Best English-friendly release · updated 9 months ago
Overview
A group of settlers traveling through the Oregon High Desert in 1845 find themselves stranded in harsh conditions.
Director: Kelly Reichardt
Best format: 1080p Blu-ray
UK Soda boxset or US Oscilloscope Blu-ray
Director: Kelly Reichardt
Best format: UHD Blu-ray
More Western on Blu-ray
Director: Norman Taurog
Best format: 1080p Blu-ray
Best format: 1080p Blu-ray
Undercrank Frank Borzage: 1922 Silents Blu-ray
Director: Howard Hughes
Best format: 1080p Blu-ray
Kino Lorber Blu-ray 2K restoration
Director: George Pal
Best format: 1080p Blu-ray
Sources: mega.nz (opens in a new tab)
Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration from Original Camera Negative
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 format: 1080p Blu-ray
Director: Martin Ritt
Best format: UHD Blu-ray
TV series
Best format: 1080p Blu-ray
Original TV Version: Japan LaserDisc, US OOP Bandai DVD for English dub
"Remix" Remaster: Italy Dynit Blu-ray, US Funimation/Crunchyroll Blu-ray for English dub
The "Remix" remaster has slightly different cuts for some episodes, and completely redone audio mixes. The original TV version of the English dub also has an entirely different audio mix from either the Japanese mix or the "Remix" remaster.
Director: John Ford
Best format: UHD Blu-ray
Sources: bsky.app (opens in a new tab)
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: David Dobkin
Best format: 1080p Blu-ray
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