The Oath of the Sword (1914)
Drama • 31m
Overview
A three-reel silent drama about an ambitious young man leaving behind his beloved in Japan to study abroad at the University of California, Berkeley.
Director: Frank Shaw
Cast: Yutaka Abe, Tomi Morri, Hisa Numa
Director: Billy Wilder
Paramount 4K Blu-ray. See caps
HDR/grading: nice, but some blown out
Encoding: inconsistent, smeared motion
DNR: inconsistent, frozen
Old Paramount Blu-ray is arguably a solid alternative choice
Paramount 4K Blu-ray mono is different version of the BD mono from the same old 2000 DVD transfer.
The 5.1 remix on the 4K Blu-ray is an appalling remix done by going wild with artificially generated stems from Park Road Post who were given the surviving mono to separate. The experience is jarring and fidelity to original mix in terms of level balance, directionality and impact is nonexistent. Not only does this sound painfully weird, but the Paramount mixers then did whatever they wanted in terms of LFE, sound pans and effect changes.
The original mono mix was not restored and still needs it badly. The 4K master is filled with frozen grain examples coming and going plus some HDR issues in addition to the usual Paramount problems. It is simultaneously better and worse than the Blu-ray master.
Director: Billy Wilder
Paramount 4K Blu-ray. See caps
HDR/grading: nice, but some blown out
Encoding: inconsistent, smeared motion
DNR: inconsistent, frozen
Old Paramount Blu-ray is arguably a solid alternative choice
Paramount 4K Blu-ray mono is different version of the BD mono from the same old 2000 DVD transfer.
The 5.1 remix on the 4K Blu-ray is an appalling remix done by going wild with artificially generated stems from Park Road Post who were given the surviving mono to separate. The experience is jarring and fidelity to original mix in terms of level balance, directionality and impact is nonexistent. Not only does this sound painfully weird, but the Paramount mixers then did whatever they wanted in terms of LFE, sound pans and effect changes.
The original mono mix was not restored and still needs it badly. The 4K master is filled with frozen grain examples coming and going plus some HDR issues in addition to the usual Paramount problems. It is simultaneously better and worse than the Blu-ray master.
Director: John Ford
1988/1990 WB Hi-Fi VHS, crystal clear, albeit with some distortion in louder areas
The 4K Blu-ray reuses the same poor mastering used on the 2006 WB Blu-ray, only with a completely unnecessary bass cut and extra noise reduction.
Even putting resolution aside, the Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray has the best video, the old Blu-ray master and earlier DVD both had massive issues with colour.
That said, picture on the 4K Blu-ray isn't perfect, with strange posterized magenta glints and some instances of DNR: https://bsky.app/profile/dagscott.bsky.social/post/3leahavqi7k2l
Director: John Ford
1988/1990 WB Hi-Fi VHS, crystal clear, albeit with some distortion in louder areas
The 4K Blu-ray reuses the same poor mastering used on the 2006 WB Blu-ray, only with a completely unnecessary bass cut and extra noise reduction.
Even putting resolution aside, the Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray has the best video, the old Blu-ray master and earlier DVD both had massive issues with colour.
That said, picture on the 4K Blu-ray isn't perfect, with strange posterized magenta glints and some instances of DNR: https://bsky.app/profile/dagscott.bsky.social/post/3leahavqi7k2l
Director: Billy Wilder
Director: Billy Wilder
Director: Michael Gordon
Universal 4K Blu-ray
2012 BD is of similar fidelity but adds extra foley sounds. 2003 PAL DVD is a stereoized remix.
Director: Michael Gordon
Universal 4K Blu-ray
2012 BD is of similar fidelity but adds extra foley sounds. 2003 PAL DVD is a stereoized remix.
Director: Martin Ritt
Director: Martin Ritt
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Director: Brad Bird
Disney 4K Blu-ray has the original DTS-ES 6.1 mix in DTS-HD MA 6.1. Inferior Dolby Atmos remix is set to default.
