8.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
It started as a concert. It became a celebration. Join an unparalleled lineup of rock superstars as they celebrate The Band's historic 1976 farewell performance.
Starring: Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, Van MorrisonMusic | 100% |
Documentary | 57% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Martin Scorsese's "The Last Waltz" (1978) arrives on 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include an exclusive new program with the director; vintage promotional materials for the film; vintage commentaries; archival featurette with interviews; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Criterion's release of The Last Waltz is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray offer presentations of a brand new 4K restoration of the film.
The following information appears inside the leaflet that is provided with this release:
"This new 4K digital restoration was created from a scan of the 35mm original camera negative made in 16-bit 4K resolution on a Lasergraphics Director film scanner at Roundabout Entertainment in Burbank, California. A 35mm print courtesy of Sikelia Productions was used as a color reference. On the 4K Blu-ray disc, the feature is presented in Dolby Vision HDR (high dynamic range). On the Blu-ray, it is presented in high-definition SDR (standard dynamic range).
The 5.1 surround soundtrack was remixed from the original two-inch 24-track magnetic masters in 2001 by Ted Hall at Pop Sound in Santa Monica, California, under the supervision of Robbie Robertson. Stereo mixes and stems made by Robertson's mixer Dam Gellert and approved by Robertson were used in the creation of the 5.1 surround mix.
Transfer supervisors: Martin Scorsese, Lee Kline, Giles Sherwood.
Colorist: Roman Hankewycz/Harbor Pictures Company, New York."
Two sets of screencaptures are included with this review. Please note that the screencaptures from the 4K Blu-ray are 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: #1-20 are from the 4K Blu-ray.
Screencaptures: #21-34 are from the Blu-ray.
Currently, I have only one Blu-ray release of The Last Waltz in my library, which is this Region-B release British label Eureka Entertainment produced in 2018. It is sourced from an older master that was supplied by MGM. (It is the same master that was used for this Special Edition DVD as well). I did some direct comparisons between the 4K Blu-ray and the Region-B release. I also used the new Blu-ray release to see what type of improvements are present in a direct 1080p to 1080p comparison.
The 4K Blu-ray release offers some pretty dramatic improvements in all but one of the areas that we typically address in our reviews. (Only in terms of image stability the improvement isn't as striking because MGM's master was already pretty solid). For example, in native 4K delineation, clarity and depth are so much better that now there really isn't a big difference between the stage footage and the close-ups. In native 4K, they both look much better defined and balanced. (For reference, on the Region-B Blu-ray release the shifts produce some pretty obvious discrepancies that reveal the age of the MGM master). Furthermore, in native 4K the lighting is substantially better captured. Highlights look better as well. On top of this, the new HDR/Dolby Vision grade produces vastly superior ranges of better saturated primaries and supporting nuances. As a result, all visuals look much richer and at the same time better balanced. Grain reproduction is much nicer, so on a a larger screen you should expect to see superior fluidity that further strengthens all visuals. (On the Region-B release some of the darker areas can't handle the grain too well and give a slightly noisy appearance). Finally, the entire film looks exceptionally clean and healthy.
The Blu-ray to Blu-ray comparison easily reveals the strengths of the new master as well. However, there are a couple of darker areas where a few light fluctuations exaggerate grain exposure. This is entirely predictable and normal because when the native 4K content is downsampled to 1080p the grain becomes a bit looser. Color balance still looks better. Shadow definition is perhaps slightly less impressive than it is on the 4K Blu-ray, but I have to be honest and write that I was able to notice the difference only because I had already spent a couple of hours with the 4K presentation. All in all, I think that the new 4K makeover that was prepared for The Last Waltz is outstanding. (Note: The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked").
There are three standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), prepared in 2001; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit), track prepared in 2001; and English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit), prepared in 1978. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
When I view older films, I usually try to stay as close as possible to the original audio. However, if you have seen our review of the Region-B release from 2018, you probably already know that I like the 5.1 track that was included on it. Well, I think that it remains my favorite track for The Last Waltz. It is very nicely done, and to be honest, when I view the film, I just don't get a contemporary vibe from it. I think that it captures the vibe in the venue really, really well. I am sure that some purists with disagree with me, so since the release offers three different audio options, you can experiment with them and choose the one that best meets your expectations. For what it's worth, I did quite a bit of switching, so I can comfortably state that I spent more than enough time with the other two tracks as well.
4K BLU-RAY DISC
I had a pretty good feeling that The Last Waltz will be properly restored in 4K, but to be honest, I did not expect to see a 4K Blu-ray release of it so soon. The new 4K restoration that was completed with Martin Scorsese's involvement is gorgeous and its technical presentation on 4K Blu-ray is top-notch. Needless to say, Criterion's 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack will be the definitive home video release of this film. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
*I was so impressed by the great work that was done for The Last Waltz that after I was done viewing the 4K Blu-ray release last night, I did a bit of dreaming. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of Depeche Mode: Devotional, directed by Anton Corbijn. Wouldn't it be great if it was restored by the folks at Criterion and released on 4K Blu-ray?
1970
Remastered
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1984
1967
2019
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1974
1999
2022
1981
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2005
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1976
2003
1981
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1988
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2007