Kickboxer (1989)
Action, Thriller, Drama • 1h 37m
Overview
If your enemy refuses to be humbled... Destroy him. Accompanied by his brother Kurt, American kickboxing champion Eric Sloane, arrives in Thailand to defeat the Eastern warriors at their own sport. His opponent: ruthless fighter and Thai champion, Tong Po. Tong not only defeats Eric, he paralyzes him for life. Crazed with anger, Kurt vows revenge.
Directors: Mark DiSalle & David Worth
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Alexio, Dennis Chan Kwok-San, Michel Qissi, Haskell V. Anderson III, Rochelle Ashana, Richard Foo, Thomas Sin Ho-Ying, Tony Chan Tak-Hing, Brad Kerner, Dean Harrington, Mark DiSalle, Richard Santoro, Michael Lee Ming-Yeung, Kong Long, Bruce Law Lai-Yin, Lau Kar-Wing, Louis Roth, Steve Lee Ka-Ting, Gam Biu, Strawberry Yeung Yuk-Mui
Director: Steven Shainberg
Director: Steven Shainberg
2017 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray and subsequent 4K Blu-rays are notorius for being heavily denoised and smoothened. Alternatively, 35mm scans for the theatrical cut is also available.
For the Ultimate Edition with the T-1000 searching John's room and the happy future ending, the 2009 Skynet Blu-ray, which is the older pre-2017 transfer, but has DNR.
2017 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray and subsequent 4K Blu-rays are notorius for being heavily denoised and smoothened. Alternatively, 35mm scans for the theatrical cut is also available.
For the Ultimate Edition with the T-1000 searching John's room and the happy future ending, the 2009 Skynet Blu-ray, which is the older pre-2017 transfer, but has DNR.
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
70mm 6-Track: Paramount US 4K Blu-ray
35mm matrixed Dolby Stereo: 1995 Live Home Video US LaserDisc
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.
Paramount 4K Blu-ray has no extras, Capelight 4K Blu-ray has most of the extras, Olive Films Blu-ray has a exclusive commentary
70mm 6-Track: Paramount US 4K Blu-ray
35mm matrixed Dolby Stereo: 1995 Live Home Video US LaserDisc
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.
Paramount 4K Blu-ray has no extras, Capelight 4K Blu-ray has most of the extras, Olive Films Blu-ray has a exclusive commentary
The BBC 4K collection and Shout! Factory 4K collection all use the same source, and are all unfortunately using AI upscaling and DNR'ed They are worse than the blurays and the 2023 US Shout! Factory collections are even prone to disc-rot.
2009 Lionsgate US (also prone to disc-rot) or UK 2 Entertain OOP Blu-ray will be the way to go.
The 4K collection's Blu-ray seems to be a reprint of previous releases.
4K discs in the correct pitch https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=364711&page=8
The BBC 4K collection and Shout! Factory 4K collection all use the same source, and are all unfortunately using AI upscaling and DNR'ed They are worse than the blurays and the 2023 US Shout! Factory collections are even prone to disc-rot.
2009 Lionsgate US (also prone to disc-rot) or UK 2 Entertain OOP Blu-ray will be the way to go.
The 4K collection's Blu-ray seems to be a reprint of previous releases.
4K discs in the correct pitch https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=364711&page=8
Director: Nick Park
The BBC 4K collection and Shout! Factory 4K collection all use the same source, and are all unfortunately using AI upscaling and DNR'ed They are worse than the blurays and the 2023 US Shout! Factory collections are even prone to disc-rot.
2009 Lionsgate US (also prone to disc-rot) or UK 2 Entertain OOP Blu-ray will be the way to go.
The 4K collection's Blu-ray seems to be a reprint of previous releases.
4Ks have low-pitched music and sound effects (and that includes Shaun's baas) correct-pitch voices: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=21536116&postcount=109
Director: Nick Park
The BBC 4K collection and Shout! Factory 4K collection all use the same source, and are all unfortunately using AI upscaling and DNR'ed They are worse than the blurays and the 2023 US Shout! Factory collections are even prone to disc-rot.
2009 Lionsgate US (also prone to disc-rot) or UK 2 Entertain OOP Blu-ray will be the way to go.
The 4K collection's Blu-ray seems to be a reprint of previous releases.
4Ks have low-pitched music and sound effects (and that includes Shaun's baas) correct-pitch voices: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=21536116&postcount=109
Director: Nick Park
The BBC 4K collection and Shout! Factory 4K collection all use the same source, and are all unfortunately using AI upscaling and DNR'ed They are worse than the blurays and the 2023 US Shout! Factory collections are even prone to disc-rot.
2009 Lionsgate US (also prone to disc-rot) or UK 2 Entertain OOP Blu-ray will be the way to go.
The 4K collection's Blu-ray seems to be a reprint of previous releases.
Shout! Factory 4K 5.1 track for The Wrong Trousers is in its correct pitch both in music and voices https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=21535755&postcount=103
Unaltered track with the original music cues is on the LaserDisc.
Director: Nick Park
The BBC 4K collection and Shout! Factory 4K collection all use the same source, and are all unfortunately using AI upscaling and DNR'ed They are worse than the blurays and the 2023 US Shout! Factory collections are even prone to disc-rot.
