Cape Fear (1991)
Drama, Crime, Thriller • 2h 8m
Overview
Sam Bowden is a small-town corporate attorney. Max Cady is a tattooed, cigar-smoking, Bible-quoting, psychotic rapist. What do they have in common? 14 years ago, Sam was a public defender assigned to Max Cady's rape trial, and he made a serious error: he hid a document from his illiterate client that could have gotten him acquitted. Now, the cagey Cady has been released, and he intends to teach Sam Bowden and his family a thing or two about loss.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis, Joe Don Baker, Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck, Martin Balsam, Illeana Douglas, Fred Thompson, Zully Montero, Craig Henne, Forest Burton, Edgar Allan Poe IV, Rod Ball, W. Paul Bodie, Joel Kolker, Antoni Corone, Tamara Jones, Roger Pretto, Parris Buckner, Margot Moreland, Will Knickerbocker, Robert L. Gerlach, Bruce E. Holdstein, Richard Wasserman, Paul Nagle Jr., Paul Froehler, Mary Ellen O'Brien, Jody Wilson, C.C. Costigan, Domenica Cameron-Scorsese, Gar Stephen, Billy D. Lucas, Ken Collins, Linda Perri, Libby Moyer, Catherine Scorsese, Charles Scorsese, Jackie Davis, George Grafas, Ken Waters, Esther Rolle
Criterion 4K Blu-ray see caps
Criterion 4K Blu-ray (same as all tracks since the DVD)
Criterion 4K Blu-ray see caps
Criterion 4K Blu-ray (same as all tracks since the DVD)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Imprint Australia 4K Blu-ray has slightly better compression than Criterion 4K Blu-ray.
The master in DV looks all but identical to the Criterion’s HDR grade. Detail-wise, FiM’s encode looks like it uncovered a tiny bit of extra high-frequency information that got filtered on the Criterion. See nicolas review
1990 Criterion LaserDisc/1993 MGM LaserDisc/2002 R2 MGM DVD are the best. See blah-ray https://blah-ray.blogspot.com/2018/01/raging-bull-1980.html
Imprint Australia 4K Blu-ray has better audio than Criterion 4K Blu-ray, from nicolas:
I believe that what’s on Imprint’s 4K is one of the good mixes MGM and Criterion released during the LaserDisc days. Music is powerful and detailed, dialogues have excellent fidelity and ambient sounds have perceptible depth. I compared the "new" 2.0 with the anemic 5.1 as well as the Criterion 4K mix and could clearly hear the improvements.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Imprint Australia 4K Blu-ray has slightly better compression than Criterion 4K Blu-ray.
The master in DV looks all but identical to the Criterion’s HDR grade. Detail-wise, FiM’s encode looks like it uncovered a tiny bit of extra high-frequency information that got filtered on the Criterion. See nicolas review
1990 Criterion LaserDisc/1993 MGM LaserDisc/2002 R2 MGM DVD are the best. See blah-ray https://blah-ray.blogspot.com/2018/01/raging-bull-1980.html
Imprint Australia 4K Blu-ray has better audio than Criterion 4K Blu-ray, from nicolas:
I believe that what’s on Imprint’s 4K is one of the good mixes MGM and Criterion released during the LaserDisc days. Music is powerful and detailed, dialogues have excellent fidelity and ambient sounds have perceptible depth. I compared the "new" 2.0 with the anemic 5.1 as well as the Criterion 4K mix and could clearly hear the improvements.
Director: Martin Scorsese
2024 Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
2024 Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Director: Martin Scorsese
2024 Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
2024 Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Director: Martin Scorsese
Director: Martin Scorsese
Director: Martin Scorsese
Director: Martin Scorsese
Director: Martin Scorsese
2024 Sony 4K Blu-ray
2024 Sony 4K Blu-ray Steelbook fixes duplicate shot from Columbia Classics 4K Blu-ray
Director: Martin Scorsese
2024 Sony 4K Blu-ray
2024 Sony 4K Blu-ray Steelbook fixes duplicate shot from Columbia Classics 4K Blu-ray
Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray > Paramount US, same black crush as the US disc but encoded by Fidelity in Motion and very good new supplements
Paramount US 4K Blu-ray has FEL Dolby Vision
Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray has MEL Dolby Vision
Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray > Paramount US, same black crush as the US disc but encoded by Fidelity in Motion and very good new supplements
Paramount US 4K Blu-ray has FEL Dolby Vision
Arrow UK 4K Blu-ray has MEL Dolby Vision
Director: Martin Scorsese
Director: Martin Scorsese
Director: Martin Scorsese
1991 WB LaserDisc, but Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray is very similar.
Director: Martin Scorsese
1991 WB LaserDisc, but Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray is very similar.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Director: Martin Scorsese
Director: Joe Dante
Director: Joe Dante
Director: Jan de Bont
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.
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.
Director: Jan de Bont
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.
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.
