TRUE LIES - 4K UHD BLU-RAY Review

my thoughts on the new 4K remaster of True Lies.
/ oliverharper
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/ oliverharper1982
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#truelies #jamescameron #arnoldschwarzenegger #jamieleecurtis #billpaxton #oliverharper #retrospectivereview #4kbluray

[@BubblegumCrash332]

To this day the bridge explosion scene is some of the best miniature work ever done

[@robvegas9354]

100% agree.

[@slate49]

It’s real! The bridge was blown but after a new highway way built. It was big news back in the day. I’m sure you can find a newscast on it somewhere on KZbin.

[@BubblegumCrash332]

@@slate49 the bridge is real but the explosion and truck flying in the air are miniatures

[@veganguy74]

I’d rather have the grain than the DNR.

[@Blink_____]

Entire generations have already been raised on DNR, unfortunately. Studios are gonna keep doing this crap.

[@edrooney1967]

Cameron’s technical revisionism is the opposite of film preservation. As a movie enthusiast and collector I think it's simply unacceptable. Good review, thanks.

[@seanwieland9763]

5:07 Wow, I can’t believe they didn’t digitally composite Arnold’s face on the stunt double like they did with Terminator 2.

[@schwartzy65]

Before it was hidden in the shadow and since the stuntdoubles (peter kent) face is similar and the hair it looked great... Now its overy lit :/

[@Rschr101]

It's noticeable on vhs too

[@austinwillcut4919]

That's just something you have to deal with when you watch old movies.

[@FaydOgolon]

I saw "True Lies" in theaters when it first came out. A couple of months later, I was able to watch it in 70mm. That's when I was going, "Oh, there's the stunt double! That's Arnold! Now, it's the stunt double again!"

[@StultifiedGraphics]

Watched it again yesterday, and agree with you, Really noticed it this watch hadn't seen it in maybe 10 years. Also watched the terminator movies again too, Cameron makes some awesome movies, but realising in these movies even T2 stunt doubles were way to obvious.

[@The_Big_Blue_Bug_of_Justice]

Yeah, there’s some genuinely shoddy wig work for the stunt guy in this (I think it’s Peter Kent again). The snow stunts at the beginning look particularly obvious. Along with most of the fights on the island towards the end.

[@AdrenolinFlux]

Thanks Arnold’s stunt double for giving us that sick horseback chase scene

[@karlydoc]

"This is not blowing my skirt up gentlemen."

[@SleepExports]

I'm really surprised no one is asking for deleted scenes. One of the few movies without them, and one of the few movies it would be most interesting to see.

[@jamesgoss1860]

The worst part of the AI upscaling is when it re-draws facial details like pupils, pores and wrinkles. It's very unsettling to watch

[@Bkaas]

Very well said Oliver. This release did not need AI.

[@ten606ixx]

Jamie Lee Curtis in 4K😍...... yes please.

[@leewright1]

Tia Carrera and Jamie Lee bitch fight 👍😉

[@halomultiplayermoments3651]

Ohhhh yes 🤌👌👈

[@neiltaylor6645]

True lies on the laser disk had one of the first Dolby digital soundtracks

[@dvdmike007]

Yep not long after the first, Clear and present danger

[@neiltaylor6645]

@@dvdmike007 known as AC3 then

[@SkullMan---]

Just wanted to say I'm grateful for your reviews, and agree that the AI smoothing looks bad. What a shame.

[@petermiao8970]

I did my own upscale of my blu-ray and I enjoy it way more than this official 4K release.

[@amovieguy14]

Now you gotta make a review of Aliens on 4K… …please.

[@doric_historic]

James Cameron's films are on an express Ai elevator to hell, going down...

