7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
A bookish CIA researcher finds all his co-workers dead, and must outwit those responsible until he figures out who he can really trust.
Starring: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow, John HousemanDrama | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Romance | Insignificant |
Mystery | 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 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Sydney Pollack's "3 Days of the Condor" (1975) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary by critics Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson; archival program with the director; archival audio commentary by the director; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the m feature. Region-Free.
Kino Lorber's release of 3 Days of the Condor is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked".
Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear 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 #1-28 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #31-39 are from the 4K Blu-ray.
I have two other releases of this film in my library. The first is this French release which StudioCanal produced in 2009. The second is this British release which Eureka Entertainment produced in 2016. These releases are sourced from older masters. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from an exclusive new 4K master. The film can be viewed in native 4K and 1080p. The native 4K presentation comes with HDR and Dolby Vision grades.
I viewed the entire film in native 4K with Dolby Vision and then tested various areas of the 1080p presentation. I did quite a few comparisons with the older releases as well.
The new 4K makeover is very healthy and has strong organic qualities. On my system, the difference in quality between the new 4K makeover and the previous 1080p presentations was quite striking. I think that on a very large screen the discrepancy becomes even more impressive. Also, there are improvements in delineation, clarity, and depth that emerge in well-lit, darker, indoor, and outdoor footage, so there is an instantly recognizable uptick in quality that makes the entire film look better. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Grain is exposed and resolved very well. Image stability is excellent. Color balance is convincing. My one minor complaint pertains to the retention of primary blues. While there are good ranges of blues, in a few areas the new makeover slightly pushes a few toward turquoise. You can see examples in screencaptures #3 and 17. Also, there are a few darker areas where blacks become a tad too strong and flatten some nuances. See examples here, here, and here. Dolby Vision further darkens some of these areas, though the impact on darker nuances is insignificant. All in all, I think that the new 4K makeover offers a solid upgrade in quality over previous presentations of the film.
There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
I viewed the film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. I think that it is healthier than the DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio 2.0 track from the StudioCanal release that I have in my library. If I turn the volume a bit more than usual, I do not hear any background hiss. In some areas, there is still some unevenness, but they do not have an impact on the overall quality of the audio. I did quickly test a few areas with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and they sounded fine to me.
4K BLU-RAY DISC
It is easy to argue that plenty of the dangerous game that is depicted in 3 Days of the Condor looks dated now. However, it is only because in the present the game is played by shadow figures utilizing far more sophisticated surveillance equipment and executioners killing on their behalf with superior weapons. The current game can produce a lot more intense paranoia that spreads faster as well. 3 Days of the Condor is a classic thriller and the novel by James Grady that inspired it is a minor masterpiece. Kino Lorber's combo release introduces a solid new 4K restoration of the film with several very good archival and new bonus features. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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