Hey movie lovers, film enthusiasts, and fans of cinema! If you enjoy physical media, collectibles, and anything related to movies, stick around and subscribe. On this channel, I talk about the movies I love, what I’ve been watching lately, blu rays/4ks/steelbooks that I pick up and much more!
Sometimes the Blu-ray is $5 and the 4k $25 and more. Then it’s hard to motivate the 4k. I usually try to find a 4k review to see if it’s top notch 4k quality to make a decision. Currently buy about twice as many Blu-rays as 4k. The vast majority of these Blu-rays are cheap ones.
The only problem I have with double dipping is that 4K releases very often don't have all the special features of the earlier versions. Sometimes they have no extras at all. Just the film. And I think if we're paying premium prices, we should expect a premium package as well.
I spent $650 three years ago on a 65-inch 4K TV made by Vizio, and I can still see increased clarity and colors on it. So I respectfully disagree that you have to buy massive screens for thousands of dollars, just to appreciate the difference. As for my player, that was about $250, and I got the Sony UBP-X700 model. It had some freezing issues at the start, but not long after I found a RU-vid video that showed me how to work around that by changing a few of the player's settings. I don't own a lot of movies on the format yet, but I have watched "Back to the Future", "Highlander", and the first two "Matrix" movies - all of them were satisfying experiences.
Rockin A 50inch LG UHD HDR, LG 4k Player HDR And Dolby Atoms, LG Surround Sound Bar. Budget Banger, Big Difference Better Than Streaming Hands Down!!! Side Note I Don't Double Dip,,, Got A 15" 1080p Portable Monitor Pair It with Bluray player that upscale Dvd. Its awesome Dvd 15" With A Bluray Upscale player Bluray 32" With A Bluray Or 4k Player 4k 50" To About 70" Anything Bigger You Start To See Grain.
we went from a sony ES player to a panasonic player. let me just say the panasonic player blows the sony out of the water for PQ the picture just pops!!! panasonic is as good as the old OPPO players unless you have really deep pockets then there's other options.
For me i just dont want so many subscribtions. I only subscribe to one at a time and alternate streaming platforms every vew weeks or months. This way i also have time to watch and enjoy my collection.
Poor Transfers, buying these on 4k do your research, especially reviews, do not buy Terminator on 4k or the us import 4k with the red cover, and avoid this from Paramount, Planes , Trains and Automobiles , needs a reissue like asap!!!
Regarding part 2 of this, not always possible for everyone, ie me in a 1 bed flat, cannot even buy a soundbar due to the increased noise some films would generate/make.
I'll keep on buying them, and the double dipping it's not a problem because sometimes the new releases come with some extra art, and/or some other discs with additional material, so!. What annoys Me a lot is the frizzing problem when playing 4k discs; so You have to have a very good player. The one that You've mention from Panasonic (820) it's a very good piece of hardware, or the Panasonic DP-UB9000. Then there are the brand REAVON which is so expensive, and doesn't have the support for HDR10+
Great video! What I love about Criterion is they are such an egalitarian "film school in a box." You don't have to live in NYC or LA, you don't have to have a film degree or be in the industry, you just watch the film, the commentary, and the bonus features and you learn a ton about film. Nothing else like it. Btw, this summer I was travelling and only picked up two Criterions during the sale - Petite Maman and the Black Stallion. Two movies that I've never seen before but seem like ones that my kids will enjoy watching with me.
Excellent video and lots to learn even for a long term collector! Im uk based and its the same here regarding pricing; give it a few weeks for a new release and theyll either have a price drop or be in a multibuy offer so i tend to hang on and buy in bulk! For my fairly old oled, my trusty One S meets my needs as im limited to hdr10+ anyway but waiting for the ub450 to get to £149 for a modest upgrade as the 820 just hasnt budged on price!
You don't necessarily have to break the bank for UHD. I only go for open box deals after buying an HDTV for $2,500 that only lasted 5 years (right after my warranty expired!). I got my latest Samsung 70" 4K with HDR, an open box, for less than $400 a few years ago.