[@NextToToddliness]

Btw, the Jet Scene at the end of the film is mostly a mockup (when it's not the actual jet), with some cgi compositing. I'm pretty sure it was featured on Movie Magic, which was an HBO show that ran in the early-90's. I think they're even here on KZbin. Edit: Movie Magic was on the Discovery Channel. Look up: "Movie Magic - True Lies - Motion Control Technology"

[@johnsmith651]

"it looks like a movie shot on digital cameras" yet and that is what Cameron wants. He is a revisionist director.

[@dnasty312]

Not like Georgie boy though

[@ReinhardtCustoms]

Seeing Arnold’s stunt double was the very first thing I noticed, and how frequent it was (like you said). As much as I still love the film, seeing his stunt double so much was way more distracting than the transfer (which I don’t love but don’t mind)

[@rockyl9120]

Agree it was very distracting. It was like Harry Tasker in the movie has someone do the hard work for him as he is too pampered, then he pops up at the end saying job done guys!

[@NiceGuyAidey]

Yea I agree with the review, this and Aliens looked so weird in this new 4k transfer, I just can not justify the 24.99 price tag

[@jmcd21182]

James was like "Only I can fuck up my film's tramfers."

[@harrisonsmovietributes1689]

Another 4K collection update in the near future? Love seeing your collection videos

[@Justdisco2]

Arnie as a actor is the finished article in this picture.

[@jonbourgoin182]

I had no idea 9/11 robbed us of a True Lies sequel. That honestly sucks.

[@Rschr101]

Not to mention the 3 thousand lives lost that day, subsequent invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq that went nowhere, and the Patriot Act. But yea, a True Lies sequel wouldve been great😂

[@saint6563]

Thx. Subscribed. Films filmed on film should look like film. 4K video & audio shouldn't be compromised.

[@neiltaylor6645]

Saw this film on its opening weekend at the Empire Leicester Square had to fill in a form how much we liked it or not

[@OSW]

Ha! Noice. Do u remember what u wrote?

[@neiltaylor6645]

@@OSW not really nearly 30 years ago 🙈

[@andymc96]

I hated when I started noticing the stuntmen😢

[@LukeLovesRose]

Everyone knows they're stuntman. We just ignored it and avoided it

[@bened22]

I hated it in Flashdance with the "stunt"dancers. Immersion ruined.

[@LukeLovesRose]

@@bened22 You're being too sensitive. It's a movie. They have to do certain things. They've had to do those things since the beginning of arts and entertainment

[@bened22]

@@LukeLovesRose Maybe you can sit besides me the next time I watch the 4K and whisper into my ear that I have to stop being sensitive. I mean isn't that what watching a movie is all about--being told by someone what you are supposed to feel? ^^ Look, I know why they had to do it and I still prefer the 4K over older formats. But it DID take me out of it, period.

[@LukeLovesRose]

@@bened22 Do you understand what I said?

[@Jeffdraws101]

The new found 35mm scan of Terminator 2 is so fun to watch. I'd take that over the 4k releases anytime.

[@DanielZ5]

Wow great vid thanks for the info you just reminded me why I subbed to you years back very to the point and informative while not being boring I fall into the group of being able to notice these things but I don't go crazy over it and although not the ideal version I think you still upsold it I will upgrade to this version as soon as I can afford it keep up the good work brother

[@erikaleksandermoe1634]

When viewing this 4k version it seemed to me that the picture was oversharpened and upscaled from 1080p. But the movie is so fantastic that it is easy to just enjoy it and be thoroughly entertained.

[@ginarae5739]

Great video, Thank you 🎉 ..rarely mentioned UK Original VHS is CUT 😮 similarly DVD was CUT in selected releases..!??

[@megansavage7152]

I have the Spanish blu-ray

[@mooseyman74]

Back when a trip to the movies was usually a treat

[@Rschr101]

Instead of a political statement about how evil straight white people are.

[@vtrip_]

i would like to see the full screen version. if its like the T2 VHS release it utilizes the original negative to show more vertically and less horizontally. its basically a different version of the movie. this is not the first time Cameron has done this either. The sound effects for The Terminator on the DVD are redone. Especially the sound of the semi auto that the T-800 uses to kill the first Sarah Conner.

