Tag Archives: 4K digital restoration

The 1984 film This Is Spinal Tap on 4K in September

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The 1984 Mockumentary “This Is Spinal Tap” comes to 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on September 16th via The Criterion Collection. Rob Reiner directed the film. It starred Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer. It also co-starred Rob Reiner, Bruno Kirby, Tony Hendra, Ed Begley Jr., and Fran Drescher.

The movie has received a new 4K digital restoration, approved by director Rob Reiner. The tech specs for the 4K include a 2160p video presentation in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision or HDR10 forms of high dynamic range. It will feature a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound mix and uncompressed Linear PCM 2.0 stereo. The tech specs for the Blu-ray Special Edition include a 1080p HD video presentation in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround and PCM 2.0 stereo sound. The 4K UHD release will come as a 2-disc “combo pack” with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart included.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Special Edition are not yet available for preorder at Amazon. Stay tuned for an update. You can, however, preorder directly via the Criterion website. The bonus materials set to be included with the releases are listed below.

  • Three audio commentaries: one with actors Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer; one with Reiner, producer Karen Murphy, and editors Robert Leighton and Kent Beyda; and one with band members Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins, and Derek Smalls
  • New conversation between Reiner and actor Patton Oswalt
  • The Cutting Room Floor, featuring outtakes, alternate takes, and abandoned subplots
  • Spinal Tap: The Final Tour (1981)
  • Trailers, promotional spots, media appearances, music videos, and commercials
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Alex Pappademas
  • New cover by Dan Goldsworthy

The 1985 film Brazil on Criterion 4K in June

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The 1985 film “Brazil” arrives on 4K UHD Blu-ray on June 3rd via The Criterion Collection. Terry Gilliam directed and co-wrote the film. The movie starred Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro, Ian Holm, Bob Hoskins, Michael Palin, Katherine Helmond, and Kim Greist. It’s certainly worth noting that this film has been deemed “Certified Fresh” (based on critics) at Rotten Tomatoes.

This has received a 4K digital restoration of the (143-minute) “director’s cut,” supervised and approved by director Terry Gilliam. Its 4K tech specs include a 2160p video presentation in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision (or HDR10) and a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 surround audio mix. This 3-disc set will come as a “combo pack“. It will come with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart (as well as) another Blu-ray included, with extras.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray is now available for preorder at Amazon. Additionally, there is the choice to preorder directly via Criterion’s website. The bonus materials included are detailed below.

  • Audio commentary by Terry Gilliam
  • What Is “Brazil”?, Rob Hedden’s on-set documentary
  • The Production Notebook, a collection of interviews and video essays, featuring a trove of Brazil-iana from Gilliam’s personal collection
  • The Battle of “Brazil,” a documentary about the film’s contentious release, hosted by Jack Mathews and based on his book of the same name
  • “Love Conquers All” version, the studio’s ninety-four-minute, happy-ending cut of Brazil, with commentary by Brazil expert David Morgan
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by film critic David Sterritt
  • Cover based on a theatrical poster

Choose Me on Criterion 4K and Blu-ray in March

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The 1984 film romantic comedy “Choose Me” comes to 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc on March 25th via The Criterion Collection. The film was written & directed by Alan Rudolph. The film starred Keith Carradine, Geneviève Bujold, Lesley Ann Warren, Patrick Bauchau, Rae Dawn Chong, John Larroquette, and Robert Gould.

The movie has received a new 4K digital restoration that was supervised by director Alan Rudolph and producer David Blocker. The tech specs for the 4K release include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision (or HDR10) form of high dynamic range and uncompressed LPCM Mono sound. The tech specs for the Blu-ray include a 1080p HD video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and LPCM Mono sound. The 4K release will come as a “combo pack” with its Blu-ray counterpart included.

You can find the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray available for preorder at Amazon. You also can preorder directly through the Criterion website. The bonus materials set to be included with these releases are listed below.

