Signs 4K UHD - Mel Gibson / Joaquin Phoenix

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

( aka 'M. Night Shyamalan's Signs' )

directed by M. Night Shyamalan
USA 2002

Following the smash hit The Sixth Sense (1999) and the under-performing follow-up Unbreakable (2000), directing phenom M. Night Shyamalan returns to the summer box office landscape that served as the backdrop for his cinematic breakthrough. In Signs, another paranormal outing for the writer-director, Shyamalan explores the eerie implications of a 500-foot crop circle that mysteriously appears on the Bucks County, PA farm of reverend Graham Hess (Mel Gibson). As Hess and his family (Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin) try to take stock of what the sign means, and how its message incorporates into their faith, they start to get the feeling they are not alone in the fields behind their house.

Posters

Theatrical Release Date: August 2nd, 2002

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Comparison:

Buena Vista Series Region 1 NTSC vs. Buena Vista 'Collector's Edition' - Region 2- NTSC vs. Touchstone - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Sony - Region FREE - 4K UHD

Box Covers		Blu-ray	Also available in a Blu-ray Steelbook	BONUS CAPTURES:
Distribution	Buena Vista - Region 1 - NTSC	Buena Vista - Region 2 - NTSC	Touchstone / Disney Region FREE - Blu-ray	Sony - Region FREE - 4K UHD
Runtime	1:46:20	1:46:20	1:46:30.759	1:46:29.007
Video	1.85:1.00 Letterboxed WideScreen / anamorphic Average Bitrate: 6.1 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1.00 Letterboxed WideScreen / anamorphic Average Bitrate: 6.66 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 38,909,174,642 bytes Feature: 30,361,669,632 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.48 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video	1.85:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 65,577,114,896 bytes Feature: 64,457,465,856 bytes Video Bitrate: 61.11 Mbps Codec: HEVC Video
Bitrate: Buena Vista
Bitrate: Buena Vista (Japan)
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Bitrate: 4K Ultra HD
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) , THX Certified	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) , THX Certified	LPCM Audio English 4608 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4608 kbps / 16-bit Dolby Digital EX Audio English 640 kbps 5.1-EX / 48 kHz / 640 kbps Dolby Digital EX Audio French 640 kbps 5.1-EX / 48 kHz / 640 kbps Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / Dolby Surround LPCM Audio Japanese 4608 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4608 kbps / 16-bit Dolby Digital EX Audio Japanese 640 kbps 5.1-EX / 48 kHz / 640 kbps	DTS-HD Master Audio English 3986 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3986 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Descriptive Audio: Dolby Digital Audio English 320 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 320 kbps / DN -28dB DUBs: DTS-HD High-Res Audio French 2046 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2046 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) * Dolby Digital Audio French 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -29dB * DTS Audio Spanish 1509 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit * Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -31dB * DTS-HD High-Res Audio German 2046 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2046 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) * DTS Audio Italian 1509 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit * Dolby Digital Audio Japanese 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -31dB * Dolby Digital Audio Czech 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -27dB * Dolby Digital Audio Polish 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -24dB
Subtitles	English Close-captioned for the hearing impaired, None	English, Japanese, None	English (SDH), French, Spanish, Japanese, none	English (SDH), French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Czech, Polish, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, none
Features	Release Information: Production Company: Buena Vista Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • The Making of Signs - Exclusive six-part documentary exploring the movie from idea to marketing . Divided into six parts - "Looking for Signs" (6:11), "Building Signs" (8:02), "Making Signs" (22:33), "Effects of Signs" (8:31), "Last Voices: The Music of Signs" (8:26) and "Full Circle" (4:48) • 5 Deleted Scenes (7 minutes in total): "Graham and Merrill," "Flashbacks #1 & #2," "Dead Bird," and "Alien in the Attic." • Storyboards: Multi-Angle Feature • M.Night Shyamalan's First Alien Film DVD Release Date: January 7th 2003 Keep Case Chapters: 21	Release Information: Production Company: Buena Vista Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • The Making of Signs - Exclusive six-part documentary exploring the movie from idea to marketing . Divided into six parts - "Looking for Signs" (6:11), "Building Signs" (8:02), "Making Signs" (22:33), "Effects of Signs" (8:31), "Last Voices: The Music of Signs" (8:26) and "Full Circle" (4:48) • 5 Deleted Scenes (7 minutes in total): "Graham and Merrill," "Flashbacks #1 & #2," "Dead Bird," and "Alien in the Attic." • Storyboards: Multi-Angle Feature • M.Night Shyamalan's First Alien Film DVD Release Date: Martch 7th 2003 Keep Case Chapters: 21	Release Information: Studio: Touchstone Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 38,909,174,642 bytes Feature: 30,361,669,632 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.48 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • The Making of Signs - Exclusive six-part documentary exploring the movie from idea to marketing . Divided into six parts - "Looking for Signs" (6:11), "Building Signs" (8:02), "Making Signs" (22:33), "Effects of Signs" (8:31), "Last Voices: The Music of Signs" (8:26) and "Full Circle" (4:48) • 5 Deleted Scenes (7 minutes in total): "Graham and Merrill," "Flashbacks #1 & #2," "Dead Bird," and "Alien in the Attic." • Storyboards: Multi-Angle Feature • M.Night Shyamalan's First Alien Film Blu-ray Release Date: June 3rd, 2008 Standard Blu-ray case Chapters 21	Release Information: Studio: Sony Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 65,577,114,896 bytes Feature: 64,457,465,856 bytes Video Bitrate: 61.11 Mbps Codec: HEVC Video Edition Details: • The Making of Signs - Exclusive six-part documentary exploring the movie from idea to marketing . Divided into six parts - "Looking for Signs" (6:11), "Building Signs" (8:02), "Making Signs" (22:33), "Effects of Signs" (8:31), "Last Voices: The Music of Signs" (8:26) and "Full Circle" (4:48) • 5 Deleted Scenes (7 minutes in total): "Graham and Merrill," "Flashbacks #1 & #2," "Dead Bird," and "Alien in the Attic." • Storyboards: Multi-Angle Feature • M.Night Shyamalan's First Alien Film 4K Ultra HD Release Date: October 22nd, 2024 Black 4K Ultra HD Case inside slipcase Chapters 21

