HIGHLANDER on 4K UHD - $12.99

[AndyDursin]

THE HOWLING is also coming in Sept. from Studio Canal.

[AndyDursin]

USA release confirmed! Thankfully won't have to import this one

[AndyDursin]

Delayed/canceled in '21, but it lives again, apparently:

[Paul MacLean]

How much do you think Highlander will be improved in 4K? It's just that all the prints used for previous releases are pretty grainy (as an independent movie, the original negative is probably lost).

[AndyDursin]

There are some issues with the current Blu-ray including some lousy compression in the US release (typical among Lionsgate titles) that could be improved upon for sure. So I definitely think a UHD could remedy that. That could be cleaned up with just a better mastered BD transfer too but might as well use the higher bit rate and HDR while they're at it to enhance what's there already. If it's done correctly it could yield some improvements even if they are just minor ones.

[andy b]

How much do you think Highlander will be improved in 4K? It's just that all the prints used for previous releases are pretty grainy (as an independent movie, the original negative is probably lost).

Hey Paul

I worked on this extensively, as it was EMI (passed over to Cannon), as far as I know, when Studio Canal took over the EMI library, first Alan Bond, then Cannon, finally Weintraub, all elements were present & moved to SC, along with a huge amount of Handmade Films elements.

It is more than possible that SC have all the elements & would be able to produce a much better 4K copy than previous releases, however what state those elements may be in, could possibly be the issue. Unlike say The Hitcher which seemed to end up in the USA for whatever reasons, Highlander to the best of my knowledge remained in Europe.

All we can do is wait & see what they put out.

regards
Andy b

[Paul MacLean]

It is more than possible that SC have all the elements & would be able to produce a much better 4K copy than previous releases, however what state those elements may be in, could possibly be the issue. Unlike say The Hitcher which seemed to end up in the USA for whatever reasons, Highlander to the best of my knowledge remained in Europe.

Thanks Andy! As always, your experience and background knowledge of these movies is fascinating!

[AndyDursin]

It's alive!

French steelbook (25 Euro)

https://www.fnac.com/a17206688/Highland ... earchpos=1

UK Collector's set:

[AndyDursin]

USA announced for 12/13

They have the wrong cover up there now but this is the right link:

[Paul MacLean]

USA announced for 12/13

They have the wrong cover up there now but this is the right link:

Yeah, I was about to say, "They reissued it on VHS???"

Oh, and is the 4K release on Amazon.com the same as the "UK collectors set" (with all those supplements)?

[AndyDursin]

I believe the "swag" that comes in the UK box is exclusive to that. We are getting the 4K UHD in a regular case and a Steelbook sold at Best Buy I believe.

The disc itself is going to be exactly the same, but Lionsgate's release is just the movie in a standard case. So if you just want the movie, the discs are going to probably be identical, same transfer, etc., so there's no need to import unless you want the "extra stuff" (which is also a lot more money too).

Here's the standard and, below, steelbook artwork for the US versions:




Specs:

4K Special Features:

- The Immortal Attraction of Highlander - Looking back at four decades of Highlander magic

- A Kind of Magic: Music of The Immortals - A featurette on the soundtrack

- There can only be one Kurgan - Clancy Brown remembers Highlander

- Capturing Immortality: Interview with photographer David James

- Audio Commentary with author Jon Melville

- Audio Commentary with Russell Mulcahy

- Audio Commentary with Russell Mulcahy, Peter S. Davis and William N. Panzer



BD Special Features:

- Audio Commentary with Russell Mulcahy

- Interview with Director Russell Mulcahy

- Interview with Christopher Lambert

- The Making of Highlander

- Deleted Scenes

- Archival Interview with Christopher Lambert

- Trailer

[Paul MacLean]

Ok, thanks. I’ll watch the special features when someone uploads them to YouTube!

[AndyDursin]

Oh, the special features are the same too -- the discs are 99.9% guaranteed to be exactly the same ones sold anywhere in the world.

The only difference is the physical "swag" that's in the UK box set. Specifically this stuff:

64 page booklet with brand new essays
Prequel comic #1 The Way of the Sword
Set of 4 badges
Poster
Artcards

I think you can safely live without all that.

The discs will be the same -- so the physical packaging of the UK box and the crap inside it are the differences (likely):

[John Johnson]

Wish I'd kept my studios tapes LOL

[Paul MacLean]

Wish I'd kept my studios tapes LOL

You had tapes of Kamen’s score?