CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND 4K Blu-ray & Super 8 Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2021
- I've had this 4K disc over three years now but I think it is the best example I've so far come across to illustrate the superiority of a 4K disc over a standard Blu-ray disc. To begin this video I tell my personal history with Close Encounters on the home movie market which begins in 1978 with the Super 8 400ft reel release.
Clark Teddles in Australia was the inspiration for this video as he recently purchased that same Super 8 400ft reel and it made me want to take another look at the film. Clark has uploaded his own Close Encounters 4K and Super 8 review video here: • Close Encounters Of Th... - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
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That was a phenomenal review, John! I can't imagine even professional reviewers attaining your level of professionality. You blow all others out of the water. It's fascinating how you talk about aspects like analog photographic effects looking more real on 4K Blu-ray than on regular Blu-ray owing to HDR making 4K discs looking more like analog film. - Erik
You've made me feel really chuffed Erik. Thank you! John.
@Atlantis Rising I'll have to take another look at the Super 8 cut down Atlantis to see if that is the same as the 4K or indeed has the reported brightness of the original release. It should have the original release look of course but you never know.
As for the Star Trek films - can't afford them! One day I may snag them cheap or I may finally succumb and ask some of the distributors to send me review copies as I get asked to cover so many now. I really need to be in the cinema just about every night and knocking a review out every day or two. John.
Close Encounters is quite possibly my favorite film of all time. Thank you for your in depth analysis of the stunning 4K release.
You are welcome! John.
This movie really impressed me when i was younger, I made me look up at the stars and wonder if we were alone. Great film, great review! Thanks for making my Friday that much better!
I hope you still look up to the skies today Sega as it shows we have an imagination and I think that's important. John.
A masterpiece, one of the early magical Spielberg efforts. It still is very captivating.Dreyfuss plays obsessive so well, you sympathise with him as much as his put apon family. The ending is hopeful, yet bittersweet.
Quite so... until the Special Edition when the ending was somewhat changed and not for the better. John.
It's a masterpiece and I bloody love it, The Bass is incredible and it's something I can watch again and again, really like hearing people's experiences of seeing this in theatres for the first time
Such a pleasure to hear a true expert on his subject. Makes TH-cam worthwhile! Always watch every video - thanks.
Thanks John. Don't know what I'm going to review next but I'll think of something. John.
This was my very first 4K purchase, and it was what really sold me on the wisdom of my upgrade in player/tv/receiver.
The "flaws" you mention as baked into the the film are what I love. Honestly, the film grain was when I absolutely flipped out and entered nirvana. As I started telling friends, it felt like film, to me. I still use it as a demo disk.
I felt the same way Mark because it was one of the first discs I purchased too. I'd already had Blade Runner for a while by then though so not quite as impactive as it would have been but still a great example of how a cine transfer should look... just like the film it came from! John.
When I see a new posting from you, I go all "happy happy joy joy" mode, and you allways deliver.
Maybe I'll find a 4K I think is bad next time around and slag it off! Gemini Man perhaps? Naaaaa, I'll find another good one with some interesting details rather than a simple shot on video, looks great on video cos' that would be a bit boring. John.
John , I love visiting your older videos like these ! Love them always.
Thank you for telling me. I can't bear to watch them myself but occasionally I have to just to make sure I'm keeping standards where they once were. John.
This was a joy to watch. I love you giving us the perspective of how it compares to Super 8 or 35mm. It feels like 4K Blu Ray has a much greater chance of having that superb color saturation that film does and getting your insight into if said movie has or does not have that same look of film is my favorite part of your reviews. Please keep going , its fascinating to see these videos and I love learning more about film and film history.
Thank you Sean. From quite early on I've thought 4K HDR discs are more like film but this Close Encounters pack makes the point more than any other simply because some of the special effects are so much more realistic on 4K and that's down to the extra colour palette. John.
I've seen Close Encounters twice in the cinema, and it's astonishing.
I first saw it on video when I was in high school, and I thought it was ok, but nothing special... Then I saw it on a huge screen with huge sound and it forever changed my perception of this masterpiece.
I don't think I've ever seen Close Encounters on a telly Eric. I don't find televisions to be ideal for watching any films but a big, science fiction adventure such as Close Encounters probably relies on a big screen for big impact more than most movies. I loved it when I first saw it as a boy and now this 4K disc reproduces at home the impact it gave me in the cinema. Amazing when you think about it.
John.
John, another outstanding review of a 4K of a film that I love. I really appreciate your projectionist persona helping us get the best out of our systems. I really do need to experiment with the HDR button on my Panasonic player. Thanks so much.
And ensure any digital sharpening is off or minimized Rob. But enough of that, how are you doing now?
Such a classic movie!
Absolutely right! John.
Great review as per usual, John. CE3K will always be very special for me. I was 20 years old when it was released and to this it day remains one of my fave theatre experiences. As great as the climactic mothership lands and we meet the aliens scene is, for me the most memorable moment was Roy Neary's close encounter in his truck at the railroad crossing. How that scene blew my mind. The sound as the UFO "s powerful lights came on and shifted gravity. Dreyfuss being "implanted" with a vision of Devils Tower. Great stuff.
It's the build up that makes the film. Without the build up the climax would be nothing but this is also one of those films that manages to build all the way through and doesn't let us down... unless it's the Special Edition of course! John.
You're my favorite reviewer on TH-cam. There is another American reviewer who is very good and that person is Jeff with Films At Home who is also very knowledgeable with his reviews on 4K and blu-ray,
I have seen quite a few of Jeff's reviews. I don't want to be influenced by anyone else though so with Jeff being one of the biggest out there I'd better stay away because I want to ensure I form my own opinions. John.
@@moviecollector5920 Right and I do value your opinions and enjoy your talks/reviews the most and they are quite enjoyable.
I've visited Devil's tower several times over the last 20 years and it's amazing to me every time I go.
And of course, after you review a movie I have to go get it.
Great video once again
I have never visited Devil's Tower but maybe one day. Wonder if I'll see any space ships there! John.
Another great review, John! I love this film. Jaws is still his best work in my mind, but this is top 5 for me. It's a movie that truly merges the concepts of sight and sound in cinema so well. Both elements complement each other so well.
I agree that Jaws is his best Jeffrey but this one is rather special too. What a talent!
John.
There are certain cinematic milestones in one's life, and CE3K is a first viewing I will never forget. From the darkened opening screen credits with the genius John Williams score slowly building to a thunderous climax and you are hit by a blinding flash of light (if you examine the actual film stock you'll see Spielberg inserted one blank frame so for that split second the projector light passes through unimpeded), and you are catapulted into a sand storm in Mexico, to the wondrous, almost childlike finale as the mother ship leaves and maestro Williams' gorgeous score, this truly is a film for the ages. Thank you for your wonderful review. Michael - SA.
Bloody hell Michael, I wish you'd emailed me your words before I sat down to record this review! John.
