A problem with the Criterion Collection’s upcoming Citizen Kane release has been reported by two websites.
According to DVD Beaver, “the 1080P looks quite strong, superior to Warner’s 2011 Blu-ray in varying degrees, often darker, showing more grain and richer contrast layering. It’s a dual-layered rendering with a max’ed out bitrate with nothing else sharing that first Blu-ray disc. Until we get almost exactly 30-minutes into the film — just prior to the scene in Bernstein’s office (with the contentious visibility of the rain on the windows) and the Criterion Blu-ray alters and shows a very softer, paler, contrast — the brightness diminished. This difference is NOT as notable on the 4K UHD disc…”
Hollywood Elsewhere stated it confirmed the quality drop with “a totally trusted technical authority on Blu-ray and 4K discs.”
“The problem is not with the 4K disc, which reportedly looks quite fine and delightful,” Hollywood Elsewhere states. “The problem is with the Blu-ray version, which looks fine until the 30-minute mark, at which point the image turns all gray and milky with the black levels and sharpness totally out the window.”
The 4k UHD/Blu-ray set is due for release on Tuesday, November 23.
Wellesnet has not received its review copy and cannot verify whether the disc is flawed.
We have reached out to Criterion for comment.
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