For me it will always be First Blood, just like Raiders Of The Lost Ark is just that. A brilliant transfer that really tries to keep Lazlos cinematography and colour palette.
I was thinking of mentioning the rebranding of 'Raiders'. I suppose it's to help people younger than ourselves understand that Raiders and First Blood ended up being the first in complete series of films. John.
Greetings from Santiago de Chile. Back in the 80's when this movie was released here it was title "Rambo" and it was a real phenomenon that stayed for months as a main feature and part of double and triple features for years. In the public television they made a contest called "I am Rambo" and the prizes were US$50, a color TV, a microwave or a boombox. The competitors were not exactly Sylvester Stallone in its prime, they look much like Rowan Atkinson in its present time. The first I saw it was in betamax at the house of a school companion and I was schocked by its violence but fascinated by the way the story was told, a drama about the Vietnam war in these of a victim. Brilliant. I need to add it to my collection which in the last days added some new titles in glorious 4K: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, True Lies (I could not resist to be part of the discussion) and from Criterion Collection “Blue Velvet (movie I love since the first time I watched it in VHS) and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid with it’s 3 cuts (one of them only in Blu-Ray). Hope I finish these bunch of classics as soon as possible. Adiós amigo. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Well, you've just purchased some all-time great movies there Gaspar. I'm coming over to you place to watch them with you! There was a film called 'Son Of Rambow' which I can't remember much about other than it was a British sort of farce. But the main thing I do remember was the main characters drove a Triumph TR7 so that made it worth the watch. I suppose it was a little like the 'I Am Rambo' competitions over in Chile in a way. By the way, the first time I saw 'First Blood' was on that Super 8 feature print. It was a 'Scope release so it filled out ten foot wide roll down screen. The painted wall we project onto now is almost exactly the same width but we're sitting a whole lot closer. John. John.
I hope it's stopped raining since First Blood was filmed! A beautiful location. Seriously, the weather is an important factor in the look and feel of the film. John.
@@moviecollector5920 The last few years we've been dealing with extreme droughts in the summer and then severe rains in the fall! My nephew ran the Hope Cinema for a few years in the 1990s and the Hope Cinema will have a special screening of First Blood on 26 July. It's one of the last independent theatres left in BC.
Yes, I have found that out as well. By turning down the brightness there is less film grain showing. By leaving my LG on minimum power setting there is also less excessive brightness on whites making it appear more like it does in a theater. Also, if I have all my lights turned off at night I turn the power setting to the next lower level which makes the picture more watchable and easier on the eyes (less tiring) as well. I also prefer using film maker mode as that setting cuts down on any excessive blue and has a more natural color pallet for flesh tones. I agree that the first RAMBO film was the best in the series and looks great in 4k. Have a great day John.
It seems to me that you've got on top of this 4K lark Daniel. Too many do still watch with the brightness way the hell up there. Also, the 'sharpen' feature because with that on it can have all manner of detrimental effects on the image quality which is perhaps why some report the most awful artifacts within some 4K discs that I simply cannot reproduce. I should try some of those cited sequences with 'sharpen' right up rather than minimized to the lowest setting. John.
@@moviecollector5920 I watched a video on TH-cam by a guy who is supposed to be some kind of TV expert. He did a critique of LG OLED and was incensed at the brightness of the sports and the vivid settings calling those settings insane and "do not use those settings" and I'm like, dude just cut down the power usage settings and it will be all right. And yes, turn the sharpness level all the way down, as you mentioned, as it causes distortions in the images and helps to bring out more grain in the picture. And, as I have mentioned before, keep the screen clean as a fog can form from cooking and smears from fingerprints. I have used screen cleaner I bought on Amazon but it would not clean off the smears. I have found that just vapor from my own breath and a clean micro fiber cloth gets the job done. I use a flashlight held at an angle to bring out those pesky smears and keep track of my screen cleaning progress. Using this cheap but effective method really works and makes it easier for the next cleaning job. I think it is unfortunate that many people do not keep their screens clean and that cuts down on the clarity of the experience. I want the max experience when I watch my 4k TV but to some people I think it doesn't matter. I do understand however that can be a major problem if there are kids around. Daniel.
@@danielparker3842 Television screens are covered by glass and that has always been a bit of a problem owing to reflections. When the CRT screen first went flat it was an attempt to minimize reflections but nothing is ever going to be foolproof. Keeping the glass as clear as possible will certainly help as will have the room as dark as possible but I think you're getting so into this whole malarkey Daniel, you will soon have no choice and you'll have to find a projector. Once you switch though, you'll never look back. John.
Far and away my favourite Stallone film. and it stands out among its sequels for not only allowing Stallone to really show his acting ability (that final "Nothing is over!" monologue still give me goosebumps.) but also unlike the mindless action films the sequels are this is actually more of an anti war film.
The ending where he breaks down is spot on. For all the bravado and the incredible feats, it turned out that he was an ordinary person just like the rest of us. John.
I still think Cliffhanger is his best film Steve but you may be right about his acting in First Blood. Then again, there is 'Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot!'. John.
@@NiceGuyAidey Gawd, I've completely forgotten Copland. Good, because I'll be able to watch it again but almost like seeing a film for the first time without actually spending a penny... apart from the electricity bill every time the THX sound system goes on!
Perhaps it's more because we're all just film enthusiasts Madison and we enjoy listening to or talking to people with a shared interest, hopefully without much in the way of negativity. John.
@@moviecollector5920 Such modesty, sir 😎 Shared interest, certainly, but don’t sell yourself short. Your videos are fascinating. Thanks for responding!
Been too long since I saw the first film. Rambo 4 is always a guilty pleasure I can go back to again and again,its so over the top. Will have to revisit part 1 again
I think I have the fourth film on Blu-ray and it was surprisingly good. It's not exactly on the same level as the original film though but as a sequel it stands up well. John.
John, please understand that I mean this as sheer flattery: you could pick up a side gig as Peter Cushing. Now, moving on, I'm glad this got the treatment it deserved. I know as a young man it was my first exposure to the notion of PTSD, though we were too you (born in 76) at the time of release to know that was indeed the subject. I actually saw these out of order: I saw the 2nd and/or 3rd before I saw First Blood. Imagine how confused my young mind was, as the subject had totally changed between films for the sake of The Franchise. Even as an avid AV Enthusiast (TM), I'm not one of these "oh, you have to get this on 4K/UHD" guys. But thank goodness we finally have a home video format that, when treated properly, will give us what we've dreamed of for decades: a 35mm release print (or higher) quality, with a greater dynamic ranger latitude, that fits in the palm of our hands for a few bucks/pounds.
Morning Ryan. I did meet Peter Cushing once. He was a lovely man, a true English gentleman. We could do with more like him today but it's something we seem to have lost. I never cease to be amazed at the quality of modern home video. I genuinely did think it wouldn't be possible to achieve video quality on a par with film although it's still a very long way off achieving the heights of the best film formats. I did get a press release about a 17K camera a short time ago but the reality is that there's no point in it unless the end result if printed out to large film format because there is nothing that can project anything in a cinema of more than 4K resolution. That's about two-thirds the capability of 35mm by the way. Therein lies the problem because when the big downgrade occurred in 2011 it was seen as a money saver but now the reality has set in because a lot of cinemas bought a 2K projector and that's how they've stayed. That's because these things cost a fortune and there's no longer the audience to fund replacements or improvements. So while it's a dream to be able to watch home video in cinema quality at home just a few months after a film was on general release to the remaining theatres around the world, it's actually killing cinema. I can't foresee the future but if cinemas disappear from most towns in the western world then I can't see how any film will generate enough publicity or reputation to enter the psyche of the world like previous wonderful movies have. It's all a bit of a conundrum but cinema is in terminal decline and needs someone to come up with a methodology for minimal cost that will turn it around once again. I think D-150 is the solution because it works with any projector, whether video or film providing the video projectors fire straight and not up like most home video projectors. John.
Great review John :) This is without a doubt my favorite Rambo film. The plot might be predictable, but it's a well written film and First Blood still holds up to this day. Stallone is perfect in the role as a troubled Vietnam vet. I didn't know about the alternate ending but I will definitely check it out.
Killing Rambo at the conclusion was the only sensible way to end really but just as well they didn't do it otherwise there wouldn't have been any big money making sequels. Letting him live would have meant a long time in prison in real life but this is the movies and they can get away with an awful lot. The attempt at the original ending is good to see because it confirms why it couldn't be used i.e. it's awful. John.
Good point, I should have listened to that but commentaries are something I rarely dip into these days. I used to go through them all on LaserDisc but I suppose it was all so new back then. By the way, the comment just before yours from Gaspar in Chile has told us that First Blood was titled 'Rambo' over there. I never would have thought of that i.e. foreign markets giving it the Rambo identity. John.