@@moviecollector5920 As I mentioned before, SA had a huge 16mm rental business many years ago and being in that trade for a number of years had access to a 16mm Anamorphic print of CE3k, and being curious how Spielberg achieved that 'explosion' of light at the end of the titles placed the first reel on a re-winder and slowly spooled the film through my fingers and there, at the end of the blackened title frames was one, clear translucent frame. Practical but ingenious. Considering it was pre CGI this film still possesses what most of modern, heavy laden CGI films lack, that sense of wonder, so beautifully captured, and highlighted in your review, of the expression on the little boys face. Thank you John!
@@thelookuplookdown You certainly make some exceptional comments Michael. You should be writing film reviews for magazines and newspapers.
I am pleasantly surprised how sharp the 4K is. It’s really good and I love the film grain. I also have the LP soundtrack from 1977, it truly is a masterpiece
i should have bought the LP all those years ago too. CD just isn't the same. John.
Thanks for posting this John. This is the first film I got in 4 k after I got my 4K DVD player. It looks stunning in 4 k. And the scenes at the end when the mother ship lands is jaw dropping. I knew it would look great in 4K. ( blade runner was my second 4K purchase). I think I’m in the minority of people who thinks the inside mother ship scenes are amazing, I first saw this as a teenager and still love it. It’s a great improvement. And your right about the air of mystery that goes through the film, this makes you want to watch it through. Love your channel.
Yes, I don't think there are many people who like the Special Edition version over the original but if you saw it first as a youngster then it stands more of a chance as we're more impressionable when we're young. With regards to the disc quality I've only had a couple of comments to correct me as to how awful it is but it seems they didn't actually watch this video and just wanted to have a bit of a moan about it because they haven't ever thought to adjust their system settings.
Blade Runner is another fabulous 4K disc release. 35mm quality on a disc.
John.
Imagine, CE3K was his follow up to "Jaws"! Spielberg pretty much became the god of cinema when this was released. The anticipation for this film was through the roof, and Steven did not disappoint! The truth is, however, I was expecting an entirely different movie - at least in terms of tone. However, because Spielberg is such a great filmmaker and was able to imbue his movie with such a disarming sense of childhood wonder, I was caught up in the story like anyone else. The final act is magical, and the (ORIGINAL!) final scenes still can evoke awe! A masterpiece, and a genuine classic. You convinced me, John -I will buy the 4K!
Well said G A. And when you do get this one you will have to check that you've got your system setup for the disc to ensure you get the best out of it. If you're seeing too much film grain then you've got it too bright, that's my general rule of thumb. John.
One of my all-time favourites, I immediately jumped on the 4K collector's box, despite not yet owning a 4K player when it released. Having all three versions on one disc is fantastic, as I'm very partial to the unpopular "Special Edition", that being the version I had on VHS as a nipper.
It's just the ending that messes up the Special Edition Dave. There are plenty of other minor things wrong with it but showing the inside of the Alien mother ship was just the wrong thing to do. John.
An all time favourite movie of mine, great to see your review on this classic.
I think many of us who love it today were about the same age when it was first released. An impressionable age I think. John.
Great in depth review John thank you. Haven’t Close Encouters yet all the way through can you believe.
Nope, don't believe it Danny. You'll just have to do better! John.
Outstanding review, man! I've always loved Jaws and Raiders, but Close Encounters was a grower for me. I didn't fall in love with it until about 15 years ago. Now it's one of my favorite Spielberg movies. The performances are incredible and I try to watch it at least once a year.
I'm much the same Bill. Enjoyed it as a youngster but today I think it's a much better film than I ever realized. It helps when you have a home video version that is this good though. John.
Thanks for another great immersive review. I just picked up the restored version of Spartacus in 4K and it’s a beauty.
Oh yes, Spartacus is one of the best - Technirama which is horizontal VistaVision with a 1.5x squeeze. John.
I first watched this in London (probably in the 80's) - the Marble Arch Odeon, on their huge screen. Stunning experience, had never seen anything like it. When the mothership appeared, my jaw actually dropped. Haven’t owned a copy, as I knew it couldn’t compare … quite tempted now I have 4K.
If you have a large enough wall anywhere Richard, get a 4K video projector for this one and enjoy the same mesmerizing experience all over again... although perhaps not quite as impactive as that 58ft wide Marble Arch curved screen. John.
Another excellent review ….. love watching your channel and your videos and the insight you provide into the films you’re reviewing that go far beyond just reviewing the disc release itself ….. your movie room has inspired me to finally set one up in my own home …. bought myself an Optoma projector and screen this week and currently in the process of installing it …… thanks for what you’re doing ….. love the videos …. Keep up the excellent work … oh and by the way if the BBC ever bring back Barry Norman’s ‘Film’ review program then I’d love to see you presenting Film 2022 …. Until next time … Paul
It's really exciting to learn you're setting up a home cinema Paul. The most important thing once you've got it all worked out is to mask each film with black masking. Mine are covered in the darkest, deepest black velvet I could find and it's all held together with string and sticky tape. It's amazing what can be done for very little. If you don't have the room for corded curtain rails and all that sort of thing then a few hooks on the wall or sticky velcro can do the job. You'll have to keep me updated with how you get on... and when you finally get into Super 8 too!!!
John.
Great review. This is one of all time favourites. Next on my monthly allowance on 4K purchases!
It's a good one, that's for sure. But does require you to make sure your system is not too bright. If it is, the picture will be pretty crap really. John.
Thanks another fantastic informative review
Glad you like it and thank you for letting me know. John.
A good review John, my favourite line from the movie,
He said the sun came out last night, he said it sang to him.
Classic, I brought this on blu-ray even before I had a blu-ray player.
Interestingly, I think that very line is in the Super 8 400ft reel. Someone must have agreed you way back when the film was first out sin gin. John.
I love this movie and have fond memories of watching it on TV as a kid. Over the years I've watched it on laserdisc, dvd, bluray and now 4k. It's a fantastic sci-fi fairytale, but reading on some of the history of it's development I've always wondered how different it would have been if Jack Nicholson had played the lead instead of Richard Dreyfuss.
As much as I like Jack Nicholson Reynaldo, I think the film would have been awful. But to be fair it couldn't have been the same film so would have been re-worked and probably unrecognizable from what we know today. John.
Getting cozy with my dear... cookies, milk... and the review of a great sci-fi film! Enjoying!!! Thank you John, as always, very interesting story and educating details! Most of my movie collection at home consists of Special Editions of different kind, precisely because I enjoy immensly such windows into interesting professions and projects!
Ow, by the way, Keanu Reeves made a wonderful documentary about film-making, different kinds of reels and lenses, director styles and cinematography theories. There are some great interviews in this documentary! It is called "Side by Side".
I need to see Keanu Reeves documentary then Dmitri. I trust you won't let me forget! John.
@@moviecollector5920 Ai-ai, captain John-Silver! ))
Another wonderful review yet again. This is a movie I have always enjoyed watching and I did notice that the 4k release didn`t look very good on my tv, but after some setting adjustments it was great.
