Great review, great catch on how Di Caprio's TV Western actor almost fell into the McQueen role in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." That scene, and Tarantino's brief depiction of new-to-stardom Mcqueen, both make me chuckle and feel warmly toward the Hollywood of the '60s.
I didn't spend 40 bucks on the criterion Blue ray for nothing, I'll stick with that💯 plus, the criterion always has those cool booklets inside the case.
I have the 1st BD release of "The Great Escape" (the MGM BD) as well as Criterion's much later, supposed digital remaster of the film on its Blu-ray. Since first seeing "The Great Escape" back in the 1960s, it's always been among my favorite films. That's why I was so disappointed to find that neither the MGM Blu-ray, nor the supposed digital remaster of the film by Criterion, managed to even come close to the visual quality displayed by other widescreen 35 mm films that are even older than 1963's "The Great Escape". Take 1957's "Bridge On The River Kwai", for example. If reading about the history of "Bridge", one discovers that a reason is given for why that 1957 film doesn't look more pristine than it does, because much of the original camera negative was misplaced at an airport in Ceylon, where the cans containing the film sat exposed to very hot sunlight for a day and a half. HOWEVER, because Sony undertook the effort of doing a genuine FULL restoration of "Bridge", for BD, that 1957 Cinemascope 35 mm film displays PQ on Blu-ray that's far more vibrant, detailed, & accurate in color reproduction than either Blu-ray edition of "The Great Escape" even comes within a mile of presenting. As someone who has 22 Criterion Collection Blu-rays, I've often been terrifically impressed with some fine results that Criterion has achieved with films of the 1940s & 50s, such as "Out Of The Past", "Night Of The Hunter", and "The Sweet Smell of Success", but in 1st viewing Criterion's supposed digital remaster of "The Great Escape", and seeing on our 77" Sony A9G OLED, in a dark room, how minor the "improvement" provided by the Criterion "Great Escape" Blu-ray is, in a direct A-B comparison to the MGM BD release, what I suddenly then said to myself was: "I'm afraid this is evidence that at least a few people at Criterion are con artists!" BUT, I sincerely hope that due to the efforts & info of guys like the man who runs the "Films At Home" channel, some company will finally do a REAL RESTORATION of "The Great Escape"!
I was immensely disappointed with the PQ of the KL 4K of The Great Escape. I tweaked settings on my 65" Sony A8H and Sony UPB-X800, and nothing helped. This feels like an over-priced money grab! The MGM BD has it's faults, but nothing as bad as the KL 4K. Heavy grain is one thing, almost out of focus scenes are unacceptable. This version is not Crystal Clear, as some online reviewers have written. I have until May 20 to decide if I am going to keep the KL 4K.
Truly one of the biggest Criterion to UHD jumps yet. The film grain is pure mush on BD. Another victim of Criterion's reluctance to move to 4K sooner. And the films length reminds me we *need* a 4K release of The Irishman.
Glad to have seen this, as i was curious what your thoughts would be with these recent KL classics.. I just got Some Like It Hot 4k in the mail today and was looking forward to seeing how it compared to my Criterion Blu Ray. Based on what you showed of Great Escape, I would prefer Criterion due to the color. But im still interested in Some Like It Hot and how the black and white fares if the 4k lends any more detail.
Thanks much for this review of "The Great Escape," Jeff. It being one of my favorite movies of all-time, always in my Top 5, I've decided to keep *both* my Criterion release and the new Kino Lorber 4k I've picked up. They're both sensational, in their own right(s). Long live classic films, AND physical media!
I find it weird they wouldn't do a HDR job. HDR can be the biggest upgrade to going to UHD. Also, you can argue that a good 4k transfer is probably the best you are going to get out of (esp old) 35mm, and thus you could say that this is the best the film will ever look on home entertainment. But leaving HDR on the table means its obvious a better version could be released in the future. I mean 1963 was early in color cinema, so perhaps their argument is that there isn't really enough color detail to justify HDR, but still, give it a go, then you can at least suggest 'yep, thats as good as its going to get'. Or if they are relying on an older 4k transfer that simply lacks the full 10 bit detail or whatever.. I dono.. All I can say is I'd wait for a new transfer.
Helpful review. Kino are a good label and have got some great films on 4K - frustrating though that they are only released in USA - can get them in the UK but we end up paying premium.
Capelight from Germany is releasing the same 4k bluray from Kino but Capelight actually has done HDR 10 color grading and HDR10+. It's coming out I think somtime around September 22, 2023.
Many thanks dude, I've been putting of buying this due to being in the UK and we dont have the 4K regular available in stores so my only option is to order it from Amazon US or other online sources. I put off buying the criterion version however I do think that the box art on the criterion one is much nicer! Many thanks I think I'll pick this up.
