ADDITION: Criterion 4K UHD (July 2023): Criterion's are releasing five 1950s westerns directed by Budd Boetticher starring Randolph Scott to 4K UHD. The set is called The Ranown Westerns ('Ranown' was the name of Scott’s own production company taken from the three letters of his first name combined with the last three letters of co-producer Harry Joe Brown’s last name.) The films are The Tall T / Decision at Sundown / Buchanan Rides Alone / Ride Lonesome / and Comanche Station. The package has six discs; three 4K UHD - the first with The Tall T, the second with Decision at Sundown and Buchanan Rides Alone and the third sharing Ride Lonesome and Comanche Station. The other three discs are Blu-rays with the third having supplements. We compared Sony's 2008 DVDs to Indicator's 2018 Blu-rays HERE.

This package is described as "New 4K digital restorations by Sony Pictures Entertainment, with the three 4K UHD discs of the films presented in Dolby Vision HDR." I was only able to obtain captures of the first film, and will attempt to get the other four at another time.

I have to admit the colors and contrast are quite intense beside the paler DVDs and 1080P transfer (sky bluer, deeper black levels etc.) I don't think we accurately represented those colors via our simulation captures (reds, greens just didn't come through effectively - apologies - we are doing our best!) but the image was definitely that rich and deep on my system. Grain is fine and consistent. Having watched the older Blu-rays for years - I got used to the image quality and it took a few moments to get accustomed to this 2160P (and the Criterion Blu-rays that are also notably stronger than the Indicator renderings.)   

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

NOTE: 25 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages to date: Cold Eyes of Fear (software uniformly simulated HDR), Rules of the Game (no HDR), The Manchurian Candidate (software uniformly simulated HDR), After Hours, Rain Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Changeling (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Night of the Hunter (software uniformly simulated HDR), 12 Angry Men (software uniformly simulated HDR), Branded to Kill (no HDR), Picnic at Hanging Rock (software uniformly simulated HDR), Two Orphan Vampires, The Shiver of the Vampires, Drowning By Number (software uniformly simulated HDR), Serpico (software uniformly simulated HDR), Cool Hand Luke (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Seventh Seal (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Maltese Falcon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mildred Pierce (software uniformly simulated HDR), Tár (software uniformly simulated HDR), Marathon Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dazed and Confused (software uniformly simulated HDR), Three Colors: Blue (software uniformly simulated HDR), Invaders From Mars (software uniformly simulated HDR), Death Wish (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (no HDR), High Plains Drifter (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mystery Men (software uniformly simulated HDR), Silent Running (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dressed to Kill (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Power of the Dog  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Escape From Alcatraz (software uniformly simulated HDR), I, the Jury (no HDR), Casablanca (software uniformly simulated HDR), In the Mood For Love (NO HDR applied to disc), The Werewolf vs. the Vampire Woman  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Blow Out (software uniformly simulated HDR), Night of the Living Dead (NO HDR applied to disc), Lost Highway (software uniformly simulated HDR), Videodrome (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Last Picture Show (software uniformly simulated HDR), It Happened One Night (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Mummy (1932)(software uniformly simulated HDR), Creature From the Black Lagoon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Bride of Frankenstein (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Amityville Horror  (software uniformly simulated HDR), The War of the Worlds (1953) (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Incredible Melting Man  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Event Horizon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Branded to Kill (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Killing (software uniformly simulated HDR), Killer's Kiss (software uniformly simulated HDR.)

On their 4K UHDs (and Blu-rays) Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. There are typical western genre audio- horses. guns etc. with modest punctuation. The score was by Heinz Roemheld (The Gilded Lily, Ruby Gentry, I, Jane Doe, Dangerous, The Monster that Challenged The World, The Land Unknown, The Mole People, 1933's The Invisible Man) and adds a quaint flavor to the opening and suspense and intensity once into the story. The films are offered with optional English (SDH) subtitles - and, like all 4K UHD, are region FREE, playable worldwide.

It is 50% OFF at Amazon HERE at the writing of this review.

Gary Tooze