Sergio Leone Web Board
Films of Sergio Leone => A Fistful of Dollars => Topic started by: drinkanddestroy on June 01, 2017, 06:30:31 PM
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Tweet by @KLStudioClassic yesterday, May 31:
https://twitter.com/KLStudioClassic/status/869961233067323393
Coming on DVD & Blu-ray!
2014 4K Restoration!
Sergio Leone's A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS
Happy 87th Birthday to the one and only Clint Eastwood!
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Unfortunately the 2014 "restoration" is a green and yellow mess, with crushed blacks to boot. (Same team that did GBU). Hopefully they'll clean it up color wise but who knows...
2014 FOD screens here:
http://www.cineblog.it/amp/galleria/per-un-pugno-di-dollari-foto/1
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Unfortunately the 2014 "restoration" is a green and yellow mess, with crushed blacks to boot. (Same team that did GBU). Hopefully they'll clean it up color wise but who knows...
2014 FOD screens here:
http://www.cineblog.it/amp/galleria/per-un-pugno-di-dollari-foto/1
Now that we are discussing it, I seem to vaguely recall that whereas they released the piss-yellow version of GBU on disc, they did a piss-yellow version of FOD as well but never released it on disc. Is that correct? I believe they premiered it at Cannes; DJ and I watched it at MoMA. It was awful.
Am I correct? This disc KL is tweeting about now is that piss version of FOD that was made several years ago but never released on disc? If so, this is nothing to get excited about, unless they repented the piss.
Anyway, FOD is already available in a beautiful BRD from Ripley's, region-free. Beaver's review of it is here http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews42/fistful_of_dollars_blu-ray.htm
And if you want to see screen comparisons between that Ripley's BRD and the MGM BRD, Beaver has them in the FOD section of this page http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-ray_reviews51/man_with_no_name_trilogy_blu-ray.htm
So, it's not like I am sitting and impatiently awaiting a new FOD disc, anyway. Of course, as technology and/or bonus features advance, it's always possible that new discs are released that are upgrades over previous discs that we once thought were "definitive" versions of a movie. I'm always open to seeing if a new version is indeed better - and if it is, being the nutty Leone fan I am, I'll get the new one. But only if it really is better. Right now, I am very happy with the beautiful Ripley's BRD :)
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KL also tweeted that they are releasing a new FAFDM, but this one says nothing about 2014. The FAFDM tweet says "Brand New 4K Master" http://www.fistful-of-leone.com/forums/index.php?topic=11973.msg190167#msg190167
So it seems the FOD will be the piss version from 2014 - unless they are made to see the error of their ways - and the FAFDM will be new.
Anyway, I am perfectly happy with the versions of both movies I have now, so, if the new KL releases are great, I'll buy them. If they are crap, I won't buy them but I won't get an ulcer over it, either. I'm fine with what I already have :)
Now, if we can only get someone to finally release a proper BRD of GBU and DYS ...... ;)
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I would think KL will address the yellow issue as they are with GBU. It would be strange if they did one but not the other.
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Anyway, FOD is already available in a beautiful BRD from Ripley's, region-free.
Yup - that Italian one has always been the benchmark. It's gonna be a tough one to beat!
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Wasn't Tarantino present at the Cannes screening? He said his own print looked better than this restored shit.
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I spent a wonderful day with Marianne Koch in Bavaria.
She's one of my favorite people anyway, a real treasure.
She had invited me to talk about FOD, I'm editing for the next two weeks...
(http://fs5.directupload.net/images/170901/temp/3cchusi2.jpg) (http://www.directupload.net/file/d/4832/3cchusi2_jpg.htm)
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I spent a wonderful day with Marianne Koch in Bavaria.
She's one of my favorite people anyway, a real treasure.
She had invited me to talk about FOD, I'm editing for the next two weeks...
