Yaphet Kotto

8 films on Best Blurays5 in 4K3 in HD

Yaphet Frederick Kotto (November 16, 1939 – March 15, 2021) was an American actor known for numerous film roles, as well as starring in the NBC television series Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-99) as Lieutenant Al Giardello. His films include the science-fiction and horror film Alien (1979), and the Arnold Schwarzenegger science-fiction and action film The Running Man (1987). He portrayed the main villain Dr. Kananga/Mr. Big in the James Bond movie Live and Let Die (1973). He appeared opposite Robert De Niro in the comedy thriller Midnight Run (1988) as FBI Agent Alonzo Mosley.

Biography from TMDB

By format

List

Live and Let Die (1973)

Leading role · Director: Guy Hamilton

Video format: 4K Streaming

Best English-Friendly & Video:

4K Streaming

Sources: 007homemedia.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

MGM Blu-ray is the best Blu-ray release
4K SDR master on streaming seems to be from the same scan and looks like it has less tinkering than the Blu-ray
Screencaps of the 4K SDR master: 007 on Home Media: Live and Let Die (1973)

Best Audio:

MGM 1991/1993 LaserDisc

Blue Collar (1978)

Leading role · Director: Paul Schrader

Best English-Friendly:

UK Indicator Blu-ray

4.1

Midnight Run (1988)

Leading role · Director: Martin Brest

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Video Notes:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray new master much better than their 2016 artificially sharpened Blu-ray but grain managed

Best Audio:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray "OG audio" is a downmix, R1 DVD has the original with much better dynamics than Shout! Factory's upmix

3.9

The Running Man (1987)

Supporting role · Director: Paul Michael Glaser

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Paramount US 4K Blu-ray

Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Paramount US 4K Blu-ray > Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray (caps)

Best Audio:

70mm 6-Track: Paramount US 4K Blu-ray

35mm matrixed Dolby Stereo: 1995 Live Home Video US LaserDisc

Audio Notes:

Although the provenance of Paramount's 5.1 track is not confirmed, the fidelity is outstanding and speaks for itself.
The 7.1 track on the Capelight/old Lionsgate release is just an upmix with nothing gained over the 5.1.
The original stereo mix is only present on older DVDs and LaserDiscs; all Blu-ray 2.0 tracks are downmixes.

Additional Info:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray has no extras, Capelight 4K Blu-ray has most of the extras, Olive Films Blu-ray has a exclusive commentary

3.1