Agreed!! Where i live has an independent retailer thats been around since the 60s and i nabbed an open box oled which included delivery installation and their a professional calibration along with a 7year warranty as part of the deal which was mindblowing!
You seem like a nice guy but as a veteran I just have to say that the first 2 reasons you mention in your vid....well... they absolutely suck Imho of course.You're BLINDbuying.... You can't credit Criterion for 'discovering' Blue Velvet. It has always been around (since 1986). On every possible format (I even own the rental VHS from 1987). People have been talking and writing about that movie since 1986: fans, critics, numerous essays... the movie appearing on numerous famous movie lists AFI/BFI/ TSPDT/Sight & Sound/Halliwell/Schneider/Empire/Guardian/Time Out etc. I'm sincerely glad you like the movie, but it easily could have gone the other way and then you were left with a beautifully packaged disc loaded with extra's, of a movie you never wanted to watch again. 🤗 Criterion is a label, it's not a genre, or a subgenre: movies that share the same characteristics. Criterion did a release of Pixar's 'Up' , but they also released Salo... There isn't any guarantee that you will like both. Didn't want to sound too harsh; have a good day!
Not harsh at all, I appreciate you commenting and yes I do consider myself a nice guy lol. Your point is totally valid. Blue Velvet was just an example. But as you mentioned it has been around and talked about since 1986, but I never heard of it, until I started collecting Criterion. Before Criterion, the majority of my movie watching came from new studio releases or the big blockbusters (Disney, Fast and Furious, the occasional comedy/horror movie) The reason I credit Criterion with film discovery even though I am blind buying is because they are one of the first if not the first label I found when I first got into collecting. My first Criterion purchases were Seven Samurai, Night of the Living Dead, and Dr. Strangelove, all films I had never heard of because I was never into film the way I am now. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve been burned by blind buying from Criterion before because I bought a film and I didn’t like it at all. But I don’t regret the purchase because I can sell it or give it another chance in the future. Criterion is my favorite label because I have that attachment to it from when I first started collecting. These were just some personal reasons as to why I collect Criterion, and blind buying from them so I can discover some great films is worth it to me. Even if there are some duds from time to time.
HDR does make films look better if you have a HDR TV especially darker movies where the pitch black areas used to be a washed out grey are now jet black. I own about 80 x 4k disks and some of them are amazingly better than the old HD bluray transfers. In reallity unless you have a large TV and a proper surround system there isn't a massive difference. But if you do have a large TV and good sound setup they are amazing to watch I watch them on a Samsung 85" 8k OLED HDR TV with Panasonic UB-9000 player with a full atmos surround system with dedicated power amps and it is like having a cinema at home.... with a better picture. Some older movies like Bladerunner, Full Metal Jacket, 2001, The Shining look stunning in their 4k transfer compared to HD 1080 bluray because they have had a full rescan from film and have been colour corrected to take into account the capability of 4K disks.
I definitely agree with the most of your pros and cons. I personally love watching in 4k HDR but the most important thing is to have a good TV. Getting a 65" OLED transformed the visual quality in 4k HDR of many of the movies. I agree that there are a few duds with the transfers but overall, the quality is clearly superior to standard bluray. I also agree with the price cons of buying a decent 4k UHD Bluray player. I couldn't believe the same player, Sony UBP-X700M, I bought last Nov 2023 for a little over $160 is now $260. I even saw it on sale at Best Buy last Christmas for $160, then 3 months later they went up $80. Now up another $20. BTW, Twister 4k is a real good upgrade from the bluray, so get it later, when it's on sale.
ther is only one thing to do to get true 4k a 4k play like the ubp x800m2 get a sound system and a tv if you dont do that you cant see the difrents in the tv
I prefer the Sony X 800 M2 every day of the week. The most important factor is that video quality is sharper on the Sony than on the Panasonic 820 I own both of them and I know what I am saying. For me.the video quality rules.
I recently upgraded my Sony X800 to the M2 to take advantage of the fact that it's compatible with Dolby Vision...to accommodate the brand new 64" LG G4 I bought to replace my 50" QNED80.