@@moviecollector5920 But this one is amazing! It's like Stallone sitting there watching the movie with you and and talking about everything that is happening. Many commentaries are just actors babbling, but not this one
Glad you like the 4k John. I’ve had this on 4k for what seems like years now and although I’m no expert it looks great to me , the only thing I wished for was the original audio track as from my experience this always seems to sound superior to the remixed audio tracks they do.
LaserDisc used to carry the original soundtracks and possibly VHS too. I'm not sure anything else has on home video ever since. But there is the occasional option via the menu for what claims to be original audio such as the Arrow Films release of Robocop where the matrixed four channel Dolby Stereo is better than the pair of digital sound remix options. John.
@@peskypeet Perhaps what you should try is to run the stereo rca connections into your amp and when a film that was originally matrixed four track Dolby Stereo doesn't come with the original sound you could switch to the analogue stereo in and have your amp decode that into Dolby Stereo/ProLogic. You will quite likely find that preferable. Interestingly, the Arrow Films 4K release or Robocop had the original Dolby Stereo as an option via the menu and it is the best of the three available soundtracks on that disc. John.
I think Cliffhanger is Stallone's best. One of the most memorable cinema screenings for me... twice. And that opening was even worse the second time around! John.
Such a great channel! I was wondering if you would be able to advise me please, I am getting a new 4k OLED and Atmos system, what 4k would be the best to show off the 4k, HDR & Atmos audio etc, years gone by for DVD it was The Matrix for example! what would you advise?
TENET. Anything shot 15/70 is best because that's the highest resolution filming format. Standard 70mm productions are next but there are exceptions to all of this because Murder On The Orient Express is still best on our older 4K video projector. I'm not much of a telly fan so my recommendation for everyone is to spend less on a telly and get a video projector too for special movie nights. If you have a wall then paint it brilliant white and you're away. Don't listen to anyone recommending expensive screens. John.
John, I remember watching ‘First Blood’ for the first time on Laserdisc and was very impressed with the film… It certainly brought a vested interest in the various characters and the motivations behind their story (even when seemingly not supportive of John Rambo, but what drives them to act the way they did against him). Thanks for the review… btw, Bored started out doing very interesting equipment tear down videos.. Cheers
First Blood is all about that ending when he breaks down. He's a flawed human just like all the rest of us and not a superman after all. Kim at Bored_Tech has made some wonderful videos. His latest, the visit to CineLab, is a particularly mature production and all the more impressive given he's comparatively new to film. A very talented chap. John.
Hey John, this for me is an exceptional disc, yet many will think it's not great as there's no Atmos and plenty of grain and flatness. If the best discs are those that accurately represent the original presentation, then this is right up there. I love this movie (not the series) and am very happy with the disc. Best to you and yours!
Spot on there Rob. It's not exactly the best looking print quality ever issued on film but now that I know the Super 8 and 4K are memorably similar then that indicates a very good 4K disc. The sound should probably really be matrixed four channel Dolby Stereo but I don't think the DTS update detracts at all. John.
@@moviecollector5920 exactly, matrixed sound from those days - the DTS sounded really good (relative to the source) in my theater. Like you I've been in this game both a projectionist and enthuiast since the 70's and seen 70mm 6 track, Dolby SR, Dolby Surround, Pro Logic, SDDS, Dolby Digital, oh my lord, so may formats.
@@Celestialrob And I'm able to confirm that Dolby SR in here is indistinguishable from Dolby Digital most of the time. Magnetic sound was best though and I now realize that is why Star Trek VI at The Empire was such a standout screening because it was the 70mm blow-up with six track magnetic sound. Praxis never sounded quite the same again after that. John.
Great review! I was on the fence about this release, but not anymore. Thanks for the in-depth review. I grew up watching Super 8, some of my best memories. My Dad used to pull out the screen, and my friends and I would watch Star Wars 1977. I am always happy to hear your discussions on film as well as 4k. 😊 BTW I bought The Moon steelbook and you were right, loads of fun 👍
If you know Super 8 Steve then you should be able to get the best out of this 4K disc. Many will have their telly set too bright and that will ruin it but get it just right (i.e. looking like a film would) then you should have a great time. And I'm glad you enjoyed The Moon too. The beautiful steelbook helps with that important first impression. John.
The first film in a series is nearly always the best. There might be a few exceptions though because I prefer the second Die Hard and possibly also the second Spider-Man film. John.
Great film and a great disc. Even the blu-ray looks fantastic. I'd rate this as easily the best in the series. 1 >>> 4 >> 3 >> 2 >>> 5. 3 is a guilty pleasure watch. The story is terrible but it has about 13000000 of 1988 $$ on the screen and not a single drop of cgi. Worth watching for that alone.
I think many of us are a bit sick of excessive CGI these days Doug. Film making was more of a skill and an art form before CGI was used to get around almost everything and to 'show people something they'd never seen before'. How many times do we hear that said within extras and 'making of' featurettes? John.
It is my first time on your channel - I love FIRST BLOOD, that and RAMBO 3 are my favourites in the series - also love filmmaking and the classic film look. And so I subscribed straight away :)
I thought I'd already replied to you Suchet but it appears to have gone missing. Good to have you here and if you like real (reel) film then I think you're in the right place. John.
Bought it when I was passing HMV Oxford Street the other week. It’s a wonderful release and I think the subdued look adds to the thoughtful tone of the films. Bought “In the Line of Fire” on 4K also and this is also a nice release. For a real “Eye popper” I picked up also bought the 4K of the original Total Recall. The colour fading is crazy on it giving it that “is it real or not” feel. Kind regards, Dave
In The Line Of Fire was a nice surprise Dave because the PAL LaserDisc was a poor one all those years ago and that's usually a sign of a sub-par quality film shoot. I had seen it at the cinema though and remembered it looks pretty darned good which is how the 4K home video disc has turned out. I think you're referring to the ending of Total Recall and the fade to white to indicate it's all in Doug Quaid's head. That wasn't obvious to me at the cinema back in 1990 but I was a bit younger then and evidently a bit more stupid. John.
@@moviecollector5920 If only ever seen In the Line of Fire on tv so it was a revelation on 4K. The craziest colours in Total Recall were the link athletic wear and matching hair scrunchie Sharon Stone wears when she has the fight with Quaid. It’s the most shocking shade of pink that jumps out of the screen in HDR.
My first 4k Movie's were Star wars a new hope and First Blood.Two excellent 4k s that made me think I was watching them for the first time.And that can be the power of 4k if the Transfers are done right..
The 4K of Star Wars is one of the myriad re-workings David but the re-processing done for that one was excellent. I don't think the 35mm negative was ever quite that fine grain but it looks like a genuine 35mm fine grain. Similar was achieved with American Graffiti but that of course had only 50% of the image area of Star Wars to work with so not all the shots worked out quite as well. First Blood retains the filmic look. Many will think the film grain is too coarse but that will be because they have their tellies too bright. A common mistake unfortunately. John.
I think a lot of people feel similarly about it Roy. Not a surprise really because if you were the right age at the time it could easily live with you. I was slightly too old but still appreciate it. John.
Just read that the boss of HMV says their sales of UHD's and Blu-Rays are on the increase. He believes its down to people not being happy with streaming services removing films. Encouraging stuff! *in streamer's defence they don't always have a choice as it can be down to licensing agreements expiring, but just another reason why if you buy physical media it's yours to own.
I hadn't seen that statement from the boss of HMV David so thank you for posting it here. I wonder if it's also the vagaries of the internet causing true movie enthusiasts to purchase discs again. And also perhaps the superior quality of a standard Blu-ray to streaming purported 4K's. John.
@@moviecollector5920 Thanks John. I would have posted the link, but you know how TH-cam is. If you'd like to see it, its a print interview published on the BBC website yesterday. The MD's name is Phil Halliday. If you search HMV BBC interview it should be the first listing. There has been a number of TH-cam videos recently drawing people's attention to how streaming services not only suddenly remove films from their catalogues (even for films 'bought' by people as opposed to rented), but how the versions on the sites may be edited down versions. Along with some films inc well known ones not being viewable anywhere on streaming. It has led to a feeling that films are a thing you need to treasure in your own possession, rather than rely on what's kept on a company's server. Along with this I'm continually pleasantly surprised by films getting released on 4K UHD that I wouldn't have expected. It seems the market is there.
Thank you John for mentioning bored_tech channel! Your support is much appreciated and needed. Not sure what is going on with TH-cam. View are not as good as I was expecting.
I think quite a few of us had something adversely affect our channels about a month ago. There appears to have been some sort of 'upgrade' to the back end of TH-cam which caused some problems. I suppose with something so enormous and growing at what much be unexpected levels constantly we've all got to expect that things will go wrong from time to time. Because I'd been hit quite badly I decided to finally review a few 4K titles people had been asking me to look at. First Blood did quite well and now the Gladiator review seems to have put me back on the map. Time will tell though but if I can help a few fellow TH-camrs get back to where they were then I'll do what I can. I should have plugged you again in that Gladiator upload but I wasn't expecting it to do as well as First Blood. The way it's going right now it will overtake it today which will be a very welcome surprise. John.
