Eli is a journalist who lives in Detroit, MI. He got his start in journalism covering video games and sports for Heavy before branching out into greater esports coverage at Dexerto. He also has bylines at SlashGear, Sports Illustrated, and more.
He added technology coverage to his plate over his years of writing, and it's something he continues to cover at Pocket-lint. He's interviewed numerous game developers and covered several live events, such as the launch of Destiny 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 in Los Angeles.
He has written more than 5,000 articles and looks to continue adding to that number in the years to come. For Pocket-lint, he specializes in home theater audio/video formats, and he loves streaming devices like the Roku Ultra and Apple TV 4K. He is also a lifelong collector of physical media, and he's a huge fan of 4K UHD Blu-ray, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos.
He has a degree in Journalism from Central Michigan University.
For the most part, you're safe upgrading your DVD and Blu-ray discs to 4K UHD Blu-ray. This is the best format available on the market, and if you value having the best audio and picture quality, that's where you need to go. I've been very happy with my 4K discs, but there are some bad transfers. It's bound to happen from time to time, but what's annoying is that some of the most famous movies of all time have fallen victim to this.
Bad 4K versions can happen for a variety of reasons, and it's important that you're aware of them. Some of it is actually artistic expression. Going by James Cameron's 4K upgrades, it seems like he's not a fan of film grain. Some of the releases (spoiler alert: they're on the list) wipe the grain out completely and leave the image looking quite strange. These are scenarios where you either like what you see, or you're appalled. I find myself in the latter camp because there's just a sense of something being wrong when you watch a movie like that. Keep in mind that other movies fit this bill, and I'm just highlighting four of them.
Terminator 2 is the shining example of this
One of the best looking like one of the worst
Terminator 2: Judgment Day is one of those infamous James Cameron releases that looks appealing when you see it at a low price, but those who know, know. T2 has had the film grain stripped right out of it, and the result is an image that looks like Vaseline has been smeared all over it. If you're sensitive to something like that, it's something you should avoid at all costs.
Thankfully, the Blu-ray version of the movie is intact with its grain, and that's the one that's generally recommended to pick up. Yes, it's in 1080p and has no HDR, but the image still looks better because it doesn't strip away the detail that is the grain. Obviously, it's up to you what you prefer, but after watching Terminator 2 on 4K Blu-ray once, I'm sticking with the Blu-ray. It's a shame, because it's a great movie.
True Lies is another Cameron release that is rough
Not many choices for this one
Take everything I just said about Terminator 2 and apply it to True Lies. The problem with this release is that there's no Blu-ray to fall back on. True Lies coming to 4K was a big deal because it was previously only available on DVD and VHS. Those are old formats that don't hold up very well in the 4K TV era, so I was excited to finally get my hands on this release. Alas, I was disappointed, as I was with Terminator 2.
The problem is that this movie, and T2, were made to look like they were filmed digitally, but that wasn't the case. It's just a weird-looking, uncanny feeling while watching this, and it's tough to recommend for that reason. It's not like you have much of a choice in the matter, so it's a bummer.
The Empire Strikes Back deserves better
It's good, but it should be great
The Star Wars Original Trilogy has received so many re-releases over the years that it's hard to keep track of them. With that in mind, it makes a lot of sense that they received a 4K upgrade, but they aren't really as eye-popping as they should be. The Empire Strikes Back is one of my favorite movies of all time, and while it looks good in 4K, I wanted it to look better. There's no Dolby Vision, common with Disney releases, and it seems like there are portions of the movie scrubbed free of grain, like Cameron did the transfer or something.
I still think the Empire 4K is the best way to watch the movie, legally, that is, so you shouldn't regret the purchase if you have it. I'm just not sure it's worth the upgrade from the Blu-ray to the 4K. I don't want to call it fully botched, but I wouldn't mind another scan.
Batman Begins is weak when compared to other Nolan films
The weakest of the trilogy
When you consider that The Dark Knight is one of the best examples of the 4K Blu-ray format, you can see how Batman Begins, the beginning of the trilogy, pales in comparison. It's not like it's appalling, and I'd say it's worth it over the older Blu-ray. The problem is that you can binge the whole trilogy from the same box set, and you'll experience a huge leap in quality going to The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. Several Christopher Nolan movies are known for their stellar look, so Batman Begins is a letdown in that regard.
Batman Begins doesn't have any IMAX scenes to incorporate, which plays a big role, but the image isn't as good as it could be. It feels a bit soft in areas, but the 4K is still the best way you can watch it. If you're getting this in the box set, then I wouldn't worry about it. I just don't know if I'd individually upgrade this from the previous Blu-ray.