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AvP Merchandise => Alien-Predator DVDs / Blu-Ray => Topic started by: Voodoo Magic on Oct 29, 2019, 03:44:15 PM

Title: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Voodoo Magic on Oct 29, 2019, 03:44:15 PM
I've been meaning to get this thread started for months. Here's some comparison screenshots I personally took of blu-ray and 4K releases of our favorite other worldly life form films, accompanied with lackluster analysis and/or random thoughts. :laugh:

I'm going to start with Predator, but will be following up with some Alien and more Predator down the road.

Predator 2
This is a really nice 4K release!
Zoom in on the detail between the buildings, the fire escape, and the cement ledge Mike Harrigan is on. The 4K release sure brings out a lot of extra, fine detail doesn't it? Thumbs up!


(https://i.ibb.co/vVHk85k/IMG-20190629-121449.jpg)


Predator
In regards to extra detail, I was very disappointed with the Predator 4K release. Zoom in on the writing on the weapons crate or the paperwork to see what I mean.

(https://i.ibb.co/kSkpNkL/IMG-20191029-105635.jpg)

I've read that the film cameras used in Predator 1987 were not the best, therefore perhaps is the reasoning behind why the 4K doesn't really bring out any additional detail in my comparisons to the Blu-ray. And sometimes to be honest, the grain experienced was insufferable, especially due to the constant use of fog machines used in production. So I personally choose just the brightened & digitally noise reducted blu-ray when it comes to Predator 87, waxy faces and all. Thumbs down on the 4K.

Hey let's go back to Predator 2 and check out that high dynamic range! Well damn if those walls don't have a helluva glow in 4K!

(https://i.ibb.co/d7dn9xq/IMG-20190629-121012.jpg)

Also, removing the brightened, then subsequent digital noise reduction work in the Blu-ray out of the process, the eerie shadows have returned making the City Hunter look that much more menacing. Nice!

(https://i.ibb.co/xzKkRgN/IMG-20190629-120021.jpg)

That's it for now...


Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: SiL on Oct 30, 2019, 06:09:30 AM
Not a fan of the colours on the P2 4K, but the shadows and detail are lovely.

Fun fact: Predator and Aliens used the same terrible, grainy film stock during production, hence both of them having awful looking sections throughout.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Elmazalman on Oct 30, 2019, 07:32:08 AM
ALIEN is a better looking film on 4K.

Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: SiL on Oct 30, 2019, 07:34:13 AM
In no small part because they got rid of that damn colour grade from the Blu.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Voodoo Magic on Oct 30, 2019, 12:21:56 PM
Quote from: Elmazalman on Oct 30, 2019, 07:32:08 AM
ALIEN is a better looking film on 4K.


I'll have some Alien comparison pics up tonight or tomorrow.  :)

Quote from: SiL on Oct 30, 2019, 06:09:30 AM
Not a fan of the colours on the P2 4K, but the shadows and detail are lovely.

I find that not the extra resolution but the HDR is mostly what enhances my overall viewing experience, especially when it pops with gunfire and explosion warm color. And those deep blacks! 

On it's own the extra resolution is nice, but often not noticeable unless your eye is looking for it, more valuable to film fanatics I think that have seen a film dozens of times and are looking for something new. Extra details on a Stan Winston costume for instance. That's been my experience, at least.

QuoteFun fact: Predator and Aliens used the same terrible, grainy film stock during production, hence both of them having awful looking sections throughout.

Yeah, even as a lover of Aliens, that would indeed make me apprehensive over a 4K release.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: SiL on Oct 30, 2019, 12:25:12 PM
Considering how much they're crushing the blacks on the P2 version, the HDR doesn't seem to be getting a whole lot of love. There's clearly a lot of detail in the shadows and they're all lost in that shot of the City Hunter you posted above. Is that a limit of how you were capturing the images or is it actually that crushed?

Quote from: Voodoo Magic on Oct 30, 2019, 12:21:56 PM
Yeah, even as a lover of Aliens, that would indeed make me apprehensive over a 4K release.
Bah, gimme the grain! The benefit of these 4K releases is you're often getting a better look of them as they were shot, for better or worse. If it was shot through a sandpit, bring it on.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Voodoo Magic on Oct 30, 2019, 01:03:44 PM
Quote from: SiL on Oct 30, 2019, 12:25:12 PM
Considering how much they're crushing the blacks on the P2 version, the HDR doesn't seem to be getting a whole lot of love. There's clearly a lot of detail in the shadows and they're all lost in that shot of the City Hunter you posted above. Is that a limit of how you were capturing the images or is it actually that crushed?