[@Qwazin]

It's sad that Cameron only seems to care about Avatar sequels and re-releasing T2 for the hundredth time, but can't be bothered to give the rest of his body of work the respect and preservation they deserve.

[@p331083]

Infuriating thing is the T2 4k release suffers from the exact same problem! And that was release a year or two ago now. You would think he would have learned his lesson, but nope DNR everything.

[@d-d-i]

And he's also wasting his talent with Avatar movies, while he could do something different as well. Don't get me wrong, Avatar movies are good of course, but he could do so much more different stuff.

[@dr.impossibleofcounterpunc1984]

​@p331083 Just think what's to come. The ringing endorsement with these new 4K Hybrid versions of True Lies, Aliens, and The Abyss. Now Cameron will turn his attention to The Terminator and T2 with A.I. tools applied. The future looks bleak.

[@Justdisco2]

Avatar made him his first Billion dollar movie after tax, Not including Titanic and way of the water sequel made another billion or so, so I think his works have been in the N zone since 1984, He’s the only director working now that a studio would easily give a billion dollars to make a film.

[@FervAnimalLover]

He endorsed and supervised these transfers to 4k

[@moviereviews4life]

According to the people who worked on this remaster, they only had a badly kept negative to work with. They had to choose whether to upscale an old transfer, which would've kept the saturation and other flaws of the old transfer or clean up the film they had as authentic as possible. They chose the lesser of two evils. I do wish more studios would remaster their footage in the way the Peeping Tom 4K was given. They had to find more than one copy of the original negative to help clean it up naturally and used no AI. I'm guessing with True Lies they couldn't find more than one copy or it wasn't in the budget to do so. I still like the transfer, I do have a double feature DVD with Mr and Mrs Smith & True Lies and may get the Spanish Blu-ray just for the special feature on it to have the choices but at the moment I'm satisfied

[@OSW]

Enjoyed watching! For these home video release videos, any chance u could include a roundup on what u think is the best format of watching them? eg "2022 Fox Remaster" had no AI upscale/aggressive DNR

[@johnsmith651]

the DVD was also non anamorphic means it would look awful on a 16x9 TV

[@suttercane6]

My German DVD is anamorphic and uncut.

[@ThisIsTheRoad]

German Special Edition still looks pretty great, I'll stick with it over this crap. Even has bonus material.

[@JB0071051982]

@@ThisIsTheRoad Just picked the German DVD pressing myself. Looking forward to viewing all of the bonus features, especially the deleted scenes.

[@d-d-i]

I've tested AI tools for many years and I can honestly say, that their main issue is the fact that they remove any grain from the picture, making things have this wax-like quality. Or then they try to add some details to some stuff where it shouldn't be, like, adding grainy vegetation texture to smoother kind of plants. Some AI tools have options to add some artificial grain back, but it's not the same, since it has already altered the image too much. And editors don't know how to use them well so far, it can be used to enhance bad focus and stuff like that, but it requires very specific workflow, sort of multi-layered process. Generally though, I always think that with old 35/70mm movies, they need native 4K scan, scratches/dirt removed and HDR10 applied to make the colours and blacks look spectacular, that's all they really need. Let's hope that these Cameron's movies will someday be published as that as well by some 3rd party movie label.

[@GregBreden]

The UK DVD in 2003 had some cuts for violence so the USA version was my preferred edition back then. It did get out uncut in 2008 though. Same thing happened with Eraser, the BBFC were pathetic back then.

[@M1GarandMan3005]

At last, since 2017, I've wanted this movie to come to Blu-Ray, waiting for James Cameron to give them the Greenlight to release it!!! Funny enough, Brian Johnson had demanded that True Lies be released on Blu-Ray.

