[Proposal] The Abyss (1989) Theatrical Cut [regrade]

[spoRv]

I heard that this June the UHD-BD will be released but, after waiting forever for the BD, I don't hold my breath anymore...

So, I thought to give this project a chance, if there is enough interest; this is because it will take 100+hrs encoding time only for the regrading!
Sources are WEB and HDTV, with a bit of noise reduction here, sharpening there, you know, the usual thing.  
For color reference, I used an obscure HDTV version that has the most "right" color grading (for what it worth) - so, if you are looking for theatrically accurate regrade, this will not be the case; still, it's better than the teal blanket IMHO.

Top untouched, bottom regraded:

comparison: https://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/21486

I'm thinking to release it in real 4K (4096x1716); made a test encode using AV1 @20mbps and grain synthesis, and it's not that bad at all: https://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/21485 (note: this is a screenshot from the encoded file)

Preliminary test clip (25s, no audio, 67MB): https://anonfiles.com/H8gfr5H9x9/The_Aby...ded_4K_mkv

Feedbacks are welcome!

[Johnny-5]

What about SEHD?

[stwd4nder2]

I heard that this June the UHD-BD will be released

Confirmed. My uncle works at Criterion, it's gonna have True Lies and Aliens on a bonus disc.

[spoRv]

What about SEHD?

Isn't that the Extended Edition only? Anyway, the colors are pretty much the same; don't know the quality, though.

Confirmed. My uncle works at Criterion, it's gonna have True Lies and Aliens on a bonus disc.

AH! So, maybe it's better to not spend time and energy on this project...

[BDgeek]

WOW Fantastic news stwd4nder2!

With these on the UHD horizon, now what I can't wait to see is Touchstone/Hollywood Pictures 90'ies and early 00''s action output, meaning basically every Don Simpson / Jerry Bruckheimer film.

It's criminal how Disney has been sitting on these since the early days of BD and never gave us restored and special editions of these action fan favorites like: The Rock, Crimson Tide, Con Air, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, Gone in 60 Seconds. National Treasure, King Arthur. Heck I'd even like Bad Company thrown in mix, as it never even got a regular BD release. G.I. Jane would also be great, not a Bruckheimer film, but directed by Ridley Scott for Hollywood Pictures.

Sorry for the off topic, but to aswer your question, I don1't think it's worth the throuble spoRv.

In my opinion, since the emergence of 4K and HDR, film PQ has gotten so good and the infamous teal and orange craze (specially for catalog remasters) has mostly been forgotten, that I believe most of fan time/resources should be focused on the audio department. As the unwritten rule of the better the PQ the worst the AQ has become truer than ever.

So preserving and syncing Cinema, LD, DVD and even sometimes VHS audio, when it's worth, is my main point of concern for now. It's so delightful to watch a brand new catalog 4k remaster with either Cinema DTS or LD sound, specially considering the state of recent cinema output..

ps: guess I should update the nick for UHDgeek LOL

[spoRv]

OK, let it rest - at least until the UHD-BD is out, then we'll see...

[Johnny-5]

What about SEHD?

Isn't that the Extended Edition only? Anyway, the colors are pretty much the same; don't know the quality, though.

Yep, it's only the Special Edition. Missed that this was Theatrical. Here's this:



I can take some of my own caps later.