8/29: Aurora Awakes

[CAspace]

Originally Posted by CAspace

It looked incredible on the big screen at the El Capitan!
Quick question for you, how do you suppose this digital 4k presentation would compare to a 75mm original print (new print) presentation back "in the day"?

I just found out that the El Capitan is projecting Sleeping Beuty at 2k resolution. While I do wish I could see this film in a true 70mm projection, I am very surprised at how great it looked even at only 2k resolution.
I do hope that someday they will project the 4k resolution version, of course I would choose 70mm over the 4k but hey the already have a 4k master to stream!

[AtomicAge]

Originally Posted by CAspace

I just found out that the El Capitan is projecting Sleeping Beuty at 2k resolution. While I do wish I could see this film in a true 70mm projection, I am very surprised at how great it looked even at only 2k resolution.
I do hope that someday they will project the 4k resolution version, of course I would choose 70mm over the 4k but hey the already have a 4k master to stream!

4k is actually roughly the resolution of a 35mm answer print (not the same thing as a release print). 65mm is actually somewhere between 8 and 10k

Having said that a 2k digital projection is often higher resolution than a 35mm release print because the 35mm print is 4 or 5 generations away from the original negative.

Speaking of negatives, this restoration was done from the original Technirama camera negatives (35mm turned on its side giving it 70mm proportions). Previous releases were done from a 35mm interpositive (35mm proportions using anamorphic squeeze). This allows the full 2.55:1 original aspect ratio to be seen for the first time on video.

Also the original sound elements were discovered in Germany (where the film's score was recorded) and this enabled them to do a true 7.1 surround sound mix.

This film should be stunning on blu-ray, assuming that they haven't done anything stupid like trying to remove the film grain.

Hope this info helps.

Doug

[bfdf55]

Originally Posted by kayoss

The new restoration was done from the original master print, and the effect is stunning. The film has NEVER looked this good.... and the 4K presentation of this new master being screened right now at the El Cap is, unquestionably, the best anyone has ever seen this film.

Remember when you first saw the remaster of Snow White and how impossibly clean it looked? That's the level of treatment Sleeping Beauty got, which is actually much more impressive as it's 70MM ratio literally meant there was twice as much animation to clean up. All fingerprints and smudges are gone, and the picture simply pops off the screen. Beautiful hidden details in the paintings finally are seen (as well as less-then-perfect facial details that also now show up on the huge screen). The newly remixed score blasting all around you in multichannel THX is just a great added treat.

If you love this film, without a doubt book a trip to LA to see the new restoration on a big screen! If you can't make it, at least know that a truly amazing Blu-ray version is waiting in October.

In other words, as I understand it, this film is better than the actual original film was during it's initial showing.

[Armadillo4]

This is a wonderful article! Thank you Dusty and Fishy! I think a trip to the El Capitan must be scheduled in the next week or so.

And thanks to everyone else who have chimed in with technical details regarding the restoration. It makes me very excited about seeing the movie on the big screen!

[Witches of Morva]

ORDDU: Very nice article, ducklings. Reading it so early in the morning, after just waking up, makes me feel like Aurora--minus her prince.

ORWEN: Reading it makes me feel like singing, "Hail to the King! Hail to the Queen!--"

ORGOCH: "Hell ta the Princess A-Snore-a!"

[CAspace]

Originally Posted by AtomicAge

4k is actually roughly the resolution of a 35mm answer print (not the same thing as a release print). 65mm is actually somewhere between 8 and 10k

Having said that a 2k digital projection is often higher resolution than a 35mm release print because the 35mm print is 4 or 5 generations away from the original negative.

Speaking of negatives, this restoration was done from the original Technirama camera negatives (35mm turned on its side giving it 70mm proportions). Previous releases were done from a 35mm interpositive (35mm proportions using anamorphic squeeze). This allows the full 2.55:1 original aspect ratio to be seen for the first time on video.

Also the original sound elements were discovered in Germany (where the film's score was recorded) and this enabled them to do a true 7.1 surround sound mix.

This film should be stunning on blu-ray, assuming that they haven't done anything stupid like trying to remove the film grain.

Hope this info helps.

Doug

Thanks so much for that information! Maybe someday they will present it in a 4k projection The LandMark in WestLA has a new Sony 4k projector

[sailerm]

Originally Posted by AtomicAge

This film should be stunning on blu-ray, assuming that they haven't done anything stupid like trying to remove the film grain

That's been the problem with most of the more recent film 'restorations'. Is the trying to remove all evidence of human hands working on a film. From Lucas removing all the orignal SFX from Star Wars to the removal off all cel artifacts from Snow White.

