Flexicon9

2007 BD

'99 THX DVD

2007 BD

'99 THX DVD

Thank you, Andrea.  Even if you save this project for next year or the year after that, I'd still be incredibly appreciative to finally have as close to the THX version in HD as possible.  I know it's not the way the film looked in 1978.  It's just a fun way to watch the movie... as Matt Stevens stated, it's a "what if" scenario where cool colors make it more enjoyable for me personally.  I'm not alone in this as many feel the same way.

In regards to the new 35th Anniversary Halloween Blu-ray, here is an excerpt from the High Def Digest review released today...

"However, we still must contend with the fact that the story loses some of its effectiveness when it no longer feels like it takes place on Halloween night. The color palette is brighter and bolder than it really should be, and the overall presentation largely looks almost identical to its predecessor. It seems as though Cundey's input was mostly directed at minor adjustments, little small tweaks to an already available HD master rather than working with the original elements for a wholly new remaster. During the course of those small corrections, it would also seem as if Cundey must have forgotten about the correct color timing, which to date is only available on the Criterion Collection laserdisc and THX-certified DVD. I'm sad to report devoted fans are forced to continue waiting for a proper HD release of the seminal horror classic." 

Now I'm sure a lot of people will love the new Blu-ray, and other reviews praise it... the bottom line is that many fans still want a version that looks like that old THX DVD with the strong blues of night along with the overall orange/amber autumn color palette.  If you guys love the new disc then great.  I just had to quote one review that agrees with fans of the THX color-timing.

Hi Andrea... thanks for your efforts on The Matrix.  It looks like you're doing a fine job and I would like to second Stamper's request for Mad Max 2 (The Road Warrior) as well, but I wanted to bring one last thing to your attention because it is just coming to light with a new release.  The film I speak of is the 1978 original Halloween from director John Carpenter.  I don't know if you've read any feedback regarding the new 35th anniversary Blu-ray disc that is already shipping but is officially being release next week.  Anyway, years ago cinematographer Dean Cundey approved a THX transfer of the film for the Limited Edition DVD 2-disc set.  It had color-timing supervised by Adam Adams and featured beautiful amber and blue hues that put new life into the film as we know it.  It was somewhat revisionist, but based on what the original intentions might have been with better technology at the time.  That THX DVD transfer has been celebrated by fans since its release in 1999.  In 2007, the first Blu-ray disc for Halloween 1978 was released to mixed reviews.  The clarity and detail were praised, but the colors were way different than the '99 THX DVD.  The strong blue cast of the night-time shots were washed away to a starry white and the amber/orange warmth of Autumn were nowhere to be found.  Not as much anyway.  Amber became more green and the glow lost its luster.  The creepy blue night vanished and it just wasn't the moody horror film we knew from the THX DVD version in '99.  I know you have projects piled up, but please consider one day taking a look at the process of creating a high definition version of Halloween with the THX '99 DVD colors restored.  That would be a miracle.  From what I've read, the new 35th anniversary Blu-ray has washed away even more color than the 2007 Blu-ray release.  Based on what you did with Carpenter's "The Thing" I know you're the man to see about this.  Thanks for thinkin' about it though.

Andrea, it appears that the screenshot you used to compare was from the UK Escape From New York BD, not the U.S. version.  Those are night and day different.  I'm not saying the color timing is correct or incorrect in either case.  I'm just saying that particular HD capture was from UK not U.S.  Here's the source:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-ray_reviews51/escape_from_new_york_blu-ray.htm

Just scroll down to the screen shots and you'll see the U.S. captures appear third in the group shots.  The UK BD is just a green mess.  I don't know what those guys were thinking with that boosted contrast.  That film is supposed to be dark.  Now the U.S. BD screenshots may appear darker, but that is easily fixed by adjusting your display.

Back when the special edition dvd's first came out I seem to remember Cameron mentioning in the commentary track that even he felt the film was pushing the limits of a theatrical run time.  Of course the studio wanted the shorter cut... especially in '86.  It was a big no no back then to offer a film like this in anything over 2 hours.  A lot has changed since but that's the way it was back then.  Whatever the case, the theatrical version is lean and mean and wastes no time getting to the point.  It's a combat film.  I'd take a color-corrected version of either one though.  That would be awesome and I don't care which.  As far as Escape From New York goes, I have to say that the U.S. BD trumps the HDNet broadcast and the Special Edition DVD as far as image quality.  Yes, it's a bit darker but that is correctable in this case by adjusting your display because the information is there in the frame.  The blacks are solid and the colors vibrant, whether that is the intended vision of the film by its creators or not... to my eyes it's the best version visually.