7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
A young boy accidentally joins a band of time traveling dwarves as they jump from era to era looking for treasure to steal.
Starring: Michael Palin, Sean Connery, John Cleese, Shelley Duvall, Katherine HelmondSci-Fi | Insignificant |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM 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 | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
Terry Gilliam's "Time Bandits" (1981) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include an original trailer; audio commentary with the American director, coscreenwriter and actor Michael Palin, and actors John Cleese, David Warner, and Craig Warnock; filmed conversation between Terry Gilliam and film scholar Peter von Bagh; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Criterion's release of Time Bandits is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-B "locked".
All screencaptures that are included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray disc 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.
Nearly a decade ago, Criterion produced this Blu-ray release of Time Bandits, which was sourced from a 2K master struck from the film's original camera negative in 2013. (In the United Kingdom, Arrow Video used the 2K master to produce this release as well). The upcoming 4K Blu-ray release/Blu-ray combo pack is sourced from a brand new 4K master that was struck from the film's original camera negative and supervised by Terry Gilliam. In native 4K, the 4K makeover can be seen with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I chose to view it with Dolby Vision.
I did some extensive comparisons with the previous Blu-ray release, which offered an outstanding presentation of the film. I think that the 4K makeover offers a superior presentation of the film, but primarily because the move to native 4K expands the color gamut and dynamic range of the visuals. If I had to focus strictly on delineation, clarity, depth, and even contrast and evaluate them individually, I would have to say that in many areas they are practically identical to those observed in 1080p. In native 4K, in some darker areas, delineation and depth certainly can appear superior, but the previous Blu-ray release can perform exceptionally well if upscaled to 4K. So, the point I wish to make very clear is this: in direct comparison, the superiority of the 4K presentation is revealed through a combination of small improvements that vary according to the material, and in one way or another they have something to do with the wider color gamut and dynamic range of the visuals. (I suspect that in 1080p the most noticeable improvements will be in the saturation levels of the new color grade). I think that folks with very large screens will spots improvements in two other areas as well. The 4K makeover has superior density levels and several areas with notable grain fluctuations look 'tighter' now. (The darker footage in the final segment has a few good examples). The Dolby Vision grade balances all kinds of different darker nuances beautifully and gives the visuals a very attractive cinematic quality. I do not think that this particular quality is reproduced in 1080p, but the ability of Blu-ray to do so is extremely limited. The entire film looks immaculate.
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
If there is something new that was done on the LPCM 2.0 track, I could not tell. On the previous Blu-ray release, there is an excellent LPCM 2.0 track that was remastered at 24-bit from the original 35mm magnetic track, and I think that this release uses it again. While viewing the film in native 4K, I could not hear anything that was different to report here.
4K BLU-RAY DISC
If you are a fan of Terry Gilliam's work, you have to admit that you are being spoiled. It feels like every couple of months you are getting a stunning 4K Blu-ray release of a beloved Gilliam film. Where is the 4K Blu-ray release of Brazil? I am convinced it is coming, so start looking for the perfect spot for it on your shelf. What about Time Bandits, how does it look after it was redone in 4K? While I still think that the previous Blu-ray release offers an outstanding presentation of the film, the 4K Blu-ray performs even better. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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