Kino releases HDR versions if and only if the studios licensing their films actually give them a 4k HDR master to use. MGM, in particular, has been in financial trouble for some time, so some of their 4k restoration masters were not tricked out with a wide dynamic range, wide color gamut transfer that would allow for an HDR grade.
I actually personally prefer the Kino color grading. IMO it looks much more natural, and I don't like the "yellow tint" on the Criterion version. Yeah maybe Kino's is a bit darker but I still think the actual *color* itself looks better. (But yeah, No HDR is strange and unfortunate)
Check out the collar of the German Officer in the screen grab of Steve McQueen's character facing the camera. The collar is clearly white on the CC & has an obvious blue tint on the Kino.
+ he didn't say the CC has a "yellow tint"; he said the grading was much more toward yellow compared to the blues & greens of the Kino. Where do you see yellow where it's not supposed to be? Besides skin tones, because skin tones vary & neither of us has access to the original camera negative. As well as the blantly darker Kino will make the CC skin tones appear lighter in direct comparison.
@@saint6563 Ok well "tint" or not, whatever the technical term may or may not be for this particular thing, I just personally don't like the yellow-ness of the Criterion version and I much prefer the coloring on the Kino version.
@SamLovesMovies25 the Criterion release was very yellow; I couldn't stand it. I am anxious to own it on 4K. I currently still have the early MGM Blu Ray release. Plus, the Criterion release doesn't have the brilliant documentary on the way the escape was actually done, with the impressive reenactments of the events, and the former POWs who carried it out. The Kino release thankfully retains this documentary.
You know what you should do as your insight on movies is Excellent… You should have a “List”. Meaning a list of movies you think you should upgrade to 4K and why. ATMOS or 7.1 etc… Also a list of Blu-ray’s that have Exceptional Audio tracks and great video that may not get a 4K release.
The A Hard Days Night 4K from Criterion was withdrawn due to “tracking errors”. Have you heard any update from Criterion? Sounds like same issues they had with Citizen Kane 4K
Thank you for the nice comparison video. Btw, I just received my Shawscope Volume 1 from Arrow Video. Looking forward to your review of it. And yes, it is perfect.
These side-by-side comparisons of 4K releases and Criterion Blu-rays are really helpful. Thanks for posting this. I'm hoping you'll be able to do a similar comparison of the new 4K release of Some Like It Hot. 🤞
I don't know if this has been asked before, and I didn't know where else to ask, but what , if any, sound bar is best out there that deals in Atmos sound
I couldn't help but notice that you have The Fourth Kind behind you in your library. Is that a film of interest to you? I think it had a great premise and was undone at the box office by Paranormal Activity.
I really want to see Gravity released in 4k with that amazing atmos track. Do you have any news on this release or are you able to find out? There are so many of us waiting for this thing to come out - it was originally supposed to come out last October, but now there is a rumor it might come out in Q2 of 2022? I would love to know for sure when this is going to come out
I bought the Criterion edition last year because I didn't anticipate it hitting 4K so soon. Both this film and The Good The Bad & The Ugly are two of my favorites, and the lack of HDR/DV in them is a disappointment. I'll consider buying this 4K of The Great Escape but I'm not in any hurry, and will wait until the price drops below $20. I don't know the reasoning Kino doesn't have HDR/DV on either this film or The Good The Bad & The Ugly, but as a consumer it feels like they're cutting corners so I'm a little torn about supporting 4K transfers that don't have HDR/DV.
Indeed. To me also, HDR is more important than 4K resolution. And if I buy any 4K movie that says Dolby Vision on the box and that movie doesn’t have Dolby vision, then I’m sending that movie right back to the seller.
Thank you Adam. Appreciate the review. I watched Criterion about 2 weeks ago to possibly get the 4K. I really liked the way it looked particularly the camp scenes in the day time. Looking at the comparison shots, I didn’t like that it looked darker, like the original MGM/UA. Blu-ray I have I think I am going to hold off on the 4K. I am a Criterion guy. Kino is a hit or miss to me.
Another great review. I totally agree about lack of HDR - seems like a wasted opportunity but maybe WW2 subject matter they think doesn’t warrant it. Really enjoying your top 10 genre videos. How about doing follow up with 10 most anticipated 4K HDR - Gravity, Sunshine, Event Horizon for SF, Heat for action/crime etc.
Jeff Dolby vision is present of transfer. Just verified on my Sony tv and I believe you said that even though it’s noted on the sleeve that’ it’s not actually encoded but DV is working on my TV.
