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Matewan (1987)
Matewan (1987) poster
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Matewan (1987)

Drama, History • 2h 12m

Overview

Filmed in the coal country of West Virginia, "Matewan" celebrates labor organizing in the context of a 1920s work stoppage. Union organizer, Joe Kenehan, a scab named "Few Clothes" Johnson and a sympathetic mayor and police chief heroically fight the power represented by a coal company and Matewan's vested interests so that justice and workers' rights need not take a back seat to squalid working conditions, exploitation and the bottom line.

Director: John Sayles

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Criterion or UK 88 Films Blu-ray are from director-approved 4K restoration with minimal differences see caps

Additional Info

Both Criterion and 88 Films have the same audio

Format

1080p Blu-ray

Featured Lists

National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 2023

External Links

Criterion Forum

Review

Picture: 9, Audio: 7, Extras: 9

Length

132 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

3 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release

Criterion or UK 88 Films Blu-ray are from director-approved 4K restoration with minimal differences see caps

Additional Info

Both Criterion and 88 Films have the same audio

Format
1080p Blu-ray
Featured Lists
National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 2023

Criterion Forum
Review

Picture: 9, Audio: 7, Extras: 9

Length
132 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
3 months ago
Contributors

Featured in National Film Registry

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UHD Blu-ray
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Kino Lorber US / Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

1.85:1: Kino Lorber 4K  / Capelight 4K

1.66:1: Criterion 4K but low pass filtered

Comparison between the 4Ks, Criterion on the AR choice

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray

Other discs have unnecessary filtering and sound worse, the difference isn't substantial but audible

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber US / Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

1.85:1: Kino Lorber 4K  / Capelight 4K

1.66:1: Criterion 4K but low pass filtered

Comparison between the 4Ks, Criterion on the AR choice

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray

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Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

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4K Blu-ray has exclusive “unrated” audio with a small change to one line under the request of David Fincher (removed the poor dub over of frickin’ in the line “Screw it, let’s gut the f**kin’ nerd.”).

Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

US Steelbook has FEL Dolby Vision whereas UK version only has MEL

4K Blu-ray has exclusive “unrated” audio with a small change to one line under the request of David Fincher (removed the poor dub over of frickin’ in the line “Screw it, let’s gut the f**kin’ nerd.”).

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Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 2024 Ultimate Knockout Collection 4K Blu-ray/ Warner Bros 2023 Knockout Collection 4K Blu-ray (replacement disc)

Upcoming Release:

Capelight 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Bros 2024 Ultimate Knockout Collection 4K Blu-ray/ Warner Bros 2023 Knockout Collection 4K Blu-ray (replacement disc)

Best Audio:

Original Mono: Ultimate Knockout Collection/Knockout Collection replacement disc> Knockout collection original.

The Mono mix on the initial release of the Knockout Collection is a fold-down of the 5.1, the replacement disc and the ultimate knockout version fixed the error. 

Additional Info:

The Steelbook and UK standard edition is the same disc as the 2023 knockout collection.

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 2024 Ultimate Knockout Collection 4K Blu-ray/ Warner Bros 2023 Knockout Collection 4K Blu-ray (replacement disc)

Upcoming Release:

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Best Video:

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Best Audio:

Original Mono: Ultimate Knockout Collection/Knockout Collection replacement disc> Knockout collection original.

The Mono mix on the initial release of the Knockout Collection is a fold-down of the 5.1, the replacement disc and the ultimate knockout version fixed the error. 

Additional Info:

The Steelbook and UK standard edition is the same disc as the 2023 knockout collection.

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DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Grapevine DVD Rip Van 1921 extras or OOP Image Entertainment DVD

Best Video:

Grapevine DVD Rip Van 1921 extras or OOP Image Entertainment DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Grapevine DVD Rip Van 1921 extras or OOP Image Entertainment DVD

Best Video:

Grapevine DVD Rip Van 1921 extras or OOP Image Entertainment DVD

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Wicked Vision Germany 4K Blu-ray or US Criterion 4K Blu-ray?

Best Video:

Wicked Vision Germany 4K Blu-ray (LSP encode) or US Criterion 4K Blu-ray?

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray probably better?

Best English-Friendly:

Wicked Vision Germany 4K Blu-ray or US Criterion 4K Blu-ray?

Best Video:

Wicked Vision Germany 4K Blu-ray (LSP encode) or US Criterion 4K Blu-ray?

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray probably better?

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount disappointing 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount disappointing 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1998 Paramount LaserDisc or 2004 R2 Paramount DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount disappointing 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount disappointing 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Italy Plaion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

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Italy Plaion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Italy Plaion 4K Blu-ray > Paramount 4K Blu-ray (marginally)

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Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

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UHD Blu-ray
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WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

Criterion/Capelight. MoC uses older master

Best Audio:

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Pre-release Cut: ?

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Best English-Friendly:

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Best Video:

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Best Audio:

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Pre-release Cut: ?

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Upcoming Release:

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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

Best Audio:

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Imprint Australia 4K Blu-ray has better audio than Criterion 4K Blu-ray, from nicolas:

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Best English-Friendly:

Imprint Australia 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

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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

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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.

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Criterion US 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

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Additional Info:

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UHD Blu-ray
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Additional Info:

The UHD is slightly cropped in.

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