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective discs.

ADDITION: Sony 4K UHD (November 2024): Sony have transferred M. Night Shyamalan's Signs to 4K UHD. The Sony 4K UHD package includes the previous 2008 Blu-ray, reviewed below - as evidenced by the M2TS file dates on the BD included with the 4K UHD:

This has Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) for the feature. This is one of my 'rewatchables' and I immediately noticed the difference in image quality with the 2160P. Sharpness and grain support rise - the overall image is darker and flesh tones generally cool from the older Blu-ray. There is an natural earthy quality to the color scheme without excessive blues and orange. I was impressed with the improvement - the film have never looked so good for home theatre consumption. Larger systems will proportionately notice the very pleasing improvement.

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: 60 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 recently: A Simple Plan (software uniformly simulated HDR), Fright, The Tenant (software uniformly simulated HDR), Gummo, Demon Pond, Happiness, Cheeky (software uniformly simulated HDR), Produced By Val Lewton , The Long Good Friday, The Ladykillers (software uniformly simulated HDR), Torso (software uniformly simulated HDR), All of Us Strangers, Last Year at Marienbad (NO HDR applied to disc), Peril & Distress (And Soon the Darkness / Sudden Terror) (NO HDR applied to disc), The Case of the Bloody Iris (software uniformly simulated HDR), Reptilicus (software uniformly simulated HDR), Risky Business (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Conversation (software uniformly simulated HDR), Perfect Days, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) (software uniformly simulated HDR), Le samouraï (software uniformly simulated HDR), Castle of Blood (software uniformly simulated HDR), Pat Garret and Billy the Kid (HDR), Fist of Legend (HDR), American Gigolo (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Long Wait (no HDR,) Bound (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Valiant Ones (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mute Witness (software uniformly simulated HDR), Narc (software uniformly simulated HDR), Peeping Tom (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Terrors House of Horrors (software uniformly simulated HDR), High Noon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Picnic at Hanging Rock (Criterion) (software uniformly simulated HDR), I Am Cuba (no HDR), The Demoniacs (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Nude Vampire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Nostalghia (no HDR), Werckmeister Harmonies (no HDR), Goin' South (software uniformly simulated HDR), La Haine (software uniformly simulated HDR,) All Ladies Do It (software uniformly simulated HDR), Old Henry (software uniformly simulated HDR), To Die For (software uniformly simulated HDR), Snapshot (software uniformly simulated HDR), Phase IV (software uniformly simulated HDR), Burial Ground (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dark Water (software uniformly simulated HDR), Fear and Desire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf (no HDR), Paths of Glory (software uniformly simulated HDR), Southern Comfort (software uniformly simulated HDR)

