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Modern Romance (1981)
Modern Romance (1981) poster
Letterboxd

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Sony Blu-ray uses a newer 4K master than Indicator and is noticeably better see caps

Format

1080p Blu-ray

Criterion Forum

Review

Picture: 8, Audio: 7, Extras: 6

Length

93 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

3 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release

Sony Blu-ray uses a newer 4K master than Indicator and is noticeably better see caps

Format
1080p Blu-ray
Criterion Forum
Review

Picture: 8, Audio: 7, Extras: 6

Length
93 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
3 months ago
Contributors

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Real Life poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Real Life poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Mother poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Mother poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

More from Sony

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28 Days Later poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray see caps

Recovers quite a bit of highlight detail, looks less harsh and clipped in the video footage than the old BD.

Best Audio:

Dolby Atmos Remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1 mix: old OOP Fox Blu-ray

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

28 Days Later poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray see caps

Recovers quite a bit of highlight detail, looks less harsh and clipped in the video footage than the old BD.

Best Audio:

Dolby Atmos Remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1 mix: old OOP Fox Blu-ray

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

Scarlet poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Sony 4K Blu-ray has the original theatrical Dolby Atmos mix

Scarlet poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Sony 4K Blu-ray has the original theatrical Dolby Atmos mix

28 Years Later 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

Sukiyaki Western Django poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Japan Sony Blu-ray for the extended Japanese cut

US MVD Blu-ray for the international cut

Best Video:

Japan Sony Blu-ray for the extended Japanese cut

US MVD Blu-ray for the international cut

Best Audio:

Japan Sony Blu-ray for the original theatrical 6.1 audio mix

Best English-Friendly:

Japan Sony Blu-ray for the extended Japanese cut

US MVD Blu-ray for the international cut

Best Video:

Japan Sony Blu-ray for the extended Japanese cut

US MVD Blu-ray for the international cut

Best Audio:

Japan Sony Blu-ray for the original theatrical 6.1 audio mix

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple 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

House of Flying Daggers poster
1080p Blu-ray
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.

Labyrinth poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray

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

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.

Marie Antoinette poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2016 Sony US Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray announced

Best Video:

2016 Sony US Blu-ray (caps)

The US disc has a better encode and original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. French disc is flawed, with chroma bleed and blocking throughout.

Best Audio:

2016 Sony US Blu-ray / 2012 Pathé FR Blu-ray (identical)

Best English-Friendly:

2016 Sony US Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray announced

Best Video:

2016 Sony US Blu-ray (caps)

The US disc has a better encode and original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. French disc is flawed, with chroma bleed and blocking throughout.

Best Audio:

2016 Sony US Blu-ray / 2012 Pathé FR Blu-ray (identical)

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

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray
GKIDS 4K Blu-ray is a sharpened upscale. Caps

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

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray
GKIDS 4K Blu-ray is a sharpened upscale. Caps

Charlie's Angels poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The UK cinema version is the most complete version of the film to date, featuring additional scenes of violence. Additional footage includes:

  • louder impact sounds during the fight scenes with added bass, particularly during the alley fight (the impact sounds are much tamer on all video and DVD releases)

  • the use of nunchaku during the closing fight on the castle (the fight sequence now has no footage of nunchaku)

  • an elbow-lock move performed during the above fight (this is now cut from all versions) It is assumed that this version is the cut of the film made before trims were made to it for the MPAA to secure a PG-13 rating.

The UK theatrical cut has not been released on home video to date.

Charlie's Angels poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The UK cinema version is the most complete version of the film to date, featuring additional scenes of violence. Additional footage includes:

  • louder impact sounds during the fight scenes with added bass, particularly during the alley fight (the impact sounds are much tamer on all video and DVD releases)

  • the use of nunchaku during the closing fight on the castle (the fight sequence now has no footage of nunchaku)

  • an elbow-lock move performed during the above fight (this is now cut from all versions) It is assumed that this version is the cut of the film made before trims were made to it for the MPAA to secure a PG-13 rating.

The UK theatrical cut has not been released on home video to date.

More Comedy on Blu-ray

The Emperor's New Groove poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:
  • 2001 DVD for uncensored cut with rock and extras

Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray, caps

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray; 4K Blu-ray only has an Atmos remix with a phasing issue

Best English-Friendly:
  • 2001 DVD for uncensored cut with rock and extras

Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray, caps

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray; 4K Blu-ray only has an Atmos remix with a phasing issue

Popeye poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Paramount Blu-ray

Popeye was mixed for a failed Vistasonic system with 4 discrete tracks (L/C/R/S). That mix has never been released on home video in its original form.

The older 5.1 track appearing on older DVD/BD releases sounds excellent. It appears to be a slight upmix of the original mix, only splitting the surrounds and adding LFE. It sounds close to the old analog LaserDisc, which is likely the original mix in a matrixed form.

The 5.1 included on the UHD is a new remix which significantly differs from previous tracks. There are new foley effects all over the place. Music is jarringly spliced in from different sources. Unlike the old 5.1 which had clearly discrete surrounds, the channels surrounds overlap somewhat with the fronts here.

