Reservoir Dogs (1992): Tarantino's 35mm Print Reconstruction

[The Aluminum Falcon]

Project Info

Since it was first released on home video, Reservoir Dogs (1992) has looked exceedingly bland. Most transfers look strangely cool and magenta with very flat contrast. While this has been the version to which most have been exposed, it wasn't necessarily representative of either the original theatrical release or Quentin Tarantino's directorial intentions.

Recently, for Reservoir Dogs's 25th Anniversary, the film was screened again at Tribeca with director Quentin Tarantino and the main cast present. Most importantly, the screening used Tarantino's personal 35mm print. As someone who was present at the screening, I was shocked by how intriguing the look of this version was- deep shadows created a neo-noir look. It created an entirely different experience, which not only benefitted the film specifically but also help it better fit visually with the rest of Tarantino's films. The shadows are so deep that eyes, in particular, are sometimes masked in black.

I realize that this looks completely unlike any previous version (except maybe the German VCL DVD), but I thought it would be a worthy thing to do regardless, especially with no new remaster on the horizon. The Japanese BD, the best representation of the current transfer, was the basis of this preservation.

Grading off of memory as well as reference photos/videos taken from that screening (which occurred very recently), I think I've managed to recreate the look of Tarantino's preferred version very well. I also added a bit of a grain plate to restore a more filmic look.

Video

• Japanese BD - extensively color-corrected
  

Audio

• English 2.0 PCM (original mix from US LD)
  
• English 5.1 Dolby True HD (from JP BD)
  

Screenshots

JP BD

Tarantino's 35mm Print Reconstruction


JP BD

Tarantino's 35mm Print Reconstruction


JP BD

Tarantino's 35mm Print Reconstruction


JP BD

Tarantino's 35mm Print Reconstruction


JP BD

Tarantino's 35mm Print Reconstruction


JP BD

Tarantino's 35mm Print Reconstruction


JP BD

Tarantino's 35mm Print Reconstruction


JP BD

Tarantino's 35mm Print Reconstruction


Project Status
Fifteenth project completed and released!  (Last one for awhile guys, hope you enjoy.) 

Also released is a bonus project, Reservoir Dogs (1992): Open Matte Sundance Premiere Reconstruction! As I don't want this post to become too long, screenshots and info in the following post: https://fanrestore.com/thread-1461-post-...l#pid30910.

Final Product
1080p BD25-Compatible MKV

[PDB]

Nice! I need to watch Dogs again and now seems like a good time and I do like the color choices. Thanks Falcon.

[Koopa Luath]

I'll be on the lookout for the laser videodisc and would like to help out if I can acquire one.

[spoRv]

According to my database, I have the LD somewhere... http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/19102/LD68...rvoir-Dogs
So, if I manage to find it, I could capture this.

I'm curious to see screenshot comparisons, may you post some?

[CSchmidlapp]

Love Dogs. Looking forward to your restoration good sir.
it certainly look closer to his later stuff and the colour grade much more appealing.
It looks a little over saturated to me but I'm just not used to seeing it like this and unfortunately have never got to see it in 35mm.

I bet the screening was awesome.
Any chance of seeing your reference shots and video?

[Koopa Luath]

I'd like to contribute screenshots from my 1997 DVD. How do I send them to you?

[MrBrown]

The first German DVD was from VCL, not ems...

http://sd.caps-a-holic.com/vergleich.php?vergleichID=39

[IcePrick]

I'm gonna see if I can find the fullscreen (open matte?) DVD that I watched when I first saw this movie. I don't know if the color timing is any different from the other DVD releases, but it doesn't hurt to check.

[Koopa Luath]

I have fullscreen and widescreen sides on my aforementioned DVD.

[MrBrown]

I have some fullscreen and wide screen DVDs, but I don't have the first German DVD...