(http://fs5.directupload.net/images/170901/temp/3cchusi2.jpg) (http://www.directupload.net/file/d/4832/3cchusi2_jpg.htm)
Great news! Should be quite interesting, thanks for the heads up.
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Wow, is she really 86?
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Yes. But looking 60, charming like a 26-year old and laughing like a 16-year old. Irresistible.
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mike,
I know you are only dealing with the bonus features and not the movie itself, but if you have any way of finding out, or any influence at all, I really hope they do not release a piss version of the movie.
DJ and I saw FOD at MoMA in New York shortly after the Cannes “restoration.” It looked like piss. Terrible. The Italian Ripley’s BRD looks so amazing, why is there need for a new release? Of course, great new bonus features can be a great reason. But I hope they don’t screw with the feature. Best would be if they released the Ripley’s version plus the new bonus features. But if they release this piss version - even if they make it a little less pissy than the Cannes version - I’ll be mighty pissed off!
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I always put in my 2 cents, but the only solution would be founding a label with and some otheers and do it ourselves...
When I watch the film, I always watch the German BD which is pretty good.
When I watch GBU I watch the privately made BD, which has the right sound & color.
I need a solution for GIU LA TESTA though, both BD's stink.
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I always put in my 2 cents, but the only solution would be founding a label with and some otheers and do it ourselves...
When I watch the film, I always watch the German BD which is pretty good.
When I watch GBU I watch the privately made BD, which has the right sound & color.
I need a solution for GIU LA TESTA though, both BD's stink.
I have never seeb the German FOD, but have you seen the Ripley’s it looks great.
For Giu La Testa, I’ve only seen two versions: the MGM DVD (included in “The Sergio Leone Anthology” boxset) and the MGM BRD. I haven’t delved into any discussion about the image; the audio is so screwed up ...
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Special Features and Technical Specs:
•4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
•NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas
• NEW Interview with Actress Marianne Koch
• NEW "Trailers From Hell" with John Badham
• NEW Original Outtakes, Re-takes & Hidden Gems
• NEW A FISTFUL in Pictures - Animated Image Gallery (14:52)
• NEW Promoting A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS - Animated Image Gallery (15:48)
• NEW A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS - On the Set - Animated Image Gallery (3:57)
• NEW Restored Opening UA Logo
• Audio Commentary by Noted Film Historian Sir Christopher Frayling
• The Christopher Frayling Archives: A Fistful of Dollars
•A New Kind of Hero: Featurette
• A Few Weeks in Spain: Clint Eastwood on the Experience of Making the Film
•Tre Voci: Three Friends Remember Sergio Leone
•Not Ready for Primetime: Renowned Filmmaker Monte Hellman Discusses the Television Broadcast of A Fistful of Dollars
• The Network Prologue with Harry Dean Stanton
• Location Comparisons: Then to Now
•10 Radio Spots
• Double Bill Trailer (w/ For a Few Dollars More)
• English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround | English 2.0 Lossless Mono
• Reversible Art
• Trailers for A Fistful of Dollars | For a Few Dollars More | The Good, the Bad and the Ugly | Once Upon a Time in the West | A Fistful of Dynamite (Duck, You Sucker)
•Optional English subtitles for the main feature
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Pre-sale $29.95
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07BF1Z3JD/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521484571&sr=8-1-fkmr1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=kino+lorber+fistful+of+dollars+blu+ray
Is it worth getting just for the bonus features :-\
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Maybe. We ARE Leone fans, after all.
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Maybe... These two are FOR SURE ;D
(http://up.picr.de/32152983nk.jpg)
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New trailer showcasing the 4K restoration:
http://gatewayfilmcenter.org/a-fistful-of-dollars-1964-4k-restoration/
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https://trailersfromhell.com/a-fistful-of-dollars-2/
Erickson has some nice things to say about Mike Siegels's contributions to the extras.
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https://trailersfromhell.com/a-fistful-of-dollars-2/
Erickson has some nice things to say about Mike Siegels's contributions to the extras.
