msycamore said:
litemakr said:
Based on some googling it sounds like Laser Pacific did a Raiders restoration under Spielberg's supervision, which I assume is the Wowow version. Then Laser Pacific was bought by Technicolor, who then re-colored what I assume is the same scan for the blu ray. That makes sense to me, I don't think the blu is a different scan. And Technicolor is listed on the blu ray. The question is why did they change the color after creating an already excellent restoration? The only thing I can think of is to "modernize" the look to match Crystal Skull and somehow appeal to a modern audience. It must have been done late in the game because the trailer released to promote the blu-ray set has a restoration demo featuring the Laser Pacific color, not what was actually released on blu.
Check out what I posted earlier in the thread: http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/Raiders-of-the-lost-ark-bluray-and-colour-timing-changes/post/633298/#TopicPost633298
As the link to the Pan American Clipper - matte shot isn't working any longer, here's a repost; http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleiche/multi_comparison.php?disc1=1520&disc2=1519&cap1=14343&cap2=14327&art=full&image=2&hd_multiID=760&action=1&lossless=#vergleich (see removal of matte lines and tweaked water reflections in the Lowry DVD transfer). The same subtle digital tweaks seen in the 2003 DVD transfer are present in the Laser Pacific (Wowow HDTV-Broadcast) transfer.
Personally I vastly prefer the HDTV-Broadcast as well but there's clearly issues with both of them.
EDIT: Still, I guess a recycling of the same scan is a possibility despite the restored matte shot. Perhaps all the negativity surrounding the butchering of the Star Wars trilogy around the same time called for it. But then again, why restore that matte shot and keep the other tweaks? (A question that remains no matter how you look at it.)
Very interesting. It's also a good example of how flat the bluray is, even compared to the DVD. Not much orange there but the water is very teal. The comparison shot of Indy on the sub really demonstrates how washed out the sky is on the blu-ray. The shot of the warehouse is also much too bright on the blu.
It could be that all previous video versions (even wowow) were made from a print or internegative, which would have the original color timing and would explain why they are all pretty consistent. And the blu-ray was the first scan directly from the camera negative, which would require all new color timing.
Btw, I noticed a new digital tweak that was made just for the blu ray: the first long shot of Indy and Marion against the night sky during the ark opening scene has been changed. They are tied to a light pole and the light has always been turned off in that shot. It's a mistake because it is on in the other shots. In the blu-ray it has been digitally altered to be turned on. Weird that it would be changed while the clipper shot is reinstated as the original.
I'll try to post screenshots later.