Director: Doug Liman
Director: Doug Liman
Director: Rob Cohen
Universal 25th Anniversary Edition (with Dolby Vision) 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release
Director: Rob Cohen
Universal 25th Anniversary Edition (with Dolby Vision) 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release
Director: Brian De Palma
Director: Brian De Palma
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Criterion Box Set
4K Blu-ray DTS:X mix most closely approximates original surround mix
Criterion DVD has additional features not found on the 4K Blu-ray
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Criterion Box Set
4K Blu-ray DTS:X mix most closely approximates original surround mix
Criterion DVD has additional features not found on the 4K Blu-ray
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
The 1997 LaserDisc has more high end detail in the audio than the new restoration
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
The 1997 LaserDisc has more high end detail in the audio than the new restoration
Director: Karl Freund
Universal Monster Collection Vol 2 4K Blu-ray
Universal Monster Collection Vol 2 4K Blu-ray
1993 CIC Video LaserDisc
Director: Karl Freund
Universal Monster Collection Vol 2 4K Blu-ray
Universal Monster Collection Vol 2 4K Blu-ray
1993 CIC Video LaserDisc
Director: Vincent Ward
Director: Vincent Ward
More Drama on Blu-ray
BFI 4K Blu-ray is significantly better than older Blu-ray however the HDR grade is questionable as it introduces black crushes, see nic's review and caps
For Blu-rays, Germany StudioCanal Blu-ray > MoC Blu-ray see caps
BFI 4K Blu-ray
All disc sourced from the 4K restoration use the same solid audio track. Older DVD releases are from a higher generation source with less detail and more hiss.
BFI 4K Blu-ray is significantly better than older Blu-ray however the HDR grade is questionable as it introduces black crushes, see nic's review and caps
For Blu-rays, Germany StudioCanal Blu-ray > MoC Blu-ray see caps
BFI 4K Blu-ray
All disc sourced from the 4K restoration use the same solid audio track. Older DVD releases are from a higher generation source with less detail and more hiss.
Director: Neil Jordan
Criterion 4K Blu-ray (caps)
Criterion is a new restoration from the original camera negative, supervised and approved by director Neil Jordan, graded using a 35mm print from the Academy Film Archive as a color reference.
Original matrixed Dolby Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray
Criterion is a new transfer from the magnetic track and sounds better than previous releases. The 5.1 track on the NTSC DVD is a poor quality upmix.
Director: Neil Jordan
Criterion 4K Blu-ray (caps)
Criterion is a new restoration from the original camera negative, supervised and approved by director Neil Jordan, graded using a 35mm print from the Academy Film Archive as a color reference.
Original matrixed Dolby Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray
Criterion is a new transfer from the magnetic track and sounds better than previous releases. The 5.1 track on the NTSC DVD is a poor quality upmix.
Director: Michael Haneke
2025 Curzon UK Blu-ray or 2013 TF1 FR Blu-ray (caps)
Curzon has a slightly better encode and preserves all the noise of the digital source, but ends up obscuring actual detail in some shots. Both are quite good, only caveat being that the TF1 disc is slightly cropped and has a black bar on top.
2025 Curzon UK Blu-ray
2008 Artificial Eye UK and 2025 Umbrella AU discs have incorrect pitch. TF1 FR disc is missing 7 minutes of audio in the left channel. See spectrograms.
Director: Michael Haneke
2025 Curzon UK Blu-ray or 2013 TF1 FR Blu-ray (caps)
Curzon has a slightly better encode and preserves all the noise of the digital source, but ends up obscuring actual detail in some shots. Both are quite good, only caveat being that the TF1 disc is slightly cropped and has a black bar on top.
2025 Curzon UK Blu-ray
2008 Artificial Eye UK and 2025 Umbrella AU discs have incorrect pitch. TF1 FR disc is missing 7 minutes of audio in the left channel. See spectrograms.
Director: Nagisa Ōshima
Criterion 4K Blu-ray (caps)
Criterion is a very nice uptick in detail and resolution. The color grade is very similar, but leans more neutral, reducing the greenish/blueish hues seen on the MoC disc.
Unrestored: Shochiku JP NTSC DVD
Restored: Masters of Cinema UK Blu-ray
The JP DVD track is unfiltered and sounds much more natural and detailed, but suffers from a strong CRT whine and an intermittent low-end hum. The track used on all later restorations is a bit muffled and has overemphasized bass.
Criterion applied additional EQ and roll-off to the restored track, but the audible difference is minimal.
Criterion has a different translation to MoC, but both are solid and trade blows, see comparison.
Director: Nagisa Ōshima
Criterion 4K Blu-ray (caps)
Criterion is a very nice uptick in detail and resolution. The color grade is very similar, but leans more neutral, reducing the greenish/blueish hues seen on the MoC disc.
Unrestored: Shochiku JP NTSC DVD
Restored: Masters of Cinema UK Blu-ray
The JP DVD track is unfiltered and sounds much more natural and detailed, but suffers from a strong CRT whine and an intermittent low-end hum. The track used on all later restorations is a bit muffled and has overemphasized bass.
Criterion applied additional EQ and roll-off to the restored track, but the audible difference is minimal.
Criterion has a different translation to MoC, but both are solid and trade blows, see comparison.
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Director: Jacques Audiard
France Pathé 4K Blu-ray has Dolby Atmos audio
Director: Jacques Audiard
France Pathé 4K Blu-ray has Dolby Atmos audio
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray
US/UK Crunchyroll 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray/Japan Toho 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray has better bitrate and detail than Japan Toho 4K Blu-ray, both releases have English subtitles
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray
US/UK Crunchyroll 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray/Japan Toho 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray has better bitrate and detail than Japan Toho 4K Blu-ray, both releases have English subtitles
Director: Shane Meadows
2009 Optimum Blu-ray (despite being 1080/50i)
2026 Second Sight UK Blu-ray
2009 Optimum Blu-ray (despite being 1080/50i)
All extras are only on the DVD release. Optimum BD is barebones
Director: Shane Meadows
2009 Optimum Blu-ray (despite being 1080/50i)
2026 Second Sight UK Blu-ray
2009 Optimum Blu-ray (despite being 1080/50i)
All extras are only on the DVD release. Optimum BD is barebones
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