This article says the others are expected to come out in 4K in 2022. I can't imagine Disney would be happy if Cameron holds up an Alien box set release. https://www.thedigitalfix.com/film/home_releases_news/aliens-exclusive/
It's not going to be released on physical disc. Disney doesn't want to do physical releases anymore and JC is more concerned about making 20 Avatar sequels before The Abyss and True Lies ever get Blu-ray releases.
They aren't done with physical product just yet. Disney is releasing a 4K version of Who Framed Roger Rabbit on Dec 7. Who Framed Roger Rabbit 4K Blu-ray Unbreakable - 4K out in Sept Unbreakable 4K Blu-ray
I'm sure the Alien series will be put out on 4K. The article, unsourced as it is, says so. Fantasy and sci-fi movies for properties that are still having spin-offs made in the modern era are the most likely to get physical releases.
Probably crying wolf one more time, this is from a very recent interview with Space.com James Cameron recounts 50 years of cinematic art in lavish 'Tech Noir' book (exclusive) Space.com: "The Abyss" is often a neglected Cameron classic that was a pioneering film in so many ways. What can you tell us about concept art created for it and will there be a high-definition 4K transfer at some point? Cameron: Yeah, we finished the transfer and I wanted to do it myself because Mikael [Salomon] did such a beautiful job with the cinematography on that film. It is truly, truly gorgeous cinematography. That was before I started to assert myself in terms of lighting and asking the cinematographer to do certain things. I'd compose with the camera and choose the lenses, but I left the lighting to him. He did a remarkable job on that movie that I appreciate better now than I did even as we were making it. I'd also like to point out that he took one look at the first day's dailies of the underwater lighting and he went out and learned to scuba dive. He came in the following Monday morning, the worst diver in the world, but he reinvented underwater lighting. He went for indirect lighting and he got everybody doing things that were not just outside their comfort zone, they'd never even thought of it. Suddenly the underwater shots start to live up to the surface photography. So I just recently finished the high-def transfer a couple of months ago so presumably there’ll be Blu-rays and it will stream with a proper transfer from now on. I appreciate what you said about the film. It didn't make much money in its day, but it does seem to be well-liked over time. The designers were basically Ron Cobb on the one hand, and Steve Burg on the other, who was lead designer of the NTIs, the non-terrestrial intelligence, the look of their city and bodies and faces. Steve was a guy that I worked with on "Terminator 2" after that. He was quite young at the time and fairly new to design. Whereas Ron Cobb was quite well seasoned. He'd done "Blade Runner" and "Alien" and worked with me on "Aliens." Ron did all the lived-in tech of the underwater oil rig. I’m sure there were people that saw the film and thought that we just went and filmed on one of those underwater oil rigs that they have. Which they don't! But it looked real enough that you believed it was a real facility. It looked like the real deal if there ever was such a thing. Steve of course got to be completely fanciful and use very flourishy design language. I used the same motif I did on "Aliens," which is to cast seasoned artists to do different design cultures. So there’s the human technology culture and then there was the alien culture.
I’ll believe it when it’s in my hands. It’s too bad that he also can’t redo the high def transfer for T2. It’s awful in 4K.
Does Cameron have any control over "T2"? I was the impression he didn't and that's why it gets umpty-ump reissues...
I don't think he has "veto" power or complete control of that movie or the first Terminator. It's pretty clear that he does have control over The Abyss and True Lies, I find it shocking that they were never issued on Blu-Ray to this day, that's leaving a lot of money on the table.
High-Def Digest posted a comparison of the Amazon Prime HD Stream vs the 2000 Special Edition DVD. It starts with the DVD footage and then switches every 12 seconds back and forth. They seemed to think the transfer might not be ideal. I don't know if this is the same transfer Cameron approved. High-Def Digest 3 months ago There seems to be a middle ground between the two that's not represented with either master. The old DVD is far too bright where the new one pushes greens too hard. Pretty similar actually to what Cameron oversaw for when Aliens went to Blu-ray.
I have no idea what's more accurate to the original film, but can say without a shadow of a doubt that watching the HD stream directly from Amazon looked absolutely immaculate. "The transfer isn't ideal" is a load of hooey. Maybe the color grading isn't the most correct, but as far as transferring the film it was absolutely spotless.