2009 Lionsgate US (also prone to disc-rot) or UK 2 Entertain OOP Blu-ray will be the way to go.
The 4K collection's Blu-ray seems to be a reprint of previous releases.
Shout! Factory 4K 5.1 track for The Wrong Trousers is in its correct pitch both in music and voices https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=21535755&postcount=103
Unaltered track with the original music cues is on the LaserDisc.
Director: Nick Park
The BBC 4K collection and Shout! Factory 4K collection all use the same source, and are all unfortunately using AI upscaling and DNR'ed They are worse than the blurays and the 2023 US Shout! Factory collections are even prone to disc-rot.
2009 Lionsgate US (also prone to disc-rot) or UK 2 Entertain OOP Blu-ray will be the way to go.
The 4K collection's Blu-ray seems to be a reprint of previous releases.
None of the 4K, nor any of the 2009 Blu-ray has the correct pitch see https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=364711&page=8
Director: Nick Park
The BBC 4K collection and Shout! Factory 4K collection all use the same source, and are all unfortunately using AI upscaling and DNR'ed They are worse than the blurays and the 2023 US Shout! Factory collections are even prone to disc-rot.
2009 Lionsgate US (also prone to disc-rot) or UK 2 Entertain OOP Blu-ray will be the way to go.
The 4K collection's Blu-ray seems to be a reprint of previous releases.
None of the 4K, nor any of the 2009 Blu-ray has the correct pitch see https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=364711&page=8
Director: Jamie Babbit
Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray is a disaster. The compression on the base layer is horrid, and the oversized 18 Mbps FEL barely helps.
Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray includes original matrixed Dolby Stereo mix, albeit lossy, and a 5.1 surround upmix. The stereo track on previous BD and DVD releases is also lossy and sounds about the same.
Director: Jamie Babbit
Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray is a disaster. The compression on the base layer is horrid, and the oversized 18 Mbps FEL barely helps.
Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray includes original matrixed Dolby Stereo mix, albeit lossy, and a 5.1 surround upmix. The stereo track on previous BD and DVD releases is also lossy and sounds about the same.
More Action on Blu-ray
Director: James Foley
Director: James Foley
Director: Simon Wincer
Kino Lorber Blu-ray > 4K Blu-ray
4K is disappointing with color space issues and poor encoding, disc replacement program for the 4K disc has been put out with the correct color space.
Director: Simon Wincer
Kino Lorber Blu-ray > 4K Blu-ray
4K is disappointing with color space issues and poor encoding, disc replacement program for the 4K disc has been put out with the correct color space.
Director: Simon Wincer
Director: Simon Wincer
Director: Alan Crosland
Director: Alan Crosland
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
UK ICON 4K Blu-ray (caps)
UK 4K Blu-ray has a slightly better encode than US Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray and Germany StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray
5.1 mix is flawed on Shout! Factory/ICON, a phasey upmix instead of the proper discrete surround. The UHD 2.0 tracks are downmixes of that track.
2008 Fox Blu-ray sounds great, very close to the original 70mm mix, only with split surround.
2001 DVD has the original mix as 4.1 and matrixed 2.0.
Imprint 4K has a 4.0 track. The StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has a different 5.1, unclear if it's the same as Fox BD.
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
UK ICON 4K Blu-ray (caps)
UK 4K Blu-ray has a slightly better encode than US Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray and Germany StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray
5.1 mix is flawed on Shout! Factory/ICON, a phasey upmix instead of the proper discrete surround. The UHD 2.0 tracks are downmixes of that track.
2008 Fox Blu-ray sounds great, very close to the original 70mm mix, only with split surround.
2001 DVD has the original mix as 4.1 and matrixed 2.0.
Imprint 4K has a 4.0 track. The StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has a different 5.1, unclear if it's the same as Fox BD.
UK 88 Films 4K Blu-ray See caps
DE Nameless 4K Blu-ray is an extremely poor AI upscale. See caps
UK 88 Films 4K Blu-ray See caps
DE Nameless 4K Blu-ray is an extremely poor AI upscale. See caps
Director: Sheldon Lettich
MVD 4K Blu-ray see comparison
Director: Sheldon Lettich
MVD 4K Blu-ray see comparison
Director: Enzo G. Castellari
German Plaion 4K Blu-ray see caps but doesn't have EN subtitles
Director: Enzo G. Castellari
German Plaion 4K Blu-ray see caps but doesn't have EN subtitles
OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas. If not, Disney 4K Blu-ray
Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D+97_V" on high seas.
2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed
OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas
Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D_97_VI" on the high seas. If not, the 4K Blu-rays are generally considered an improvement over the 2011 Blu-rays. (although both restorations are DNR'ed and have issues).
OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes. 70mm six-track mix is included in 4K80 (taken from an actual 70mm print). There are 16mm rips of the mono mix.
Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.
OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas. If not, Disney 4K Blu-ray
Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D+97_V" on high seas.
2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed
OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas
Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D_97_VI" on the high seas. If not, the 4K Blu-rays are generally considered an improvement over the 2011 Blu-rays. (although both restorations are DNR'ed and have issues).
OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes. 70mm six-track mix is included in 4K80 (taken from an actual 70mm print). There are 16mm rips of the mono mix.
Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.
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