@@moviecollector5920 These scans are like a decade old sadly so newer scans might bring out more of the original detail. These by no means are HORRID 4k transfers, just older and technology has gotten better (never know what Sly has in mind too, maybe extended cut of Last Blood in 4K finally perhaps)
@@MidnightsEdgeAfterDark I think Peet is thinking about the original film because the current 4K disc is incompatible with his system so an alternative 4K disc will hopefully do the trick. John.
Absolutely love first blood, why they changed the cover art for it to rambo first blood is beyond me, didn't see this at the cinema 1st time round as to young but did rent it out on vhs 1st time round. I actually still have the pre cert video( 1st release) by Thorn Emi if I'm not mistaken with the white background. I did. However, many yrs later, in the 90s, got to see it on the big screen as they re ran it, so at least I did get to see it in the cinema. Excellent review as always, john
I'd only ever seen it on Super 8 Dave. But that did mean ten feet wide on our drop down screen about 20 years ago. I was disappointed with the print quality back then but now I know it's how it looked on 35mm, assuming the 4K is accurate which it surely is as it matched the Super 8 'Scope feature and the theatrical trailer on Super 8 too. John.
Morning Peter. One day perhaps but I'm aware that there is not much of a market for a video like that. I've regularly covered subjects of less interest and it tends to be a little frustrating to put so much work into something that generates a comparatively small audience. Doug Meltzer in New York probably has an ever better collection so maybe we should hassle him to start a Super 8 TH-cam channel. John.
@Movie Collector bought this one on release a few years back and it is a beautiful, natural transfer just as you describe. Last night I actually went to the cinema to see Horizon and that one is highly recommend despite the fact it was not shot in the optimal screen size for a Western like for instance Hateful Eight. Don’t believe the rumors for more mature film lovers like us it is a wonderful night out with the mrs.
I think The Hateful Eight was shot Super Panavision Pieter so that's a bit on the exceptional side as it was mainly for single hole Cinerama if I recall correctly. A very wide aspect ratio for the deeply curved screen and I wish more films were made that way but we don't have the cinemas that can screen them correctly any longer. Possibly only half a dozen in the world at most. I hadn't heard of Horizon but I have now. One to look out for. John.
I think the transfer is very good on this 4k disc, also i really enjoy the movie. Thank you john for All the reviews on your excellent youtube channel.
Cracking film and disc. I've not spun it up for a while, I may have to rectify that this weekend. In fact I've got the second and third films on 4K Disc too, I need to set some time aside to catch up with them all.
I would have purchased the two sequels at the same time but part 2 was sold out. I still should have come away with the third film but I'll snag them sometime. John.
I would have purchased the second and third films if the second hadn't have been sold out. It's also sold out on the HMV web site which is a shame as it's only a tenner. Then again, no wonder it's sold out. John.
Yeah, I really like the transfer on this one John and what can you say about this movie other than it's the best of all the Rambo's. So glad you mentioned Jerry Goldsmith, what a composer, the man is a genius. I know I'm going off topic a bit John, but do you remember a 1975 movie called Race With the Devil, starring Peter Fonda and Warren Oates. The director of that movie was Jack Starrett, who is Deputy Galt in First Blood.
I don't remember 'Race With The Devil' but I probably saw it as a telly broadcast sometime. My favourite Peter Fonda is 'Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry'. John.
@@moviecollector5920 If you ever get the chance, check it out. Its about two couples go on vacation in a RV and witness a murder by a satanic group and get chased all over the county by these people. It's a really fun watch. as for 'Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry, it's been years since I last saw that one.
@@moviecollector5920 It's funny you mentioned 'Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry because I watched The House Where Evil Dwells last week which stars Susan George.
@@moviecollector5920 I remember Simon from Manimal and Jaws 3 but never knew he was married to Susan George. Thanks for the info John, I love knowledge on actors and actresses.
To be fair, the action film had moved on and they would bring in huge audiences. That's why so many became a sort of over the top shoot 'em up with little in the way of story. There were some greats in among them though. John.
@@moviecollector5920 The Rambo we see in later movies are the opposite of what we see in the original movie. He was a victim and a symbol of what many veterans faced back home in the US. In later movies he has switched completely and became a symbol of the american army and society fighting for the those who abandoned him in the first place. But yeah, some of them where fun enough.
Thank you Peter. I just included a fuller reply in my previous reply so hopefully I've covered everything but if not just leave another message and I'll get to it. John.
I occasionally shoot video with old projection Anamorphic Lenses 😍 like, schneider kreuznach, isco ect🎥 So no heavy video noise reduction then on the 4k disc? That's good! Unlike some bluray I've bought😐. The empire Liester square was my favorite cinema... I saw jurassic Park there in 93, and John woos "Hard Target", not a great film but has some crazzzy action and an Amazing digital surround mix with punchy crunchy crispy DTS sound! I only shot on 16mm film once when at the pánico film course in London way back in 1999....would like to shoot super 16mm Anamorphic yum. I've been thinking of a 4k disc player... And that led me here, so many thanks for your review. 🎉
Morning Stu. A lot of the time we don't really know what goes on with the mastering for home videos so a lot of it is educated guess work. But in this case it certainly doesn't look like anything much has been done to minimize the enhancement of the film grain caused by scanning which is known to exacerbate its appearance. Most do have minimal image noise reduction as a result of that anomaly/side effect so we just have to accept it. The only solution for the true film enthusiast is to find film prints and suitable film projectors but that's not entirely viable these days. I did however watch Alien on 35mm the other day. I'd put the feature onto two big reels and it was wonderful to enjoy it with just one reel change, the best possible image quality and sound to match it. As for a 4K disc player, simply find one that you can afford and give it a try. I've stuck with Panasonic as they were the only manufacturer who ever tamed standard Blu-ray. Be cautious of the outputs on the back of any player now though as often they only come with a single HDMI and that's not suitable for many. John.
Hi John! I do love this movie. Like a couple here I also live close to this town and drive that road a few times each month as well as tramp around those woods and such a lot as well. The weather here is similar to your own hahah but I digress the film is one of my favs also as I recall the buzz around vhs when we were young teens this one was a family first rental after buying a vcr and I must say my mom was a bit concerned lol... It's funny now looking back. Can't wait to own this one in 4k it's on my list to purchase for sure. Cheers for now D!!
One comment that came in told us that First Blood and all the sequels are about to be re-transferred. I don't know why but it may explain why HMV are selling them off cheaply. Could be a good time to find a cheap copy over there Dave. The weather here has actually been quite good lately. It was dreadful most of this year though. Well, it's England. John.
@moviecollector5920 you're welcome. This is definitely one of those films that sparked my fascination with cinema. "Beautifully shot" was a great description of the film. I couldn't agree more.
@@timothymathetes Without that subdued look established in the shoot the film loses a heck of a lot as the Blu-ray in the pack proves. Would I have thought so highly of First Blood if all I'd seen was the standard Blu-ray? I doubt it. But if it hadn't have been for the Super 8 feature all those years ago I might not have been so impressed with the 4K. It's a funny old game this movie collecting and reviewing at times. But that was why I dared to show some of the Super 8 trailer because it matches the 4K so well. Not in terms of definition but in terms of the muted, subdued look. John.
Hi John how are you? I'm still looking at projectors. Your screen is 10 feet I think you said, which is I think a 120ins diagonal? How far back do you need to sit from a screen like this, your room looks quite compact as is mine, I don't want to invest in something that overwhelms my room. Thanks!
Afternoon Max. The 10 ft measurement is straight across. We don't do diagonal measurements in the film world as diagonal was for television to make people think they were getting a bigger screen than they really were. We sit about 10 to 11 feet from the projected image but the front row of seats is somewhat closer and still works well so if you're like me and have always wanted the biggest screen possible then don't worry about going too big, worry about going too small. At least if you think your screen is too big you can reduce it, but I don't think you'll want to once you've got it. And don't invest in a screen unless you really have to. If you have a wall then paint that and job done. If you are looking to project into a spot which has a window then a screen is the only option. That's why we have a ten foot drop down which we used here until we got the hole punched through the wall. It was hung at an angle to minimize the keystoning effect of projecting at an angle. The roll down screen was originally purchased to cover one complete end of our living room in our old flat in London which was almost completely glass across a balcony. I also put some roll down blackout material in there and it all worked very well. John.
@@moviecollector5920 Thanks John that's really useful. I will need to get a screen because I want to put it in front of the TV, rolling down from the ceiling. I don't have a separate room and want to use the same sound and DVD system as I use for the TV. Those measurements are what I am dealing with, I was just a bit concerned I may be looking left to right on the screen if it was too large, but seems my fears were misplaced. As you say I can reduce the image size if need be.
