Best Blurays IconBest Blurays
Films
/
Azrael (2024)
Azrael (2024) poster
Letterboxd

2.8

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Format

UHD Blu-ray

External Links

Length

86 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

9 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release
Format
UHD Blu-ray
Length
86 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
9 months ago
Contributors

More from Plaion

See more →
Keoma poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Cult Films Blu-ray

Best Video:

German Plaion 4K Blu-ray see caps but doesn't have EN subtitles

Keoma poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Cult Films Blu-ray

Best Video:

German Plaion 4K Blu-ray see caps but doesn't have EN subtitles

Labyrinth poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Plaion 4K Blu-ray available in June

Best Video:

Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray, Shout! Factory doesn't have the low-pass filter that's on the Sony US 4K Blu-ray from 2021 with Dolby Vision (or the worse HDR10 only release from 2016). Shout! Factory retains more high-frequency grain and detail.

Labyrinth poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Plaion 4K Blu-ray available in June

Best Video:

Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray, Shout! Factory doesn't have the low-pass filter that's on the Sony US 4K Blu-ray from 2021 with Dolby Vision (or the worse HDR10 only release from 2016). Shout! Factory retains more high-frequency grain and detail.

Infernal Affairs II poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US Blu-ray or Umbrella Australia 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Maybe Umbrella Australia 4K Blu-ray (FiM encode), Plaion Germany 4K Blu-ray, or Pony Canyon Japan 4K Blu-ray. All other existing 4K Blu-rays have terrible compression: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=21423337&postcount=173

The master is heavily DNR'd.

Best Audio:

Original 5.1 from Jokers France 4K Blu-ray or Criterion US Blu-ray or older Blu-rays

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US Blu-ray or Umbrella Australia 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Maybe Umbrella Australia 4K Blu-ray (FiM encode), Plaion Germany 4K Blu-ray, or Pony Canyon Japan 4K Blu-ray. All other existing 4K Blu-rays have terrible compression: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=21423337&postcount=173

The master is heavily DNR'd.

Best Audio:

Original 5.1 from Jokers France 4K Blu-ray or Criterion US Blu-ray or older Blu-rays

2046 poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US Blu-ray

Best Video:

4K restoration: Koch Media DE 4K Blu-ray
Original digital master: Cannes 2006 Promo HD-DVD

4K remaster is cropped 2.35:1 from the original 2.55:1 presentation, and has significantly different color grading, as is the case with most WKW supervised restorations. Due to DNR the detail is sometimes lacklustre compared to the old master. CGI scenes appear to be rerendered. A sepia tinted scene was altered to be fully black and white.

Caps: Criterion US BD vs Cannes HD-DVD, HD-DVD vs KR BD vs DVDs vs US BD

Best Audio:

Remixed 5.1: The Jokers FR 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1: Cannes 2006 Promo HD-DVD

The remixed track has different front panning and little LFE use compared to the original.

HD-DVD is by far the best option for the original track, as DVDs and Korean BD suffer from noise gating, limiting and duplicated surrounds. Remixed tracks are all similar, but French disc has slightly better dynamics, particularly on the LFE channel.

Additional Info:

The 2006 HD-DVD is a promotional release made in only 100 copies, handed out to VIPs at Cannes Film Festival. See this blog post for details. The same master can be found on KR BD, though it suffers from interlacing, blended frames and a gamma bug, as well as older DVD releases.

2046 poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US Blu-ray

Best Video:

4K restoration: Koch Media DE 4K Blu-ray
Original digital master: Cannes 2006 Promo HD-DVD

4K remaster is cropped 2.35:1 from the original 2.55:1 presentation, and has significantly different color grading, as is the case with most WKW supervised restorations. Due to DNR the detail is sometimes lacklustre compared to the old master. CGI scenes appear to be rerendered. A sepia tinted scene was altered to be fully black and white.

Caps: Criterion US BD vs Cannes HD-DVD, HD-DVD vs KR BD vs DVDs vs US BD

Best Audio:

Remixed 5.1: The Jokers FR 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1: Cannes 2006 Promo HD-DVD

The remixed track has different front panning and little LFE use compared to the original.

HD-DVD is by far the best option for the original track, as DVDs and Korean BD suffer from noise gating, limiting and duplicated surrounds. Remixed tracks are all similar, but French disc has slightly better dynamics, particularly on the LFE channel.

Additional Info:

The 2006 HD-DVD is a promotional release made in only 100 copies, handed out to VIPs at Cannes Film Festival. See this blog post for details. The same master can be found on KR BD, though it suffers from interlacing, blended frames and a gamma bug, as well as older DVD releases.

The Stendhal Syndrome poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Plaion GER 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Plaion GER 4K Blu-ray caps

Best Audio:

Plaion GER 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

German release from Plaion has better grading and encode than the US Vinegar Syndrome releases.

