own on Blu-ray and felt the same way. I think it was ALIEN. I kept feeling I saw less detail because it looked dark.
I've only watched a couple things in HDR and this might be a dumb question, but do we need to adjust the brightness and/or contrast levels when viewing 4k?
I think I'll pass on these.
I'm waiting on the 8K releases.
Isn't there a whole issue called "Black crush" that all the cool kids talk about regarding upgraded transfers with too much contrast? Resulting in loss of detail? I think there is.
Quote from: Monsters For Sale on June 24, 2022, 06:23:26 PM
I think I'll pass on these.
There's no way I'm buying
all new hardware and
all new software!
Quote from: Monsters For Sale on August 06, 2021, 03:43:22 PM
Didn't you have the same reaction when they first started talking about BLU-Rays? ("I've already bought them on VHS tapes and DVD's; I don't need to buy them again.")
How many DVD's have you replaced with BLU-Rays?
When I buy a BLU-Ray, it's because I don't have it on DVD,
Quote from: Haunted hearse on July 03, 2022, 08:45:07 PM
When I buy a BLU-Ray, it's because I don't have it on DVD,
When I buy a BLU-Ray, it is often because I have a very poor copy on DVD - one with no extras.
I'm a sucker for restored prints from better source material. Especially if it comes with informativ commentaries and interviews.
Volume 2 will be out October 11th.
(https://images.static-bluray.com/movies/covers/320763_front.jpg)
Press release:
QuoteNOW AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON 4K ULTRA HD
OWN THE BRAND NEW 4K ULTRA HD COLLECTION ON OCTOBER 11, 2022 FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
INCLUDES BLU-RAY™ AND DIGITAL CODE
SYNOPSIS: From Universal Pictures, home of the monsters since the era of silent movies, comes a second volume of Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection with collectible packaging, showcasing four more of the most iconic monsters in motion picture history: The Mummy, which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, The Bride of Frankenstein, Phantom of the Opera, and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Starring Boris Karloff, Elsa Lanchester and Claude Rains in the roles they made famous, these iconic films set new standards for horror with groundbreaking makeup, cinematography and special effects that have withstood the test of time.
FILMS INCLUDED:
The Mummy (1932)
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Phantom of the Opera (1943)
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
BONUS FEATURES ON THE MUMMY 4K ULTRA HD:
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce
Unraveling the Legacy of THE MUMMY
THE MUMMY Archives
100 Years of Universal: The Carl Laemmle Era (Int'l Version)
Trailer Gallery
The Mummy (1932)
The Mummy's Hand (1940)
The Mummy's Tomb (1942)
The Mummy's Ghost (1944)
The Mummy's Curse (1944)
Feature Commentary with Film Historian Paul M. Jensen
Feature Commentary with Rick Baker, Scott Essman, Steve Haberman, Bob Burns, and Brent Armstrong
BONUS FEATURES ON THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN 4K ULTRA HD:
100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics (International Version)
Trailer Gallery
Frankenstein (1931)
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)
House of Frankenstein (1944)
Feature Commentary with Scott MacQueen
BONUS FEATURES ON PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 4K ULTRA HD:
100 Years of Universal: The Lot (Int'l version)
Theatrical Trailer
Feature Commentary with Film Historian Scott MacQueen
BONUS FEATURES ON CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON 4K ULTRA HD:
Creature from the Black Lagoon (3D Version) (Blu-ray only)
Back to the Black Lagoon
Production Photographs
100 Years of Universal: The Lot
Trailer Gallery
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Revenge of the Creature (1955)
The Creature Walks Among Us (1956)
Feature Commentary with Film Historian Tom Weaver
Are they doing all of the sequels in 4K, too? What about the K and L movies and the "B" pictures?
Quote from: Mike Scott on August 24, 2022, 09:26:17 PM
Are they doing all of the sequels in 4K, too? What about the K and L movies and the "B" pictures?
Unclear right now, probably not though unless they gave them 4K restorations for the Complete Collection a while back.
Quote from: MikeSTZillak on August 24, 2022, 10:51:43 PM
Unclear right now,
The Blu-rays are good enough for me. Until they come out with the brain implants.
Quote from: Mike Scott on August 24, 2022, 11:11:56 PM
The Blu-rays are good enough for me. Until they come out with the brain implants.
I agree. Now bring on the implants
I can understand 4K releases for newer films but how much of a difference does it make with older films? Won't my Blu-ray's be just fine?
Quote from: LugosiFan25 on August 25, 2022, 01:10:56 PM
I can understand 4K releases for newer films but how much of a difference does it make with older films? Won't my Blu-ray's be just fine?
The bluray(s) are wonderful. Enjoy 'em.
The two 8-disc 4K/BLU-Ray collections are on sale at Amazon for $29.99 each.
That's a nice discount from the $79.99 list price.
I got the Australian set about a month ago when it was on sale for about $50. Fortunately they're not region locked. As for how they look compared to the Blu-rays it's a mixed bag. Earlier films look a bit darker or have minimal improvement while Creature IMO has too much DNR. Wolf Man and Phantom IMO were the ones I felt showed some decent improvement. Wolf Man doesn't look like the 2010 DVD version with enhancements and Phantom has less halo-ing.
Quote from: crissrudd4554 on October 11, 2023, 11:08:35 AM
I got the Australian set about a month ago when it was on sale for about $50. Fortunately they're not region locked. As for how they look compared to the Blu-rays it's a mixed bag. Earlier films look a bit darker or have minimal improvement while Creature IMO has too much DNR. Wolf Man and Phantom IMO were the ones I felt showed some decent improvement. Wolf Man doesn't look like the 2010 DVD version with enhancements and Phantom has less halo-ing.
I was thinking the Wolf Man was the one film that could benefit most from a 4K treatment. It has wonderful contrast and is probably Universal's best-looking monster film - just really pretty.
Also don't know if it's of any concern to anyone but in Creature there's a minor bit of dialogue missing. In the scene where Mark and David get into their fist fight when David says "Mark, all we're interested in right now is getting the entrance to this lagoon cleared" the name "Mark" is now missing showing David mouthing nothing. Nothing extravagant but felt I'd mention it.
I own the 8 film Australian 4K set. I turned the brightness up on my TV, and NOW, they look absolutely amazing!