@@jedlomax100 Our drop down used to drop in behind the telly. It might be possible to have your own telly lower which is worth thinking about as people can charge ridiculous prices for a bit of white material. Once you have a big screen you'll enjoy having to shift your focus of attention and across it. This is one of the problems with a telly, it's simply too small... most of them anyway. Too big and they're not nice to have in a room. And the final thing to say is that projection is cinema. As soon as cinema starts charging people to watch a big telly, it's finished. And however unbelievable that may seem, I've heard some of them seriously want to do this. John.
@@moviecollector5920 The TV can't be made that low sadly, but it's fine I've measured it all up and I can have a screen that can be lowered just in front of it and then disappear again. I like to keep things tidy so I want everything to be connected to my existing machines for sound and the Panasonic 820. Thanks again for the advice, I shall soon join the projector club.
There are probably LaserDiscs and VHS tapes still around with the original Dolby Stereo Moses. That does of course require that you still have the equipment but I realize there aren't many movie collectors around quite as nuts as me. John.
I never did understand why the sequel added 'Rambo' to the start of the title. 'First Blood' is a great title so it always seemed daft to change it for the subsequent films. John.
3:57 I didn’t know Trautman was recruited at short notice. I had the same impression - the actor’s performance was maybe the weakest of the whole cast. It was more like a parody of a SF colonel, also how he just appears in the sheriff’s tent is almost comedy. Lack of prep/not knowing what the movie (book) actually was about, and maybe lack of knowledge of military in general, may explain things a bit.
I only knew all about it because I watched all the extras for this review. He didn't feel right for the part to me but given that he had no time to prepare at all I think he actually did rather well. John.
Theres a digital file of the IMAX version of Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 I Think you might enjoy :) - it's Aspect Ratio is 1.78 and Has Dolby Vision
The trouble is that I don't much care for the film itself. I've tried but it just doesn't work for me. I suppose it's a sequel to Blade Runner and nothing was ever likely to come close. John.
Thanks again, John, this film had some censorship issues when first released Apartheid SA . I'm trying to send you a photo of my home cinema, but cannot find an email address to so. How do I ge it to you. Best wishes ,Michael S.A,
Have a look at bfcc.biz Michael. I'm the only John on there. Let me know if you have any trouble but if not please leave a reply on here so I can doctor my reply. John.
Stallone created a genre with First Blood, simple as that. It’s his best movie and when you consider it’s about an aggrieved war veteran raging against the country he fought for, and who hated him for it, it’s remarkable the character came to represent a more jingoistic ideology. I travelled to Hope, Canada where they filmed First Blood about 14 years ago and it’s a wonderful journey, and hasn’t changed much. However, I hate this new artwork John, it’s awful, and the original poster artwork is iconic.
Good to have you here Suchet. If you've seen my previous video then you'll know that I'm a bit of a film enthusiast. I have been since the age of 2 or 3 when my father started shooting Super 8 of my brother and I growing up. Moving pictures fascinated me immediately. John.
Morning Arch. When I do more important videos such as trips into projection boxes I usually render them in 4K. It doesn't make any perceptible difference to the end product but I like to know the best possible result is up there. For basic review videos like this putting all the extra time into a four times larger render at the end of the process is a complete waste of time. Maybe if we all had 24 foot wide screens at home we'd be able to tell the difference but I doubt it. After all, ask your local cinema what you're looking at and you may find that what you think is the best imagery around is actually 2K. Around half of all cinema studios are still only 2K but no one can tell the difference. If you're still lucky enough to be watching film occasionally though then I think you'd know when a video comes on. John.
Are you sure this 4k is accurate? I have the German bluray of First blood and ran a picture to picture comparison myself between that blu ray and the 4k, and to me it is a very 50/50 result. The German blu ray is brighter, and some scenes actually look better on that bluray than they do on this 4k. Pay particular attention to the scene where Rambo is asked to turn around with his hands behind his head in prison, his skin is too dark on the 4k. Also the black levels are not deep enough on this 4k. I urge you to to compare this yourself against the German bluray, you will see what I mean.
I don't have the German Blu-ray but it's not unusual for some scenes in a Blu-ray to give a better impression. It's the overall quality that's important though. The Blu-ray in this pack doesn't compare anywhere although I didn't run all of it. Too bright and the colours boosted far too much. To know how the film should look requires access to a film print which was why I put the trailer on which you might have noticed was a film print. It matches my memory of the Super 8 feature which means the 4K, Super 8 'Scope feature and Super 8 trailer are all a close match. The conclusion from that is obviously that the Blu-ray in this pack is lying to us which is not uncommon with Blu-rays in general. They're still excellent though, it's just that 4K is more like a film and that's what all us movie enthusiasts want. John.
@@moviecollector5920 John I appreciate what you are saying but since I put up my initial post I just did a comparison between the German bluray and the bluray that comes with the 4k, and they are certainly not the same transfer. The German bluray is a different colour timing compared to the bluray that comes with this 4k release, the colours are more natural and the skin tones are not red as what they are on the bluray that comes with the 4k. Also on the German transfer the blacks are more deeper. I really wish I could show you a picture to picture comparison, but please get the German bluray and compare that to the 4k, I can honestly say some scenes are better on that German bluray.
@@JohnnyGobs81 It sounds like the mastering for the German Blu-ray was more successful, that's for sure. With this 4K only costing a tenner it probably means no one has to source that German Blu-ray any longer. It would be interesting to see it though but I doubt I'd ever run it all the way through. John.
I wasn't aware of it being green in here Lborg so it could be an incompatibility aberration. I did have the green hue with the Cliffhanger 4K though. But then I know Cliffhanger too well, I only ever saw the First Blood Super 8 feature the once so I'll have to run that Super 8 trailer a few times before I spin this 4K again. John.
It’s okay but the ending ruins it when Rambo has a full breakdown and turns into a crybaby! The 1985 sequel is way better reflecting its superior box office success.
Ah, but that breakdown is what the film is all about. He may be a superman but he's the same flawed human as all the rest of us in reality. Next time you watch it Victor you may feel differently because my opinion is that it's the scene that makes this one. I did want to talk about it in the review but couldn't because I'd get complaints of spoilers. John.
For me it will always be First Blood, just like Raiders Of The Lost Ark is just that. A brilliant transfer that really tries to keep Lazlos cinematography and colour palette.
I was thinking of mentioning the rebranding of 'Raiders'. I suppose it's to help people younger than ourselves understand that Raiders and First Blood ended up being the first in complete series of films.
John.
One of the best movies of its genre, a perfect mix of action and drama.
Probably another example of a film that simply could not be made today.
John.
Greetings from Santiago de Chile. Back in the 80's when this movie was released here it was title "Rambo" and it was a real phenomenon that stayed for months as a main feature and part of double and triple features for years. In the public television they made a contest called "I am Rambo" and the prizes were US$50, a color TV, a microwave or a boombox. The competitors were not exactly Sylvester Stallone in its prime, they look much like Rowan Atkinson in its present time. The first I saw it was in betamax at the house of a school companion and I was schocked by its violence but fascinated by the way the story was told, a drama about the Vietnam war in these of a victim. Brilliant. I need to add it to my collection which in the last days added some new titles in glorious 4K: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, True Lies (I could not resist to be part of the discussion) and from Criterion Collection “Blue Velvet (movie I love since the first time I watched it in VHS) and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid with it’s 3 cuts (one of them only in Blu-Ray). Hope I finish these bunch of classics as soon as possible. Adiós amigo.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Well, you've just purchased some all-time great movies there Gaspar. I'm coming over to you place to watch them with you!
There was a film called 'Son Of Rambow' which I can't remember much about other than it was a British sort of farce. But the main thing I do remember was the main characters drove a Triumph TR7 so that made it worth the watch. I suppose it was a little like the 'I Am Rambo' competitions over in Chile in a way.
By the way, the first time I saw 'First Blood' was on that Super 8 feature print. It was a 'Scope release so it filled out ten foot wide roll down screen. The painted wall we project onto now is almost exactly the same width but we're sitting a whole lot closer.
John.
John.
Most of this film was shot in Canada in BC's Fraser Valley, including the town of Hope BC, which is an hour's drive from where I live now.
I hope it's stopped raining since First Blood was filmed! A beautiful location. Seriously, the weather is an important factor in the look and feel of the film.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 The last few years we've been dealing with extreme droughts in the summer and then severe rains in the fall! My nephew ran the Hope Cinema for a few years in the 1990s and the Hope Cinema will have a special screening of First Blood on 26 July. It's one of the last independent theatres left in BC.
Yes, I have found that out as well. By turning down the brightness there is less film grain showing. By leaving my LG on minimum power setting there is also less excessive brightness on whites making it appear more like it does in a theater. Also, if I have all my lights turned off at night I turn the power setting to the next lower level which makes the picture more watchable and easier on the eyes (less tiring) as well. I also prefer using film maker mode as that setting cuts down on any excessive blue and has a more natural color pallet for flesh tones. I agree that the first RAMBO film was the best in the series and looks great in 4k. Have a great day John.
