Source France | Publisher : Sidonis | Release date : 12 April 2024
Video format
2160p24 – Ratio 2.39
CSD / BT.709 – HEVC encoding
Master intermediate 4K
Soundtrack
English DTS-HD MA 2.0
French DTS-HD MA 2.0
Subtitles
French
The 4K Ultra HD was expected, yet it disappoints... Published on April 12 at Sidonis Calysta, bad encounter cult The Hitcher (1986) displays digital noise reduction (digital noise reduction) in autopilot, edge enhancement (enhancement of contours) and capricious calibration where some planes suffer from poor HDR conversion to SDR (with the veiled effect if characteristic). But what happened, knowing that the restoration had been commissioned for HDR content?
Someone hit the side of the road
In fact, the editor has made himself and has not been able to make up for the damage, despite the decision to give up encoding in HDR format in order to attempt to mask the calibration failures. In fact, the raw scan of the 35 mmintermediate was good, but it was during the course of the process that there were many coucacs ( occasioned by The Eclair Group, in charge of mastering and transfer).
What does the booklet present in the edition tell us? The Hitcher was restored in 4K by Sidonis Calysta in 2024 from a 35 mm interpositive which after cleaning the support to remove dust was first scanned in 4K by the Eclair laboratory in France. The scan element 4K was then sent to the Subtilly/DR colour laboratory in Madrid (Spain) for digital image-by-image cleaning in order to remove the remaining and calibrated defects and white dots for a finalisation intended for its spring in rooms by Tamasa distribution and Sidonis Calysta in 2024. The film also features a new French subtitle.
Has director Robert Harmon been consulted or at least asked for this edition? Unfortunately, unlike a future edition (see below), he has worked closely with the publisher, particularly at the calibration level.
How is it then that the tests (serious), like the one yet ready from my colleague TestsBluray.com, slow to be published? Simply so that the publisher, currently in embarrassment even though he tried to catch up with the final result in his hands, can bring his right of reply (see below) as a victim.
A correspondence exchange process is in place until 30 November 2024. To do this, you will need to send your contact details (post address and email address) and proof of purchase (bill or cash ticket required) either by email at question@annees-laser.com or by mail to the editor: The Laser Years - Hitcher Exchange - 20, Turquetil Pass - 75011 PARIS. You will then receive the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray free with the new master, more in line with the publisher's expectations.
'Cause I was on the road. 🎶
Then there's the sound part... Because if the VO 2.0 surround that corresponds to the original Dolby Stereo (4 channels) mix does the job (so wide and animated), how can I explain that the VF 2.0, too surround, finds itself with a right/left inversion of the channels (cf. vehicle inputs and field outputs) and balances some of the same information on all channels? Yes, dialogues (and not that) are also delivered at the back (even if at a lower recording level)! Wasn't there any way to remedy it before the marketing of this edition?
« - What's your name? Come on. What's your name? Do you have a name? Do you have a record police? Where are you from? - Disneyland. »
Between a beautiful chassis and a beautiful body...
But packaging is clearly premium and the editorial content is absolutely great. Judge for yourself: A 60-page book by Olivier Père (Director of cinema and cinema)Arte France), an unpublished documentary on Rutger Hauer by Simone de Vries in 2006, a making of 38 minutes retrospective and a presentation of the 36-minute film by Samuel Blumenfeld (The world).
Auto stop or what?
While waiting for the V2 (the new corrected master will be available on October 11 with the standard edition), be informed that the UK publisher Second Sight Films Prepare another exit... From a 4K scan of the original 35 mm negatives with a new Dolby Vision calibration performed under the supervision of its director, Robert Harmon In person, no doubt the result will be completely different. Wait and see.
First time I pre-ordered (before tests like yours, so blind) a title from Sidonis, which is more, in UHD4K (it's only their second if I'm not mistaken)
What a disappointment! a work of "sagoon" (I only speak of the quality part of image/his not of the rest)
What I find amazing with the information that you brought (very complicated to find information on the why of how this story...)
It's because Sidonis was aware of the problem (how not to be) basically they got "fucked" and we had to take on and review the work..., they continued to the end by "fucking" their own customers!
I simply think that this proves that this publisher does not have sufficient resources and experience to manage the restoration process from A to Z of a title like that.
We didn't start again, 35€ It's a sum for one film. (we can console ourselves with the bonuses, which I haven't seen yet completely)
Indeed, the bonuses are at least of quality. And it should also be noted that packaging is truly premium. For the rest, no how unfortunately! 🙁
Thank you for having put in a calm and reasoned form the disappointment and anger that my few minutes of attempt at viewing (both Blu-Ray 4K and the basic one) brought.
Both come from the same (bad) restoration. Remains a premium packaging and excellent bonuses.
Thank you for your constructive advice. The publisher is an incredible bad faith.
This is the answer they provided.
Good morning, sir.
We have read your e-mail.
Can you return to the following address the 4K cake for control, we do not have a complaint about the quality of the 4k. Of course we'll trade you if there's a problem.
Samsara Prod
45-47 Avenue du Marshal Foch
7750 Chels
Have a good day.
Regrettably,
Sidonis
I'll cancel my From Beyond preco.
Nice week for you.
"At the gates of the beyond" will be of quality as it was "Lifeforce" because the source material was purchased from US publishers more than serious. In short, they just don't have to sponsor a restoration themselves! 🙁
Hello, I confirm the disastrous management of the replacement problem. I'm two and a half months away from talking to them and no replacement BR in sight.
These practices must be known so that the customers order knowingly, for my part as soon as I would settle my worries with the help of a consumer association, I definitely blacklist them.
You didn't get lucky because many consumers did receive their replacement disk in the weeks after sending the email. 😞
Hey, everybody! For my part I find that the image is not catastrophic though it is below what can be expected from a 4k bluray! Surprisingly, it was simply omitted from the HDR which for me generally makes all the difference to the standard blue-ray.
But the big problem I encounter is a reversal of stereo on the VF, a car passes from left to right on the screen and the sound from right to left. I would point out that the VO normally passes. Is there no quality control in normal time? I don't see any post on the subject yet and Sidonis remains silent to my emails.
There was no omission as I mentioned in the article, but rather a deliberate withdrawal of HDR technology to attempt to mask the (too many) failures of calibration. As for the inversion of the sound on the VF, I had not noticed on the few passages that I was launched in our language... Unlike the same information found on all channels !!!
For the rest, the publisher has informed us that he will soon proceed with the replacement of cakes for those who will request it... Before denying info on social networks! What is he doing?
Finally, know that it is the Eclair Group, in charge of mastering and transfer, which is responsible for the many problems that have arisen during the restoration process.
[...] being announced for October 11 next via standard edition with key exchange procedure) displayed a reduction of digital noise (of the DNR) in autopilot, reinforcements [...]