Director: Brad Bird
Disney 4K Blu-ray has the original DTS-ES 6.1 mix in DTS-HD MA 6.1. Inferior Dolby Atmos remix is set to default.
Director: Andrew Stanton
Criterion 4K Blu-ray > Disney 4K Blu-ray: HDR10 same as the Disney disc, but Criterion's new Dolby Vision layer improves presentation in some aspects, and has very good extras
Original DTS-ES 6.1 mix: Both are equal. ES rear centre channel maintained on both releases, but is unflagged on the Criterion 4K Blu-ray.
Dolby Atmos remix: Criterion 4K Blu-ray > Disney 4K Blu-ray.
Director: Andrew Stanton
Criterion 4K Blu-ray > Disney 4K Blu-ray: HDR10 same as the Disney disc, but Criterion's new Dolby Vision layer improves presentation in some aspects, and has very good extras
Original DTS-ES 6.1 mix: Both are equal. ES rear centre channel maintained on both releases, but is unflagged on the Criterion 4K Blu-ray.
Dolby Atmos remix: Criterion 4K Blu-ray > Disney 4K Blu-ray.
Director: Louis J. Gasnier
Official SD Streaming on NFPF https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/maytime-1923
Official SD Streaming on NFPF https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/maytime-1923 Four out of the original seven reels had survived
Director: Louis J. Gasnier
Official SD Streaming on NFPF https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/maytime-1923
Official SD Streaming on NFPF https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/maytime-1923 Four out of the original seven reels had survived
Director: Lee Dick
Official NFPF SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/men-and-dust-1940
Official NFPF SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/men-and-dust-1940
Director: Lee Dick
Official NFPF SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/men-and-dust-1940
Official NFPF SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/men-and-dust-1940
Official NFPF HD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/the-middleton-family-at-the-new-york-world-s-fair-1939
Official NFPF HD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/the-middleton-family-at-the-new-york-world-s-fair-1939
The Library of Congress HD Streaming has very heavy DNR compared to NFPF and very muted colors https://www.loc.gov/item/2023600635/
Official NFPF HD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/the-middleton-family-at-the-new-york-world-s-fair-1939
Official NFPF HD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/the-middleton-family-at-the-new-york-world-s-fair-1939
The Library of Congress HD Streaming has very heavy DNR compared to NFPF and very muted colors https://www.loc.gov/item/2023600635/
Director: Chick Strand
Image Entertainment Treasures IV: American Avant-Garde Film, 1947-1986 OOP DVD
Image Entertainment Treasures IV: American Avant-Garde Film, 1947-1986 OOP DVD
Also available on NFPF official SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/2011-nfr-fake-fruit-factory-1986
Director: Chick Strand
Image Entertainment Treasures IV: American Avant-Garde Film, 1947-1986 OOP DVD
Image Entertainment Treasures IV: American Avant-Garde Film, 1947-1986 OOP DVD
Also available on NFPF official SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/2011-nfr-fake-fruit-factory-1986
Director: James Young Deer
Kino Lorber The Exiles Blu-ray extras
Kino Lorber The Exiles Blu-ray extras
Also available in SD Streaming by NFPF https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/t1-white-fawn-s-devotion-1910
Kino Lorber The Exiles Blu-ray extras
Kino Lorber The Exiles Blu-ray extras
Also available in SD Streaming by NFPF https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/t1-white-fawn-s-devotion-1910
Directors: Bill Jersey & Barbara Connell
Directors: Bill Jersey & Barbara Connell
Library of Congress official HD Streaming https://www.loc.gov/item/2023600540/
Library of Congress official HD Streaming https://www.loc.gov/item/2023600540/ is a superior copy to the NFPF copy
Library of Congress official HD Streaming https://www.loc.gov/item/2023600540/
Library of Congress official HD Streaming https://www.loc.gov/item/2023600540/ is a superior copy to the NFPF copy
Director: Scott Bartlett
NFPF official SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/offon-1968-2000kbps
NFPF official SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/offon-1968-2000kbps
Director: Scott Bartlett
NFPF official SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/offon-1968-2000kbps
NFPF official SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/offon-1968-2000kbps
NFPF official SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/t1-princess-nicotine-or-the-smoke-fairy-1909
NFPF official SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/t1-princess-nicotine-or-the-smoke-fairy-1909
Director: Lewis H. Moomaw
NFPF official SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/t1-the-chechahcos-1924
NFPF official SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/t1-the-chechahcos-1924
Director: Lewis H. Moomaw
NFPF official SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/t1-the-chechahcos-1924
NFPF official SD Streaming https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/t1-the-chechahcos-1924
More Drama on Blu-ray
Director: Gary Ross
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray, but a shot was cut from the film
Warner Bros Blu-ray for the uncut version, but it's a older master.
