****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Unlike James Cameron's recently released True Lies 4k release- which sometimes looks super waxy, ultra denoised and sharpened by AI "enhancement", Arrow Video takes the opposite approach to 90's film restoration: they preserve natural film grain, and embrace the grittiness of the original work. This is a huge plus for Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys, as the dingy, dreamlike aesthetic and storytelling are only enhanced by the inherent qualities of film. The sparkle of processed "noise" picked up in the 4k restoration ranges from subtle to somewhat overt, giving dimly lit corridors and brief moments of sunlight intense contrast and immersion. Image quality is detailed, and colors are accurate. If you're looking for preservation and nostalgia combined, this is the best version so far.As for the mastering error that others have mentioned over the past couple years, my copy did not have it. Mine was sold by Amazon, and to the best of my observations, I cannot detect any "V2" or "Version 2" etc. printed on the disc or case. Again, I'm reviewing the 4k UHD release only, and from what I've gathered on the Internet, the HD Blu-ray copies from 2018 probably all have this issue.
