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Matt Hough

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matt-hough has published a new article.

Independence Day: 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Review

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Weeks ahead of its two decades-in-the-making sequel, 20th Century Fox is issuing a 20th anniversary Blu-ray edition of Roland Emmerich’s...
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dpippel

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Thanks for the review Matt. Do you know whether or not this is the same transfer as the previous Blu-ray release? I'd imagine that this one is a repackaging.
 

Joseph Bolus

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Thanks for the review!
The previous BD didn't include the extended cut, (or many special features besides the commentary tracks) so this is probably a new transfer.

In any event, based on this review, I just placed my order!
(Basically, I was just waiting to be sure that this release provided a good quality depiction of the extended cut.)
 

Nick*Z

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Thanks for the review Matt. Do you know whether or not this is the same transfer as the previous Blu-ray release? I'd imagine that this one is a repackaging.
Noticed your inquiry for 20th ID4 Blu-ray. No, it's not the same transfer and that's a little disheartening, considering how robust the color gamut was on the original release and how it lacks as much punch on this reissue. Red, in car tail lights, fire, etc. has been rendered a muddy and/or dull orange. New transfer/better detail. My thoughts: if you own the old disc don't pitch it. On a 65 inch monitor it holds up remarkably well. The new disc looks spectacularly detailed on my projection setup, but with decidedly duller colors.
 

dpippel

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Thanks guys. FYI, Target is currently selling this title for $12.99.
 
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dpippel

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You're right Travis. Just picked up a copy there and it does indeed include the $7.50 movie coupon for Resurgence.
 

Matt Hough

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Thanks for the review Matt. Do you know whether or not this is the same transfer as the previous Blu-ray release? I'd imagine that this one is a repackaging.
Others will have to answer. I didn't review the previous Blu-ray, and I had never upgraded from my 2-disc DVD set.
 

Tony J Case

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By the way, if you want a analysis that backs up the idea that ID4 isnt as shallow as you might think, check out Moviebob's breakdown:

 

Nick*Z

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Here! Here! I am sooooooo tired of dark, depressing actioners and thrillers that lack the good sense to recognize their primary objective is that they are supposed to entertain us. Personal opinion, of course, but I am NOT entertained by brooding, morose and overly apocalyptic diatribes that take us all to a collective dark place and then leave us there without much hope for the future. ID4 was the sort of crowd-pleasing and exhilarating thrill ride you could really get into and come out of with a sense of optimism, excitement and joy for having partaken in; in short - it entertained! Period!

Too many special effects. Nah! Too little exposition? Maybe. Too much American can-do/feel good, flag-waving nonsense? There's no such thing! I can still here David Arnold's ebullient underscore in my head. Will the sequel be half as good? Hmmmm...
 

Dave H

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Nick*Z, very well said.

I watched the disc Saturday night on my pro-calibrated JVC projected at 124" onto my Stewart ST100 scope screen and it looked outstanding! Very impressive detail and film-like imagery. I couldn't ask for anything better. I was also pleasantly surprised at the surround sound activity- just nice usage and effect. Good all around track.
 

Jerome Grate

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The DVD for me was my go to for my surround fix years ago, and now that I have upgraded, I took advantage of finally purchasing it on Blu-ray from Target. I found the DTS-Master HD 5.1 mix to be really clear, but I thought the bass was actually lacking a bit. I proceeded to use the Dolby Upmixer to use all 7 channels and there was the bass. I repeated the scene where the capital was blown up and that had some impressive bass in it as I recalled on the DVD. DTS-Master HD mix, was a little light, then with the Dolby Upmix, there was the bass I was looking for. I love this movie and the DTS Master was very clear and profound, but I needed my bass fix. Video was great especially 1080p scaled to 4K via the Sony Bravia 55 inch t.v.
 

Jerome Grate

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Thanks for sharing RickardL, it is interesting to see the differences. The colors in the 20th Anniversary addition may be a little washed out, but the detail is definitely more profound than the earlier blu-ray release, yet hard to get over the whitewashing of the color.
 

Dave H

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If you watch as a whole, no comparison. The colors on the original Blu stem from a DVD-era master (same used for D-VHS) and the colors look bloated. The color on the new disc look much more balanced and less saturated giving a more natural look that I bet is closer to the original look of the movie. After all, they went back to the original negative and the color re-timing would be based on an answer print or resources using a more modern workflow for HD and UHD. I know some people fall in love with the look of an older disc, but rarely are they as accurate as the new transfers.

Detail, contrast, and film-grain structure is much better on the new disc too. It just has a more filmic look.
 

RickardL

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The color on the new disc look much more balanced and less saturated giving a more natural look that I bet is closer to the original look of the movie..
Then the screencap must be screwed up pretty good since the dog and the girl are pretty colourless, very whitish and not at all natural.
But nevermind, it could be artistic intent that gave it that look and who am I to argue about that.
I just like the old one, the one with colours in it, better. ;)
 
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