  • New conversation between Rudolph and actor Keith Carradine
  • New program featuring interviews with Rudolph, producer Carolyn Pfeiffer, Blocker, and production designer Steven Legler
  • Excerpts from an interview with Rudolph at the Midnight Sun Film Festival
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Beatrice Loayza
  • New cover based on an original theatrical poster

Some Like It Hot gets a Criterion 4K in April

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The 1959 film “Some Like It Hot” will be released on 4K UHD Blu-ray on April 8th via The Criterion Collection. The film was directed and co-written by Billy Wilder. It starred Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Pat O’Brien, Joe E. Brown, Nehemiah Persoff, and Joan Shawlee.

The movie has received a 4K digital restoration. The tech specs for include a Black & White 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision (or HDR10) and uncompressed PCM Mono and an alternate DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless surround sound. The 2-disc set will be a “combo pack” with the Blu-ray Disc HD counterpart included. You cannot yet find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder at Amazon or Walmart, but stay tuned for an update. You can directly preorder this 4K UHD Blu-ray from the Criterion website. The following bonus materials will be included on this release.

  • Audio commentary from 1989 featuring film scholar Howard Suber
  • Program on Orry-Kelly’s costumes for the film, featuring costume designer and historian Deborah Nadoolman Landis and costume historian and archivist Larry McQueen
  • Three behind-the-scenes documentaries
  • Appearances by director Billy Wilder on The Dick Cavett Show from 1982
  • Conversation from 2001 between actor Tony Curtis and film critic Leonard Maltin
  • French television interview from 1988 with actor Jack Lemmon
  • Radio interview from 1955 with actor Marilyn Monroe
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by author Sam Wasson
  • Cover by F. Ron Miller

NOTE: This film was previously released on the 4K UHD Blu-ray format by Kino Lorber (KL Studio Classics) back in 2022. That previous release also featured Dolby Vision (or HDR10) and also contained the options of lossless Mono 2.0 or 5.1 surround sound. This upcoming 2025 Criterion 4K UHD Blu-ray release comes from a 4K digital restoration that Criterion likely oversaw.

Criterion brings Punch-Drunk Love to 4K in February

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The 2002 film “Punch-Drunk Love” will be released on 4K UHD Blu-ray on February 4th via The Criterion Collection. The film was written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It starred Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Luis Guzmán, and Mary Lynn Rajskub. It’s worth noting that this film is “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes.

The movie has received a 4K digital restoration, supervised and approved by director Paul Thomas Anderson. The tech specs for the 4K release include a 2160p video presentation in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos sound. This 4K release will be a “combo pack” with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart included. You can find the 4K UHD Blu-ray now available for preorder at Amazon. You can also preorder directly via Criterion’s website. The bonus materials set to be included on the release are listed below.

  • Blossoms & Blood, a short 2002 piece by Anderson featuring Adam Sandler and Emily Watson, along with music by Jon Brion
  • Interview with Brion
  • Program featuring behind-the-scenes footage of a recording session for the film’s soundtrack
  • Conversation between curators Michael Connor and Lia Gangitano about the art of Jeremy Blake, used in the film
  • Additional artwork by Blake
  • Cannes Film Festival press conference from 2002
  • NBC News interview from 2000 with David Phillips, the “pudding guy”
  • Twelve Scopitones
  • Deleted scenes
  • Mattress Man commercial
  • Trailers
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by filmmaker, author, and artist Miranda July
  • Cover by Dustin Stanton

The 1990 film The Grifters on 4K and Blu-ray in January

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The 1990 film “The Grifters” is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc on January 21st via The Criterion Collection. It was directed by Stephen Frears & produced by Martin Scorsese and starred John Cusack, Angelica Huston, Annette Bening, Pat Hingle, and Jeremy Piven.

The movie has received a new 4K digital restoration, approved by director of photography Oliver Stapleton. The tech specs for the 4K release include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of high dynamic range and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 surround sound. Tech specs for the Blu-ray include a 1080p HD video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 surround sound. The 4K release will come as a “combo pack” with the Blu-ray Disc counterpart included. The 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray are now available for preorder at Amazon. The bonus materials set to be included with the release are listed below.