[@scottishgeekguy]

Brilliant analysis mate.... Subbed. 😊

[@Jackal_El_Lobo34]

Props to Arnold for bringing out an entertaining performance when James Cameron was ruthlessly making him hold in his piss just to complete a shot for this movie.

[@YesterdaysMoose]

Having owned a copies of the Blu-Ray release from Spain and the old DVD, this 4K beats them both. I realize some people have issues, but it looks amazing to me.

[@refinedsugar]

Great review, well spoken. It's sad the word of mouth was mixed on this from the get-go.

[@JROTCBALL]

This is one of my fav Cameron flicks and it’s been forever since I’ve seen it! I think I’m still gonna pick it up

[@InimicusSolitus]

Bought it. Enjoyed it.

[@Astral_Dusk]

5:07!! What!!! Arnold couldn't just run and reload in that shot!?!?

[@hairy_cornflake]

I feel like there's that weird blue-ish filter from all the recent Cameron remasters. I'm not a fan...

[@WhatHoSnorkers]

Saw it in the cinema, it was great fun!

[@GranTruismo4head]

6:34 “She even took the ice cube trays out of the freezer! What kind of a sick bitch takes the ice cube trays out of the freezer?!” I’ll agree to it being funny and I loved it since I was six years old Oliver so this film along with a lot of others are the reason I love movies so much.

[@abrahamg4005]

Own the DVD and just purchased through ITunes at a great price

[@KasumiKenshirou]

I own the 4K disc and didn't notice any of these issues, but I'd only seen the movie once before on standard definition NTSC broadcast TV decades ago, probably panned-and-scanned. I didn't notice that stunt man, either, but now that you've pointed it out I'll probably never not notice that.

[@HanzeHenrik]

Great review! It's really sad that if Cameron really was so involved with this remaster end then this ends up being the result. Anyway, will there be a review for the 4K-version of 'Aliens'? :)

[@MatticusFinch1820]

I think I'll stick to my VHS on my crt.

[@88detour]

I remember in it's theatrical run the indoor scenes had a misty look to them. Movies like The Last Boy Scout and Point Break had that same look. I'm thinking in a hand full of scenes the mist was digitally removed.

[@onyx_yt]

If you know where to look theres a 1080p 35mm scan around 20gb

[@andrewattenboroughtwothumb4697]

Amazing movie and a masterpiece by James Cameron love it 4K

[@mmclaurin8035]

I hate that Cameron has dedicated the rest of his life to pumping out forgettable Avatar sequels when he could be making movies like True Lies.

[@Hulksterx]

Agreed, nobody will remember Avatar in the coming decades for ANYTHING other than "ooo looks pretty" "B-b-but it makes a Biwwion dowwars" Yeah, so does Fake dogshit.

[@user-ky3kj7pw4d]

James Cameron doesn’t owe you anything. He can dedicate his life to whatever he wants.. Also “pumping out” is a hysterical word to use when it took almost 15 years to release ONE film.

[@gamestation2690]

@@HulksterxWhy do you think they did make so much so much money?

[@-Perene]

@@gamestation2690 Because people are dumb and consume any BS. JC is an idiot for other reason: ruining transfers of his best movies. T2, True Lies, The Abyss, and Aliens. All awful on their respective home-video releases. Grain removal, AI processing, teal, green filters...

[@thefanwithoutaface8105]

@@user-ky3kj7pw4d Actually yes he does owe us. We consumers buy tickets to his movies, buy the DVDs and blu ray, the merch, everything. If it weren't for us, he'd still be living out of his car surviving on Macdonald's coupons.

[@nox5870]

This film is a certified classic, one of the best action films of the 90s. Arnold at his best!

[@ryanh603]

I was looking forward to getting this one but as soon as I heard the first bad review of the picture quality, I held off on preordering until further reviews. Once the further reviews confirmed my reservations, I was quite disappointed to hear this but also relieved that I did not purchase the disc. Maybe Cameron will fix the blemishes that everyone is complaining about or maybe he won’t. Until then, I’m hanging onto my old special edition DVD.