Well done for being able to think and getting the picture sorted out. I fear a lot of people don't do that and that is why so many complain about things that aren't really there. John.
@@moviecollector5920 Much to the wife's annoyance, I do tend to fiddle with the tv and Blu-ray settings sometimes to try to get the picture as perfect as possible.
@@CheeringOwls My wife's used to it after more than 30 years of putting up with me fiddling... with projectors that is. John.
Thank you for the HDR tips that can really affect the overall experience. Great video as ever.
Thank you Terry. There isn't a common standard for HDR so it tends to be a little different on most discs but way, way different on some. John.
Great review. I've been sitting on this one awhile myself. I've always enjoyed the extra family scenes in the Special and Director's Editions. Not because they're enjoyable (certainly the opposite) but because it really makes a point to give a clearer, more balanced depiction of the disintegration of the Neary family. The subsequent cuts really show just how much this whole experience has rewritten Roy's internal code and it makes him a more complicated character as a result. There are still scenes I miss from the theatrical, though.
I always preferred the original theatrical version of the film Tom but I went through the other two for this review. I didn't go all the way through the so-called Special Edition but I dipped in and out of it and particularly the more important changes. I still didn't like it half as much as the original version. The 'Director's Cut' is much better than the Special Edition but seems to lack that certain something compared to the original. I think it's a lesson to film makers to leave well alone once it's done and out there. John.
Hi John I watch all your reviews which I have to say are awesome and you have an amazing setup. I too find that the hdr can vary from one film to the next so like you say it’s not always pop in and play. This is one I still don’t own even though I am a bit of a sci fi geek. Love the videos so keep em coming. 😄👍✌️
Thank you Craig. You'll have to get out there and get this one now then so you can let me know how you get on with it on your system. A great disc but many will not have seen it the same way as I. John.
Love this movie. Bought it a long time ago on blu ray. Next thing you know the 4k came along.
Don’t regret the 4k tho.
Thank you John for another great review.
Thanks Peter. This is one of those films that's worth purchasing on every format that come along. I'll stick out for a 35mm print though if I am to ever buy it again in the future! John.
Another great video. I concur, Close Encounters is not one of the best 4K discs out there but it may well be one of the best upgrades over what came before it. I have to mention that I smiled broadly when I noticed that you have a copy of FutureWorld on your shelf. That's a movie that I know in my heart is no cinematic masterpiece. Nonetheless it's one of my guilty pleasure films. I can't help but enjoy it every time I see it.
Well done for spotting Futureworld. It's been on the shelf for a while now but I will get to it soon. Been a little busy with so many other things that have taken up too much time. I've never actually seen Futureworld.
John.
Fantastic rewiev of a fantastic movie. One i have watched the most besides Star Wars, Alien and Terminator. It was the first movie i had in widescreen/letterbox. I was captured right away. Keep up the good work👏
Thank you Morten. It's a special film just like the other titles you've listed. I think we have similar taste in film.
John.
Fantastic review, as always.
Thanks Frank. Shawshank Redemption is next. John.
Great review, love this film.
Totally agree on what initially looked like grain (I like grain btw, reminds me I’m watching a film!), I adjusted the Panny HDR toggle. I tend to watch on standard, same the other night when watching Anatomy of a Murder, standard is darker, but on B/W films, the dynamic contrast is fabulous. You have me in the mood for this Close Encounters again, haven’t watched it since it’s 4K release (forgot about it, so thanks for the reminder). This weekend I am going to try and convince my kids to watch Oliver (part of the Columbia vol 2 uhd collection), I’ve never seen it, so looking forward to it as the transfer looks gorgeous.
Aha, Oliver was Mark Lester I believe and he was terrific... although I've never managed to watch Oliver all the way through. Should be a quality film though with the cast it has.
I think all our systems vary so as much as Close Encounters looked fabulous on 'Standard' through my Optoma UHD550X video projector, it appeared a little too dark in places. I am going to try it for black and white 4K discs in the future though now you've told me it works on your system.
John.
Wonderful review as always. I did have the 400ft "flat" digest on Super 8, which IMHO is rather choppy, and the beautiful Scope trailer, which I had seen in the cinema before. This is definitely a timeless classic with, as you stated, an air of mystery to it. I prefer it to ET, which I always thought to be "Close Encounters Light". And I wholeheartedly agree, being a (humble) musician myself: John Williams is my favorite film composer. I can't imagine life without him.
A good summary which I think you've done once or twice before. Well done as usual. John.
@@moviecollector5920 thank you. Ah btw, the child actor did appear in another movie, it was in a 1979 film with Bud Spencer.
Very nice home theatre room. Love your videos
Thank you Emil. I did do a home cinema tour video about a year ago which you might find interesting if you haven't seen it. People tend to be under the misapprehension that it costs a fortune to do a proper home cinema when all you really need is string and sticky tape! John.
Hey John, fabulous video! the special features disc is truly something great, I was very interested in the story where a whole wall ripped off the hanger they were shooting the final scene in. this is a jam-packed 4K package and certainly one of the best. I plan on getting my 400ft reel scanned and restored in the future. I love that cinevision release, I would love the purchase a cine reel on super 8 one day, they look like the ol' cinema screen. my next review should be that clockwork orange on 4K or willy wonka. I saw 3 of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" on your shelf, those films are very fun, very excited for them to make a 4K of those films, the second film is my favorite. I should have my review uploaded tomorrow or the day after. Thanks again!
Thanks for pointing out that the video is accessible via the playlist - I've taken it off that now.
Don't bother getting your Super 8 of Close Encounters scanned because it's an expensive process and most of the amateurs who offer a scanning service for Super 8 produce surprisingly poor results because they're using a cheap machine to do it. I transfer with an aerial image system which you'd have seen in my Super 8 Film Gauge video and seem to consistently get far better results. But, these package movies never come out as well as home movies shot on Kodachrome by a member of the public with a Super 8 or 8mm camera. If you take a look at my original TH-cam account with all the car videos there's a trailer to my Fifty Years of the Mini Cooper release and all the archive film you'll see in that was Super 8 and 8mm transferred by me so see what you think of that.
We've only run the first two Pirates of the Caribbean films so far. I've only ever seen the first film before so we had a good laugh with the second one. I was too tired watching it though so missed bits and pieces daydreaming.
I don't know what I'm going to review next. I do want to do something on The Shining and Doctor Sleep but that would be more of a analysis video. The same with 2010 The Year We Make Contact but that's a Blu-ray so may be frowned upon a little.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 thank you for letting me know to not get my reel scanned, I think it was going to cost me 160 dollars which I’d rather spend on getting my projector maintained.
The pirates of the Caribbean films are quite long at some points, I have tried about 3 times to watch the 3rd film because of how long it is, thanks! Have a great day!
Great video, really enjoyed it 👍🏽
Thank you Timothy. Be interesting to see how popular this video proves to be over time. John.
