Question about versions and color preferences. What do you think about version 1.3? I see you prefer 1.4 or 1.6 respectively in recent posts, so I sought those out. For whatever reason, to my eye, 1.3 looks better to me than those two. 1.6 looks a bit muted, and 1.4 to me looks a bit “all over the place”. With side by side comparisons, some scenes are incredibly blue tinted, some are really yellow, higher brightness and saturation overall it looks like in 1.4. In 1.6, it looks subdued and like there’s a sepia tone filter on it or something (in my layman’s take on it).
1.3 to me (by looking at the video in MPC-HC on my TV via my computer) looks really pleasing. Skin tones, colors, brightness etc, it all just looks great. I find 1.3 does look a bit “cool” and reminds me of the laserdiscs, which I think I like for this film. Though my TV is set to the medium “normal” color temp. I found a thread where DrDre’s work is compared to Sanjuro’s work, and in those screen comparisons Sanjuro’s look really dark and a bit subdued color wise. But they don’t look that way in my player with my TV settings etc. And all three of these are being compared on the same screen for me. So I’m a little confused, but overall, just curious to hear your thoughts on what makes you not rank 1.3 so much etc. Thanks.
(And naturally, all three would make fine viewing, just trying to articulate my take on comparing. Kudos to all involved)
If your displays aren’t specifically calibrated, they are almost certainly distorting the colors they receive. So 1.3 on one uncalibrated display will look completely different than 1.3 on another uncalibrated display. In other words, if your displays aren’t calibrated, nobody can even begin to say what will look good on them, so we can’t make recommendations. Once you calibrate them, then you can do some fair comparisons. The other trick is, if 1.3 looks good on your current display, but then later you need to get another display, only calibration will make sure it still looks the same on both displays. Ultimately it will save you time and frustration, but it is an upfront cost. A professional calibration makes a big difference. Even settings ripped off from rtings can get you most of the way there, sometimes. The default settings for TVs are usually (but not always) way too bright & way too saturated, sort of a lurid showroom mode designed to attract attention in the Costco aisle, not to look good in a living room.
I think 1.6 represents the original “opening day” color grade best, but I agree DrDre went a little too flat & drab with it for my tastes. 1.4 is more vibrant, but I feel it represents the feel of older “low-fade” filmstock from that era that had already lost a lot of its yellow. 1.3, eh, I really don’t care for it at all. But like I said, throw it through the randomizing effects of an uncalibrated display and maybe it’s better that way.