It seems to me that you've got on top of this 4K lark Daniel. Too many do still watch with the brightness way the hell up there. Also, the 'sharpen' feature because with that on it can have all manner of detrimental effects on the image quality which is perhaps why some report the most awful artifacts within some 4K discs that I simply cannot reproduce. I should try some of those cited sequences with 'sharpen' right up rather than minimized to the lowest setting.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 I watched a video on TH-cam by a guy who is supposed to be some kind of TV expert. He did a critique of LG OLED and was incensed at the brightness of the sports and the vivid settings calling those settings insane and "do not use those settings" and I'm like, dude just cut down the power usage settings and it will be all right. And yes, turn the sharpness level all the way down, as you mentioned, as it causes distortions in the images and helps to bring out more grain in the picture. And, as I have mentioned before, keep the screen clean as a fog can form from cooking and smears from fingerprints. I have used screen cleaner I bought on Amazon but it would not clean off the smears. I have found that just vapor from my own breath and a clean micro fiber cloth gets the job done. I use a flashlight held at an angle to bring out those pesky smears and keep track of my screen cleaning progress. Using this cheap but effective method really works and makes it easier for the next cleaning job. I think it is unfortunate that many people do not keep their screens clean and that cuts down on the clarity of the experience. I want the max experience when I watch my 4k TV but to some people I think it doesn't matter. I do understand however that can be a major problem if there are kids around. Daniel.
@@danielparker3842 Television screens are covered by glass and that has always been a bit of a problem owing to reflections. When the CRT screen first went flat it was an attempt to minimize reflections but nothing is ever going to be foolproof. Keeping the glass as clear as possible will certainly help as will have the room as dark as possible but I think you're getting so into this whole malarkey Daniel, you will soon have no choice and you'll have to find a projector. Once you switch though, you'll never look back.
John.
Far and away my favourite Stallone film. and it stands out among its sequels for not only allowing Stallone to really show his acting ability (that final "Nothing is over!" monologue still give me goosebumps.) but also unlike the mindless action films the sequels are this is actually more of an anti war film.
The ending where he breaks down is spot on. For all the bravado and the incredible feats, it turned out that he was an ordinary person just like the rest of us. John.
One of the best action films ever made and in my opinion, Sylvester Stallone’s best acting job.
I still think Cliffhanger is his best film Steve but you may be right about his acting in First Blood. Then again, there is 'Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot!'.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 Hahaha, he didn’t cry in that one!
@@stevephlyer Most of the audience did though.
@@moviecollector5920 Hmm he's good in it, But Copland is his best
@@NiceGuyAidey Gawd, I've completely forgotten Copland. Good, because I'll be able to watch it again but almost like seeing a film for the first time without actually spending a penny... apart from the electricity bill every time the THX sound system goes on!
One of those movies i always have to watch all the way through when it's on. Love the Goldsmith score , Stallone is great , just an allaround classic.
That's such a good summary Remco. You should have presented this review!
John.
Brilliant film and the soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith is one of my favourites.
That Goldsmith fellow was quite talented.... to say the least.
Is it weird that I watch your reviews even if they are about a film I have no interest in, simply because you really are just that entertaining?
Perhaps it's more because we're all just film enthusiasts Madison and we enjoy listening to or talking to people with a shared interest, hopefully without much in the way of negativity.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 Such modesty, sir 😎 Shared interest, certainly, but don’t sell yourself short. Your videos are fascinating. Thanks for responding!
Been too long since I saw the first film. Rambo 4 is always a guilty pleasure I can go back to again and again,its so over the top. Will have to revisit part 1 again
I think I have the fourth film on Blu-ray and it was surprisingly good. It's not exactly on the same level as the original film though but as a sequel it stands up well.
John.
John, please understand that I mean this as sheer flattery: you could pick up a side gig as Peter Cushing. Now, moving on, I'm glad this got the treatment it deserved. I know as a young man it was my first exposure to the notion of PTSD, though we were too you (born in 76) at the time of release to know that was indeed the subject. I actually saw these out of order: I saw the 2nd and/or 3rd before I saw First Blood. Imagine how confused my young mind was, as the subject had totally changed between films for the sake of The Franchise. Even as an avid AV Enthusiast (TM), I'm not one of these "oh, you have to get this on 4K/UHD" guys. But thank goodness we finally have a home video format that, when treated properly, will give us what we've dreamed of for decades: a 35mm release print (or higher) quality, with a greater dynamic ranger latitude, that fits in the palm of our hands for a few bucks/pounds.
Morning Ryan. I did meet Peter Cushing once. He was a lovely man, a true English gentleman. We could do with more like him today but it's something we seem to have lost.
I never cease to be amazed at the quality of modern home video. I genuinely did think it wouldn't be possible to achieve video quality on a par with film although it's still a very long way off achieving the heights of the best film formats. I did get a press release about a 17K camera a short time ago but the reality is that there's no point in it unless the end result if printed out to large film format because there is nothing that can project anything in a cinema of more than 4K resolution. That's about two-thirds the capability of 35mm by the way. Therein lies the problem because when the big downgrade occurred in 2011 it was seen as a money saver but now the reality has set in because a lot of cinemas bought a 2K projector and that's how they've stayed. That's because these things cost a fortune and there's no longer the audience to fund replacements or improvements. So while it's a dream to be able to watch home video in cinema quality at home just a few months after a film was on general release to the remaining theatres around the world, it's actually killing cinema. I can't foresee the future but if cinemas disappear from most towns in the western world then I can't see how any film will generate enough publicity or reputation to enter the psyche of the world like previous wonderful movies have. It's all a bit of a conundrum but cinema is in terminal decline and needs someone to come up with a methodology for minimal cost that will turn it around once again. I think D-150 is the solution because it works with any projector, whether video or film providing the video projectors fire straight and not up like most home video projectors.
John.
Great review John :) This is without a doubt my favorite Rambo film. The plot might be predictable, but it's a well written film and First Blood still holds up to this day. Stallone is perfect in the role as a troubled Vietnam vet. I didn't know about the alternate ending but I will definitely check it out.
Killing Rambo at the conclusion was the only sensible way to end really but just as well they didn't do it otherwise there wouldn't have been any big money making sequels. Letting him live would have meant a long time in prison in real life but this is the movies and they can get away with an awful lot. The attempt at the original ending is good to see because it confirms why it couldn't be used i.e. it's awful.
John.
hate the name change.....although if you havent seen the special features, make sure to watch with Stallone commentary. best commentary ever!
Good point, I should have listened to that but commentaries are something I rarely dip into these days. I used to go through them all on LaserDisc but I suppose it was all so new back then.
By the way, the comment just before yours from Gaspar in Chile has told us that First Blood was titled 'Rambo' over there. I never would have thought of that i.e. foreign markets giving it the Rambo identity.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 But this one is amazing! It's like Stallone sitting there watching the movie with you and and talking about everything that is happening. Many commentaries are just actors babbling, but not this one
It’s on TH-cam
@@doyouluvit John Carpenter's commentaries are always good too, particularly when he's got Kurt Russell alongside him. John.
Glad you like the 4k John. I’ve had this on 4k for what seems like years now and although I’m no expert it looks great to me , the only thing I wished for was the original audio track as from my experience this always seems to sound superior to the remixed audio tracks they do.
LaserDisc used to carry the original soundtracks and possibly VHS too. I'm not sure anything else has on home video ever since. But there is the occasional option via the menu for what claims to be original audio such as the Arrow Films release of Robocop where the matrixed four channel Dolby Stereo is better than the pair of digital sound remix options.
John.
That is the reason I absolutely hate it when they don't have the original soundtrack on the disc. The original dynamics and punch disappear.
@@peskypeet Perhaps what you should try is to run the stereo rca connections into your amp and when a film that was originally matrixed four track Dolby Stereo doesn't come with the original sound you could switch to the analogue stereo in and have your amp decode that into Dolby Stereo/ProLogic. You will quite likely find that preferable. Interestingly, the Arrow Films 4K release or Robocop had the original Dolby Stereo as an option via the menu and it is the best of the three available soundtracks on that disc.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 I might have to give that a try.
Great as always, John. Glad you mentioned Cliffhanger. It actually doesn't get enough love.
I think Cliffhanger is Stallone's best. One of the most memorable cinema screenings for me... twice. And that opening was even worse the second time around!
John.
Such a great channel! I was wondering if you would be able to advise me please, I am getting a new 4k OLED and Atmos system, what 4k would be the best to show off the 4k, HDR & Atmos audio etc, years gone by for DVD it was The Matrix for example! what would you advise?