Evening John. Another great video, very interesting as always. When this first came out I remember my nan went to see at the Odeon in Barnsley. She told me I couldn't go as it would scare me, I would've been around 4 or 5 when it came out. My nan got me interested in films, my first trip to the pictures was with her to watch the animated 101 Dalmatians, looking back it must have been a re-release in the school holidays. Back to Close Encounters, I eventually got around to seeing it years later on laserdisc, not the all singing and dancing Criterion disc but the PAL disc, it cost £35 I think. I bought the DVD with 3 versions on it, comes on a lovely box and lastly got the Blu-ray a few years ago on a trip to Florida. I think it has 3 versions on but is in a plain Blu-ray box it was as cheap as chips if I remember. One of my favourite scenes is when Richard Dreyfus stops, I think he's looking at a map at a railway crossing (I ain't watched it for a while), and the head lights of what the audience and the character think are a car, he waves em through but instead of coming round the truck the lights gently float up. You know the scene, simple but effective. I might be buying another edition after this video. What you reviewing next?
This 4K version of the film is just like watching the film Steve and that's rather special. You'll have to get it sometime but it can be had rather cheaply so keep a look out and snap up a bargain.
Don't know what I'll be reviewing next. Been a little too busy lately to even think about it but maybe I'll get a chance to have a look around tomorrow.
John.
Great review as usual John :) Close Encounters Of The Third Kind is another masterpiece by Spielberg that I have watch many times and I can highly recommend this sci-fi drama to anyone who enjoy films about aliens and UFOs. Some other films I like are Communion, E.T. and Fire in the sky.
I think The Abyss and Super 8 are two other films similar to Close Encounters. I'm not sure James Cameron was particularly influenced but I think we can safely assume J.J. Abrams was. John.
Picked mine up for £9.99 (with another purchase), great price for three cuts of the film. Another brilliant review, John.
That was a bargain Mark. Well done! John.
@@moviecollector5920, was hoping to watch it with my son before he went to Uni, but . . . too many films, not enough time!
@@SuperGrumpyDaddy That just about sums it up for me too. John.
Close Encounters has a special place in my heart because it was filmed near my home area in south Alabama in late 70's. Most of the space ship scenes and its landing area were shot inside an old WW2 aircraft hangar at old Brookley AFB in Mobile, AL. At one time Speilberg proclaimed it as the world's largest sound stage. Other scenes also shot in the area...the family home of Richard Dreyfuss, the family home of the little boy where the Aliens visit, and the Mobile Civic Center auditorium where famed French director Francois Truffaut has a speaking part delivered to an audience where he explains the meaning of the musical sounds emanating from the alien ship.
What a shame you didn't know it was all going on at the time Pete and what an historic film it would turn out to be. If you'd have known you might have managed to visit one of the locations while they were filming. Spielberg loves children so he might have spotted you back then! John.
A Legend of a Film. And it seems like only yesterday when I was sat in the theatre watching this classic when it came out. One of Spielberg's finest. And the brilliant John Williams score is always top drawer.
An historic film with an historic score for sure. John.
I watched this on the big screen when it came out and it was a lot of fun. I've seen it so many times on video since I got sort of tired watching it but after seeing your review I think it will be my next purchase probably from Amazon. 4K should probably give it a fresh new look and I hope will be like watching it for the first time all over again. The opening sequence in the airport tower hits even closer to home since newly released Pentagon footage of UFO encounters have been brought to light.
I don't use Amazon for anything any longer if I can avoid it Daniel but I'm not sure if you have any record and video outlet stores left in America to support. Over here we HMV on major high streets so that's who I spend my money with despite them sometimes costing a little more than the dreaded Amazon. But wherever you purchase this one from I hope you get the same enjoyment from it as I. Just remember to tweak your HDR setting to suit first.
Really enjoyed this review John.....IV the 2 disc special edition from Sony very happy with it...very organic and film like I thought haha... The grain dances around the screen... Magnificent 👌il pick up the 4k next time I see it for a good price.
It's a great example of the 4K disc format Roy... providing you get the setup right! John.
Hello. Thanks to TH-cam’s algorithms this popped up in my listings today. CE3K is one of my favourite ever films. I first saw it on TV back in the mid eighties. Since then I’ve purchased on VHS and DVD and Blu-Ray. I do own the 4K collectors box set that lights up and plays the 5 notes. I unfortunately don’t own a 4K player or 4K Tv, but rest assured CE3K will be the first disc that spins when I get them. Thank you for making this video. It was a really great overview of the various formats (some of which I’d never seen) and a top review of the movie itself. As a side note. I have read Paul Schrader’s script for this movie. Originally entitled “Kingdom Come”. It’s vastly different to the finished product but in my opinion, it would have made a very interesting movie. More thriller than spectacle but gripping nonetheless. You have a new subscriber 👍
Good to have you here Time Engineer and thank you for extremely nice comment. It seems that you don't have the Super 8 versions of this film so you have even more to collect now! Try tracking down one of the 12 Super 8 'Scope features because that would be a major life achievement!
John.
Close Encounters was the first SCI FI film I saw, on the TV as a child in 82 (I was 5). Ever since I have watched my re-edited versions and newer prints. Its still an amazing film, the 4 cords, etc. Still a piece of cinematic legendary, so much so that its even now I well up watching it. As a child, I didn't like the marriage breakdown bit, as a married man and father it adds to the believability of the narrative. Great vid, as always.
I think Close Encounters plays better today than it did back in 1978. The sign of a great film perhaps.
Have not been much of a fan of this movie. But I do respect it and your review of it was a pleasure to watch.
It may be that you will like it a whole lot more now. I think it's another film that holds a certain nostalgia today that will make some appreciate it now who didn't when it was new. John.
@@moviecollector5920 You could be right. I may try it again. I have been to Devils Tower in person. Beautiful place. I want to go back some time. The original name was Bear Lodge. More appropriate name.
Great video again John. Myself and a couple of my viewers on my Twitch channel were discussing this movie last night, we've had this sat on the shelf for a while now and its over due a watch. I'm very very curious to watch it even more after what you said about the HDR, I have the Panasonic 9000 UHD Player and I've always left the HDR setting to Standard and that seems to cover everything for my taste. Funny thing is I was only saying that I'd had to have my tea yesterday without a new upload from yourself only to be told you'd just put this up! =) Oh, The Thing UHD is currently on its way to me at the moment, I'll give that a spin next weekend... Unless it arrives today.
I went through all the HDR options and settings when I first got all the equipment almost four years ago and some 4K discs set to standard look inferior to the Blu-ray which is automated because it doesn't have HDR. So HDR being set to suit each individual disc is fundamental. So you'll just have to play some more with future discs and see if you end up with even better image quality.
As for The Thing, I expect I'll pick that up next time I get to an HMV. Not had any time to watch anything lately but set a couple of evenings aside for Close Encounters for this review.
John.
Cheers John. I've pulled out Schindler's List UHD for a viewing this evening, another thats been sat on the shelf for ages.
@@LeShark75 A masterpiece but I've only ever seen it once and that was at The Empire. I find anything about the German death camps very hard to watch and Schindler's List doesn't exactly try to hide what really happened. John.