I am not a fan of the Snow White DVD restoration, as it looks flat and dead compared to the previous VHS and Laser Disc where the inherent anomalities of hand drawn animation of film stock are retained.

[AtomicAge]

Originally Posted by CAspace

Thanks so much for that information! Maybe someday they will present it in a 4k projection The LandMark in WestLA has a new Sony 4k projector

4K projectors are starting to make their way into theaters, but they are VERY expensive.

Doug

[AtomicAge]

Originally Posted by sailerm

That's been the problem with most of the more recent film 'restorations'. Is the trying to remove all evidence of human hands working on a film. From Lucas removing all the orignal SFX from Star Wars to the removal off all cel artifacts from Snow White.

I am not a fan of the Snow White DVD restoration, as it looks flat and dead compared to the previous VHS and Laser Disc where the inherent anomalities of hand drawn animation of film stock are retained.

I don't have a problem with removing things that aren't supposed to be there, dust, scratches, or even removing mistakes that couldn't be fixed at the time as in the case of Blade Runner: The Final Cut.

I really don't have a problem with the changes Lucas has made to the Star Wars films, they are after his films to do with what he wants. I do have a problem with changing the look of a film to try and make it look HD or "modern". Patton is a horrible example of this, everyone in the movie looks like they are made of wax.

For a movie shot on film, grain is supposed to be there. The grain is what makes up the image.

Doug

[depooter]

It's Blu-Ray Al, not Blue-Ray..

It's really the only way to watch a movie if you have a TV that is 40 inches or bigger...

[whamo]

I love the blu-ray video quality! My 52 inch screen Sharp Aquos is the bomb. I need to get a better sound system for it though. Any suggestions? I'm looking forward to Snow White more than Sleeping Beauty, but I'll give both a look. School's back in session, so it's the most wonderful time of the year. I'm hoping for a big dropoff in crowds next week.

[kayoss]

Originally Posted by AtomicAge

4K projectors are starting to make their way into theaters, but they are VERY expensive.

Doug

I could be wrong I suppose, but I could've sworn the El Cap does have a 4K projector. If I'm not mistaken, it was the first one in LA (along with the Chinese).

[kayoss]

Originally Posted by CAspace

I just found out that the El Capitan is projecting Sleeping Beuty at 2k resolution. While I do wish I could see this film in a true 70mm projection, I am very surprised at how great it looked even at only 2k resolution.
I do hope that someday they will project the 4k resolution version, of course I would choose 70mm over the 4k but hey the already have a 4k master to stream!

I've seen the 70MM version, and perhaps it was just a terrible print, but it was severely lacking. I've never seen Sleeping Beauty look close to how it looks in the current presentation, so I'd truly be shocked if it's being shown at 2K instead of 4K.

[kayoss]

Originally Posted by AtomicAge

4k is actually roughly the resolution of a 35mm answer print (not the same thing as a release print). 65mm is actually somewhere between 8 and 10k

Having said that a 2k digital projection is often higher resolution than a 35mm release print because the 35mm print is 4 or 5 generations away from the original negative.

Speaking of negatives, this restoration was done from the original Technirama camera negatives (35mm turned on its side giving it 70mm proportions). Previous releases were done from a 35mm interpositive (35mm proportions using anamorphic squeeze). This allows the full 2.55:1 original aspect ratio to be seen for the first time on video.

Doug

Thanks Doug for filling in the specifics of my 'original negative' post. I didn't quite know how to explain it myself. Also, while we're on the subject, was Black Cauldron filmed in Technirama or straight-up 70?

[amanda.collishaw]

I hope this comes to theatres nation wide, I doubt it will but can't blame me for hoping. Trying to find a theatre in my area that was showing Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D last year was (no pun intended) a nightmare so even if Sleeping Beauty comes to theatres nation wide, I will probably have to go to downtown Sacramento to see it.

I don't have the money for a blu-ray player, not to mention money to buy blu-ray disks. Our tv and surround sound would probably look and sound fantabulous with blu-ray. Maybe next year. I'm not picky so it works out; if I'm fortunate to see the movie at all, I'm a happy camper. I have the dvd from last time it was released and I watch it to death.