TENET. Anything shot 15/70 is best because that's the highest resolution filming format. Standard 70mm productions are next but there are exceptions to all of this because Murder On The Orient Express is still best on our older 4K video projector. I'm not much of a telly fan so my recommendation for everyone is to spend less on a telly and get a video projector too for special movie nights. If you have a wall then paint it brilliant white and you're away. Don't listen to anyone recommending expensive screens.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 Thank you 🙂
John, I remember watching ‘First Blood’ for the first time on Laserdisc and was very impressed with the film… It certainly brought a vested interest in the various characters and the motivations behind their story (even when seemingly not supportive of John Rambo, but what drives them to act the way they did against him). Thanks for the review… btw, Bored started out doing very interesting equipment tear down videos.. Cheers
First Blood is all about that ending when he breaks down. He's a flawed human just like all the rest of us and not a superman after all.
Kim at Bored_Tech has made some wonderful videos. His latest, the visit to CineLab, is a particularly mature production and all the more impressive given he's comparatively new to film. A very talented chap.
John.
Hey John, this for me is an exceptional disc, yet many will think it's not great as there's no Atmos and plenty of grain and flatness. If the best discs are those that accurately represent the original presentation, then this is right up there. I love this movie (not the series) and am very happy with the disc. Best to you and yours!
Spot on there Rob. It's not exactly the best looking print quality ever issued on film but now that I know the Super 8 and 4K are memorably similar then that indicates a very good 4K disc. The sound should probably really be matrixed four channel Dolby Stereo but I don't think the DTS update detracts at all.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 exactly, matrixed sound from those days - the DTS sounded really good (relative to the source) in my theater. Like you I've been in this game both a projectionist and enthuiast since the 70's and seen 70mm 6 track, Dolby SR, Dolby Surround, Pro Logic, SDDS, Dolby Digital, oh my lord, so may formats.
@@Celestialrob And I'm able to confirm that Dolby SR in here is indistinguishable from Dolby Digital most of the time. Magnetic sound was best though and I now realize that is why Star Trek VI at The Empire was such a standout screening because it was the 70mm blow-up with six track magnetic sound. Praxis never sounded quite the same again after that.
John.
Great review! I was on the fence about this release, but not anymore. Thanks for the in-depth review. I grew up watching Super 8, some of my best memories. My Dad used to pull out the screen, and my friends and I would watch Star Wars 1977. I am always happy to hear your discussions on film as well as 4k. 😊 BTW I bought The Moon steelbook and you were right, loads of fun 👍
If you know Super 8 Steve then you should be able to get the best out of this 4K disc. Many will have their telly set too bright and that will ruin it but get it just right (i.e. looking like a film would) then you should have a great time. And I'm glad you enjoyed The Moon too. The beautiful steelbook helps with that important first impression.
John.
Great review. First Blood is my favorite of the rambo movies.
The first film in a series is nearly always the best. There might be a few exceptions though because I prefer the second Die Hard and possibly also the second Spider-Man film.
John.
Great film and a great disc. Even the blu-ray looks fantastic. I'd rate this as easily the best in the series. 1 >>> 4 >> 3 >> 2 >>> 5. 3 is a guilty pleasure watch. The story is terrible but it has about 13000000 of 1988 $$ on the screen and not a single drop of cgi. Worth watching for that alone.
I think many of us are a bit sick of excessive CGI these days Doug. Film making was more of a skill and an art form before CGI was used to get around almost everything and to 'show people something they'd never seen before'. How many times do we hear that said within extras and 'making of' featurettes?
John.
It is my first time on your channel - I love FIRST BLOOD, that and RAMBO 3 are my favourites in the series - also love filmmaking and the classic film look. And so I subscribed straight away :)
I thought I'd already replied to you Suchet but it appears to have gone missing. Good to have you here and if you like real (reel) film then I think you're in the right place.
John.
Bought it when I was passing HMV Oxford Street the other week. It’s a wonderful release and I think the subdued look adds to the thoughtful tone of the films.
Bought “In the Line of Fire” on 4K also and this is also a nice release.
For a real “Eye popper” I picked up also bought the 4K of the original Total Recall. The colour fading is crazy on it giving it that “is it real or not” feel. Kind regards, Dave
In The Line Of Fire was a nice surprise Dave because the PAL LaserDisc was a poor one all those years ago and that's usually a sign of a sub-par quality film shoot. I had seen it at the cinema though and remembered it looks pretty darned good which is how the 4K home video disc has turned out.
I think you're referring to the ending of Total Recall and the fade to white to indicate it's all in Doug Quaid's head. That wasn't obvious to me at the cinema back in 1990 but I was a bit younger then and evidently a bit more stupid.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 If only ever seen In the Line of Fire on tv so it was a revelation on 4K.
The craziest colours in Total Recall were the link athletic wear and matching hair scrunchie Sharon Stone wears when she has the fight with Quaid. It’s the most shocking shade of pink that jumps out of the screen in HDR.
My first 4k Movie's were Star wars a new hope and First Blood.Two excellent 4k s that made me think I was watching them for the first time.And that can be the power of 4k if the Transfers are done right..
The 4K of Star Wars is one of the myriad re-workings David but the re-processing done for that one was excellent. I don't think the 35mm negative was ever quite that fine grain but it looks like a genuine 35mm fine grain. Similar was achieved with American Graffiti but that of course had only 50% of the image area of Star Wars to work with so not all the shots worked out quite as well. First Blood retains the filmic look. Many will think the film grain is too coarse but that will be because they have their tellies too bright. A common mistake unfortunately.
John.
Nice job John....... first blood is one of my favourite movies of all time.👍
I think a lot of people feel similarly about it Roy. Not a surprise really because if you were the right age at the time it could easily live with you. I was slightly too old but still appreciate it.
John.
Just read that the boss of HMV says their sales of UHD's and Blu-Rays are on the increase. He believes its down to people not being happy with streaming services removing films. Encouraging stuff! *in streamer's defence they don't always have a choice as it can be down to licensing agreements expiring, but just another reason why if you buy physical media it's yours to own.
I hadn't seen that statement from the boss of HMV David so thank you for posting it here. I wonder if it's also the vagaries of the internet causing true movie enthusiasts to purchase discs again. And also perhaps the superior quality of a standard Blu-ray to streaming purported 4K's.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 Thanks John. I would have posted the link, but you know how TH-cam is. If you'd like to see it, its a print interview published on the BBC website yesterday. The MD's name is Phil Halliday. If you search HMV BBC interview it should be the first listing.
There has been a number of TH-cam videos recently drawing people's attention to how streaming services not only suddenly remove films from their catalogues (even for films 'bought' by people as opposed to rented), but how the versions on the sites may be edited down versions. Along with some films inc well known ones not being viewable anywhere on streaming. It has led to a feeling that films are a thing you need to treasure in your own possession, rather than rely on what's kept on a company's server. Along with this I'm continually pleasantly surprised by films getting released on 4K UHD that I wouldn't have expected. It seems the market is there.
Thank you John for mentioning bored_tech channel! Your support is much appreciated and needed. Not sure what is going on with TH-cam. View are not as good as I was expecting.
I think quite a few of us had something adversely affect our channels about a month ago. There appears to have been some sort of 'upgrade' to the back end of TH-cam which caused some problems. I suppose with something so enormous and growing at what much be unexpected levels constantly we've all got to expect that things will go wrong from time to time.
Because I'd been hit quite badly I decided to finally review a few 4K titles people had been asking me to look at. First Blood did quite well and now the Gladiator review seems to have put me back on the map. Time will tell though but if I can help a few fellow TH-camrs get back to where they were then I'll do what I can. I should have plugged you again in that Gladiator upload but I wasn't expecting it to do as well as First Blood. The way it's going right now it will overtake it today which will be a very welcome surprise.
John.
We were told by Robert Meyer Burnett that the Rambo films are being rescanned, can't wait!
Seems rather pointless now that you mention it but I haven't seen the two sequels on 4K so maybe there was something wrong with those.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 These scans are like a decade old sadly so newer scans might bring out more of the original detail. These by no means are HORRID 4k transfers, just older and technology has gotten better (never know what Sly has in mind too, maybe extended cut of Last Blood in 4K finally perhaps)
That would be welcome news to me.
@@peskypeet we still don't have the international cut of 5 on 4k either
@@MidnightsEdgeAfterDark I think Peet is thinking about the original film because the current 4K disc is incompatible with his system so an alternative 4K disc will hopefully do the trick. John.
Thank you for this interesting video!
You're welcome Bob and thank you. John.
Absolutely love first blood, why they changed the cover art for it to rambo first blood is beyond me, didn't see this at the cinema 1st time round as to young but did rent it out on vhs 1st time round. I actually still have the pre cert video( 1st release) by Thorn Emi if I'm not mistaken with the white background. I did. However, many yrs later, in the 90s, got to see it on the big screen as they re ran it, so at least I did get to see it in the cinema. Excellent review as always, john
I'd only ever seen it on Super 8 Dave. But that did mean ten feet wide on our drop down screen about 20 years ago. I was disappointed with the print quality back then but now I know it's how it looked on 35mm, assuming the 4K is accurate which it surely is as it matched the Super 8 'Scope feature and the theatrical trailer on Super 8 too.