I don’t own many 4K movies but I bagged this off eBay that no one else bid on, it came in a case that lights up and plays sounds love it.
Let me guess the sound it plays... doo doo doo doooo do.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 close it goes
Re mi do do sol. Don’t worry I had to google that. 😀
@@brettwhateley1998 Right, I'll try to remember that for future mickey taking replies! Thanks Brett. John.
Great review
Thanks Stephanie... as usual. John.
i love this movie and i have 2 different editions of the score on vinyl. the score is of course composed by the iconic john williams
Well you don't need two copies Funk so send one of 'em over!!! John.
Wonderful review, I disliked the movie for years, but then I re watched it and it really grew on me, I was fortunate to watch the 4k restoration in the theatre for the 40th anniversary and it looked awesome
Thank you Rich. It's such a shame they don't issue new film prints after all the work that goes into preserving these films but I suppose that would cost money and video costs nothing. My opinion is that cinema screenings should use the best tools available but those days have largely gone now. John.
I absolutely love this movie! It's top 10 for me. And i like how they just include every cut and Let you decide which one is the Best, anyway, good Review have a nice weekend.
Thank you Guerrero. You have a good weekend too. John.
Thanks for that excellent review as usual. One of my all time favorite sci-fi movie. Truely a huge classic.
Btw, ur panasonic is the dp-ub9000 right ?
The Panny I use in the home cinema is a 400 series. In the living room it's a 300 series. The 400 series has an optical audio out which is the least they should all come with but alas only a single HDMI on most of them these days.
Next review should be Interstellar... finally!
John.
I have this in my collection. Interesting what you said about the HDR next Time I watch it I will try natural on the projector as did notice alot of film grain but just put that down to the film stock. An amazing film that looks fantastic on 4k.Great review John 👍 😎
All our systems are different Matt but my rule of thumb for this one is if there is noticeable, consistent film grain then the projected image or telly is set too bright.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 ah ok will keep that in mind cheers 👍
Excellent review, remember going to see it in 1977 at the local Odeon, cracking film but thought the theatrical version is better than the somewhat boring longer version!
I expect just about all of us will agree with you there. John.
Timely, and really great, review. Since we last spoke/emailed I have been on a bit of a Super 8 buying frenzy and now have 29 400ft digests and a half dozen still wrapped, at time I got them, Walton Tom and Jerry reels. All in varying degrees of condition. You seem to be right about the Walton reels - they still have lovely colour. Close Encounters was one, along with Star Wars, that I had back in the day and have been trying to get hold of in this nostalgia buzz I am on. Anyway, I managed to get hold of the Columbia Close Encounters 400ft last week. It still has great colour but, sadly, it has a lot of tramlines. I paid only a couple of pounds for it and I am hoping that a treatment with Filmguard 'might' help - when I get some (I used to use 2.22 but can't find it) - but I am not holding my breath. Despite the tramlines it was still a lot of fun watching this 400ft Close Encounters and the memories it brought back.
You should find Film Guard does work wonders providing the scratches are not green emulsion scratched Christopher. Film Guard can cause wow on the soundtrack if you put too much on though because it is so slippery and that's where 2.22 may have been better although it wasn't actually very kind to film. Best of all was Thermofilm but the EU put paid to that one and sadly it's not legal to produce any longer. My own 400ft of Close Encounters has faded dreadfully so I much find another with good colour sometime soon. John.
@@moviecollector5920 I shall definitely try Film Guard - the scratches are very thin and not green - I will let you know how it goes. I didn't pay much for the film and if Film Guard helps, then the colours are really good in this copy. Do you know if the Clamshell version of Close Encounters is the same as the cardboard box one?
@@ChristopherJohnBall It's the same 400ft reel in both boxes. The clamshell cases became the standard just after Close Encounters made its appearance and so it simply got transferred to the new type of case. Film Guard will wet the film a little and it's the wet that acts like wet gate and so the wetter it is the better the scratches are filled in. Don't use too much though as Film Guard is supposed to be used extremely sparingly. Thermofilm could be slapped on ad nauseum so when first applied that could almost completely eradicate scratches if used liberally. John.
This is such a classic film and I have seen it on various formats over the years. I will stick with my Blu-ray collectors edition (with poster, postcards and hardcover book) as watching the 4K spoils the effects for me.
That shouldn't be the case because as I point out in this video, the effects on the Blu-ray look fake in places whereas on the 4K with HDR giving it a more film like colour palette those same effects look real. The ones to scrutinize are the matte shots of the UFO landing strip where it's all blue on Blu-ray but colour corrected on 4K. John.
@@moviecollector5920 In that case I will give it another watch
Thanks for the review.
I might try this film out on my Panasonic oled. Only saw it on tv, as a kid, back in the 80's.
Probably not a film for a telly years ago Doug but it should work a lot better with today's equipment. It's certainly worth a second look to see it for the first time! John.
@@moviecollector5920 your setup looks fantastic. Closest I've come to that was my old high school. Actually had its own cinema and a film society . It gave me the opportunity to see lots of older and brand new films on the big screen.
@@dougquaid570 Sounds like you went to a school I'd have enjoyed Doug!
Funnily enough, my 4K copy of Close Encounters has been on the shelf unwatched for about two years, you've now got me of a mind to finally watch it. So thank you for giving me the nudge. What is it with unwatched discs sitting on the shelf?
Once they're on the shelf Ian they tend to lose their allure. I leave them on top of the shelf in the cinema until such time as we can finally watch them and that way they don't get forgotten and left. Still got a bunch of Blu-rays onthere at the moment but constantly on the road lately so no time to see anything. John.
@@moviecollector5920 Instead of CE3K I watched my 4K of Glory last night. It was magnificent, a lovely filmic image with grain and subtle HDR that didn't distract at all. If you don't have a copy, I heartily recommend it. And look forward to a video review of course!
@@iansmith6166 Glory is a terrific film. I have it on LaserDisc so it's another I've watched rather too often over the years but I expect I'll see Glory in HMV at an irresistible price one day. John.
Great video. All the best.
Close Encounters is still a very popular film given I did this review years after I purchased the disc. Still generated a lot of views.
@@moviecollector5920 Spielber from the 80's...must have.
Nice review! Which Panasonic 4K BD player do you have? When I press the 'Option' button I can navigate to the HDR Optimizer menu where the UB420 has a slider for HDR Dynamic range which can brighten or darken the output. I can only get to the HDR Presets via the 'HDR Setting' button, so thanks for that info.
Many 4K projectors can also adjust the HDR EOTF such as my Optoma UHD50, which has 'Bright-Standard-Film-Detail' as options with 'Detail' being the darkest. The Sony UBP-X700 has an 'Options' button and when you press it during playback you get a 'Video Settings' submenu that has two user settings where you can adjust various noise reduction options and 'Brightness-Contrast-Colour-Hue' and save them in that user setting. By turning off HDR output in the X700 'Home->Settings' menu, you also activate the HDR->SDR conversion settings in the 'Options' menu and you are also presented with two options to compensate for room conditions in the 'Video Settings' submenu. Overall the UB420 is a more capable BD player but using it's 'Options->Video Settings' submenu settings, the X700 can come close.
