7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.8 |
A big-time thief in hiding hooks up with a goofy young drifter. He then gets his old gang back together to organize a daring new heist.
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis, Catherine BachHeist | 100% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Michael Cimino's "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" (1974) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include vintage promotional materials for the film; previously exclusive program with the director that was produced by Allerton Films; and audio commentary by critic Nick Pinkerton. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Kino Lorber's release of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. 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 #1-26 are from Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #28-35 are from 4K Blu-ray.
In 2019, Kino Lorber rereleased Thunderbolt and Lightfoot on Blu-ray after the film was restored in 4K. At the time, I thought that the film looked spectacular in 1080p and I still have not changed my mind. (You can see our listing and review of this release here).
This 4K Blu-ray release offers brand new presentations of the film in native 4K and 1080p. The native 4K presentation can be viewed with HDR and Dolby Vision grades. I viewed the 4K presentation with HDR and spent quite a bit of time with the 1080p presentation. I will explain why below.
In native 4K, the visuals look as healthy and stable as they did on the previous release. Density levels are outstanding, but I did not see any meaningful improvements because on the previous release they were already great. However, as I expected, there are select areas -- on my system they were the ones with more diverse outdoor footage where the camera moves quite a lot -- where fluidity is superior, so keep this in mind if you have a very big screen. There are no stability issues. Generally speaking, delineation, clarity, and depth range from very good to excellent. However, I think that there are some areas where the previous Blu-ray release handles darker nuances better. In native 4K, some of these areas become a tad too dark/dimmed. Color balance is stable. However, I noticed small discrepancies in native 4K and bigger discrepancies in 1080p. In native 4K, in some areas, blues begin shifting toward cyan, though most viewers will likely be content with the overall balance. In 1080p, there are obvious issues because of conversion issues. It appears that the color values that are finalized in 4K, with HDR/Dolby Vision, are simply downscaled to 1080p, which is not a proper conversion. Naturally, because 1080p does not have the same color range/dynamic range, the color scheme becomes compromised. For example, this is a proper 1080p visual from the previous Blu-ray release, with color values finalized in 1080p. On the Blu-ray that is included with this release, this is what the same visual looks like after the improper conversion from 4K to 1080p. Unfortunately, the issue is not limited to primary blue only. For example, whites can be affected as well. For example, you can see a smaller discrepancy in the American flag if you compare
this screencapture from the previous release and this screencapture from the new 1080p presentation on this release. Predictably, the gamma levels are destabilized as well. By the way, when we post screencaptures from 4K Blu-ray releases, they are automatically downscaled the same way as well, which is why there is a disclaimer that they do not accurately reproduce the quality of the visuals that are on the 4K Blu-ray. The same situation is replicated here, but with a flawed encode in 1080p. (For what it's worth, the exact same issue is present on Blue Underground's recent 4K Blu-ray release of The Girl from Rio). All in all, I do not think that the native 4K presentation offers produces a dramatic upgrade in quality over the previous presentation of the film. In fact, after spending several hours testing different releases, I think that the previous release produces the most convincing and satisfying presentation 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.
The previous release did not have a 5.1 track, so I viewed several areas of the film with it. It is a good track and I would not mind viewing the entire film with it. I think that there are several action sequences with plenty of movement that definitely sound noticeably different. I would not say better because the manner in which the sound is expanded may not be to everyone's liking. I still think that the 2.0 track is excellent.
4K BLU-RAY DISC
If you have Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot from 2019, you already have an outstanding, definitive release of the film. This 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack is sourced from a new 4K master -- the previous Blu-ray release was sourced from a 4K master too -- but it does not offer any notable improvements in quality. In fact, I think that the Blu-ray that is included with it offers a downgrade in quality. The native 4K presentation is good, but I think that a few areas of it could have been handled a little bit better, and if you upscale the previous release to 4K, you will be quite impressed. All bonus features from the previous Blu-ray release are retained.
Special Edition
1974
Encore Edition | Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1974
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1974
1974
1974
1969
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2017
1943
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1974-1980
1958
2017
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2013
Warner Archive Collection
1985