Both UHDs come with Italian and English audio, as well as English subtitles.

Best English-Friendly:

Plaion GER 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Plaion GER 4K Blu-ray caps

Best Audio:

Plaion GER 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

German release from Plaion has better grading and encode than the US Vinegar Syndrome releases.

Both UHDs come with Italian and English audio, as well as English subtitles.

Boy Kills World poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray

Italy Plaion has Dolby Vision, but the metadata is static: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=22742198&postcount=92

Best English-Friendly:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray

Italy Plaion has Dolby Vision, but the metadata is static: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=22742198&postcount=92

Blue Velvet poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

 Criterion 4K Blu-ray or Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray or Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray - subtle difference in encoding to the Criterion in encoding, trading blows in different shots, with Plaion taking a slight edge with less highlight blocking

Best Audio:

1993 MGM LaserDisc/2000 Region 1 MGM DVD

Criterion's 2.0 sounds muffled due to noise reduction and EQ.
Plaion's 2.0 lacks bass and has a very bright EQ, more resembling the 5.1 remix. Plaion’s 2.0 doesn't have any filtering unlike the Criterion, see https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=23831289&postcount=110

Blue Velvet poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

 Criterion 4K Blu-ray or Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray or Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray - subtle difference in encoding to the Criterion in encoding, trading blows in different shots, with Plaion taking a slight edge with less highlight blocking

Best Audio:

1993 MGM LaserDisc/2000 Region 1 MGM DVD

Criterion's 2.0 sounds muffled due to noise reduction and EQ.
Plaion's 2.0 lacks bass and has a very bright EQ, more resembling the 5.1 remix. Plaion’s 2.0 doesn't have any filtering unlike the Criterion, see https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=23831289&postcount=110

The Truman Show poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount/Plaion Italy 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount/Plaion Italy 4K Blu-ray > Paramount US. Overall good, superior compression to the US disc

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount/Plaion Italy 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount/Plaion Italy 4K Blu-ray > Paramount US. Overall good, superior compression to the US disc

No Other Choice poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

AUS Madman 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Decal Releasing USA 4K Blu-ray - October 2026

Best Video:

HDR: GER Plaion 4K Blu-ray
SDR: AUS Madman 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Italy/Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray for Atmos

Best English-Friendly:

AUS Madman 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Decal Releasing USA 4K Blu-ray - October 2026

Best Video:

HDR: GER Plaion 4K Blu-ray
SDR: AUS Madman 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Italy/Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray for Atmos

Joint Security Area poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Stereo mix: Tartan DVD
5.1 mix: France The Jokers 4K Blu-ray
Atmos: Japan Amuse Soft Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Comparison between different extras: https://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=56142

Best English-Friendly:

Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Stereo mix: Tartan DVD
5.1 mix: France The Jokers 4K Blu-ray
Atmos: Japan Amuse Soft Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Comparison between different extras: https://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=56142

More Action on Blu-ray

The Corruptor poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Toy Robot 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

The Corruptor poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Toy Robot 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

The Phantom poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

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.

Best Audio:

DVD 5.1 or LaserDisc PCM 2.0

The Phantom poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

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.

Best Audio:

DVD 5.1 or LaserDisc PCM 2.0

D.A.R.Y.L. poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray

D.A.R.Y.L. poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray

The Beloved Rogue poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Point Break poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK ICON 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

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

Best Audio:

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.

Best English-Friendly:

UK ICON 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

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

Best Audio:

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.

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK 88 Films 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK 88 Films 4K Blu-ray See caps


DE Nameless 4K Blu-ray is an extremely poor AI upscale. See caps

Best Audio:

UK 88 Films Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

UK 88 Films 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK 88 Films 4K Blu-ray See caps


DE Nameless 4K Blu-ray is an extremely poor AI upscale. See caps

Best Audio:

UK 88 Films Blu-ray

Lionheart poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

MVD 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

MVD 4K Blu-ray see comparison

Lionheart poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

MVD 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

MVD 4K Blu-ray see comparison

The Empire Strikes Back poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

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.

Upcoming Release:

2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed

Best Video:

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).

Best Audio:

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.

Best English-Friendly:

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.

Upcoming Release:

2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed

Best Video:

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).

Best Audio:

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.

The Bad Guys poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Universal 4K Blu-ray

3D version: Australia Universal/Sony 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Universal 4K Blu-ray

3D version: Australia Universal/Sony 3D Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Universal 4K Blu-ray

3D version: Australia Universal/Sony 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Universal 4K Blu-ray

3D version: Australia Universal/Sony 3D Blu-ray

Edit History

1 edit
Azrael (2024) backdrop

Made with ❤️ 📀 by vanshady