[Idea] Robocop (1987) UAR version

[spoRv]

Could you fill the corners with the Criterion? Not taking into account color differences.

Nope; Criterion would just "enlarge" the side slices; as it uses a different master, with different rotation, contrast, colors, geometry, matching is far from perfect; yes, it does add a bit of image on both sides, but these added slices would be quite different, hence distracting, the wobbling would terrible, and resolution a lot lower than blu-ray.

[Jetrell Fo]

Did I miss any discussion in this thread about that "deleted" or "recalled" Sony Bluray of Robocop that got a share some time back? Was it a source worth using with this project?

[Chewtobacca]

^ Yeah, I wondered how the audio on that compared to the other sources and whether it was worth using. All the little variations give me a headache.

[spoRv]

Well, I'll use primarily because it's 5.1 PCM, it's there, ready in sync!

IIRC Robocop was one of the first movies which used Dolby Spectral Recording, so a multichannel track *should* be faithful; if this is better than others I can't say, but Sony usually do the things right - I hope!

I can definitely say it sounds a bit different from the Criterion DVD - sometimes the voices are covered by the music - but I listened to them only using the TV loudspeakers, so *probably* it's just due to downmix.

Ready to add the DTS-HD MA from the DC blu-ray, as I'll use it for the missing tracks - German, Spanish, Italian; once found the right cuts, it will be trivial.

[spoRv]

Encoding is around frame 43000 (out of 148000, minus final credits that will be left open matte... or full screen?!?).

Checked the first part, 29000 frames; now the color blending is perfect in, let's say, 99% - noticed a bit of difference in just one brief shot, maybe two, but probably just because I checked the "seams" thoroughly; I guess watching the movie normally, these will pass unnoticed. Wobbling, in comparison to first try, has disappeared almost completely apart few shots, where it is greatly reduced, but still noticeable; I plan eventually to solve the problem aligning sources manually.

Color grading: albeit I like this "Criterion-eque" version, I do like better the French laserdisc colors; what do you think? Should I regrade it as French LD (more or less)? Leave it "Criterion-esque"? Release both?

Please vote in the poll, thanks!

[Stamper]

The Criterion have some strange brown tint, I'll go with the french as the most accurate colors.

[zoidberg]

Without seeing a 35mm print it's hard to call the French LD accurate, the colours certainly do look much better than the Criterion though which looks like they turned the knobs until Robo/ED209 were grey. 

If anyone here has seen Robocop on 35mm I'd love to pick their brains on the colour timing.

[spoRv]

Agree; I don't know which version has the colors closer to the theatrical presentation; before, I preferred the Criterion over the Sony blu-ray, but I didn't (completely) dislike the mastered in 4K blu-ray either; but now, after seeing the French LD, I'm sold!

[spoRv]

About color grading:

a comparison, from top: French LD, UAR "Criterion-esque", Criterion DVD, Sony BD, remastered in 4k BD



as written before, I like a lot the French LD; let the encoding finish, and then I'll post a comparison clip between it and the actual UAR version.

About audio tracks (again):

if the English 5.1 PCM found in the Sony BD is the same (apart, obviously, the different cuts) of the DTS-HD MA 5.1 found on other editions, which should I use? I know that the latter *should* have a better quality, but I fear that the alternate shots have also alternate audio, and mixing it with "simplier" PCM 16bit could be audibly different (even if I'm pretty sure it will not be the case)

The Criterion PCM will be added; I'd love to add the Image LD PCM as well, so if anyone can provide it, it will be great!
Also, is there an isolated score available, or someone who made a custom one using the soundtrack(s)?

About poll:

vote!

[spoRv]

OK, last idea, then I must sleep a bit.

What's about another UAR version... technically, a 1.66:1 hybrid in HD? Basically, it will overlay an HD 1.85:1 version on top of upscaled Criterion DVD, using the latter chroma; so, increased resolution in most part of the image, while there *should* be no color matching problems, in particular if using the older MGM 2007 BD, which *should* blend better than new 4K BD, that has increased contrast (and also clipped whites, as well as Sony BD).