On their 4K UHD Sony offer DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround channel track (24-bit) in the English language. A 2.0 channel descriptive audio track is included as an option. It differs marginally from Sony 2020 Blu-ray that was in a less-typical linear PCM. Snapping corn stalks, alien clicks and attic invasions permeate with deft separations. This definitely adds to the viewing experience. The score is credited to James Newton Howard (Glengarry Glen Ross, 8 Millions Ways to Die, 2005's King Kong, Batman Begins, The Bourne Legacy, I Am Legend, The Lookout, Tough Guys, Nightcrawler etc.) did the excellent score and it's one of his most memorable methodically building tension and mystery. Howard has scored over 100 films, including Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense (1999,) Unbreakable (2000,) The Village (2004,) Lady in the Water (2006,) and The Happening (2008,) and is the recipient of a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, and nine nominations for Academy Awards. There are also some lossy foreign-language DUBs. Sony offer optional English subtitles (SDH) and many other language options on their Region FREE 4K UHD.

There are no supplements on the 4K UHD disc but Sony include the 2018 Blu-ray which offers The Making of Signs - an exclusive six-part documentary exploring the movie from idea to marketing . Divided as follows - "Looking for Signs" (6:11), "Building Signs" (8:02), "Making Signs" (22:33), "Effects of Signs" (8:31), "Last Voices: The Music of Signs" (8:26) and "Full Circle" (4:48). There are 5 Deleted Scenes (7 minutes in total): "Graham and Merrill," "Flashbacks #1 & #2," "Dead Bird," and "Alien in the Attic." A Storyboards: Multi-Angle Feature and M. Night Shyamalan's First 'Alien' Film is included. There is no director commentary as misreported elsewhere.

I've rewatched M. Night Shyamalan's Signs so many times over the years - when my boys were younger and just the other day with them in this 4K UHD transfer. Taking cues from classic films like Hitchcock's 'The Birds', George Romero's 'Night of the Living Dead' and Siegel's Invasion of the Body Snatchers, M. Night Shyamalan has written, produced, and directed and old fashioned sci-fi suspense story. Many loved his previous film 'Unbreakable', and his slight diversion from standard Hollywood formula has proven a big success with most, although his detractors persist. 'Signs' is slick, smart, and keeps you on the edge of your seat with fine performances, subtle humor and slight references to faith and conviction. In a subtle plot point, Morgan Hess (Rory Culkin) says "Houdini (on of the family dogs) is sick". Graham (Mel Gibson) responds "I'll call Doctor Crawford". Morgan says "He doesn't treat animals." Graham says "He'll know what to do". Only much later do we realize that Ray Reddy (played by director/writer/producer Shyamalan) is the town's Veterinarian... who also accidentally killed the Hess's wife in a car accident. The film's style is straightforward and is also apocalyptic in the same vein as Spielberg's 2005 War of the Worlds. Night seems driven more by instinct and belief in his ideas of the film's evolution and his methodology is not fraught with the complexities of over-production. Visuals of the alien are shown often with quick cuts and darkness - a frequent tease heightening the suspense and mystery. Signs was hugely successful - grossing $408 million on a $72 million budget. This Sony 4K UHD is an integral part of my digital library. Very strongly recommended.