John.
@moviecollector5920 I'd love to see this on super 8, but the 4k looks fantastic as well as the sound quality 👌
@@davefilms345 The 4K is undoubtedly much better but you can't beat actually running a film print, whatever the gauge.
mate u have the best 8mm collection i have ever seen :) Does he still sell prints your friend?
Morning Peter. One day perhaps but I'm aware that there is not much of a market for a video like that. I've regularly covered subjects of less interest and it tends to be a little frustrating to put so much work into something that generates a comparatively small audience. Doug Meltzer in New York probably has an ever better collection so maybe we should hassle him to start a Super 8 TH-cam channel.
John.
@Movie Collector bought this one on release a few years back and it is a beautiful, natural transfer just as you describe.
Last night I actually went to the cinema to see Horizon and that one is highly recommend despite the fact it was not shot in the optimal screen size for a Western like for instance Hateful Eight.
Don’t believe the rumors for more mature film lovers like us it is a wonderful night out with the mrs.
I think The Hateful Eight was shot Super Panavision Pieter so that's a bit on the exceptional side as it was mainly for single hole Cinerama if I recall correctly. A very wide aspect ratio for the deeply curved screen and I wish more films were made that way but we don't have the cinemas that can screen them correctly any longer. Possibly only half a dozen in the world at most. I hadn't heard of Horizon but I have now. One to look out for.
John.
Thank you John.
Thank you Cheekster, as always. John.
@@moviecollector5920 - Have you ever watched Tron: Legacy in IMAX at BFI? I’m watching it this weekend. IMAX with Laser 3D. 😎
I think the transfer is very good on this 4k disc, also i really enjoy the movie. Thank you john for All the reviews on your excellent youtube channel.
You're welcome Benjamin and thank you. John.
Cracking film and disc. I've not spun it up for a while, I may have to rectify that this weekend. In fact I've got the second and third films on 4K Disc too, I need to set some time aside to catch up with them all.
I would have purchased the two sequels at the same time but part 2 was sold out. I still should have come away with the third film but I'll snag them sometime.
John.
Thanks john excellent movie on 4k I've yet to get part 2 and 3 on 4k
I would have purchased the second and third films if the second hadn't have been sold out. It's also sold out on the HMV web site which is a shame as it's only a tenner. Then again, no wonder it's sold out.
John.
Yeah, I really like the transfer on this one John and what can you say about this movie other than it's the best of all the Rambo's. So glad you mentioned Jerry Goldsmith, what a composer, the man is a genius. I know I'm going off topic a bit John, but do you remember a 1975 movie called Race With the Devil, starring Peter Fonda and Warren Oates. The director of that movie was Jack Starrett, who is Deputy Galt in First Blood.
I don't remember 'Race With The Devil' but I probably saw it as a telly broadcast sometime. My favourite Peter Fonda is 'Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry'.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 If you ever get the chance, check it out. Its about two couples go on vacation in a RV and witness a murder by a satanic group and get chased all over the county by these people. It's a really fun watch. as for 'Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry, it's been years since I last saw that one.
@@moviecollector5920 It's funny you mentioned 'Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry because I watched The House Where Evil Dwells last week which stars Susan George.
@@singin8324 A wonderful actress. Her husband was a wonderful actor too, Simon Maccorkindale, but he sadly died a few years ago.
@@moviecollector5920 I remember Simon from Manimal and Jaws 3 but never knew he was married to Susan George. Thanks for the info John, I love knowledge on actors and actresses.
Great video on a great movie. Such a shame that he almost turned the character into a cartoon in later movies.
To be fair, the action film had moved on and they would bring in huge audiences. That's why so many became a sort of over the top shoot 'em up with little in the way of story. There were some greats in among them though.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 The Rambo we see in later movies are the opposite of what we see in the original movie. He was a victim and a symbol of what many veterans faced back home in the US. In later movies he has switched completely and became a symbol of the american army and society fighting for the those who abandoned him in the first place. But yeah, some of them where fun enough.
Recently got the ultimate boxset on Blu-ray 👍
Send it over David! John.
I have a request please do a video on your best 8mm films in your collection.. you have gems.
Thank you Peter. I just included a fuller reply in my previous reply so hopefully I've covered everything but if not just leave another message and I'll get to it.
John.
I occasionally shoot video with old projection Anamorphic Lenses 😍 like, schneider kreuznach, isco ect🎥 So no heavy video noise reduction then on the 4k disc? That's good! Unlike some bluray I've bought😐. The empire Liester square was my favorite cinema... I saw jurassic Park there in 93, and John woos "Hard Target", not a great film but has some crazzzy action and an Amazing digital surround mix with punchy crunchy crispy DTS sound! I only shot on 16mm film once when at the pánico film course in London way back in 1999....would like to shoot super 16mm Anamorphic yum. I've been thinking of a 4k disc player... And that led me here, so many thanks for your review. 🎉
Morning Stu. A lot of the time we don't really know what goes on with the mastering for home videos so a lot of it is educated guess work. But in this case it certainly doesn't look like anything much has been done to minimize the enhancement of the film grain caused by scanning which is known to exacerbate its appearance. Most do have minimal image noise reduction as a result of that anomaly/side effect so we just have to accept it. The only solution for the true film enthusiast is to find film prints and suitable film projectors but that's not entirely viable these days. I did however watch Alien on 35mm the other day. I'd put the feature onto two big reels and it was wonderful to enjoy it with just one reel change, the best possible image quality and sound to match it.
As for a 4K disc player, simply find one that you can afford and give it a try. I've stuck with Panasonic as they were the only manufacturer who ever tamed standard Blu-ray. Be cautious of the outputs on the back of any player now though as often they only come with a single HDMI and that's not suitable for many.
John.
Any plans to purchase The Hitcher 4K?
Funnily enough, I don't need to... because I already have it on pre-order.
Hi John! I do love this movie. Like a couple here I also live close to this town and drive that road a few times each month as well as tramp around those woods and such a lot as well. The weather here is similar to your own hahah but I digress the film is one of my favs also as I recall the buzz around vhs when we were young teens this one was a family first rental after buying a vcr and I must say my mom was a bit concerned lol... It's funny now looking back. Can't wait to own this one in 4k it's on my list to purchase for sure. Cheers for now D!!
One comment that came in told us that First Blood and all the sequels are about to be re-transferred. I don't know why but it may explain why HMV are selling them off cheaply. Could be a good time to find a cheap copy over there Dave.
The weather here has actually been quite good lately. It was dreadful most of this year though. Well, it's England.
John.
Hey John. Thanks for this, I enjoyed it very much
Glad to hear it. Thank you Timothy. John.
@moviecollector5920 you're welcome. This is definitely one of those films that sparked my fascination with cinema. "Beautifully shot" was a great description of the film. I couldn't agree more.
@@timothymathetes Without that subdued look established in the shoot the film loses a heck of a lot as the Blu-ray in the pack proves. Would I have thought so highly of First Blood if all I'd seen was the standard Blu-ray? I doubt it. But if it hadn't have been for the Super 8 feature all those years ago I might not have been so impressed with the 4K. It's a funny old game this movie collecting and reviewing at times. But that was why I dared to show some of the Super 8 trailer because it matches the 4K so well. Not in terms of definition but in terms of the muted, subdued look.
John.
Hi John how are you? I'm still looking at projectors. Your screen is 10 feet I think you said, which is I think a 120ins diagonal? How far back do you need to sit from a screen like this, your room looks quite compact as is mine, I don't want to invest in something that overwhelms my room. Thanks!
Afternoon Max. The 10 ft measurement is straight across. We don't do diagonal measurements in the film world as diagonal was for television to make people think they were getting a bigger screen than they really were. We sit about 10 to 11 feet from the projected image but the front row of seats is somewhat closer and still works well so if you're like me and have always wanted the biggest screen possible then don't worry about going too big, worry about going too small. At least if you think your screen is too big you can reduce it, but I don't think you'll want to once you've got it. And don't invest in a screen unless you really have to. If you have a wall then paint that and job done. If you are looking to project into a spot which has a window then a screen is the only option. That's why we have a ten foot drop down which we used here until we got the hole punched through the wall. It was hung at an angle to minimize the keystoning effect of projecting at an angle. The roll down screen was originally purchased to cover one complete end of our living room in our old flat in London which was almost completely glass across a balcony. I also put some roll down blackout material in there and it all worked very well.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 Thanks John that's really useful. I will need to get a screen because I want to put it in front of the TV, rolling down from the ceiling. I don't have a separate room and want to use the same sound and DVD system as I use for the TV. Those measurements are what I am dealing with, I was just a bit concerned I may be looking left to right on the screen if it was too large, but seems my fears were misplaced. As you say I can reduce the image size if need be.
