6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Jonathan Hemlock is an art history professor and collector who finances his hobby by performing the odd sanction (assassination) for an obscure government bureau. He is forced to take a case where he must find out which of the members of a mountain climbing team is the Russian killer he has been given as a target by joining an expedition to climb the treacherous Eiger.
Starring: Clint Eastwood, George Kennedy, Vonetta McGee, Jack Cassidy, Heidi BrühlAdventure | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Romance | Insignificant |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Clint Eastwood's "The Eiger Sanction" (1975) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by author and critic Justin Humphreys; recent audio commentary by critic Nick Pinkerton; recent program with actor Reiner Schone; promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free
Kino Lorber's release of The Eiger Sanction is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray disc is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray disc is Region-A "locked".
Please note that some of the screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.
Screencaptures #1-23 are from the 4K Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #23-34 are from the Blu-ray.
This release introduces a new 4K makeover of The Eiger Sanction on 4K Blu-ray, which can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. The Blu-ray that is included with the 4K Blu-ray does not offer a 1080p presentation of the 4K makeover. It has a 1080p presentation of the 2K makeover of the film, which Kino Lorber introduced with this release in 2020.
I viewed the native 4K presentation of the new 4K makeover with Dolby Vision. On my system, the 4K makeover produced very healthy and vibrant visuals. On the previous Blu-ray release, I frequently spotted minor flecks and nicks, but I did not see them here. Density appeared improved. However, the most obvious density fluctuations, like the ones seen in the beginning of the film, remain because they are introduced by the cinematography. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is excellent. All primaries and pretty much all supporting nuances are lusher. However, a lot of darker areas look too dark on my system, which is an unfortunate trade-off because it is the only thing that stops me from declaring that the color scheme is improved. I went back to the 1080p presentation and I can clearly see more in darker areas there. (For what it's worth, I think on the 1080p presentation there is some light crushing, too). So, I lean toward the 1080p presentation as the superior one. My score is 3.75/5.00.
There is only one standard audio track on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
I would describe the audio track as very good. However, in some areas there are small stability fluctuations that I noticed on the previous release as well. I assume that they are introduced by aging, so they can be addressed with some particular enhancements. This is not a big issue, but I think that it is something that will be noticed by viewers.
4K BLU-RAY DISC
In 2020, the folks at Kino Lorber introduced a 2K makeover of The Eiger Sanction that was quite nice. I still like it. This combo pack introduces an exclusive new 4K makeover of the film that is a little healthier and more vibrant. However, in darker areas, it struggles to perform as well as the 2K makeover. So, if you have been considering an upgrade, I suggest that you somehow find a way to test the 4K makeover on the 4K Blu-ray. The Blu-ray that is included with it has the 2K makeover.
1973
1968
Special Edition
1975
1967
1959
1968
1983
1946
1945
1990
2018
4K Restoration
1975
2017
2012
2023
1971
1979
2015
Alfred Hitchcock Masterpiece Series
1969
1966-1973