Nice extras, just a shame about the film. Looks so green. Kino decided against adjusting the picture as with their GBU release and left as is.
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Erickson keeps comparing to the MGM, but makes no mention of the spectacular Ripley’s. Perhaps cuz he is only discussing US releases. (Though the main feature in the Ripley’s is region-free).
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Erickson keeps comparing to the MGM, but makes no mention of the spectacular Ripley’s. Perhaps cuz he is only discussing US releases. (Though the main feature in the Ripley’s is region-free).
Yeah I brought that up in the comments but he never responded. I don't know how you can compare two problematic transfers and not mention there's a virtually perfect one readily available.
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Yeah I brought that up in the comments but he never responded. I don't know how you can compare two problematic transfers and not mention there's a virtually perfect one readily available.
You're being far too easy on him, Jordan. It's far from a "great review as always".
In fact, ignoring the phenomenal efforts and the resulting product of the 2007 restoration makes his review thoughtless and careless. If his excuse is that he restricts his reviews to official US releases (I don't know if that's true as I haven't read his reviews on other films) then that's unacceptable. The Ripley's BD is region free, it includes an English track and it's been available for nearly a decade. How can you NOT at least acknowledge its existence as a stellar presentation and consequently a fan favourite?
"It’s all too easy for armchair critics (and some obnoxious online trolls) to second-guess learned experts working with original elements. Film restorers and colorists have no reason to ‘sabotage’ anything. My normal response is to defer to these more experienced professionals."
So with this and so many other films being sabotaged by the "experienced professionals", still his normal response is to defer to them?? What if, in some instances, the "armchair critics" have become the "learned experts working with original elements"? What then?
At least he recognizes Mike Siegel's quality work.
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Ha, yes I was trying to show some rare restraint.. I was happy to see him acknowledging Mike's work and I've actually had some correspondence with him in the past about other films..he actually transcribed a deleted scene from an original studio script he owns for me (night and the city) He also referenced all of our teams research on his blog a while back... So just trying to be civil... I think it's possible he doesn't want to bite the hand that feeds him. But I don't know that for sure. My main goal was to make sure the point about the Ripley's 2007 was at least brought up. I really don't like the disparaging comment either but getting used to that kind of negativity when you try to point people in the right directions.
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At least Robert Harris denounced the Kino color:
https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/threads/a-few-words-about-%E2%84%A2-fistful-of-dollars-in-blu-ray.357343/
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Ha, yes I was trying to show some rare restraint.. I was happy to see him acknowledging Mike's work and I've actually had some correspondence with him in the past about other films..he actually transcribed a deleted scene from an original studio script he owns for me (night and the city) He also referenced all of our teams research on his blog a while back... So just trying to be civil... I think it's possible he doesn't want to bite the hand that feeds him. But I don't know that for sure. My main goal was to make sure the point about the Ripley's 2007 was at least brought up.
Fair enough, I had a hunch you might have some history with him and prefer to keep your feedback civil. I'm giad that you pointed out the existence of the Italian/German BD for him and others who visit his site.
I really don't like the disparaging comment either but getting used to that kind of negativity when you try to point people in the right directions.
The negativity only frustrates me when some people consciously dismiss the evidence that's been presented to them on a silver platter (i.e. your blog and our forum posts). Surely, Glen Erickson has seen the information and videos posted on your blog. Even if your focus has not been on the colour controversy it should be quite apparent to him that there are enthusiasts not affiliated with the studio/restoration house who know what they're talking about and back it up with evidence so the disparaging comment is unwarranted and unnecessary.
