Christian Becker and Phil Friederichs founded Turbine Medien in Münster in 2004 to put out Dieter Hallervorden and Oliver Kalkofe comedy on DVD. The German label now licenses horror, action and cult titles, from Hollywood studio catalogue films to Zhang Yimou's wuxia epics, for limited mediabooks, steelbooks and collector's boxes. Since about 2020 it has also issued new 4K restorations on UHD.
Turbine
Best 4K release by tier:
- Excellent2
- Solid1
- Disappointing1
How we pick the best Turbine releases
8 in 4K
Best video release on UHD Blu-ray or 4K streaming
Director: Peter Jackson
Best Video & English-Friendly:
Arrow US/UK 4K Blu-ray or Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray
Video Notes:
Both will look identical in motion but the Turbine looks marginally better due to a higher bitrate allocation by each cut being given its own disc, whereas Arrow had FiM seamlessly branch the two onto one. However, Arrow has both cuts in Open Matte (on Blu-Ray) and corrected the opening Universal logo's aspect ratio. https://slow.pics/c/McvVcYDG
Best Audio:
Director: Rob Cohen
Best Video & English-Friendly:
Germany Turbine 4K Blu-ray
Video Notes:
Germany Turbine 4K Blu-ray > US Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray
comparison between the Turbine and Kino grades. The former is director-supervised.
Best Audio:
(The Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray DTS HD5.1 seems to have stronger bass, but it's yet unclear which one has the original 5.1) Also see thread.
Additional Info:
The Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray was recalled shortly after inital releases for unknown reasons.
Director: Jonathan Mostow
Best Video & English-Friendly:
Turbine 4K Blu-ray
Video Notes:
Turbine 4K Blu-ray has the better encode. Paramount 4K Blu-ray is disappointing review. But both have DNR?
Best Video & English-Friendly:
2D version: Paramount 4K Blu-ray (OOP Steelbook Edition for included Blu-ray)
3D version: Turbine Germany 3D Blu-ray
Best Audio:
-
Director: David Twohy
Best Video & English-Friendly:
Arrow 4K Blu-ray or Turbine 4K Blu-ray
Best Audio:
Original 5.1 is included on the Arrow 4K Blu-ray and the Old Universal Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:
Best Video:
2D version: Universal 4K Blu-ray
3D version: Turbine Germany 3D Blu-ray
Best Audio:
-
Director: Brandon Cronenberg
Best Video & English-Friendly:
Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray
Video Notes:
Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray > Decal US 4K Blu-ray (Dolby Vision on the Germany 4K Blu-ray)
Director: David Hogan
Best Video:
Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray
Video Notes:
Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray is disappointing review
3 in HD
Best video release on Blu-ray or HD streaming · by Letterboxd rating
Director: Zhang Yimou
Best Audio:
Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray for the Dolby Atmos remix on the director's cut and the original 5.1 mix on the theatrical cut
Korea Nova Media Blu-ray for the original 6.1 mix on the director's cut
Director: Tony Scott
1 with a weaker 4K
Best 4K release rated Disappointing or Worse Than BD · by Letterboxd rating
Director: David Hogan
Best Video:
Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray
Video Notes:
Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray is disappointing review
1 for audio only
The best audio is Turbine's; the video and English-friendly picks are other releases · by Letterboxd rating
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Know a film where the Turbine release is the one to buy? Suggest it