[@loftlegacy]

I watched it last night and Jamie Lee Curtis’ face ages from 11 to 35. It’s an odd one and I totally agree it looks like a digitally shot movie with very, very little film grain. Didn’t spoil our enjoyment and the Atmos soundtrack is very immersive.

[@byronlaw6491]

Great review. Glad to hear the truth being spoken about this disc. This format is only being bought by enthusiasts so it’s annoying it’s been ruined this way. The Spanish Bluray is a pressed disc it’s not a BD-R so I’d recommend it. There is some kind of loophole law in Spain apparently that allows it to be released on the likes of Amazon. It’s got some interesting extras on it as well from the premiere. James Cameron is asked what his next film is and he says “Spiderman”. I’m gonna stick to that and the laserdisc.

[@TrentPruitt1997]

What I find ironic is that Cameron made the Terminator films which show the dangers of what AI can do. He’s even claimed in recent years, “oh, I tried warning you guys back in the 80s and 90s!” And yet, here he is taking away the potential greatness of the look of these movies on 4K by being a hypocrite. It’s just so odd to me. Do I hate the way they look? No. Could it have been a lot better? Most definitely.

[@WestfaelischerJung]

i had never seen the movie due to it not being on Bluray so i had no idea what the original creative intent and i really enjoyed the film but some of the face smoothing especially in the first half was just obnoxious. its a shame really because some sequences look absolutely brillant!

[@Eidlones]

03:53 God.. he looks like cg.

[@chootsart]

The skin smoothing and Ai sharpness is horrible. Amazed you were able to sit through it

[@rjspires]

I've already got it but haven't watched it yet. I had heard about the AI upscaling done and only plan to watch the HD copy and not the UHD copy. If it's like Aliens, where it's the 4K version just downscaled to 1080p, I'll be disappointed.

[@Moonlightgraeme]

How's the Jamie lee Curtis dance looking in 4k?

[@robvegas9354]

It is a fantastic entertaining movie. Was amazing on the big screen. Me and my friends at school went to see Speed and we talked about that for ages and agreed nothing is going to top that. Then True Lies dropped it we went to see it about 5 times.

[@Matthew-sq9ee]

Fort it looked fab. Better then 2001 dvd

[@retrobob3802]

I'm assuming this release has the violence that was edited out of the DVD (in UK at least)? It was noticeably different to the VHS.

[@byronlaw6491]

The U.K. DVD accidentally got released uncut. If you get hold of a copy with the old school BBFC 15 logo on the disc it’s the uncut one. This 4K has nothing missing also.

[@MarlinYandel]

For its 30th anniversary should release it in theaters too.

[@hey_you]

I was just watching this over the weekend and laughed at how obvious the stunt double is during the snow chase now in 4k. 😂 Such a good film though. This was the first Arnold movie I saw in the theater, as a kid.

[@marcoschavarria3232]

Idk I got used to the old look, and it really set the nostalgia just like how I remember

[@entertainmentwizard2703]

I know word has been going around that they didn't go back to the camera negative for this release and instead used an unreleased older master but nothings confirmed! It's a shame this version has so many issues!

[@srico7313]

Damn Cameron wtfdidnt you use Tia Carrera as the wife and James Lee Curt as the succubus?!???! Otherwise not a bad flick .

[@dvdmike007]

Its NOT a 4k scan at all, its the old scan upscaled, like you said its super 35 and that should never match and it does

[@luxskywalker8094]

While watching the film, I had the impression that the actors had faces made of plasticine😢

[@ginarae5739]

I'm guessing TrueL 4K is now Uncut in UK.?? ABYSS VHS and DVD always CUT in UK = No 4K UK release..!!? ..AFAIK

[@ceufrscio707]

That dance scene

[@smoothALOE]

Still haven’t seen anything like this in The States.