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Someone has posted below Erickson's review about seeing a longer version of 120 mins on a German channel in 1999. The extra stuff included the scene where he steals the poncho from a soldier by the river and a longer beating scene. He posted this3 years ago. When did the outtakes surface...4 years ago?
https://www.facebook.com/notes/ripleys-home-video/a-fistful-of-dollars-re-restored/10152425272305056
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Someone has posted below Erickson's review about seeing a longer version of 120 mins on a German channel in 1999. The extra stuff included the scene where he steals the poncho from a soldier by the river and a longer beating scene. He posted this3 years ago. When did the outtakes surface...4 years ago?
https://www.facebook.com/notes/ripleys-home-video/a-fistful-of-dollars-re-restored/10152425272305056
Yeah more outtakes came out for the 2014 release trailers. Obviously he's making a huge claim... And the way he's written it is pretty off putting. Frayling has been describing that opening for years because it was in the script he has, long before 2014...that's how I immediately recognized it. Likewise the extended dinner scene has been talked about (but has never turned up in the deleted footage or stills). I don't think his claim is legit, what would be amazing is if one of these companies would release the full scenes as an extra, since obviously all the raw footage not used for the film still exists (not the case with Gbu and Oatitw). I don't know what the 3 min on the new Kino disc is comprised of. I'm hopeful Kino at least did some investigating for FAFDM and maybe some of that deleted footage still survives, there seems to be a lot that was cut from that film.
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Yes I am sceptical about this. I think he's seen a script. Surely we would have heard about it in this day and age. I got in touch with him and he said the Leone family or Cinecita have it and maybe Prof Frayling!!
Interested to find out if there's anything new on the 3 mins on the Kino disc.
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Someone has posted below Erickson's review about seeing a longer version of 120 mins on a German channel in 1999. The extra stuff included the scene where he steals the poncho from a soldier by the river and a longer beating scene. He posted this3 years ago. When did the outtakes surface...4 years ago?
https://www.facebook.com/notes/ripleys-home-video/a-fistful-of-dollars-re-restored/10152425272305056
Ok, I copied that comment for you SLWBers:
" You people don"t understand this is-NOT THE DIRECTORS CUT !! where is the directors cut witch i saw in the summer of 1999 on the German chanel Pro 7 ? all the dvd bluray all of them are CUT versions ! the film is not 99 min is about 120 min !!!! now the film opens with Clint stealing a poncho from a mexican next to a river,only after that opening title arrives and we see the map of Mexico ,the characters name is not Joe is Ray he is a confederate sargent ! after the sun shot when the opening titles end we see the mules feet walking trough the desert only after that we see him arrives at the fountain witch the scene is much longer when he drinks water he takes his time ..only after that wee see the scene where Marisol is rushing fat at the window to see what is going on, another scene cut is where Clint meets Piripero the coffin maker at the beginning of the town and they chat for a while < another scene cut is where the Rohos and Baxters are meeting siting at a dinner table , another scene cut is after the Marisol and Baxters son exchange is where Clint is siting in his poncho with no hat in the street and talks to Silvanito only after that the exchange begins , another scene is the Rohos party there mexican girls come and dance and Clint gets drunk with about 5 glasses of tequila and lands in Chiho's lap only after that he caries him drunk up the stairs .., another scene is the beating of Clint witch begins by showing the Rohos boots and Ramon's men are kiking Clint in a circle by punching him and Rubio rips his hand shirt of only azfther that wee see they trough him in that basement .. another scene cut is where Silvanito and Piripero take Clint to the cave and they take care of his broken arm only afther thet wee se him training with his gun, another scene is the opening duel where it begins with about 5 dynamite explosions not with just two.. only after that the duel music begins with is much longer then the cut versions .. now this version i am sure Tarantino has it because i saw his inspiration of the beating scene in Death Proof where the girls are beating Kurt Russel at the end of the film well that is exactly the cut beating scene of Clint in the film ..! ho has this version ? why people dont know about it ? they all saw the cut dvd or bluray bow shit cut versions ! this Cannes restoration is shit cos they should had restore the film WITH ALL THE MISSING SCENES !"
That's irritating, because I doubt that is is true. Actually it can't be true, otherwise this version would be known in Germany by everyone interested in westerns. But I never heard about such a version. And where should it origin from?
