Films

Essentially the same characteristics as The Gentle Gunman but as the film is generally softer even in OCN-sections, it's not as drastic an upgrade

Although there are reviews that called it disappointing. It is also regarded as a vast improvement over all previous versions by many others as well.

This is a problematic release, because while scenes like the aerial shots at the beginning looked pristine and shows new detail, many others are suspiciously identical across all three Blu-ray releases (the 2012, 2020 and this 2024).

Some defects on this are unfixed from the 2020 Blu-ray for some reason. (See this review and its discussion.)

It has been in legal rights limbo see NitrateVille so any release is unlikely

Radiance tried to license it in 2023 but failed https://letterboxd.com/radiancefilms/list/failed-licenses-2023/ so not expecting home media release any time soon.

Potemkine France Blu-ray is a recent 4K restoration compared to the old Japan Imagica Blu-ray, it unfortunately also has the eclair teal https://slow.pics/c/BIIWAPtO

Given that it's a Janus theatrical release, an English-friendly and Criterion release can be expected in the near future.

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > Carlotta, with debatable color gradings from master.

See nicolas review https://criterionforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=842821#p842821 
"Carlotta’s encodes were terrible with heavy blocking in the highlights and pervasive chroma noise. Criterion / NexSpec did much better and only occasionally struggles with skies. Grain is finely detailed and it doesn’t look filtered. Grading is debatable and particularly whether all three subsequent films (shot years apart by two cinematographers, one of them being the legendary Néstor Almendros) have roughly the same visual identity. Still, colors are adequately balanced with variations in the (yellowish) hues, there are no tints, black levels and shadow detail is excellent."

Upcoming Radiance Blu-ray is the only Blu-ray so far, although it's only an HD transfer, not 4K like other recent Bresson releases

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > Carlotta, with debatable color gradings from master (yellow hues).

See nicolas review https://criterionforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=842821#p842821

"Carlotta’s encodes were terrible with heavy blocking in the highlights and pervasive chroma noise. Criterion / NexSpec did much better and only occasionally struggles with skies. Grain is finely detailed and it doesn’t look filtered. Grading is debatable and particularly whether all three subsequent films (shot years apart by two cinematographers, one of them being the legendary Néstor Almendros) have roughly the same visual identity. Still, colors are adequately balanced with variations in the (yellowish) hues, there are no tints, black levels and shadow detail is excellent."

Italy Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-ray > Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray (Shout! Factory has Dolby Vision while Eagle Pictures doesn't)

2.0: Shout! Factory > StudioCanal. Italy Eagle Pictures doesn't have it.

Cohen Blu-ray is the best with the least amount of DNR or sharpening among Germany StudioCanal, UK MoC and France Gaumont. Even though Cohen doesn't have the best encoding, it's definitely the most superior release. See caps-a-holics caps

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > Carlotta, with debatable color gradings from master.

See nicolas review https://criterionforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=842821#p842821

"Carlotta’s encodes were terrible with heavy blocking in the highlights and pervasive chroma noise. Criterion / NexSpec did much better and only occasionally struggles with skies. Grain is finely detailed and it doesn’t look filtered. Grading is debatable and particularly whether all three subsequent films (shot years apart by two cinematographers, one of them being the legendary Néstor Almendros) have roughly the same visual identity. Still, colors are adequately balanced with variations in the (yellowish) hues, there are no tints, black levels and shadow detail is excellent."

Arrow 4K Blu-ray is is a bit stronger than the very good Blue Underground The differences in the body of the film are negligible, but Arrow does have all three main credit sequences (Zombi 2, Zombie Flesh Eaters, and Zombie) that play in 4K via seamless branching. They also un-stabilized the handheld shot in the Zombie closing credits that Blue Underground had stabilized when they added new digital titles. It's back to looking properly handheld.

Arrow 4K Blu-ray > Blue Underground 4K Blu-ray, "has the original Italy mono - think someone said earlier that the Blue Underground was a downmix on that track and the Arrow is corrected"

While has some mild DNR in a few scenes, the old Universal Blu-ray was an even older VHS master with DNR, so it's still a significant upgrade

The Spain Blu-ray has the lossless mono mix (the main feature is not English-friendly however), alongside an exclusive conversation in English (with optional Spain subtitles)

The Japan DVD has a "It Is Wonderful to Create" documentary (though the disc is not English-friendly)

LaserDisc is best for stereo.

While Sony 4K Blu-ray has Original Stereo, it is compressed like the 5.1 on the 4K Blu-ray.

The TrueHD 5.1 from the 2008 Sony Blu-ray is free of compression. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=22484238&postcount=94

WB 4K Blu-ray but with notable color timing issues

Original mix on VHS, LaserDisc and DVD is significantly warmer and more impactful sounding. These nuances are lost on the 2005 remaster audio found on DVD and Blu-ray which due have a tinge of extra clarity in contrast.

The Atmos mix is excruciatingly bad as it removes original sound effects and wrecks the original sound design. Music is prioritized and dominates in a bad way. The sound library effects used to create a specific sound signature as part of the mix of time period production design is completely lost. Fidelity is also lowered due to noise reduction and processing.

Paramount 4K Blu-ray has DNR applied but it is still much better than the bad Blu-ray

Criterion has the rights to it, but no news on releases https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=375463