I can't recall the exact model numbers of my players but one is a 400 series and the other a 300. Both are practically identical but the 400 has an optical output which is essential as most only have HDMI which isn't much use really.
Be careful of those Optoma presets because I got caught out by them several times for a couple of years. Changing them can mean you've got all sorts of digital processing such as sharpen inadvertently turned back on and they should always be turned off or minimized to the lowest level. Too many people listen to electronics experts but they're not experienced in film and how it should look. That's why all these options exist on video projectors and televisions but the best results are achieved by using the human eye.
John.
Just finished the Star Trek 4K box set. It’s a very well done. The destruction of the Enterprise has never looked so good. :)
I have to wait until this directors cut of TMP is restored and released. I’ve never seen that before so that should be fun.
I’ve never have seen Close Encounters. Looked boring to me as a kid. Might check it out one day.
If you're a Trekkie then you'll like Close Encounters, no question about it. John.
The list it will have a brand new DOLBY ATMOS remix track
A side note to my comment below - I seem to remember Bill Davidson saying, in his review of Close Encounters 400ft Digest - that Spielberg himself edited the film for this particular Super 8 release.
Cor, even I don't remember that but I wouldn't be surprised because he started with 8mm film so probably a bit of an enthusiast and excited to see his film going on sale on a film gauge he might have used for a while after 8mm. John.
I was happy with my Blu-ray until i watched your video lol, i will be picking up the 4K and have just stuck it on my wish list, thanks mate.
Ho ho. Sorry about that. I think it's a more obvious improvement over the Blu-ray than anything else I've scrutinized. The matte shots of the UFO landing area are the most obvious improvement thanks to HDR.
This movie is responsible for truly sparking my love of the cinematic experience - even more than Star Wars A New Hope. So, imagine my joy when it became available in 4K. I wasn't disappointed. However I have kept my deluxe Blu-ray edition with all three versions of the movie, poster, soundtrack CD and deluxe booklet because I can't get enough of this movie.
I think Close Encounters is a better film today than it ever was Bill. But I always really liked it. These days I love it. John.
My dad took me to see CE3K when I was about 5. All I remembered was the air traffic control scene, how much sand there was in Mexico and all the people singing in India. Funny isn't it what you remember (or don't remember!). When the Special Edition came out I remember being particularly excited to see it (at the former Unit 4 in Little Harwood in Blackburn) when I was 8 and thoroughly enjoyed it but was rather uninspired with the (no spoilers!) the special edition ending. What a movie and thanks for another great review, Dave
I was 13 or 14 at the time and it didn't make quite the impression on me as I was that much older but seeing the magic of that Super 8 reel shortly after cemented the film in my mind. I think more highly of it today that I ever did before which is rather unusual for me.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 The strangest impression was on my wife as she sat through it until the final "night scene at Devils Tower" and she said she was bored and was going to watch TV upstairs. She did the same with Star Wars (Ep IV) and fell asleep just before the trench run. You can't win them all! Kind regards, Dave
@@loftlegacy Cor blimey! Just as well you didn't show her the films before you got hitched otherwise you'd never have married her!!! John.
@@moviecollector5920 It's odd, she took me to see "Ab Fab" the movie which was awful and I took her to see Interstellar. Expecting complaints about the latter and she actually enjoyed it! These days our cinema trips are with our little boy to see films like Paw Patrol or Peter Rabbit 2. One good thing about our local Vue in Southport that it's only £4.99 a ticket. Cheers, Dave
I always thought the point of HDR was to essentially override manual controls so your screen emits the image as close to intended - so it's pretty annoying that you have to make so many adjustments to get it to look right.
The intention of HDR is to make video look more like film. To get film looking 100% on a screen takes work so in that regard they've succeeded. Video is finally more like film collecting and that has got to be a good thing for us true enthusiasts. Enjoy playing with each disc prior to watching to ensure you get the best out of it. Good luck with it in the future Luke. Just remember, 4K takes some work. John.
Brings back wonderful memories thinking about this film! It's kind of funny going from VHS, to DVD, Blu-Ray now 4K, what's next?
What's next? Why a 35mm print Alex!!! John.
Hi John - thanks for another informative analysis- unfortunately my player doesn't have a built in HDR toggle - will changing the viewing mode on the TV itself (from "cinema" to "cinema home" for example) have the same effect?
PS Which version of "CE3K" do you like best? I prefer the original cut - I never liked the interior shots of the mothership from the "Special Edition".
Original cut is the best Dan but the so-called 'Director's Cut' isn't too far off. Special Edition is a non-starter for me now.
With regards to HDR nothing else will tone it down other than modifying the HDR brightness itself. There should be an option within the setup of your player. Panasonic players without the magical button on the remote control can still be modified within the setup. It's essential to find it because so many discs are released with overly bright HDR and it can completely destroy them. John.
Video is not just the only thing that needs calibrating specifically to the equipment you have - sound is also funny depending on what equipment you have. I have had a pioneer amplifier and currently have an onkyo, a friend has a sony. All 3 play audio mixes from discs with a slight different preference, it’s amazing just how much of a difference comparing the different models make of decoding digital audio at their base settings.
I think you have THX if I remember correctly so that should be just about as accurate as possible but I suppose it also depends on how well the THX speakers are matched to the amplifier. My home cinema isn't very big so everything from that THX Ultra setup is a little overpowering at times. I have the subwoofer down a little lower than normal as a result. But I've had surround in the home for over 30 years now so I'm not quite so obsessed with it as I once was. That's how I ended up with the big THX system though and I suppose once you're up to that level there's not really much more you can do. John.
Thanks John for this amazing video. I appriciate a lot that you had possibility to include HDR issue in this review. HDR optimizer is great to have. My players (Panasonic UB450 and Sony x800M2) dont have it. Panasonic UB820 has optimizer. So only option is like you stated to play with brightness and contrast. Samsung has included backlight with brightness, so no own settings for backlight anymore. Thanks again, great video!
Thanks Raid. I wouldn't trust anything called 'optimizer' built in by the techies because they're not film people. Most people in the electronics industry have never done anything in film let alone projected it so I wouldn't trust them to know anything about how a video should look. But I may be wrong of course! I think the best thing to do is to calibrate manually and keep an watchful eye on any video that originated on film to ensure it's not too noisy or grainy because that's usually the sign that the image is too bright. Film is simply darker than modern video and that's one of the reasons it's more realistic.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 You are not wrong. Today I have started to get used with more dimmer picture. Less brightness, less contrast and have tried without contrast enchancers etc.
@@Raidallinen76 Good man! You'll have to let me know how you find it because I hope and expect you'll find the overall image quality is better. If there's any digital sharpening options, get that off or right down to minimum too. John.