The German theatrical version is just the same as released a dozen times on home video, with the usual 100 min runtime.
And if such a version existed in whatever country, there's no doubt that we all would long knew it. And possess it.
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Crimes against Leone: http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/A-Fistful-of-Dollars-Blu-ray/180852/#Screenshots
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Got the disk. The Marisol documentary is great. Great interview. Lots of great stills as well in the still gallery-many of which I've never seen and I've been collecting Leone stills for a long time. The outtakes are the same as released in 2014, the YouTube video put out to celebrate the re-release in Italy... So no new outtakes, or even the different ones on the Ripley's. No full alternate opening, only the same snippets.
Trailers from hell uses the Italian trailer in terrible quality. Too bad they didn't just include it from the Ripley's. All the other trailers are still at 15fps.
The movie looks like someone slapped a hipster Instagram filter on it. It's so contrasty it's hard on the eyes, the blacks are crushed. Haven't watched the whole thing yet.
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Crimes against Leone: http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/A-Fistful-of-Dollars-Blu-ray/180852/#Screenshots
Looks greenish
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The movie looks like someone slapped a hipster Instagram filter on it. It's so contrasty it's hard on the eyes, the blacks are crushed. Haven't watched the whole thing yet.
Careful. You may be accused of being a hipster if you get through the entire feature.
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Careful. You may be accused of being a hipster if you get through the entire feature.
Is being a hipster better than being an armchair critic? Hmmm
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Is being a hipster better than being an armchair critic? Hmmm
Hipster armchair critic = obnoxious online troll
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https://vimeo.com/271966672
Here is a comparison of the available blu's for FOD.
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Great work Jordan. It clearly shows the difference when you seem them all together like this. I had heard that the Ripley is a wider picture which this confirms. Can see also that the MGM is cropped more top and bottom.
Best in order...
1 Italian
2 Jap/Germ
3 MGM
4 Kino
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I love your comparison videos. Thanks!
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Great work Jordan. It clearly shows the difference when you seem them all together like this. I had heard that the Ripley is a wider picture which this confirms. Can see also that the MGM is cropped more top and bottom.
Best in order...
1 Italian
2 Jap/Germ
3 MGM
4 Kino
No problem, yes the Ripley has more picture area overall except for the shots with flashing at the bottom of frame, they zoomed those in quite a bit in this scene...but that's understandable since they are trying to hide a flaw of the original negative.
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Thanks
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https://vimeo.com/276654131
I put together a quick video that shows some of the alternate footage that's been released on Italian dvd/web compared to the original.
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Great fun Jordan ! As usual ... :).
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any one got this? what is the NEW Original Outtakes, Re-takes & Hidden Gems?
please new cut scenes?
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https://vimeo.com/276654131
I put together a quick video that shows some of the alternate footage that's been released on Italian dvd/web compared to the original.
Hot damn!
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any one got this? what is the NEW Original Outtakes, Re-takes & Hidden Gems?
please new cut scenes?
Nope. Same video of outtake clips that's been available on YouTube since 2014. A missed opportunity, I would have loved to see the original deleted opening.