Terminator 2 was produced by Carolco, and consequently its distribution is now controlled by StudioCanal. Cameron was "involved" in the 3D conversion of Terminator 2 for the 26th (!) anniversary, which involved a number of CGI "corrections" -- mostly stuntman face switching and wire removal, although apparently Robert Patrick's testicles were also airbrushed out of his materialization scene. StudioCanal then used the 3D conversion master for its Blu Ray releases, and it's unclear whether Cameron approved of that. Certainly the new Blu Rays are much greener, brighter, and "smoothed out" than any previous release. But the CGI changes were 100% instigated and approved by James Cameron. He also approved of the smoothing for the purposes of 3D conversion. Whether he approved of (or requested) the new color scheme or wishes to retain the smoothing for 2D presentations is unclear. Terminator 1 is controlled by MGM. Again, Cameron has master rights to it which means that MGM can't re-edit it without his permission or distribute the original theatrical print with the famous Schwarzenegger boot goof. My impression is that all releases of T1 are based on the 2000 hi-definition transfer that Cameron supervised, but I could be mistaken.
It's nuts those 2 never even got DVD upgrades since they came out during the format's infancy. That seems like the most $$$ left on the table. The movies should've been remastered back when DVDs sold like crazy. Granted, we'd want newer masters for BD/4K, but it's still nuts that "Abyss" and "Lies" haven't been revisited on home video for almost 23 years - and it's clear the DVDs came from masters that were already old in 1999!
That's in dispute. It's been said that strands of Sarah's hair were redone in CGI so that they would work in 3D. The non-3D 4K release does NOT show the hair modification in it, just the 3D release. There is a Spanish Blu-ray of True Lies which seems to get pretty good reviews.
I doubt he does but, given his stature, I’m sure he could call the right people and be involved in remasters. As I recall, he was consulted on the 3D version. Again, he doesn’t have absolute power but I’m sure they would take his phone call.
I'm sure you remember a few years back when Cameron tried to blame Fox for the absence of an "Abyss" Blu-ray - because clearly Fox told him to stuff himself when he desperately wanted one released! Yeah, I have no doubt that if Cameron told the folks with control over "T2" that he wanted to do a transfer his way, they'd eagerly agree. It's a cash cow, and the ability to sell it with director approval would be big.
I have Dish, and on 12/15 Starz Encore ran the Abyss in widescreen HD. I'm not sure what the source was, but I recorded it and archived it to my external hard drive. It does have the borders on the top and bottom, but it is complete widescreen. Only thing is that it was the theatrical cut, and I'm still waiting for the extended cut (with the tidal wave) to show up.
There’s fan edits of the Special Edition out there that are okay. Are we actually getting the Special Edition or Theatrical only?
I have a feeling when the Blu-ray is finally announced, it'll be the theatrical cut only. And then they'll spend 10 years trying to find time to remaster the Special Edition. Semi-precedent is Superman: The Movie. The 4K remaster was only of the theatrical cut. Although the Special Edition was already on Blu-ray. There seems to be a strange, paradoxical trend in the 4K market of consumers wanting the most retro version of the movies possible, including original theatrical audio.
I recall reading that there were distinct mixes of Star Wars when it was released theatrically; mono, stereo and 70mm. I’m 55 and I’m starting to believe that the mouse will never release a retro SW.
On one hand, it seems unimaginable an "Abyss" 4K wouldn't include the longer cut since that's clearly the one Cameron has preferred for decades. On the other, the "T2" 4K didn't have the longer version, so you might be right. I support the inclusion of original theatrical audio, though. Every DVD/BD/4K should include the original sound. I admit I don't understand why movie buffs demand absolute fidelity to the theatrical in terms of aspect ratio and visual presentation but then get mad when movies aren't remixed for Atmos. Shouldn't we want the original theatrical experience period?
IIRC, there were even more than 3 mixes of "Star Wars" in 1977, as they continued to tinker with the sound as the movie rolled out into various markets.
My son & I invaded my friends 4K, 7.2, Atmos basement to watch the 2013 edition of Akira with its fantastic 5.1 , 96/24, “Hyper-Sonic” mix. Guess what? The Atmos matrix worked. Later that night we saw Spider-Man Homecoming at the local Cinemark XD screen. Audio wise, Akira was more engaging.
I've seen the theatrical edition only once (in the theater). Ever since it was released for the home market I've only watched the Special Edition. I'd be shocked if they only release the theatrical cut.