If you're referring to this:

(https://i.ibb.co/xzKkRgN/IMG-20190629-120021.jpg)

As often with DNR work, in regards to the Blu-ray, the scene was brightened, then went through the digitally noise reduction process. Although I did see this in the theater as a youngblood, my memory is better served by my VHS and Laserdisc Predator 2 viewings, and I distinctly remember it darker than the Blu-ray version and not being able to see the Predator's eyes in his eyesockets, which made the City Hunter appear so much more menacing. So while brightening does bring out more detail, hence the dnr 1080p point I would guess, the 4K matches my memory of the original version.

Just like you see it darker here in Predator, and subsequently lose details in Dutch's shirt for instance without the artificial brightness:

(https://i.ibb.co/kSkpNkL/IMG-20191029-105635.jpg)

So it's less "crushed" than "de-brightened" restored to it's former glory I think.  I just wish I had a working vhs player and/or laserdisc player to make reference pics, because memories are often faulty!

Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: SiL on Oct 30, 2019, 01:24:11 PM
P2 was the first film I saw of all the Alien and Predator films. Watched it on VHS and never remembered it being quite that black (but it was over twenty years ago so who knows).
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Voodoo Magic on Oct 30, 2019, 01:33:29 PM
Yep, reference pics would come in handy right about now.  :)
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Elmazalman on Oct 30, 2019, 07:09:48 PM
The 4K Chestburster sequence is darker than I've ever seen it before, but the bonus is, the desaturated colour makes Kane's blood look real.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Huggs on Oct 30, 2019, 10:34:10 PM
I gotta give it to the bluray for P2.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Elmazalman on Oct 30, 2019, 10:55:37 PM
Quote from: Huggs on Oct 30, 2019, 10:34:10 PM
I gotta give it to the bluray for P2.
The first P2 4K screenshot (the building ledge) looks teal. I have the P2 4K disc and may give it a rewatch soon.

I HATE teal. It looks sickly - a big turn off for me - I'll avoid it like the plague.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: SiL on Oct 31, 2019, 04:51:47 AM
I noticed the teal, but it's not far off how it looks in the original version of the scene. The magenta in the ship I do not love -- I prefer the warm orange, yellow and red of the Blu.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Voodoo Magic on Oct 31, 2019, 02:58:23 PM
Quote from: Elmazalman on Oct 30, 2019, 10:55:37 PM
Quote from: Huggs on Oct 30, 2019, 10:34:10 PM
I gotta give it to the bluray for P2.
The first P2 4K screenshot (the building ledge) looks teal. I have the P2 4K disc and may give it a rewatch soon.

I HATE teal. It looks sickly - a big turn off for me - I'll avoid it like the plague.

One day we need to get you on the psychiatrist couch and find out where this HATE for the color teal comes from!  ;) :D

The good news is I'm pretty certain it will be less teal for you. I noticed the inferior equipment I'm using to photograph tends to read blues as teals, and that pic was never meant to be that color scientific for me enough to address it. It's more about the visible extra resolution.  Like the graffiti on the garage door, or the door itself:

(https://i.ibb.co/R78ZVJh/IMG-20191031-100314.jpg)

Alien
I do love my Alien in 4K disc. From what I read, there was still a small degree of digital noise reduction in this 4K presentation, so the "natural grain" has been reduced to some degree.  If the DNR has anything to do with the extra detail found in the 4K Alien compared to the blu-ray not being as dramatic as say Predator 2, I don't know, but I have to keep in mind one is a 1979 film. The other is 1990.

(https://i.ibb.co/Kh1fPYm/IMG-20191031-092352.jpg)

So I did notice signs, tools, buttons, general objects in the background do appear just a tiny bit sharper.

(https://i.ibb.co/wKDrZsz/IMG-20191031-094052.jpg)

Now in regards to brightness, I noticed the 4K Alien is darker than the Blu-ray in many, many places. I chalked this up again to, often with blu-rays, scenes are brightened, followed by a digitally noise reduction process. So I assumed these darker levels are more on point with the theatrical release. Maybe Elmazalman can shed some light on this topic (pun intended).

(https://i.ibb.co/37dgMLc/IMG-20191031-101729.jpg)

That's it for now. Just one fan's experience.  :)
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Huggs on Oct 31, 2019, 04:26:08 PM
That last shot of Ripley coming up the ladder on 4k is way too dark.

