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Which Blu-ray should I watch first on my new 50" TV?

posted a year ago by CKid (3842)
29 replies | jump to latest

This week I bought a 50 inch Samsung Ultra HD 4K Crystal TV (model CU8000) to replace my older 40" Samsung, and this morning I shall unpack it and temporarily set it up with the Blu-ray player I currently own.
Shortly after it arrived, I went ahead and ordered a Panasonic Streaming 4K Blu-ray Player with "Ultra HD Premium Video Playback
and High Res Audio." This will arrive in a couple of days.
Finally (I hope), I just ordered two 8K/4K High Speed HDMI Cables to connect everything together.

I am now left with the question, "Which Blu-ray should I watch first when everything is properly hooked up?"
Fitting the forum in which I am asking the question, I have compiled a Baker's Dozen list of 12 of my favorite films, plus one I have not yet seen. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated.

And the choices, in chronological order of release, are ...
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Spartacus (1960) - Restored Edition
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) - 60th Anniversary Edition (includes an Ultra HD 4K disc plus a regular Blu-ray disc)
How the West Was Won (1962) - restored clarity eliminates the original "three-panel join lines"
Patton (1970)
Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
Tess (1979) - Criterion Collection Edition
Excalibur (1981)
Blade Runner (1982) - The Final Cut
The Terminator (1984)
The Last of the Mohicans (1992) - Director's Definitive Cut
The Lord of the Rings (2001, 2002, 2003) - Extended Editions
Oppenheimer (2023) - bought this a few weeks ago but have been waiting to get the new screen and player in order to watch it the best way I can.

Despite the fact that To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite movie of all time, I'm having a tough time deciding whether I want a Black & White film to be the first one I watch on this new screen.
On the other hand, the fact that it includes a 4K disc does make it an intriguing choice.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21466) a year ago

Excalibur or The Terminator would be my first choice.

[–] mtxmind (3296) a year ago

Definately Excalibur 👍

Outside choice not on your list-

Once Upon A Time in America (1984) The restored extended version. Not sure if it's available in 4k yet.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21466) a year ago

I’m a really big fan of Leone and Italian westerns but I’ve somehow skipped over Once Upon a Time in America all these years. What do you think of it compared to his other films?

[–] mtxmind (3296) a year ago

I think it's his best film. Some people find it too long, &/or boring, but not me. The performances, story, directing, cinematography, & the beautifuel score by Ennio are superb.

I was lucky enough to first see it in it's initial limited release in the US-the original Europeon version- before it got butchered by it's American distributor (for the wide release) cutting the run time & putting the events of the film in chronological order, completely ruining the entire feel of the film. Some critics called the original the best film of the year, & the butchered version the worst film of the year.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21466) a year ago

What is the runtime of the version I should search out?

[–] mtxmind (3296) a year ago

The last version I know of runs 251 minutes.

Leone's final cut ran 269 minutes, but apparently there are still some rights issues with the missing 18 minutes that as far as I know are still being worked out.

From Wiki:

In March 2011, it was announced that Leone's original 269-minute version was to be re-created by a film lab in Italy under the supervision of Leone's children, who had acquired the Italian distribution rights, and the film's original sound editor, Fausto Ancillai, for a premiere in 2012 at either the Cannes Film Festival or Venice Film Festival.[34][35]

The restored film premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, but because of unforeseen rights issues for the deleted scenes, the restoration had a runtime of only 251 minutes.[36][37][38] However, Martin Scorsese (whose Film Foundation helped with the restoration) stated that he was helping Leone's children gain the rights to the final 24 minutes of deleted scenes to create a complete restoration of Leone's envisaged 269-minute version. On 3 August 2012, it was reported that after the premiere at Cannes, the restored film was pulled from circulation, pending further restoration work.[39]

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21466) a year ago

I appreciate it.

[–] CKid (3842) a year ago

To Mrmojo4700 and mxtmind,
Thank you for your replies. I found the discussion regarding Once Upon a Time In America to be quite interesting. I was struck by the observation that, "some critics called the original the best film of the year, & the butchered version the worst film of the year."
That immediately brought to mind Charles Dickens' immortal opening line from A Tale of Two Cities ...
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the time that Martin Scorsese couldn't restore the missing 18 minutes."
Oh wait, Dickens didn't write the second sentence.

Meanwhile, I had to smile when I saw that Once a Time In America was released in 1984, as my film library contains more films released that year than any other.
The 20 films I own from 1984 are ...
2010: The Year We Make Contact - Blu-ray
Bachelor Party - DVD
Body Double - Blu-ray
Broadway Danny Rose - DVD
Dune - Blu-ray (even though director David Lynch hated the film, I nonetheless liked it despite its flaws)
The Flamingo Kid - DVD
Garbo Talks - DVD
Moscow on the Hudson - DVD
The Natural - DVD
The Philadelphia Experiment - DVD
Purple Rain - Blu-ray
Red Dawn - Blu-ray
Revenge of the Nerds - DVD
Romancing the Stone - Blu-ray
Sixteen Candles - DVD
Starman - Blu-ray
Streets of Fire - Blu-ray
Swing Shift - DVD
The Terminator - Blu-ray
This Is Spinal Tap - Blu-ray (this one, obviously, goes to 11)

I shall definitely check and see if I can find the restored version of Once Upon a Time in America based upon your recommendation.
Thanks again for your replies.