@@jedlomax100 Our drop down used to drop in behind the telly. It might be possible to have your own telly lower which is worth thinking about as people can charge ridiculous prices for a bit of white material. Once you have a big screen you'll enjoy having to shift your focus of attention and across it. This is one of the problems with a telly, it's simply too small... most of them anyway. Too big and they're not nice to have in a room. And the final thing to say is that projection is cinema. As soon as cinema starts charging people to watch a big telly, it's finished. And however unbelievable that may seem, I've heard some of them seriously want to do this.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 The TV can't be made that low sadly, but it's fine I've measured it all up and I can have a screen that can be lowered just in front of it and then disappear again. I like to keep things tidy so I want everything to be connected to my existing machines for sound and the Panasonic 820. Thanks again for the advice, I shall soon join the projector club.
@@jedlomax100 Cinema nights aplenty at Max's house soon there. You're going to have a great time. John.
I would really like a tradional 2 track or even 4 track stereo option. Hopefully we get a 45th anniversary at some point with Dolby Vision.
There are probably LaserDiscs and VHS tapes still around with the original Dolby Stereo Moses. That does of course require that you still have the equipment but I realize there aren't many movie collectors around quite as nuts as me.
John.
Everyone is going to want the fifth one.
I did see that one. Didn't like it much. John.
@@moviecollector5920 I was being facetious -- it's a horrible film.
loved the Super 8 much better than 4K
Shame I couldn't afford to buy that review print all those years ago. I didn't appreciate how good it actually was until I saw this 4K.
John.
Love the movie, love the transfer. Big Luke, Richard Crenna did a nice job. Latest gets Lawrence of Arabia and The Last Waltz.
Still no sign of Lawrence of Arabia here Gary but I am down to be contacted if HMV get another batch in.
John.
Amazon days over here paid $31 for the steelbook… not bad, prices have creeped up by around $5 over here. I guess the new normal.
Thankfully they haven't changed the on screen credits.
It is First Blood and is the only one I own.
I never did understand why the sequel added 'Rambo' to the start of the title. 'First Blood' is a great title so it always seemed daft to change it for the subsequent films.
John.
Great Film John Great Video 💯
Thank you Andy. It seems all of us on here are rather keen on First Blood. John.
3:57 I didn’t know Trautman was recruited at short notice. I had the same impression - the actor’s performance was maybe the weakest of the whole cast. It was more like a parody of a SF colonel, also how he just appears in the sheriff’s tent is almost comedy. Lack of prep/not knowing what the movie (book) actually was about, and maybe lack of knowledge of military in general, may explain things a bit.
I only knew all about it because I watched all the extras for this review. He didn't feel right for the part to me but given that he had no time to prepare at all I think he actually did rather well. John.
Kirk Douglas dropped out
@@knownpleasures Correct. I thought I mentioned that in the review but apologies if I somehow managed to cut it out.
Hi John watched ""Rambo 3" and enjoyed it, by the way ever watched "Son Of Rambow"? we ran the 35mm print when it was released
I have seen 'Son Of Rambow' Graham. It's memorable for the Triumph TR7.
Theres a digital file of the IMAX version of Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 I Think you might enjoy :) - it's Aspect Ratio is 1.78 and Has Dolby Vision
The trouble is that I don't much care for the film itself. I've tried but it just doesn't work for me. I suppose it's a sequel to Blade Runner and nothing was ever likely to come close.
John.
Thanks again, John, this film had some censorship issues when first released Apartheid SA . I'm trying to send you a photo of my home cinema, but cannot find an email address to so. How do I ge it to you. Best wishes ,Michael S.A,
Have a look at bfcc.biz Michael. I'm the only John on there. Let me know if you have any trouble but if not please leave a reply on here so I can doctor my reply.
John.
‘Covey leader to Raven….talk to me Johnny.’
Yes, who writes this rubbish?!? John.
salut encore une bonne vidèo sur le Ranbo 4k
Merci Alain. John.
I love Rambo First Blood
It seems that everyone who has commented on here so far would agree with you Victor.
John.
Rambo First Blood was a classic 80s movie. Second one was ok. Are the others worth watching or getting in 4k?
The third film was massive as I recall. John.
Probably Sly's best film, but shame they went full-on OTT with the sequels...
Action films took over and it might have been First Blood that led the way Mubai. John.
Good action movie
Not bad at all Craig. John.
Stallone created a genre with First Blood, simple as that. It’s his best movie and when you consider it’s about an aggrieved war veteran raging against the country he fought for, and who hated him for it, it’s remarkable the character came to represent a more jingoistic ideology. I travelled to Hope, Canada where they filmed First Blood about 14 years ago and it’s a wonderful journey, and hasn’t changed much. However, I hate this new artwork John, it’s awful, and the original poster artwork is iconic.
Good to have you here Suchet. If you've seen my previous video then you'll know that I'm a bit of a film enthusiast. I have been since the age of 2 or 3 when my father started shooting Super 8 of my brother and I growing up. Moving pictures fascinated me immediately.
John.
I'm puzzled, why is this video in 1080p? What's the point of reviewing a 4k release, then using a potato camera to record it ☹️
He’s not a film maker he’s a TH-cam content creator
Morning Arch. When I do more important videos such as trips into projection boxes I usually render them in 4K. It doesn't make any perceptible difference to the end product but I like to know the best possible result is up there. For basic review videos like this putting all the extra time into a four times larger render at the end of the process is a complete waste of time. Maybe if we all had 24 foot wide screens at home we'd be able to tell the difference but I doubt it. After all, ask your local cinema what you're looking at and you may find that what you think is the best imagery around is actually 2K. Around half of all cinema studios are still only 2K but no one can tell the difference. If you're still lucky enough to be watching film occasionally though then I think you'd know when a video comes on.
John.
Are you sure this 4k is accurate? I have the German bluray of First blood and ran a picture to picture comparison myself between that blu ray and the 4k, and to me it is a very 50/50 result. The German blu ray is brighter, and some scenes actually look better on that bluray than they do on this 4k. Pay particular attention to the scene where Rambo is asked to turn around with his hands behind his head in prison, his skin is too dark on the 4k. Also the black levels are not deep enough on this 4k. I urge you to to compare this yourself against the German bluray, you will see what I mean.
I don't have the German Blu-ray but it's not unusual for some scenes in a Blu-ray to give a better impression. It's the overall quality that's important though. The Blu-ray in this pack doesn't compare anywhere although I didn't run all of it. Too bright and the colours boosted far too much. To know how the film should look requires access to a film print which was why I put the trailer on which you might have noticed was a film print. It matches my memory of the Super 8 feature which means the 4K, Super 8 'Scope feature and Super 8 trailer are all a close match. The conclusion from that is obviously that the Blu-ray in this pack is lying to us which is not uncommon with Blu-rays in general. They're still excellent though, it's just that 4K is more like a film and that's what all us movie enthusiasts want.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 John I appreciate what you are saying but since I put up my initial post I just did a comparison between the German bluray and the bluray that comes with the 4k, and they are certainly not the same transfer. The German bluray is a different colour timing compared to the bluray that comes with this 4k release, the colours are more natural and the skin tones are not red as what they are on the bluray that comes with the 4k.
Also on the German transfer the blacks are more deeper. I really wish I could show you a picture to picture comparison, but please get the German bluray and compare that to the 4k, I can honestly say some scenes are better on that German bluray.
@@JohnnyGobs81 It sounds like the mastering for the German Blu-ray was more successful, that's for sure. With this 4K only costing a tenner it probably means no one has to source that German Blu-ray any longer. It would be interesting to see it though but I doubt I'd ever run it all the way through.
John.
@@JohnnyGobs81 Do you have a UPC# for that German release? For some reason my 4k player doesn't like the US 4k release.
@@peskypeet What do you mean by upc?
I can't believe how bad this 4k version looks. It's green? Cliffhanger is the same? Studio Canal put some real dodgy editions out.
I wasn't aware of it being green in here Lborg so it could be an incompatibility aberration. I did have the green hue with the Cliffhanger 4K though. But then I know Cliffhanger too well, I only ever saw the First Blood Super 8 feature the once so I'll have to run that Super 8 trailer a few times before I spin this 4K again.
John.
Ir geriausia bored tech kalba lietubiskai
I'm afraid I can't translate this. Something about Kim over at Bored_Tech and raincoats I think. John.
It’s okay but the ending ruins it when Rambo has a full breakdown and turns into a crybaby! The 1985 sequel is way better reflecting its superior box office success.
Ah, but that breakdown is what the film is all about. He may be a superman but he's the same flawed human as all the rest of us in reality. Next time you watch it Victor you may feel differently because my opinion is that it's the scene that makes this one. I did want to talk about it in the review but couldn't because I'd get complaints of spoilers.
John.