They all seem a bit too dark for me.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Voodoo Magic on Oct 31, 2019, 05:23:20 PM
Quote from: Huggs on Oct 31, 2019, 04:26:08 PM
That last shot of Ripley coming up the ladder on 4k is way too dark.

They all seem a bit too dark for me.

It doesn't stay that dark. There's constant strobes and off-and-on lights. But the moments of non-lit flickering dark beats is much darker on the 4K than BLU.

Did it look this way originally, theatrically, I think is the question.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Elmazalman on Oct 31, 2019, 08:27:45 PM
Quote from: Huggs on Oct 31, 2019, 04:26:08 PM
That last shot of Ripley coming up the ladder on 4k is way too dark.

They all seem a bit too dark for me.
The scenes with Ripley in the corridors during the countdown look much nicer in motion - probably my favourite scenes from the 4K restoration. The first thing I noticed was the beautiful deep orange colour coming from the flashing emergency lighting overhead. These colours are definitely an improvement on the standard BD release.

There is some black crush, but ALIEN was always a dark film. The contrast is greatly improved - Lambert is caught in the (now more) powerful spotlight from the lamp on the trolley, and Parker is in near darkness in the storage locker. The strip lighting, seen throughout the ship, contrasts nicely with the shadowed walls and ceilings.
Skin tones and colour saturation are more realistic compared to the jacked up colours from the 2010 BD - and best of all - no teal & orange wash.
The scenes on the planet's surface are now a forbidding, bluish-grey and not purple, and Kane's environment suit is back to its original tan colour and not green.

After experiencing the 4K 40th anniversary release, there's no way I'll be going back to the 2010 disc - except to revisit the (inferior) DC - which has been unfortunately neglected (upscaled additional material and no CGI enhancements) in favour of the original 1979 theatrical cut on 4K UHD BD.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Huggs on Oct 31, 2019, 08:50:28 PM
The shot of everybody with Kane is noticeably darker to me.

The faces of Dallas, Lambert, and Brett in particular. It looks like Blu-ray still gives 95% visual quality but with a more visible picture.

Lord help us when the AVPR 4k hits shelves. They'll have to put "By Dirk Maggs" on the cover.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Voodoo Magic on Nov 01, 2019, 12:23:02 PM
Quote from: Elmazalman on Oct 31, 2019, 08:27:45 PM
After experiencing the 4K 40th anniversary release, there's no way I'll be going back to the 2010 disc - except to revisit the (inferior) DC - which has been unfortunately neglected (upscaled additional material and no CGI enhancements) in favour of the original 1979 theatrical cut on 4K UHD BD.

Well we all know the DC is not the version Ridley prefers, so I wasn't personally surprised, other than it being inserted haphazardly in the first place.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: rabernathi on Nov 13, 2019, 01:28:39 AM
Amazing work!!, thanks for sharing and taking your time  :), i consider my self a bluray vs 4k comparison fan.

I do prefer bluray in some scenes tough, but the definition on 4k is tons more sharper.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Voodoo Magic on Nov 13, 2019, 02:40:19 PM
Quote from: rabernathi on Nov 13, 2019, 01:28:39 AM
Amazing work!!, thanks for sharing and taking your time  :), i consider my self a bluray vs 4k comparison fan.

Thank you! I do appreciate it! 

You can count on me for all your A&P 4K to Blu substandard comparison analysis as well as your AvP Requiem I-actually-can-see-sh*t needs!  ;D



Quote
I do prefer bluray in some scenes though, but the definition on 4k is tons more sharper.

Yeah unfortunately with Predator 1987, I lean towards the Blu-ray, waxy Dillon and all.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: rabernathi on Nov 13, 2019, 03:49:18 PM
Quote from: Voodoo Magic on Nov 13, 2019, 02:40:19 PM
Quote from: rabernathi on Nov 13, 2019, 01:28:39 AM
Amazing work!!, thanks for sharing and taking your time  :), i consider my self a bluray vs 4k comparison fan.

Thank you! I do appreciate it! 

You can count on me for all your A&P 4K to Blu substandard comparison analysis as well as your AvP Requiem I-actually-can-see-sh*t needs!  ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C_0V9lEJEw

Thanks!! Looking foward to it and yes AVP-R need a miracle more than just 4k  ;D
Quote
I do prefer bluray in some scenes though, but the definition on 4k is tons more sharper.