Good points and I agree. I watch mostly older films, and lots of b&w. With some really old films that were restored for 4K it can be amazing. I see details and depth of image that I've never noticed before in movies I've seen many times. Best to read trustworthy reviews before upgrading a title to 4k./ I have the Twister bluray and it looks pretty good to me...just like you I figure the 4k is not needed. I did not have Cool Hand Luke in any format so I got the 4K for a good price and I'm glad I did, very re-watchable and it looks great. Totally right that the upgrade from bluray to 4K tends to be minimal. 4K is not for everyone as you point out. By the way, the Panasonic 820 really is great. I got the region free version, pretty pricey that way but I hope it lasts me a long time. I use the same Sony you show for DVD and blurays that don't need the top treatment of the 820. The Sony x700 is very good however.
I have Entertamart here in town for used movies, pop figures and games. I signed up for text messages to get but 2 get 1 free deals. My new tv is a TCL QM7 65 inch, I paid 699 for it. Your video looks great on my tv. The Panasonic 820 I paid 325 for it Black Friday
I am a self confessed grain hater, but for the most part I'm happy to put up with it as long as it's not excessive, and for the most part it isn't. It's usually light to moderate and the transfer is still usually a big improvement over previous blu-ray releases... Then we get films like The Creator - which was shot on Digital and had a lot of very picturesque and scenic locations and shots - but they added a very heavy layer of artificial grain and made the picture dark with a weird, almost monochromatic colour palette - it's a great film, but in my opinion these artistic choices utterly ruined the presentation of the film, making the 4k release seem pointless... Last year I bought the Turbine remaster of Twister and it looked pretty decent, but I couldn't justify double dipping with the new 4k release, being in Australia we only get around half the mainstream studio releases and none of the boutique labels at all, so it's even more costly to import all the time...
I agree, I thought The Creator has some distracting digital noise. I can enjoy both, I definitely appreciate the sharp, pristine 4k quality but some natural film grain can also look really good.
Good info and good thing you touched on equipment. Not a lot of people understand what is needed to see a difference. But yes, you need a solid tv...and not the ones from the Walmart isles. You need a TV with a minimum 500 nits peak brightness. I went from a Vizio E series to a Sony X900F and the difference was night and day. And when I buy movies I make sure it's something I know I revisit.
I have the Sony X900F too! And the X900E in the living room. Have you noticed any blooming on your tv? That is the only minor complaint I have and it’s not always noticeable.
@@eddiesfilmsnstuff sweet. I love this TV. And yeah I have noticed blooming. But the PQ is so good it doesn't phase me. Also too that the screen will go pure black, like it's shut off..with those surprise scenes in scary movies.
The Panasonic 820 is excellent for 4k viewing. The PS5 and Xbox, though they play the 4k movies, are not true 4k systems for viewing 4k movies. They were made for gaming, and Sony and Microsoft did not dedicate them to play 4k movies in its true form. I do agree with your points. Where 4k truly shines is with the older pre 90s movies. I know not all of them look great, but the majority do benefit from the 4k format.
Personally I would not use a gaming console as my dedicated 4k player but I know alot of people do not have a problem with it and I do see how it is more of a bang for your buck. I really have my eyes on the Panasonic but waiting for another price drop. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I was talked into buying an X-Box One S instead of a standalone player by a Best Buy employee. Worst decision I've ever made! It wouldn't play all of my 4K movies! It would ask, "Are you sure this isn't a game?" Even movies that played just fine the first time I watched them, would eventually have the console asking me that stupid question! The Wife eventually got me a player for Christmas, and now I can enjoy every 4K movie. Including bootlegs (X-Box won't play those either).
@@Revolver1981 false. Once movies started filming in 4k and mastering digitial effects in 4k, was around the same time movies started to suck. The good movies shot on film are way more worth while in 4k if a proper scan is done. The problem lies in the middle when effects were mastered at a lower resolution than the film itself. These are unable to benifit from a film scan or upres.
Recently Amazon prime day, purchased terminator - 6 movie box on Blu-ray for 20$ . One reason on blu ray, first terminator not on 4k , yet, second, terminator 2 did not get a good transfer to 4k. Bought twister on 4 k , the sound is great, video too but impressed with the sound. Getting my favorite movies in 4k. Half of 4k movie packages come with Blu-ray and digital. Wait for sales. My next big purchase will be Black Friday into cyber Monday.