@@moviecollector5920 I have finished my tests. It is like you said. Also with SDR content (regular blu-ray, DVD) too much brightness and contrast destroys picture... Btw just got 4K Star Wars (4-6). Picture is starting to be too hmm good. We see things what we shouldn't see? :) Blu-rays seems to be different what my older ones are. Theese what comes with 4K are from 2020. My older ones are from 2011. Need to compare those also. This 2020 blu-ray is really good also.
@@Raidallinen76 I have Star Wars on Super 8 so that's the original film from 1977/78. I enjoyed seeing the first re-hashed version in 1997 and think the Death Star battle is fabulous in that 'Special Edition' but the grading for that had started to change and as time has gone on the resemblance to the original is so far removed that I find it difficult to look at. All the unnecessary additions all over the picture are unwarranted and the sequence with the cartoon Jabba The Hutt is the final straw for me. If the original film does ever re-appear though I don't think I'd be able to resist but nothing will ever replace being able to run Star Wars on film cos' there's something magical about it.
Well done for going through a load of 2K vs. 4K comparisons. I was really surprised to learn how good Blu-ray really is and that told me why HDR had only been added to the new 4K discs because that is all that differentiates them on our tiny home screens. I need a barn with a 30 foot wide screen in it!
John.
May I ask, what HDR setting on your Panasonic do you generally use? Great review
I only modify the brightness using the little HDR button on the remote but each disc tends to be different. Most are either 'Light Environment' or 'Bright Environment' but Close Encounters and another I watched recently were 'Natural Environment'. Each disc has to be experimented with before watching to get the best out of it. John.
Great video John.
I’m going to the widescreen weekend festival at National Media museum in Bradford. I’ve booked to see the good, the bad and the ugly on 35mm. I’ve never seen a film properly projected. Do you think it’ll be great?
The Good The Bad & The Ugly was shot in a process called TechniScope so I don't know if that will look particularly brilliant. It's a 35mm filming process that only uses half the usual 35mm frame. In other words, half the image quality of a regular anamorphic 35mm film. Possibly not the best film to choose to see first but it may still be surprisingly good. A second selection is required but how about looking for something that was shot on 70mm and is being screened on 70mm? That should ensure you see something spectacular, particularly if it's a new print.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 thanks John. I’m struggling to find a 70mm film screening in my area. I’m based in Leeds and a lot of the screenings appear to be in London.. I may have to take a trip down to the big smoke.
@@jsampson8088 The PictureVille in Bradford have 70mm projection. Right next door to the National Film Museum or whatever it's called these days. I'm not sure the museum IMAX cinema screens 70mm IMAX any longer but it's worth checking because 15/70mm IMAX is better than anything else. John.
I love how Close encounters is building up the story slowly and doesn't show everything.
Letting the audience see the faces of the actors watching something extraordinary instead of showing the extraordinary is a well known Spielberg technice.
Good point Ghost. And it works so much better than how most films are done today with in-your-face computer cartooning here, there and everywhere. John.
Quite simply a masterpiece. It’s an odd film, who are we meant to empathise for? The music at the end is wonderful and adds to the wonder of it all. Easily one of Spielberg’s best. I think the 4K transfer really works, some great use of HDR. Definitely retains is filmic look despite some scenes of heavy grain (I love grain but it is heavy here and there...). And mr.Williams - bravo.
Greetings Clark. Turn your HDR down a setting or two if you can find the option and you'll find the grain is just perfect. Might be one or two darker scenes with a little more but by then you'll be so mesmerized by the film you won't even notice. Hopefully a few people who bemoan the film grain on this particular release will see this review and realize it may well be their setup that needs attention.
John.
@@moviecollector5920Thanks, John. I will check it out - I do have a few presets depending on the source (Dolby vision, hdr and gaming). I just don’t want to turn the HDR up by accident... I’ll end up burnt like Richard Dreyfus’ character... ha
It's a pity that you cannot just pop in a disc and enjoy it. With so many extra setting that need twiddling you can spend more time messing about with the technicalities than watching the film. Now with HDR I find the most variation from one piece of equipment to another. Bring in variations in disc mastering and you will need to change settings on almost every disc you watch. You almost need a preset for every film! With so many different systems available, it's getting somewhat out of control. It was/is out of control with sound now it's the pictures turn. Sometimes it's just wonderful to watch an old B & W film in mono. BLISS.
I know what you mean Michael but it does make the whole pastime more like a real hobby and therefore more akin to film collecting. You always have to think about projecting a film and now we do with 4K so I quite like that side of it.
John.
Great film good review SIR 👍👍
Thanks Andy. John.
@@moviecollector5920 are you looking at doing a Matrix review I've heard 50/50 on the 4k
@@andylikesstuffchannel I did do a video about The Matrix 4K. It's a good 4K disc but because the film was so poor to look at originally there's not really anything that can be done. The Matrix was 1999 if I recall correctly and it was at the end of the 90s that the downturn in image quality commenced. Some of the low quality computer cartooning was so low that it really stands out. That's not a problem with the disc, just the way it was and I remember when I saw it at the cinema (not a premiere cinema though so a general release print) it looked green and pretty awful really. Probably a major factor why I didn't much care for the film but also because I had been an IT analyst for a long time by then and the basic premise therefore wasn't at all original. But if you're a fan of the film I think you'll really like the disc and that's pretty much what I said in my review. John.
Apparently the 5.1 mix is the original 70mm track
Well that would explain why it suits the film so well then. Thanks for telling me that. John.
Speilberg masterpiece,fantastic movie!!!
Perfectly said in perfect English. Hope you're doing okay over there in the Philippines. John.
John, talking of Trumbull: "SILENT RUNNING" (1970), and "BRAINSTORM" (1981) would be good ones to reveiw, If they're available on 4K of course.
I don't think any of them are Barry.... I mean Werner! John.
I saw this late in 1977 in Tucson, Arizona. I was 8. "Star Wars" was still a sensation, and this film suffered in comparison at the time. Now I see this as a superior film. It was presented in 70 mm Dolby 6-track; I remember the marquee. I have the Blu ray but need to pick up the 4K.
What great memories you have there Jose. I only saw it as a 35mm general release print but I really liked it, unlike the rest of my family as they didn't think much of it at all. The 4K release is pretty darned wonderful and I think it's just like watching a 35mm print all over again. A great souvenir of a great and historic film. John.
I saw close encounters just after it opened at the Odeon Leicester Square ,brilliant film.
I expect that was one of the 70mm blow-up prints with six track magnetic sound. Probably better to look at than almost anything being released today other than genuine IMAX and 70mm. John.
I've been watching your videos for a while now, and I have to say that I am really enjoying this content. I love your delivery of knowledge and your humour, and I respect the detail that you put it when describing your own personal experiences and the quality of the discs themselves. I'm terrible at keeping track of what films you've already reviewed, but if you haven't done a dedicated video or a round-up of it yet, I'd like to see what you think of the 4K of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Thanks for the great content, and I hope to comment on more of them in the future.
- Cameron.