@@JeffRauseo no when go on my Sony settings it shows the picture as being in Dolby vision which is how I tell it’s a Dolby Vision film. My player is set to to auto so it’s not forcing anything. If I recall your new tv is a Samsung which doesn’t support DV so how can you tell it’s not in DV? If you send me your email I can forward some screen shots showing my Sony oled in DV mode.
@@barryaxani6955 because I have a TV and a player that would recognize DV. It’s not DV. As many other reviews have stated the same I am fairly confident in my assessment.
Really like this comparison between blu ray and 4k. Hope you do some more. Would be interested to hear you views on the arrow 4k release of 12 Monkeys compared to their own blu ray (from a 4k restoration) when it is released.
Hello, has anyone else seen what seem to be hairs coming from the bottom of the scene in about 3 scenes? I'm surprised I haven't read this in any of the reviews I've read or seen. Everybody claiming a perfect transfer. Beginning to think if maybe I just got a bad disc or what? Anyone else notice this? Thank you.
Hi Jeff, Recently subbed to your channel for the past month, really liking your fantastic work in your 4K reviews of new releases, which solves & answers a lot of questions In whether to upgrade on certain movies. Personally I think any movie classics & favourites are worthy upgrades to our movie collections, because why wouldn’t we want these great movies in their best looking quality transfers. Love “The Great Escape” & my copy is on its way, salute to your awesome work & sharing this review 👍
Dude, you MUST play your movie 3 times to get the image to warm up and become luminous. You then sit down to watch the 4th screening where the image is at the bright luminosity it's designed to be at. You DON'T judge the product at the beginning. I managed to tune the Blu-ray movie into 15 different versions. That's right, there's more than 15 different versions in 1 Blu-ray disc. A set of 15 different versions.
No hdr no deal. Thats one of the big advantages to 4k. I wish this received the same love as The guns of Navarone. That was a great 4k release. Thanks for the review.
Maybe Great escape doesn’t need hdr. But from what Jeff posted on the vid the 4k looks washed out. I will look into the good the bad. Thanks for the recommendation
Quentin Tarantino is definitely a fan buts its not his favorite movie. He’s released his top 10 movies and its not on there. His fav has always been the good the bad and the ugly
Not too sure about the future of Kino Lorber, is it because MGM hasn't jumped onto 4k yet? and little to not known studio's of the good, the bad and the ugly so kino have saddled up to give these titles a 4k transfer? , I really liked the good the bad and the ugly on 4k despite it having no HDR, maybe it was the right descision not to include this on these titles though the films are in 4k surely if or when the studios do manage to jump on board the 4k train then kino is just going to become a quick cash grab, the sort of inbetween format, offering not much more than the standard blu rays, I am not really sure that it gives us consumers much confidence and value for money if they don't include the HDR unless they purposely feel that HDR would drastically change the look of these older films, do we go what's more faithful to how we know the films to look to our eyes or more accurate to the original negative? It just depends on your preferences, Waterworld by Arrow released a 4k mastered blu ray only six weeks before the 4k, the differences are only really noticeable between the two because of the HDR on the 4k and the extra overall depth it brings, The Thing was another great 4k mastered blu ray, the 4k only just barely noticeable for the same reason. As a Collector if I own a 4k mastered blu ray and the 4k the chances of me watching the blu ray disc are zero, only maybe to try and check for comparisons though if a 4k disc has either no dolby vision or HDR applied is it a true 4k and the best way to watch? , in terms of resolution maybe just slightly but it is the HDR that makes the biggest difference in the first place alot of the time
One that sucks no matter what editions you cholse Is that they only incluye english subtitles because HOW DARE YOU TO LIkE A GREAT MOVIE IF YOU LIVE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY ?!!!!
Besides the obvious darker presentation, the Kino tint shows clearly on the officer's collar on the screen grab with McQueen's character facing the camera. Thanks for the review, will pass.
One of my favorite flicks but i wonder if younger generations can watch a film that uses its brains in story telling and has no Super hero to swoop in and save the day with a one hour non -stop GCI generated "action scene".. Just saying.
I’ve watched both versions on my professionally calibrated OLED and Kino version is horrible. Criterion is much brighter with punchier colors while Kino is much darker and any details that 4K negative scan might have provided are barely visible anyway. The disc suffers from poor quality scan in some areas. For example the “Yankle Doodle Dandy” scene is horribly soft and not sure if someone fell asleep at the switch or if the negative is so bad in that area but Criterion version was much more consistent and better in that area. I sold my Kino 4K and sticking with Criterion which my Panny 820 upscaled perfectly. Such a disappointment of a disc. Agree with Jeff though perhaps Dolby Vision or HDR could have put this over the top for me make it brighter and better but overall if you have Criterion version stick with it it’s better. If you don’t have it then yeah this is better than having nothing or prior cheap Blu-ray’s of this flick