If you don't have a good tv & player. I have a good tv & player & huge difference. I had multiple 4k tvs. If you just have a regular 4k led tv you've never seen what it could look like & then can understand your statement
I have only a 55-inch OLED TV, so for that particular size or smaller, I have to agree 4K IMO isn't worth it. However, there are people who wish to listen to Dolby Atmos (myself included), and unfortunately, 90% of Dolby Atmos movies are only available on the 4K edition
Nice hellboy funko on shelf, i got the same one. I agree about cost, while most people probably want a big screen tv anyway, if you dont do research, you could unwittingly buy a large tv thinking a tv on sale is a good deal, when in reality you are getting what you pay for. For example, my brother bought a 4k 75 inch for $300, but it doesnt support HDMI 2.1, and he didnt know what that was or why it is needed for gaming. You need to understand what you are buying. I double dipped on receivers, not knowing about pre-outs at the time (i just use the duplicate receiver in a different room). Researching tech specs really helps save money and make the right decision.
@@Chris-hr2uj well said! Those details such as hdmi ports and pre outs on a receiver are often overlooked. So like you said, doing your research is super important.
Some great recent movies with sound effects I've discovered that most people do not mention: - Superman in 4k 5 disc collection - Amazing Spiderman 1 and 2 - Legend of Hercules - Legend of Tarzan - Life - Kong skull island - Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2 - Ghost Rider / Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance - xXx: Return Of Xander Cage - Gladiator/Braveheart 2-Movie Collection (4K Ultra HD + Digital) - Bumblebee,Transformers Top Blu-Ray: - Grand Prix (starring James Garner) - House of Flying Daggers - Need for Speed - Wyatt Earp (1994) - John Carter ====== best music streaming = Apple Music lossless
Thank you for the comment. I will have to keep those titles in mind when looking for reference quality discs. Always nice to give the 4k tv and speakers a workout.
Man, i barely got hands on Amazing Spiderman 1 and 2 on BD its so rare i couldnt believe. I was so lucky, both are in 3D and have 2D versions. First movie is only on 1 disc which contains 2D and 3D version of the movie and 2nd disc has various bonuses. Second movie includes 2 discs as well but one is 2D and second is 3D version and bonuses are on both of them. Interestingly 3D version has even bonus material in 3D which i never encountered in my life.
@@ares5111 Today I was at the Apple Store and I tried the Apple Vision Pro and the demos of 3D movies are amazing, 10x better than what 3D was in theaters (no blue/red lights, 8k resolution, screen size bigger than the biggest commercial theater).
How many different types of 4K resolution are there? Also how many types of sounds are there and do you need a receiver that is compatible? I assume if I have an older 5.1 surround system it would need to be upgraded
There is only one type of 4k resolution as far as I know. Which simply means the pixel count or 4x the number of pixels than 1080 blu ray. Hence the term 4k. In terms of sound, I know you can go up to 7.1 and probably even more than that to a 9.1 if you choose. You would definitely need a receiver that’s capable. A receiver with only 5.1 capabilities would not support a surround sound system of 7.1 or beyond.
4K is a scam I swear to god. I was so sick and tired of discs skipping and freezing and everything that I stopped collecting 4K all together. I know it's a player issue because it does it with Blu-rays also but still. I will never buy a 4K player ever again. I'll stick to my Blu-ray player. And I've gotten every 4K player that exists and I still had the same issue. Obviously it's a software issue or something
@stonesfan285 I really don't think it is cuz like I said I had over six different players and they all did the same thing randomly. With DVD Blu-ray and 4K . But who knows. But I gave up on 4K players. Since I went back to Blu-ray haven't had any issues whatsoever
Great points! I'm not huge into the 4k hype, but I will buy them from time to time. Really only if it's cheap or a film I really want & don't have or really want the upgrade. I'm typically fine with standard bluray. Still great picture quality & often times not a huge difference from the 4k.
