There’s 50% off a ton of 4K Blu-rays from The Criterion Collection at Barnes & Noble, so I thought I’d pick my favorite six discs, all of which I’ve tested as part of the Blu-ray Bounty. This is our monthly feature where I try out the latest 4K releases, judging whether they’re a worthy addition to your collection.
Criterion is a regular feature of the Bounty Blu-ray as it is superb for 4K restorations. Double compensation is still one of my best examples of what 4K can do for a classic film, while Breakfast Club And Chunking Express are much more colorful and bolder films that show off Criterion’s 4K prowess.
Dead man is another contrast-rich black-and-white move that looks stunning in 4K, and 3:10 p.m. to Yuma (1957) is another Western classic that shines with this image quality. Yi Yi is a quietly brilliant 4K restoration that has its moments where it will recognize you, but looks great everywhere.
My 6 picks from Criterion’s 50% off sale
Double compensation
Double compensation tells the story of an insurance agent (Fred MacMurray) who conspires with the wife (Barbara Stanwyck) of a wealthy man to capitalize on his life insurance using a special clause.
Double compensation is an excellent 4K disc. The restoration is fantastic and has not only given the textures a 3D effect, but the contrast is also superb. Black tones are inky, whites have a pleasing, punchy brightness, and there’s a wide range of gray tones to give the image more depth. There’s still cinematic grit for moviegoers, but new life has been breathed into this film. If you have one of the best TVs, this contrast-rich disc will look great.
Even though there’s only a monaural soundtrack, the dialogue is clear and the sound effects are faithfully mapped to the action on screen. The score is also delivered with real clarity.
Breakfast Club
The breakfast club is John Hughes’ classic coming-of-age story from the ’80s, about five high school students from different backgrounds serving Saturday detention at the same time.
Or The breakfast club What really thrives in 4K is in its color reproduction. Reds in particular appear on screen, shown in the reds of Bender’s plaid shirt and the shiny Coca-Cola cans while the gang eats their lunch. The textures have been nicely enhanced, giving the skin a realistic look, but the film grain is still retained to maintain the iconic look of the film.
The disc’s DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack sounds great. While it’s not an audio showcase, it accurately renders even the smallest details, like the scratching of a pencil, the squeak of Bender’s leather boots, or the incessant ticking of the clock in some scenes.
Dead man
Dead man tells the story of William Blake (Johnny Depp), a banker on the run who meets a Native American named Nobody (Gary Farmer) who believes he is the reincarnation of William Blake the poet.
Dead man it looks awesome in 4K. With some of the richest contrast I’ve ever seen on a 4K Blu-ray. Shown in black and white, the white tones are stunning and the black tones are deep and bold. This is balanced with a wide range of gray tones to give the image real depth. Textures are crisp and incredibly realistic, especially in the markings on people’s faces. Those who own one of the best OLED TVs will be rewarded here.
Equipped with a DTS-HD 2.0 MA soundtrack, speech is clear throughout and the chugging guitars of Neil Young’s excellent soundtrack are refined, powerful and balanced. Other effects such as gunshots are also clear.
Chungking Express
Chungking Express follows the story of two different police officers in Hong Kong, who both fall in love. One falls in love with a mysterious woman, while the other falls in love with a waiter at a restaurant he frequents regularly.
Chungking Express is a visually appealing film that takes on another dimension in 4K. Although there’s no HDR included, the colors remain punchy and vibrant, whether it’s the neon of Hong Kong’s markets or Faye’s bright yellow top. Here too the textures have been enhanced, with details in the cop’s wrinkled shirt or in people’s hair, it’s a superb restoration.
Throughout the film, the DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack perfectly captures the immersive ambiance of Hong Kong’s bustling streets. Clinking plates, raised conversations and traffic horns are all precisely placed and well balanced, allowing each element to come through loud and clear. Thanks to a great surround system, it will feel totally immersive.
3:10 p.m. to Yuma (1954)
3:10 p.m. in Yuma tells the story of rancher Dan Evans (Van Heflin) who is assigned to guard and escort an outlaw named Ben Wade (Glenn Ford) until the train arrives for the town where his trial is taking place.
3:10 p.m. to Yuma (1957) is another superb Criterion restoration of a classic film. Contrast is strong, again with punchy white tones, rich black tones, and a full range of grays in between. Textures look detailed and realistic, with the deep frown lines on Dan Evans’ head or the beard and sweat on various characters’ faces showing off the brilliance of this 4K disc.
There are two soundtrack options, but it’s really the DTS-HD 5.1 MA mix that shines. There’s deep, rumbling bass from the galloping horses, precise placement of gunshots, and clear speech throughout. The soundstage is wide enough that all of these elements have plenty of space, delivering immersive sound overall.
Yi-Yi
Yi Yi follows the story of the Taiwan-based Jian family, focusing on the perspectives of three family members in particular: NJ, the father; Ting-Ting, her teenage daughter and Yang-Yang, her young son.
Yi Yi is a detailed and at times visually striking 4K disc. Textures such as hair and skin look realistic and the disc does a great job of showcasing the more intricate details of the environments. Every now and then the disc then hits you with a reference scene, namely the wedding at the beginning. Bold, punchy reds really pop on screen, while maintaining a natural look. A good amount of film grain is also retained.
Although there aren’t many sound system test scenes, dialogue is still clear and there’s a good sense of space in the mix. A karaoke stage does a great job of using every channel of a sound system, with the singer’s voice at the center and the audience clapping from the speakers.
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