Rad (1986)
Drama, Family • 1h 33m
Director: Hal Needham
Cast: Bill Allen, Lori Loughlin, Talia Shire, Ray Walston, Alfie Wise, Jack Weston, Laura Jacoby, H.B. Haggerty, Jamie Clarke, Marta Kober, Bart Conner, Chad Hayes, Carey Hayes, Kellie McQuiggin, Beverley Hendry, Shawna Burnett, Graeme Davies, Logan T. Wotton, Jeff Kress, Gordon Signer, Nancy MacDonald, Rick McNair, Pat Pearson, Maureen Thomas, Bill Berry, Georgie Collins, Darlene Bradley, Ashley Bristowe, G.A. Dahlseide, Norman Edwards, Jack Goth, Pat Kirst, Laird Mackintosh, Roberta Mauer-Phillips, Danny McDonogh, Tara McHugh, Barry Onody, Rod Padmos, Mary Siegel, Benita von Sass, Gerry Whelpton, Bev Wotton, Ken Squier
Best English-friendly & video release · updated 28 days ago
Upcoming
2026 Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray, 2025 Umbrella 4K Blu-ray
UHD tiers
Overview
A BMX racer, who lives in a small town with his mother and sister, is faced with a tough decision, qualify for Helltrack or take his SATs in order to attend college.
Director: Trey Parker
UK Refuse Films or US Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray
Both releases have two presentations: sourced from the original Betacam master tapes, and another that uses a filmout of the tapes.
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray see caps
For Blu-ray, UK Second Sight is better than Kino Lorber Blu-ray
Director: Joe Dante
Sources: Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab) · YouTube (opens in a new tab)
Director: Abel Ferrara
Video format: UHD Blu-ray
Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray in July
More Drama on Blu-ray
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
BD LPCM 5.1
The DTS-HD on the UHD has been dynamically compressed, has had its center channel boosted, and surrounds lowered (typical modern nearfield mix for soundbars). Very different from the BD and DVD tracks. The BD LPCM is basically just a lossless version of the DTS and AC3 from the original DVD (the AC3 actually being the superior mix on that particular release).
Directors: Emeric Pressburger & Michael Powell
Imprint 4K Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · filmalert101.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab) · slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
FiM encode and none of the low-pass filtering present on the Criterion 4K, resulting in more detail and better handling of highlights on Imprint
Review, comparisons
All HD and 4K sources use the same 2009 restoration. Criterion's master (also used by Imprint) is a bit more rolled off, though the difference is minor.
Director: Tony Scott
The 70mm 6-track mix has a higher bitrate on the Paramount 1998 DVD, but is more limited than on the THX LaserDisc The Paramount 1998 DVD also has open matte versions in fullscreen 1.33:1 and widescreen 2.00:1 instead of the theatrical aspect ratio of 2.39:1, but the 2.00:1 widescreen presentation is non-anamorphic. The THX LaserDisc is available in both fullscreen 1.33:1 and widescreen 2.00:1 variants.
Director: Lloyd Bacon
4K restoration from Original Camera Negative
Director: Preston Sturges
No information on French Elephant Films Blu-ray
Director: Ralph Bakshi
Director: Martin Scorsese
Other releases have horrendous DNR
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Every recommendation follows the same method — how these calls are made.