Yeah unfortunately with Predator 1987, I lean towards the Blu-ray, waxy Dillon and all.

I know!, thats something that kind of bothers but is still Predator!! Jajajaja
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Voodoo Magic on Nov 13, 2019, 06:44:51 PM
(https://media1.tenor.com/images/f681ffa4a179bb28536bfce4d0c10658/tenor.gif)
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Katanu on Nov 15, 2019, 03:56:33 AM
Damn, I wish AvP-R looked that bright on my TV (regular HD TV, not 4K).
Hopefully it'll be like that when I upgrade in the future.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Voodoo Magic on Nov 16, 2019, 01:10:38 PM
Yeah, there's a handful of us that can see AvPR just fine, but it sucks that the rest have to suffer. I just wish the they would fix it some day. It might take another AvP movie and a box set to do it one day, which is probably unlikely.  :-\
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Katanu on Nov 16, 2019, 04:53:15 PM
Yeah, thay's what I hope for too, since it's release.
I can watch the movie and understand what happens just fine if I adjust the brigthness. But damn, in your video it looks much better, I could see a lot of details in the creatures that is completely lost in my tv. Hopefully in a couple of years I'll have a 4K tv too.
By the way, the digital version of AvP-R that is sold in the playstationstore and stuff, does anyone know if it's the unrated version?
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: The Old One on Dec 12, 2019, 04:15:32 AM
I can at see the argument for parts of the Predator Blu-ray over the 4K, Alien? No.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Voodoo Magic on Dec 12, 2019, 03:27:59 PM
Quote from: Fiendishly Inventive on Dec 12, 2019, 04:15:32 AM
I can at see the argument for parts of the Predator Blu-ray over the 4K, Alien? No.

So you picked up Predator 4k and at least partially see the bones I was picking?
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: The Old One on Dec 12, 2019, 04:45:47 PM
Seen part of it on a friend's TV so not quite.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: judge death on Dec 17, 2021, 01:15:20 AM
I think this might be the best place to ask:
I have the alien vs predator and reqiuem on DVD, and was wondering which avp collection box or movie versions are the best ones and I should get?
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Voodoo Magic on Dec 17, 2021, 03:16:19 PM
Quote from: judge death on Dec 17, 2021, 01:15:20 AM
I think this might be the best place to ask:
I have the alien vs predator and reqiuem on DVD, and was wondering which avp collection box or movie versions are the best ones and I should get?

If you're in the U.S. or have a Region Free Player, this combo is great. It's affordable, has both unrated and theatrical versions of both movies, had surprise digital codes in mine (even though that aspect seems unadvertised) and has the fixed Requiem disc (The previous AVPR disc unrated version wouldn't play some scenes like Jesse's body coming apart due to seemless branching errors.)

(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51J8B3NLh5L._AC_SY1000_.jpg)
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: StrangeShape on Dec 22, 2021, 07:32:35 PM
Quote from: Voodoo Magic on Dec 17, 2021, 03:16:19 PM
Quote from: judge death on Dec 17, 2021, 01:15:20 AM
I think this might be the best place to ask:
I have the alien vs predator and reqiuem on DVD, and was wondering which avp collection box or movie versions are the best ones and I should get?

If you're in the U.S. or have a Region Free Player, this combo is great. It's affordable, has both unrated and theatrical versions of both movies, had surprise digital codes in mine (even though that aspect seems unadvertised) and has the fixed Requiem disc (The previous AVPR disc unrated version wouldn't play some scenes like Jesse's body coming apart due to seemless branching errors.)

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51J8B3NLh5L._AC_SY1000_.jpg

I got this one as well. Agreed on all accounts
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Mala'kak on Jun 20, 2023, 02:21:07 PM
Actually prefer the blu-ray version.

4K seems darker its hard to see!
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: BlueMarsalis79 on Jun 20, 2023, 03:28:55 PM
You need to look at it on a 4K display. Otherwise of course it just only looks darker but in reality it is not. It is of a higher quality, darker darks, lighter lights.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: Necronomicon II on Jun 26, 2023, 04:57:41 AM
Pops on my OLED, I think some peeps here haven't calibrated their TVs? Highlights, the sweat on faces, the condensation on the piping of the Nostromo, it's probably the finest 4K I've seen to date.
Title: Re: Alien & Predator Blu-ray to 4K Comparisons
Post by: BlueMarsalis79 on Jun 26, 2023, 11:05:15 AM
Looks like it was filmed yesterday. It is a truly gorgeous restoration.