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Barb Wire (1996)
Barb Wire (1996) poster
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2.3

Barb Wire (1996)

Science Fiction, Action, Adventure • 1h 38m

Overview

A sexy nightclub owner, Barb Wire moonlights as a mercenary in Steel Harbor, one of the last free zones in the now fascist United States. When scientist Cora Devonshire wanders into Barb's establishment, she gets roped into a top-secret government plot involving biological weapons. Soon Barb is reunited with her old flame Axel Hood, who is now Cora's husband and a guerrilla fighter, resulting in plenty of tense action.

Director: David Hogan

Best Video Release

Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray is disappointing review

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Length

98 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

2 years ago

Contributors

Best Video Release

Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray is disappointing review

Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Length
98 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
2 years ago
Contributors

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Best English-Friendly:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray

Best Video:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray has a superior MPEG-4 AVC encode over the US Sony Blu-ray's MPEG-2 or France/Australia Universal Blu-ray's VC-1. Open matte version also included

Best Audio:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray has a Dolby Atmos remix and the original audio in DTS 5.1.

Korea Blu-ray for lossless original 5.1 audio mix.

Additional Info:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray is completely uncut and uncensored, having none of Sony US's PG-13 edits or Pathé UK's BBFC horse trip cuts.

Best English-Friendly:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray

Best Video:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray has a superior MPEG-4 AVC encode over the US Sony Blu-ray's MPEG-2 or France/Australia Universal Blu-ray's VC-1. Open matte version also included

Best Audio:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray has a Dolby Atmos remix and the original audio in DTS 5.1.

Korea Blu-ray for lossless original 5.1 audio mix.

Additional Info:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray is completely uncut and uncensored, having none of Sony US's PG-13 edits or Pathé UK's BBFC horse trip cuts.

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray

Best Video:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray has no DNR or sharpening from past releases

Best Audio:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray for the Dolby Atmos remix on the director's cut and the original 5.1 mix on the theatrical cut

Korea Nova Media Blu-ray for the original 6.1 mix on the director's cut

Additional Info:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray has the Hong Kong English subtitles instead of the censored Miramax subtitles.

Miramax Blu-ray has lossy Mandarin audio and does not have the director's cut.

Hero poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray

Best Video:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray has no DNR or sharpening from past releases

Best Audio:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray for the Dolby Atmos remix on the director's cut and the original 5.1 mix on the theatrical cut

Korea Nova Media Blu-ray for the original 6.1 mix on the director's cut

Additional Info:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray has the Hong Kong English subtitles instead of the censored Miramax subtitles.

Miramax Blu-ray has lossy Mandarin audio and does not have the director's cut.

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Turbine Germany Blu-ray, WB DVD(?)

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Best English-Friendly:

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Best Audio:

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The Princess Bride poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray has a few exclusive extras

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray has a few exclusive extras

Twister poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

EU Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

EU Universal 4K Blu-ray


DE Turbine is similar in quality, US Warner Bros is worse (caps: EU vs US, EU vs DE)

The 4K discs have different color timing to the older master, see caps.

The 2012 DE Turbine disc is the master as the 2008 US Warner Bros, only with some sharpening and a layer of added grain.

Best Audio:

2008 Warner Bros US Blu-ray, the EU disc from Universal has neutered bass.

4K Blu-ray Atmos track is much more compressed in all channels.

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

EU Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

EU Universal 4K Blu-ray


DE Turbine is similar in quality, US Warner Bros is worse (caps: EU vs US, EU vs DE)

The 4K discs have different color timing to the older master, see caps.

The 2012 DE Turbine disc is the master as the 2008 US Warner Bros, only with some sharpening and a layer of added grain.

Best Audio:

2008 Warner Bros US Blu-ray, the EU disc from Universal has neutered bass.

4K Blu-ray Atmos track is much more compressed in all channels.

The Frighteners poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray teased for many years, will come out once Turbine's exclusivity rights expire

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS

Best English-Friendly:

Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray teased for many years, will come out once Turbine's exclusivity rights expire

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS

Breakdown poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Turbine 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

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Breakdown poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Turbine 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Turbine 4K Blu-ray has the better encode. Paramount 4K Blu-ray is disappointing review. But both have DNR?

