It's been an interesting time in the world of 4K Blu-ray. There has been recent news that several critically acclaimed award-nominated films will not be released on 4K Blu-ray, or even any type of physical release in some cases. But there are also cases where films decimated by critics and audiences alike are somehow given the 4K Blu-ray treatment.
Take, for example, All of us strangers and Mrs. Web. Yes, it is strange to see the name of these two movies in the same sentence, since they are worlds apart. All of us strangersstarring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal, is based on the 1987 novel. strangers by Taichi Yamada and tells the story of a screenwriter who develops a relationship with a neighbor and returns to his childhood home to find his parents living there as if they hadn't died 30 years ago.
lady webbased on the somewhat fringe character from Marvel's Spider-Man comics, it stars Dakota Johnson in the title role alongside current megastar Sydney Sweeney and is Sony's next foray into its 'Spider-Man universe' after from movies like Poison and morbium. It tells the story of a paramedic who becomes clairvoyant and must protect three young people from an evil force.
All of us strangers received universal critical acclaim for its powerful story and incredible acting, particularly from Scott. She has been nominated for numerous awards, including several BAFTAs. lady web, On the other hand, it is being attacked by both critics and the public. It currently has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 15% and 59% from critics and audiences respectively, with many citing poor writing, bad effects, and an overall dull feel.
However, only one of these films will be released on 4K Blu-ray: lady web. All of us strangers, On the other hand, it will not have a physical release absolutely (as reported by World of Reel). It's true that I haven't seen any of these movies, but from what I've read and what people who have seen them have told me, All of us strangers It belongs on the 4K Blu-ray and it's a crime that it isn't.
I don't want to speak for anyone, but from what I read in various comment sections and forums like Reddit, home theater fans and cinephiles are not on board with the fact that this is the state of physical media releases and 4K Blu-ray. at the moment. So what is going on?
Disney does it again
Now, I would like to start by saying that there will be home theater fans who will gladly purchase lady web on 4K Blu-ray and add it to your collection, and that's great! The problem I have is, why can't films like this be praised? All of us strangers receive the same treatment as lady web? reading one lady web The Reddit thread about its 4K Blu-ray pre-order on Amazon certainly sheds light on how some home theater fans feel about this very issue.
When we heard the news that Disney might be killing off 4K Blu-ray, we said it would be a crime, and as time goes on, it definitely seems like this is the case as Disney continues to kill off physical media.
All of us strangers is a production of Searchlight, formerly Fox Searchlight, and as a Fox product, it is now owned by Disney. This means All of us strangers, despite its success and acclaim, will not be released physically. That's right, a film whose cinematography, by Jamie D. Ramsay, has been highly praised, will not reach the physical format for which it was created: 4K Blu-ray.
This is not the first time this has happened in recent memory. It was announced that the films nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture poor things, starring Emma Stone and The remainsstarring Paul Giamatti, will only be released on standard Blu-ray format. No 4K. Both films are generating a lot of buzz on the awards scene, both Stone and Giamatti have already won the Golden Globe for best actor, and yet film fans won't be able to enjoy them at home in their best possible quality.
Barbarian, starring Bill Skarsgård, is another film that has apparently been denied a physical release (as a press release mentioned only a streaming date). AND Barbarian is a cult horror film (a genre that is especially suited to 4K Blu-ray and physical media) that has achieved great success. Understandably, fans on forums around the world have been clamoring for a physical copy.
These are the kinds of movies that the best 4K Blu-ray players were made for. Home theater fans, in general, are cinephiles and will want to add these movies to their collections, but they can't do it as things stand. What connects three of these four films? You guessed it, they are all owned by Disney. (The remains is from Focus Features).
Not everything should fall on smaller companies
Recently, I wrote about how 4K Blu-ray is not dying despite Disney's best efforts and in that article I defended the efforts of distributors like Arrow Films, The Criterion Collection and many more for their work remastering and distributing products to often forgotten and neglected. Movies on physical media. In that article, I cited my own copy of The Warriorsremastered in 4K by Arrow, as a particular highlight.
While I still applaud these companies, it shouldn't all be their fault. Why should we potentially wait years for a physical release of All of us strangers or a 4K version of poor things From Arrow, Criterion or any of the other smaller companies when Disney could release them with their much larger distribution resources?
This situation also comes at a time when people feel disenfranchised by streaming sites, with regular price hikes and strange behind-the-scenes shenanigans: the news that Prime Video dropped Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support of their levels with advertising, for example. . Understandably, this is driving people to buy their favorite movies to have at home, but companies like Disney and Best Buy, which recently stopped selling physical media in their stores, are making it increasingly difficult.
Final thoughts
It's wrong that major distributors and retailers are holding back from releasing physical copies of movies, especially 4K Blu-rays. All the best TVs can now display 4K, but people at home will no longer be able to watch these critically adored movies at home in the best quality possible, and will have to rely on a compressed 4K stream that won't provide as much quality. Good experience as a 4K disc.
Home theater fans spend time researching and investing in their setups, from the TV or projector to the sound system and even the Blu-ray player. They deserve a physical media format worthy of their system, and that format is 4K Blu-ray.