[–] Seperatrix (1220) a year ago

"This Is Spinal Tap - Blu-ray (this one, obviously, goes to 11)"

Just make sure you set your new Samsung screen to 51" when you watch it.

[–] CKid (3842) a year ago

OK, just ordered the Blu-ray of Once Upon a Time In America (1984) from Amazon in a "Used - Like New" condition.
The package contains two discs -- the Extended Director's Cut (251 minutes) and the Theatrical Cut (229 minutes).
Could not find a new one, thus I went for one of the used ones. I have bought used Blu-rays and DVDs through Amazon previously and have never been disappointed with the quality I received.

That being said, I did find it interesting that the back of the package states ...

Sergio Leone's original version comes to life in this fully restored Extended Director's Cut.
Twenty two minutes of never-before-seen-footage have been returned to this chronical of brutal and passionate underworld history, deepening the characters and enlarging the work of its astonishing cast.

The newly added 22 minutes of extended scenes brings us closer to Leone's original vision of the film, but due to the limited availability of 35mm workprints, the new inserts could not be restored to the same quality as the rest of the film.

Hmm, it sure seems that the second half of this quote contradicts the "fully restored" statement in the first half of the quote.
Be that as it may, I still am looking forward to receiving this Blu-ray.
Oh yeah, this raises the count of 1984 films that I own to 21.

In closing, here's a song which I believe fits the occasion perfectly - https://youtu.be/65ulCDrKMiU

[–] mtxmind (3296) a year ago

The quality of the restored deleted scenes is a little jarring at first, but they do add a lot to the film. A standout is the previously un-seen Louise Fletcher as a funeral home director.

Is your copy a 4k or a 2k? I have the 2k, since I still have 2k TV & BluRay player, & like I said IDK if they've ever released a 4k version. They may be saving that for when ever the rights for the still missing scenes are settled.

[–] CKid (3842) a year ago

It's a 2K. I don't believe that a 4K version is available.
That being said, a N.Y. Times review of the 4K Blu-ray Player that I ordered stated that the picture quality of regular Blu-rays and DVDs improved quite noticeably when seen on a 4K screen while being played on that Player.
So that is something I have to look forward to.

[–] BKB (9912) a year ago

Try Oppenheimer just to see if the movie really was that good and not a product of the Barbenheimer craze over the Summer. After that, if you can, purchase T2 on Blu Ray.. Now THAT'S a movie to showcase your new TV

[–] 123Guy (7281) a year ago

To SEE your new TV at its best, pick the newest produced movie you have. It will look the cleanest. Old films look great but are subject to films faults

[–] M1sterDoct0r (4423) a year ago

My lil bro didn't see it on the big screen & just saw it at home & he liked it.

I got the bluray but I'm yet to try it at home.

[–] M1sterDoct0r (4423) a year ago

From your list, Oppenheimer. Especially if you have a sound system.

I'd recommend you check out Tron: Legacy, Blade Runner 2049 & Life of Pi as well.

They looked incredible on my 55" 4K tv I got last year.

[–] CKid (3842) a year ago

I own Blade Runner 2049 on Blu-ray.
It came packed as part of a 2 Film Collection release along with Blade Runner - The Final Cut.

[–] M1sterDoct0r (4423) a year ago

Definitely check it out. Looked absolutely gorgeous!

[–] CKid (3842) a year ago

[deleted]

[–] samoanjoes (56724) a year ago

Why not Oppenheimer considering it's a movie from the Blu-Ray era? It didn't need to be remastered and is probably going to be the best quality there.

[–] CKid (3842) a year ago

Thanks to BKB, 123Guy, M1sterDoct0r and samoanjoes for your replies.
Oppenheimer shall definitely be the first I watch when I hook up the Panasonic 4K Blu-ray player after it arrives in a few days.
In the meantime, I'll probably watch either Excalibur or Jeremiah Johnson on my current Blu-ray player.

[–] MaximRecoil (4615) a year ago

Theatrical movies have had better-than-BD quality since long before the BD format existed, especially ones shot on 70mm film like 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962), assuming they don't screw up the BD transfer (which they often do, unfortunately).

These are some of the best looking BD transfers I've seen (I watch movies on a 1080p projector / 100" screen from about 10' away):

Quigley Down Under (1990)

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Christine (1983)

The Terminator (1984)

Spider-Man (2002)

Ninja III: The Domination (1984)

Rocky IV (1985) (all of them in the BD box set up to and including part V look great for that matter, especially parts III-V)

[–] samoanjoes (56724) a year ago

I don't watch films from a projector so I can't say myself. CKid said that he's planning on watching it through a 4K Blu-ray player. I'd love to watch it through a projector but the top tier ones are really expensive.

[–] nyctc7 (43609) a year ago

Something involving Asian Babes.

[–] CKid (3842) a year ago

Sorry, I don't own anything involving Asian Babes.
I do however own the DVD of Debbie Does Dallas (1978).
Should I watch that tonight instead of the Dallas Cowboys v. Philadelphia Eagles game?

[–] nyctc7 (43609) a year ago

Football

[–] [deleted] a year ago

I'd do lord of the rings. Not extended but the scenery is just as important as the story.

This coming from a guy who won't watch the lord of the rings again after having seen it in the theaters