[@ViktorKruger99]

"this movie is not that old" Oliver... this movie is 30 years old we are old now... :(

[@Astral_Dusk]

Damn, you can really see the AI filtering :( :( - it's not ready for feature film remastering yet

[@retter2critical]

Its ironic that Cameron seems to have embraced a Skynet attitude towards art, aesthetic and reality.

[@repairshop22]

Now if we can just get Eraser

[@80s_Film_Fan]

What a shame. I have the Spanish bluray you mentioned briefly. Would you say I'm best just sticking with that? I'm not 4k ready anyway, so would only be getting tjis 4k for the 1080p disc that comes with it (and to future proof myself).

[@Vintage9x]

I would say hold on to that until a superior re release of this movie ever happens. A scan of the 35mm of a theatrical print is also online too which is good.

[@Memmnarch1981]

Ill just put my Mentiras Arriesgades Disc in... :)

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

There is tons of these entertaining action movies with Stallone, Bruce Willis and Shwarzenegger, all top notch, but, without me being able to explain why, I think True Lies are above the rest, more filmatic qualities than others, perhaps except Conan and Die Hard

[@M4SH3R85]

I was really disappointed when I watched this in 4k but the last act looked better... then I realised that I forgot to change discs after finishing the extras lol. so hopefully when I watch the 4k disc it won't be as bad but somehow I think it will be.

[@mickbanner]

Having a 4k bump is a more enjoyable experience than noticing the grain is missing or skin too smooth. Having a keen eye for these things can be a detriment to only you, and watching this on a huge tele with the sound to 11 is fantastic experience

[@halomultiplayermoments3651]

Exactly dude. Most reviewers are very negatively slanted rather than enjoying having a 4k release. Like people who pick plot holes in movies or complain things are not realistic in movies rather than just enjoying the movie 😂

[@mickbanner]

I 100% get the criticism he's making. They should have tried to find a balance of grain and less AI... but there's still no way I'm choosing to watch a lazerdisk over this 4k bluray

[@byronlaw6491]

For £25 tho it should be an accurate presentation of the original cinema showings. For people that enjoy this type of thing streaming is the option. It’s mean to be an enthusiasts format as we basically are more or less the only folk buying it. The public haven’t even heard of Bluray in most cases. Not being rude here by the way just annoying this release isn’t what it could have been for the money.

[@mickbanner]

@@byronlaw6491 completely get your point. I'm happy there's a 4k version available to me despite its flaws. So reluctantly this would be the version I'd suggest someone who hasn't seen it. So I guess... the best version that exists. But yeah... they've maybe gone too far and it isn't technically the original version

[@cianog]

What about the quality of the blu ray that comes with it?

[@user-fu1mx4hv6z]

The picture quality on the blu ray is better

[@rocknrollkid90]

Are you going to review the 4K-UHD, Blu-ray release of, “Aliens,” next?

[@chrisward000]

I’m kind of relieved that this one is the one that got the worst treatment as it’s the only Cameron movie that I don’t really like, and the only one I wasn’t planning to buy on 4K. The T2 remaster is the greater crime for me and I still wish they’d release an unmolested version.

[@creekandseminole]

Man I loved this movie. Reminds me of all the times I went to the movies with my dad back in the 90's to see every action film that came out. He was divorced and didn't care about R rated flicks hah

[@LukeLovesRose]

I for one cannot wait to buy True Lies in 4K

[@gbrading]

Cameron apparently hates film grain so no doubt he approved smoothing True Lies to within an inch of its life.

[@ImaRush]

Did Stargate ever get better after DVD?

[@MrBlue3rd]

I was only bothered by picture being out of focus in the beginning and I thought it was funny in some shots you could clearly see Arnold's stunt double.🤣

[@woodshedreviews]

So disappointing to hear about the DNR and AI enhancement. Been waiting for a decent version of this film for ages.

[@jonathanfeldheim6554]

when it came out, it was stated as the highest budget movie ever, at $125M, sir