[Canceled] Die Hard 2 35mm Regrade (The 35 Project)

[PDB]

This project has been replaced with this one:

https://fanrestore.com/thread-3983.html

[Image: QkCeQqc.jpg]

Die Hard 2 35mm Trailer Regrade (35 Project #3 v1.0)

This is part of my 35 Project:

https://fanrestore.com/thread-1741.html

Trying to regrade films to look more like their theatrical prints

Project Info
I'm peeling this off from Bigrob's  Die Hard 2 thread but you can read the backstory here:

https://fanrestore.com/thread-1581.html?...t=die+hard

but a quick summary.

DH2 has a slightly odd look on BD (and THX LD/DVD). It's very warm and has a sickly red/orange haze which is odd for a movie that takes place at winter. The CE DVD on the other hand has a cool, blue look that not only fits the mood/story but also is similar to the look of Die Hard. To go a little deeper to confirm this color timing I bought this original trailer:



And scanned as many shots as I could. Here are a few examples:

[Image: l2JfydL.jpg]

It's often said that a trailer might not be fully color timed but that doesn't mean that they are wrong all the time. In fact most of the 35mm trailer scans I have seen match 35mm prints pretty well. And in this case it is similar to the CE DVD except more blue and the higher contrast of a release print. I created a LUT(s) that reflects 35mm trailer shots and then reclaimed some of the luma from the BD to tame the regrade's heavy contrast look but still keep it 35mm looking.

Update: Since writing this opening I was given a ton of video from a lot of people, LDs, HDTV broadcast and even some 35mm example. So basically I took all the information I was given, kind of put it all together in a blender (I'm exaggerating a bit, if you can't tell) and pulled out a new final grade. There are still a ton of blue but a lot more greens and oranges now.

Additional: I will replace the CGI 20th Century logo with a period correct logo and distorted like the dh one.

Video:
The BD image color corrected using a LUT to match the 35mm trailer scans with partial luma reclaimed from the BD. Additional color correction for several shots matched from the CE DVD.

Audio:
1. PCM 2.0 from the Japanese P&S LD

2. PCM 2.0 from the THX LD

3. DD 2.0 from the US BD

4. DD 5.1 from the THX DVD

5. DTS 5.1 from the US BD

Pics:

BD/Regrade (Updated 5/23/18)


http://i.imgur.com/Iswpktb.jpg

Collaborators (in order of help):
Bigrob: for the idea
ilovewaterslides: for the French LD cap
Zoidberg: for capping the JPN P&S LD and PCM 2.0
CSchmidlapp: for previewing the video
Farstarbuck: for previewing the video
Beber: for previewing the videoCancel

[CSchmidlapp]

This looks awesome.
Can not wait to watch this.

[Stamper]

Oh yes, yummy!

[Bigrob]

so happy that my idea is the basis for this!

Thank you for taking the lead on this and can't wait to see the finished result!

[zoidberg]

I'm capping the Japanese laserdisc now.

[PDB]

This looks awesome.
Can not wait to watch this.

Oh yes, yummy!

Thanks guys

so happy that my idea is the basis for this!

Thank you for taking the lead on this and can't wait to see the finished result!

I was a good idea, hopefully this project will be worth it.

I'm capping the Japanese laserdisc now.

You the man, thanks Zoidberg

[nafroe]

Forgive my naiveté, but what is the difference between the stereo mix on the Japanese LD and the THX LD? Is the the mix on the Japanese LD the original Dolby Stereo mix and the THX a remix?

[zoidberg]

With Die Hard the original laserdisc release was the original Dolby Stereo (2 channel matrixed) soundtrack whereas the THX laserdisc used the 70mm 6-Track mix as the base for all the audio options (PCM, AC3 and DTS). Die Hard 2 could be the same situation, PDB's going to check it out for us.

[PDB]

Forgive my naiveté, but what is the difference between the stereo mix on the Japanese LD and the THX LD? Is the the mix on the Japanese LD the original Dolby Stereo mix and the THX a remix?

That's a good question. I have no idea.

By that I mean for Die Hard US widescreen LD, it's clearly a different mix then the later THX LD. That might be because of a remix or more likely that the THX comes from the slightly different 70mm mix.

Since Zoiberg's LD is much earlier than my THX LD, I'm hoping to see/hear if DH2 has any differences also. Hoping to get to something as close as I can to the original theatrical mix. So it's a fishing expedition.

Edit: Zoidberg beat me to the punch

[Koopa Luath]

I think I can offer some advice on the specific logo, since I have it on VHS.