  • Audio commentary featuring director Stephen Frears, actors John Cusack and Anjelica Huston, and screenwriter Donald E. Westlake
  • New interview with actor Annette Bening
  • Short making-of documentary featuring Cusack, Frears, Huston, Westlake, and production designer Dennis Gassner
  • Seduction, Betrayal, Murder: The Making of “The Grifters,” featuring interviews with Frears, Stapleton, editor Mick Audsley, executive producer Barbara De Fina, and coproducer Peggy Rajski
  • The Jim Thompson Story, featuring Westlake and Robert Polito, biographer of The Grifters novelist Jim Thompson
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Geoffrey O’Brien
  • New cover by Drusilla Adeline/Sister Hyde

Yojimbo and Sanjuro on 4K via Criterion in January

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The films “Yojimbo“ (1961) and “Sanjuro“ (1962) are officially set for release on 4K UHD Blu-ray as “Two Samurai Films by Akira Kurosawa” on January 7th via The Criterion Collection. Akira Kurosawa directed and co-wrote both Japanese films which starred Toshirô Mifune.

Each film has received a 4K digital restoration. The tech specs for the 4K release include Black & White 2160p SDR (standard dynamic range) video presentation in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio with uncompressed LPCM Mono sound and optional DTS-HD Master Audio Perspecta 3.0 soundtracks, “preserving the original simulated stereo effects.” The 4-disc set will come as a “combo pack” with each film on its own 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray is now available for preorder at Amazon. You can also preorder directly via Criterion’s website. The bonus materials set to be included with the release are listed below.

  • Audio commentaries by Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince
  • Documentaries on the making of Yojimbo and Sanjuro, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create
  • Teasers and trailers
  • Stills galleries of behind-the-scenes photos
  • PLUS: Essays by film writers Alexander Sesonske and Michael Sragow and comments from Kurosawa and members of his casts and crews
  • Covers by Lucien S. Y. Yang

The 1984 film Paris Texas gets Criterion 4K in December

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The 1984 film “Paris, Texas” is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on December 3rd via The Criterion Collection. The film, directed by Wim Wenders, starred Harry Dean Stanton, Dean Stockwell, Nastassja Kinski, Bernhard Wicki, Aurore Clément, and Hunter Carson.

The movie has received a new 4K digital restoration, supervised and approved by director Wim Wenders. The tech specs included a 2160p video presentation in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of high dynamic range and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless surround sound. The release will come as a “combo pack” with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart included. You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder at Amazon and directly via Criterion’s website. The bonus materials set to be included with the release are listed below.

  • Audio commentary featuring Wenders
  • Archival interviews with Wenders; cinematographer Robby Müller; composer Ry Cooder; actors Harry Dean Stanton, Dennis Hopper, Peter Falk, and Hanns Zischler; novelist Patricia Highsmith; and filmmaker Samuel Fuller
  • Interviews with filmmakers Allison Anders and Claire Denis
  • Deleted scenes and Super 8 home movies
  • Gallery of Wenders’ location-scouting photos
  • Behind-the-scenes photos by Robin Holland
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by film critic Nick Roddick; interviews with Stanton, writer Sam Shepard, and actors Nastassja Kinski and Dean Stockwell; and excerpts from Wenders’ book of photos Written in the West
  • Cover by Neil Kellerhouse

1973 film Paper Moon on Criterion 4K and Blu-ray

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The 1973 film “Paper Moon” is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc on November 26th via The Criterion Collection. The film, directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starred Ryan O’Neal, Tatum O’Neal, Madeline Kahn, John Hillerman, P.J. Johnson, and Jessie Lee Fulton.

The movie has received a new 4K digital restoration. The tech specs for the release include a 2160p Black & White video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of high dynamic range and LPCM Uncompressed Mono sound. The 4K release will come as a “combo pack” with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart included. You can find the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray available for preorder at Amazon or any other retailers but stay tuned for an update. The 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray are also available to preorder directly via Criterion’s website. The bonus materials set to be included with the releases are listed below.

  • Audio commentary featuring director Peter Bogdanovich
  • Introduction to the film by Bogdanovich
  • New video essay by Bogdanovich biographer Peter Tonguette
  • Three-part making-of documentary featuring Bogdanovich, production designer Polly Platt, associate producer Frank Marshall, and cinematographer László Kovács
  • Archival interview with Platt
  • Excerpts from a 1973 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson featuring Bogdanovich and actors Ryan and Tatum O’Neal
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Mark Harris
  • New cover by Raphael Geroni
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