Details on the new mix from Paramount's former head of restoration: https://youtu.be/P-AmjqViJyE?t=788

The 2.0 tracks on all DVDs/BDs are just downmixes of their respective 5.1 mixes.

Samples

Popeye poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Paramount Blu-ray

Popeye was mixed for a failed Vistasonic system with 4 discrete tracks (L/C/R/S). That mix has never been released on home video in its original form.

The older 5.1 track appearing on older DVD/BD releases sounds excellent. It appears to be a slight upmix of the original mix, only splitting the surrounds and adding LFE. It sounds close to the old analog LaserDisc, which is likely the original mix in a matrixed form.

The 5.1 included on the UHD is a new remix which significantly differs from previous tracks. There are new foley effects all over the place. Music is jarringly spliced in from different sources. Unlike the old 5.1 which had clearly discrete surrounds, the channels surrounds overlap somewhat with the fronts here.

Details on the new mix from Paramount's former head of restoration: https://youtu.be/P-AmjqViJyE?t=788

The 2.0 tracks on all DVDs/BDs are just downmixes of their respective 5.1 mixes.

Samples

The Titfield Thunderbolt poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray

The old discs use a significantly worse transfer with faded colors, color fringing and a strong green tint throughout.

Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray

The old discs use a significantly worse transfer with faded colors, color fringing and a strong green tint throughout.

Sweet Movie poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Transgressive Visions German 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion NTSC DVD

The UHD has audible artifacting and sounds metallic.

Best English-Friendly:

Transgressive Visions German 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion NTSC DVD

The UHD has audible artifacting and sounds metallic.

Kindergarten Cop poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Plaion German 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Plaion German 4K Blu-ray > US Kino Lorber see comparison and caps

Kino Lorber has an exceedingly poor encode, only slightly improved by the DV layer.

Best Audio:

Original matrixed Dolby Stereo: Universal US Blu-ray
Dolby Atmos remix: Plaion DE 4K Blu-ray

Universal's BD uses the same transfer as the old LaserDisc and sounds a bit better than Plaion's, which has worse dynamics.

Plaion's Atmos remix is tastefully done and preserves the original mix's characteristics, the 5.1 track on Kino's release is overly aggressive and unbalanced.

Best English-Friendly:

Plaion German 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Plaion German 4K Blu-ray > US Kino Lorber see comparison and caps

Kino Lorber has an exceedingly poor encode, only slightly improved by the DV layer.

Best Audio:

Original matrixed Dolby Stereo: Universal US Blu-ray
Dolby Atmos remix: Plaion DE 4K Blu-ray

Universal's BD uses the same transfer as the old LaserDisc and sounds a bit better than Plaion's, which has worse dynamics.

Plaion's Atmos remix is tastefully done and preserves the original mix's characteristics, the 5.1 track on Kino's release is overly aggressive and unbalanced.

Nouvelle Vague poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Criterion has English subtitles burned in for the entire film, stylized to look like an old film print.

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Criterion has English subtitles burned in for the entire film, stylized to look like an old film print.

7 Faces of Dr. Lao poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration from Original Camera Negative

Best Audio:

Warner Bros NTSC DVD

The old DVD's track has significantly better detail compared to BD, especially on the score. The BD has some extra detail on dialogue, but also exhibits strange artifacting (e.g. sample 3, 0:20) which suggests possible AI "enhancement" or some other form of aggressive filtering. In contrast, DVD appears to be completely unfiltered and sounds good throughout. Samples

As the BD is significantly rolled off, a lot of the detail (real or fabricated) is buried in the mix and not audible during normal playback.

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration from Original Camera Negative

Best Audio:

Warner Bros NTSC DVD

The old DVD's track has significantly better detail compared to BD, especially on the score. The BD has some extra detail on dialogue, but also exhibits strange artifacting (e.g. sample 3, 0:20) which suggests possible AI "enhancement" or some other form of aggressive filtering. In contrast, DVD appears to be completely unfiltered and sounds good throughout. Samples

As the BD is significantly rolled off, a lot of the detail (real or fabricated) is buried in the mix and not audible during normal playback.

Auntie Mame poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray from 12K scan

Best Audio:

Warner Bros NTSC DVD

For the most part, the mono track available on the BD and UHD is fine, but there's an 8 minutes long segment which sounds terrible with artificially expanded frequency range causing very audible artifacting. The 5.1 remix doesn't have that issue. Sample

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray from 12K scan

Best Audio:

Warner Bros NTSC DVD

For the most part, the mono track available on the BD and UHD is fine, but there's an 8 minutes long segment which sounds terrible with artificially expanded frequency range causing very audible artifacting. The 5.1 remix doesn't have that issue. Sample

Chicken Little poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D: Disney Blu-ray

3D: Disney 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D: Disney Blu-ray

3D: Disney 3D Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 3D Blu-ray has a slightly better audio mix

Chicken Little poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D: Disney Blu-ray

3D: Disney 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D: Disney Blu-ray

3D: Disney 3D Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 3D Blu-ray has a slightly better audio mix

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount Blu-ray

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Modern Romance (1981) backdrop