Looking for the "right" Terminator 2 color grading...

[zoidberg]

Hmmm. I watched the 3D DCP twice and while DNR was obvious in a couple of shots, it was 'befitting' of a typical 3D conversion. I genuinely thought that the eventual 2D releases would have the grain or at least would be regrained as per the previous Lowry/RMW restorations. That got me thinking that maybe the Lowry regraining was part of their SOP and Cameron's hands were tied so to speak. T2 was restored at Deluxe L.A. so that could have made a difference, why use a different facility when the previous work was so well received? Having said that it could be StudioCanal pulling the strings. I guess this quote from Cameron says a lot:

'Well I think the overall quality of the film, the quality of the presentation; we worked very hard on good 3D. We started with a 4K transfer, then we did a degraining process, so it actually looks better, even if you watch it in 2D it would look better than it did on the day…'

Perhaps Aliens and it's graininess traumatised Cameron for life.

Turisu, any chance you've checked out the audio on the new blu? It would be great if the original mix was used but I'm not holding my breath. It's probably going to be the Rydstrom home mix.

[deleted user]

Makes you wonder if the 2015 Blu Ray was an accident and only not degrained because Lionsgate was being lazy.

[zoidberg]

Lazy would have been to do nothing. The 2015 was a 'stealth' rerelease, it's main selling point was that it hadn't been filtered like the previous 'Skynet' encode (that and a new headphone track). Every other HD release (except the MUSE Hi-Vision) is in the same ballpark as the 2015 blu with minor variations in the geometry and colour (mainly the redness).

On the plus side the 3D blu is OAR which I wasn't expecting   but I'll probably still have to sync the laserdisc audio.

[deleted user]

Damn. There I was, deludedly hoping it would be at least widescreen.

[zoidberg]

OAR = Scope

[deleted user]

Yah I know. I kinda like open matte stuff.

[zoidberg]

I know a lot of people like 3D to be opened up to 16:9, judging from Avatar and Titanic I think people were expecting T2 to be the same. It's the release that just keeps surprising people

[Turisu]

Turisu, any chance you've checked out the audio on the new blu? It would be great if the original mix was used but I'm not holding my breath. It's probably going to be the Rydstrom home mix.

What's the easiest way to tell? I'm not familiar with the differences.

[Beber]

I just watched the new remaster side-by-side with the 2015 BD (non-Skynet Edition). It's horrible. Really, really horrible. Those screenshots fail to illustrate how bad this release looks in motion. There is extra detail in the remaster for sure but the DNR makes it a wax-fest of almost Predator UHE proportions. Barely a trace of grain left. Add to that a ton of over-sharpening and the usually Cameron tealification which amounts to one of the most processed and artificial looking presentation of a classic film I've seen in a long time.

Actually the "tealification" you mention is what the movie's supposed to look like. This remaster is a better match to a 35mm print than the previous master. Not perfect, but much better.

[Turisu]

I don't have anything to contribute to the argument as to whether the teal grading is more theatrically accurate or not. Suffice to say that opinion seems to be very strongly divided. So, until some concrete and irrefutable evidence surfaces, I'm going to say that this blanket of teal that Cameron keeps throwing over his movies is just a very acquired taste that I have not yet been blessed with the gift of enjoying.