American Graffiti 4K UHD review: The Lucasfilm Circle of Revisionism is now complete

#americangraffiti #4k #4kuhd #physicalmedia #donotbuy #filmrevisionism

I review the appalling desecration found on the new 4K master and UHD release of AMERICAN GRAFFITI. For its 50th anniversary the film has finally been given the unfortunate Lucasfilm treatment. After being relatively ignored for 25 years of messy and not very good home video Masters, the film has been subjected to such extreme DNR that most of the film grain and detail is completely obliterated. The new color grading is doled and the groundbreaking sound design has been torn apart in favor of a brand new 5.1 remix with brand new affects that alters the level balance, and effectively undoes the pioneering work of Walter Murch.
There is no positive to this release, this is film, desecration, pure, and simple. The bundled old Blu-ray is unbelievably better in every conceivable way, which is insane as that was an outdated screwy master when it was released years ago.
This is heartbreaking to witness. An absolutely appalling desecration of an American classic just because people today refuse to accept the technical standards of the past and think they’re somehow “wrong”.

00:00 Intro Goof-Lucas quotes and “DNR around the reels”
03:40 Discussion
12:13 Techniscope
16:30 Haskell Wexler would be furious with this master
17:05 The DNR from hell
20:38 Color is desaturated
21:26 HDR10 presentation
22:57 The worst DNR usage in the 4K realm since T2 and even worse in an artistic sense
23:46 New digital tweaks with some so poor the effects are visible
25:41 Picture Quality summary: Frasier screaming "oh dear God!"
29:58 The old crap Blu-ray is bundled and is BETTER IN EVERY WAY
32:08 DON'T UPGRADE TO THIS PIECE OF FILTH
32:14 The desecration of the groundbreaking original sound design
35:08 The Walter Murch 1978 Dolby Stereo remix
37:10 Best version of stereo remix is on the 1992 Japanese LD
38:17 The new 5.1 remix with new effects and ruined balance levels
43:05 The screwy weird 2.0 downmix track
45:44 Packaging and Artwork because...I guess why not
47:54 Supplemental Features-NOTHING NEW
49:38 Final Summary: DO NOT SUPPORT THIS DESECRATION
51:23 The 4K DCP theatrically is EVEN WORSE
52:44 This is now the version of record. People will think the film was always like this.
55:51 DO NOT PURCHASE THIS UHD. HOLD ONTO YOUR BLU-RAY.
56:44 1996 Laserdisc is the last release without digital changes
58:03 Closing Thoughts-this will have to be saved and preserved by fans as usual