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Specs:
A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS (1964)
DISC 1 (4KUHD)
? Over 24 hours of extensive shot-by-shot color grading of the logarithmic restored 4K files provided by L?Immagine Ritrovata
? Audio Commentary by Novelist and Critic Tim Lucas
? Audio Commentary by Noted Film Historian Sir Christopher Frayling
? 5.1 Surround and Original 2.0 Mono
? Triple-Layered UHD100 Disc
? Optional English Subtitles
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY)
? Over 24 Hours of extensive shot-by-shot color grading of the logarithmic restored 4K files provided by L?Immagine Ritrovata
? Audio Commentary by Novelist and Critic Tim Lucas
? Audio Commentary by Noted Film Historian Sir Christopher Frayling
? Interview with Actress Marianne Koch
? The Christopher Frayling Archives: A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS
? A New Kind of Hero
? A Few Weeks in Spain: Clint Eastwood on the Experience of Making the Film
? Tre Voci: Three Friends Remember Sergio Leone
? Not Ready for Primetime: Renowned Filmmaker Monte Hellman Discusses the Television Broadcast of A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS
? The Network Prologue with Harry Dean Stanton
? Location Comparisons: Then to Now
? TRAILERS FROM HELL with John Badham
? A FISTFUL in Pictures Image Gallery
? Promoting A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS Image Gallery
? A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS On the Set Image Gallery
? Archival Outtakes
? Radio Spots
? Double Bill Trailer
? Theatrical Trailer
? 5.1 Surround and Original 2.0 Mono
? Double-Layered BD50 Disc
? Optional English Subtitles
Over at blu-ray.com, a poster calling himself "Kino Lorber Insider" made this additional comment:
The FISTFUL OF DOLLARS restoration was done by L?Immagine Ritrovata a few years ago, we had released that master on Blu-ray in 2018.
This time around instead of color grading the UHD Pro Res file, we decided to go back a step and receive the logarithmic restored 4K files, the delivery of these file and the needed conform cost us an additional $10K or so, but since the mastering house recommended it and said the final result would be much better, we decided to go ahead.
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Robert Harris: https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/threads/a-few-words-about-tm-a-fistful-of-dollars-for-a-few-dollars-more-in-4k-uhd.375711/
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This reviewer likes the new KL 1080p transfer (which comes with the UHD) better than the "2018" disc. Unhappily, he doesn't compare it with the Ripley's, which of course has been the standard until now. But at least we know the BD uses the same new scan used for the UHD.
https://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/103110/afistfulofdollars4kultrahdbluray.html
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Beaver compares new disc with Ripley's; very similar. http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_151/a_fistful_of_dollars_4K_UHD.htm
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Beaver compares new disc with Ripley's; very similar. http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film10/blu-ray_review_151/a_fistful_of_dollars_4K_UHD.htm
Looks like the faces are redder in Kino
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Savant: https://trailersfromhell.com/a-fistful-of-dollars-for-a-few-dollars-more-4k/
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https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/A-Fistful-of-Dollars-4K-Blu-ray/295148/#Review
Oddly, although that site reviewed the new FAFDM and gave the PQ a 4.5/5, AFOD only gets a 3.5/5.
I think that most people will be relieved to see that after the adjustments there is a pretty dramatic shift in the color temperature of the visuals and that they are closer to where they need to be. The first thirty to forty minutes of the film, in particular, frequently offer some quite well-balanced visuals that can almost convince that the damage that was done at L'immagine Ritrovata was effectively reversed. The problem is that a lot of the 'good' visuals are paired with various not so good visuals and the inconsistencies that emerge quickly begin to reveal the bigger picture, which is that the old grade has destabilized all sorts of different areas. Sometimes it is the overall dynamic range of the visuals, sometimes it is darker nuances, and sometimes it could be just a range of nuances that do not look right and introduce a temporary but extremely awkward temperature switch. (For example, you can have a quick switch from the perfect blue sky in screencapture #15 to a completely neutral background like the one seen in screencapture #18). Starting with the nighttime party hosted by Ram?n Rojo, however, the visuals begin to lose their organic appearance as well. Yes, some are still decent, but the majority are not. In nighttime footage, but elsewhere as well, there are creamy yellows and plenty of anemic greens and browns that basically give the visuals are a very artificial appearance that would be suitable for a contemporary western shot on a budget. (See screencaptures #3, 20, and 23). In addition to looking odd, some visuals clearly struggle with the 'new' dynamic range that has been introduced with the new grade as well. (See screencaptures #25, 26, 27, 28, and 30). In these areas, the visuals quite simply do not look like they come from a film shot on 35mm stock in 1964. The rest is fine because the restored files have strong underlying qualities, but given the massive inconsistencies on display these strengths are largely irrelevant.