No Escape poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Australia Umbrella 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Australia Umbrella 4K Blu-ray (native 4K sourced) is better than Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray which is an upscale, not a true 4k source see caps

No Escape poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Australia Umbrella 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

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Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Paramount 4K Blu-ray (OOP Steelbook Edition for included Blu-ray)

3D version: Turbine Germany 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Paramount 4K Blu-ray (OOP Steelbook Edition for included Blu-ray) 3D version: Turbine Germany 3D Blu-ray

Best Audio:

-

Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Paramount 4K Blu-ray (OOP Steelbook Edition for included Blu-ray)

3D version: Turbine Germany 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Paramount 4K Blu-ray (OOP Steelbook Edition for included Blu-ray) 3D version: Turbine Germany 3D Blu-ray

Best Audio:

-

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2013 MGM Blu-ray, or 4K Blu-ray if you MUST have the mono mix, 2001 MGM DVD for a purist version with original colors and the international mono mix

Upcoming Release:

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Best Video:

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Best Audio:

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Comparison between the US and International mixes: https://vimeo.com/246332731

Additional Info:

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Additional Info:

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Other Cuts: WB Blu-ray

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1982 Theatrical Mix: Embassy Video releases, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

International Cut Dolby Stereo: Criterion Collection LaserDisc, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

1992 Director's Cut Dolby Stereo: WB CAV LaserDisc 2.0 PCM-best fidelity of any mix, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

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2007 Final Cut remix: Blu-ray Dolby TrueHD 5.1

Additional Info:

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

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Other Cuts: WB Blu-ray

Workprint: WB 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Set for a better AVC encode

Best Video:

Final Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray (Caveat: No Dolby Vision from Streaming)

Other Cuts: WB Blu-ray

Workprint: WB 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Set for a better AVC encode

Best Audio:

1982 Theatrical Mix: Embassy Video releases, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

International Cut Dolby Stereo: Criterion Collection LaserDisc, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

1992 Director's Cut Dolby Stereo: WB CAV LaserDisc 2.0 PCM-best fidelity of any mix, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

Workprint: WB 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Set DTS-HD MA 5.1

2007 Final Cut remix: Blu-ray Dolby TrueHD 5.1

Additional Info:

WB 4K Blu-ray only has Final Cut and contains a bad Atmos remix with new sound effects. Original Final Cut mix was removed.

Forbidden Planet poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

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Best Video:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

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Warner Bros Blu-ray

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2026 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

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Best Audio:

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Original 5.1 mix: old OOP Fox Blu-ray

5.1 on the 4K is a downmix of the Atmos remix.

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UHD Blu-ray
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Best Video:

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Best Audio:

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Original 5.1 mix: old OOP Fox Blu-ray

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The Saint poster
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Best Audio:

Old Paramount Blu-ray

The 4K has lowered dynamic range.

The Saint poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Audio:

Old Paramount Blu-ray

The 4K has lowered dynamic range.

Backrooms poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Canada Elevation 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Canada Elevation 4K Blu-ray > US A24 comparisons

Best Audio:

US A24 4K Blu-ray

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

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All earlier releases are from an even worse transfer, with significant black crush, with the exception of a Japanese TV airing, which doesn't suffer from that issue, but instead is heavily sharpened and suffers from poor encoding.

Comparisons: JPN UHD, USA UHD, FRA/GER UHD, ITA UHD (tonemapped), JPN UHD, USA UHD, FRA/GER UHD, ITA UHD, ESP UHD (PQ), All 1080p BDs, HDTV, HDTV filtered

Best Audio:

Original matrixed stereo mix: Bandai JP 4K Blu-ray
Most discs include this track with comparable fidelity (which is excellent).

Dolby Atmos remix: Lionsgate US 4K / All the Anime FR 4K
6.1 remix (from Ghost in the Shell 2.0): KSM DE 4K / All the Anime FR 4K

All tracks on the Lionsgate US 4K replace the original ending song with the one heard on the English dub. As the Atmos track on the FR 4K is just a port, it also has this song replaced.

Additional Info:

Japanese 4K includes English dub and subtitles.
French/German 4Ks are not English friendly, with no dub or subtitles.
French disc includes the Atmos track, but the German disc does not.

Best English-Friendly:

Bandai Japan 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Bandai JP 4K Blu-ray

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The best attempt at improving it comes from the German/French releases from KSM/All the Anime, both of which use the same master with HDR regrading (original grade is SDR in HDR container), tasteful regraining and sharpening, in an attempt to breathe some life into the middling transfer, making for an arguably more pleasing viewing experience.

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6.1 remix (from Ghost in the Shell 2.0): KSM DE 4K / All the Anime FR 4K

All tracks on the Lionsgate US 4K replace the original ending song with the one heard on the English dub. As the Atmos track on the FR 4K is just a port, it also has this song replaced.

Additional Info:

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French/German 4Ks are not English friendly, with no dub or subtitles.
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Best English-Friendly:

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

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Barb Wire (1996) backdrop