Thank you Cameron. Not much chance of me ever taking a look at the 4K of Willy Wonka I'm afraid as I just don't like it and don't ever want to see it again. I don't actually know what I'm going to review next but I'll think of something.
John.
Interesting opinion on Willy Wonka. I think it's one of Gene Wilder's best performances. Thanks for getting back to me, looking forward to the next video.
- Cameron.
@@reel8423 I like him best in Silver Streak. A wonderful film that I really need to get on Blu-ray. John.
@@moviecollector5920 I also liked Wilder in The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. He was very good at playing charming characters. All three are available on Blu-ray in the UK. It would be interesting to see Young Frankenstein in 4K, since it was filmed in black and white, but I don't think they've released it on the format yet. I know that Piccolo Film released a 400ft reel of the film on Super 8, but I've struggled to track a copy down.
- Cameron.
@@reel8423 A fellow film collector who lives nearby obtained the Piccolo reel of Young Frankenstein and came round with a recording of an English track for it which I put on the film for him. As I recall it was a rather good print and a good cut down.
You should check out ET. That has such a beautiful film like quality on the 4k and really feels like owning the 35mm print.
I don't find ET to be a repeatable film so although I nearly had a 4K copy from HMV for just £5 about 18 months ago I just missed out. When I see it cheap again I'll give it another go but we do have the PAL LaserDisc which is very nice. I did have a copy on Super 8 but it wasn't very good - an Italian pirate jobbie so that went back. John.
I do finde it difficult to compare Blu-ray vs 4k, because of the upscaling. If it's good, the difference is almost non existing. But, yes the HDR. What kinde of money are we taking about for a film in 79? 👍 Great video as always. 👍 👍 👍
My conclusion is that we're paying for HDR because our home screens are simply too small to tell the difference in terms of definition... but colour, that's a different matter. John.
@@moviecollector5920 YES, but we look at a 4k screen no matter the disc.
I recently came across a TH-cam channel called mrWeirdo42 in his video he pointed out a white line across the scene at the toll booth and I confirmed it, I have the same white line in all three versions.
On my 1080p 30th anniversary version (2007) all three versions don't have the white line. Is the white line suppose to be there originally? Or did they make a mistake on the 4k restoration?
I didn't notice it but I'll try to remember to keep an eye out the next time I watch the film. John.
Love your channel. I don't have a 4k BR player, but do watch 4k via iTunes movies - however, I don't really see much difference between 1080p and 4k - what do you think? Oddly, the highest quality I find on my TV is actually 3D BRs (better than 4k - although obviously only 1080p). Or perhaps I'm odd?!
Streaming isn't really 4K as we know it (i.e. from a UHD Blu-ray disc) but to be fair to the streamers there is no way you could even stream standard Blu-ray quality let alone 4K UHD Bl-ray. It is difficult to tell the difference in terms of definition even on disc because our home screens are so small. When it comes to colour and density that is a different matter and that is HDR and it is HDR that makes the difference between 4K and 2K. Close Encounters on disc makes the point better than anything else I've scrutinized so far... I think! John.
@@moviecollector5920 Thanks John, that's really helpful. Keep the channel going - how about reviewing some standard BRs, those which really hit the mark. Would love to know what you think about the UK Criterion edition of His Girl Friday for example?
@@stephenhaynes149 I do mention some exceptional Blu-rays occasionally and did do a complete review of the Phantasm series from Arrow Films. But people generally aren't much interested in Blu-ray any longer as it has been supplanted by the 4K discs as the top dog. I might do something with the Blu-ray of 2010 The Year We Make Contact though as there's an interesting story to tell there and there's a big following for anything related to 2001 A Space Odyssey. John.
Just watched this for the first time in 4k and I definitely noticed the noise. Some shots looked incredible like the gobi desert sequence, and others not so much. The opening sequence didn't look good at all. I'll have to try turning the hdr down next time. Either way, this film is a true masterpiece and I'm glad to have it in my collection.
It may be film grain that you're seeing Geoff and although it's a couple of years since I watched the disc for this review it's a good idea to make sure the 'sharpness' function of your projector or telly is lowered. in the case or a projector get it off completely or one the minimum setting because if there is excessive film grain on occasion the sharpness function will make it look even coarser. Special effects were shot 65mm by Douglas Trumbull so they should look good for the most part. HDR being too bright can also mess up a picture and also if the image is too bright generally. Try to make it look like a film print and all your videos should look better. Film is darker as it can hold the detail so now you have 4K with very similar capabilities it's time to get that brightness down and the contrast up a bit perhaps.
John.
Nice review, just a FYI zoom.co.uk is doing a 2 for £30 deal on 4k’s at the moment with some good titles, including the 4 uk exclusive John Carpenter movies that last i knew haven’t been released in the US (Escape from New York, The Fog, They Live, and Prince Of Darkness), and others like the recent award winner Parasite, Forrest Gump, The Fifth Element, Flash Gordon, and 3:10 To Yuma. Some good titles to consider picking up at a discount!
I'd actually already got many of those from HMV in their regular 2 for £30 deals. I use HMV for almost all my purchases because they're the only surviving shops on the high streets and without the our shopping centres are really going to suffer. John.
Thank you John.
I rather fancy watching the 4K of Close Encounters again. It's great to be able to see the original film... something that would have been nice with the 4K of Star Wars. John.
@@moviecollector5920 - I have a question, if I may John? When you mention Super 8 400 feet reel, is than indication of the runtime of the feature or the quality of the video? What length (in feet) is an average two hour movie on Super 8?
Thanks.
@@cheekster777 Whenever anyone in the media shows a video from a phone or closed circuit television they mistakenly use the word 'footage'. That term does not apply to video because it is exclusive to the number of feet that make up a film. 400 feet of Super 8 should run for 20 minutes but a 400 foot reel rarely actually has 400 feet on it and usually the running time is around 17 minutes. A two hour film comes on six 400 foot reels or four 600 foot reels. I changed a number of mine to run on two big reels so that there was only one reel change. Aliens for example is on a 1600 foot reel for the first three parts and then a 1200 foot reel for the fourth and fifth parts. I hope this all makes a bit of sense. Take a look at the Super 8 boxes I show in the video and you will see that they have the size of the reel stated and also the running time.
The 35mm equivalent of a Super 8 400ft reel is 2000ft because it's a much bigger gauge of film and therefore is a lot longer for the same running time. i can't tell you what the genuine IMAX equivalent is but it's worth looking up a video of an IMAX film projector running because it is an engineering marvel and amazing that the whole thing doesn't just explode!
John.
@@moviecollector5920 - Thanks for the detailed reply John. Much appreciated. 🙏🏻
Hi John, I've noticed on a lot of 4ks especially the old Star wars, that the special effects, Cgi, Matt paintings etc, actually look a lot better and more detailed. Whereas you would think 4k would make them look worse. If you think about VHS and DVD, then the effects looked a lot worse and fake.
HDR gives video a colour palette that is more like film than ever before Clive. That's all it is. John.