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray, but a shot was cut from the film
Warner Bros Blu-ray for the uncut version, but it's a older master.
Director: Gary Ross
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray, but a shot was cut from the film
Warner Bros Blu-ray for the uncut version, but it's a older master.
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray, but a shot was cut from the film
Warner Bros Blu-ray for the uncut version, but it's a older master.
Director: Ronny Yu
Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray
International Theatrical Cut/US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray
Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray
International Theatrical Cut (aka. Unrated Cut): Universal Blu-ray
US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray, Starz Streaming for open matte
Hong Kong Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Singapore, Singapore Disney DVD for open matte
Thai Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Thailand, Thailand Disney DVD for open matte
Director: Ronny Yu
Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray
International Theatrical Cut/US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray
Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray
International Theatrical Cut (aka. Unrated Cut): Universal Blu-ray
US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray, Starz Streaming for open matte
Hong Kong Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Singapore, Singapore Disney DVD for open matte
Thai Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Thailand, Thailand Disney DVD for open matte
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
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
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.
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.
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
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
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.
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.
Director: Joel Schumacher
Director: Joel Schumacher
Director: Joel Schumacher
Warner Bros/New Line Blu-ray
Warner Bros/New Line Blu-ray
Director: Joel Schumacher
Warner Bros/New Line Blu-ray
Warner Bros/New Line Blu-ray
Director: Joel Schumacher
Director: Joel Schumacher
Japan King Records 4K Blu-ray
Japan King Records 4K Blu-ray / US GKIDS Blu-ray
US GKIDS Blu-ray for the Amazon English dub
US OOP Funimation Blu-ray for the older Funimation English dub
Japan King Records 4K Blu-ray is an upscale, but has less compression artifacts
Japan King Records 4K Blu-ray
Japan King Records 4K Blu-ray / US GKIDS Blu-ray
US GKIDS Blu-ray for the Amazon English dub
US OOP Funimation Blu-ray for the older Funimation English dub
Japan King Records 4K Blu-ray is an upscale, but has less compression artifacts
Directors: Hideaki Anno & Kazuya Tsurumaki & Mahiro Maeda & Masayuki
Japan King Records 4K Blu-ray
Directors: Hideaki Anno & Kazuya Tsurumaki & Mahiro Maeda & Masayuki
Japan King Records 4K Blu-ray
Directors: Katsuichi Nakayama & Kazuya Tsurumaki & Mahiro Maeda & Hideaki Anno
US GKIDS/UK Anime, Ltd. 4K Blu-ray
US GKIDS/UK Anime, Ltd. 4K Blu-ray
US GKIDS/UK Anime, Ltd. 4K Blu-ray for both the original Japanese and the Amazon English dub
US GKIDS/UK Anime, Ltd. 4K Blu-ray has higher bitrate and better encoding than the Japan King Records 4K Blu-ray
Directors: Katsuichi Nakayama & Kazuya Tsurumaki & Mahiro Maeda & Hideaki Anno
US GKIDS/UK Anime, Ltd. 4K Blu-ray
US GKIDS/UK Anime, Ltd. 4K Blu-ray
US GKIDS/UK Anime, Ltd. 4K Blu-ray for both the original Japanese and the Amazon English dub
US GKIDS/UK Anime, Ltd. 4K Blu-ray has higher bitrate and better encoding than the Japan King Records 4K Blu-ray
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