***

ADDITION: Touchstone - Region FREE Blu-ray September 2017': Touchstone's new Blu-ray was at the earlier edge of the format's production - notice it takes awhile to load. It's dual-layered with a supportive bitrate and does advance over the SDs. The orange-ness of the flesh tones on the DVD convert to warmer, more realistic flesh tones on the 1080P. So colors take a positive shift - there is more information in the frame as compared to the Region 1, North American DVD. There is a shade more depth - it's not a dynamic upgrade but it is an upgrade, although it has imperfections and could look sharper. I'd love to see a 4K transfer.

I don't believe I've ever seen a linear PCM 5.1 surround before - it is transferred very robustly at 4608 kbps - but only16-bit. As I've said the fledgling days of Blu-ray production. There is also a lossy Dolby Digital EX 5.1 that does sound quite different - not as bass heavy - in fact a shade more hollow beside the LPCM but the separation might be more noticeable. The, many, effects are well supported and it's good to have an interesting choice of track selection. There are optional subtitles (see sample above) offered and my Oppo has identified it as being a region FREE Blu-ray disc.

Supplements are duplicated from the SD edition (and in 480) - The Making of Signs - is an exclusive six-part documentary exploring the movie from idea to marketing . Divided as follows - "Looking for Signs" (6:11), "Building Signs" (8:02), "Making Signs" (22:33), "Effects of Signs" (8:31), "Last Voices: The Music of Signs" (8:26) and "Full Circle" (4:48). There are 5 Deleted Scenes (7 minutes in total): "Graham and Merrill," "Flashbacks #1 & #2," "Dead Bird," and "Alien in the Attic." A Storyboards: Multi-Angle Feature and M. Night Shyamalan's First 'Alien' Film.

I'm very glad to have this title as part of my Blu-ray library and it will get it's fair share of replay. I've watched it with my sons at least 1/2 a dozen times. Shyamalan even hides the violence (of Merrill's most viscious bat swings) as it is masked through an empty water glass.

As I stated in the old DVD review - I feel very alone in extolling this film, and Shyamalan in general, but his cinema isn't derived from a 'fluke' - he knows exactly what he is doing and I always feel transported back to the fantasy/adventure/thriller/sci-fi films that had me riveted to a Saturday or Sunday matinee. Hopefully he will continue this trend for the next 30 years. I'm keen to see this Blu-ray re-issued - it may be my favorite from this director. I've contemplated owning the steelbook too...

***

ON THE DVDs: Although the Region 1 DVD is called 'Vista Series' and the Japanese Region 2 is labeled 'Collector's Edition' - they are virtually identical - sharpness, colors - both anamorphic and progressive. The extras, as far as I can tell, are duplicated. The only differences I see in the two DVDs are:

1) The Region 2 is brighter.

2) The Region 1 has bright yellow optional English subtitles and the Region 2 are white (offering both Japanese and English).

3) The Region 1 is slightly cropped on both side edges.

4) The Region 1 offers a French DUB option, the Region 2 - a Japanese one.

I feel very alone in extolling this film, and Shyamalan in general. As he matures he continues to veer further away from creating mass-market Hollywood blockbusters - this is strongly to his credit because it is my belief that he already is fully aware of that process. He is approaching narrative structure cinema and as he is such an accomplished plot/script writer that his abilities can only sharpen. Trust me folks - this guy is one of the futures of modern cinema as we know it. The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs and The Village are just scratching the surface of his potential.

Gary W. Tooze

Menus

(Buena Vista Series - Region 1 NTSC LEFT vs. Buena Vista 'Collector's Edition' - Region 2- NTSC RIGHT)

Touchstone - Region FREE - Blu-ray

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

Subtitle Samples

1) Buena Vista Series - Region 1 NTSC TOP

2) Buena Vista 'Collector's Edition' - Region 2- NTSC - SECOND

3) Touchstone - Region FREE - Blu-ray - THIRD

4) Sony - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM

1) Buena Vista Series - Region 1 NTSC TOP

2) Buena Vista 'Collector's Edition' - Region 2- NTSC - SECOND

3) Touchstone - Region FREE - Blu-ray - THIRD
4) Sony - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM