The Shape of Water (4K and Blu-ray SteelBooks) (Manta Lab Exclusive No.18) [Hong Kong]

[IRON MAN]

Release date: October 29, 2018
Purchase links: One Click - Full Slip (4K + BD) - Double Lenti (BD) - Quarter Slip (BD - Exclusive to the One Click Edition) (Pre-order October 5 at 8 PM Hong Kong time) Check your local time HERE
Price: $48.99 (Full Slip) - $43.99 (Double Lenti) - $145.98 (One Click)
Group Buy: hosted by Aniv One Click - Full Slip (4K + 2D) - Double Lenti (2D)
Notes: One Click has a detachable cover with "see-through" PET.
Print run is limited to 2700 numbered copies (Full Slip 1100 + Double Lenti 1100 + One Click 500 sets that include 500 Quarter Slips).

Spoiler

 

[Patr0n]

Sometimes I wish there would be only 2 editions, that way I would more often get my hands on those lovely boxsets.

 

[willbar84]

Wowsers that Full Slip is Lux simple and elegant will be grabbing one of these come go time. Damn Manta are on fire as that Double Lenti looks amazing aswell along with the WEA Steelbook

 

[Deleted member 29108]

I’m glad I passed on the WeET release. Double Lenti for me. Roll on the GB.

 

[jitstark]

I’m glad I passed on the WeET release. Double Lenti for me. Roll on the GB.

Holy Hell. You know I got the WeET lenti but might have to double dip for this. The double lenti looks amazing.

Once I have them in hand I can decide which one I wanna keep (or just keep them both).

 

[Real Steel]

Prices are out

Full Slip $48.99
Lenti $43.99
1/4 Slip $38.99

 

[Real Steel]

It would be good if premium releases not only offer great packaging but also the best video quality. Unfortunately, this release being only one disc means all the bonus features are sharing the same disc space. So the video bitrate will only be in the mid 20s, which would make it the same as the plain U.S. disc. It's such a waste not to max out the video bitrate for this movie, IMO.

 

[monanza]

I agree, premiums should go beyond just packaging and do more on the encoding side when the standard release is not up to snuff. Hopefully, someone will come along with the chops to do both. Not sure it is feasible but it would certainly be welcome.

EDIT: The 4K release for this was good. I have not checked out the 2D though. This was more of a general comment.

 

[Real Steel]

I agree, premiums should go beyond just packaging and do more on the encoding side when the standard release is not up to snuff. Hopefully, someone will come along with the chops to do both. Not sure it is feasible but it would certainly be welcome.

EDIT: The 4K release for this was good. I have not checked out the 2D though. This was more of a general comment.

I do not have 4K and am unlikely to have it in the foreseeable future. I wonder if early 4K adoptions follow blu-ray in the sense that they are on the low side of their bitrate potential range. Most early blu-rays have bitrates in the teens only. When I see movies with bitrates 35mbps and above vs. those under 25mbps, the difference is tremendous. So I wonder whether a 4K encoding with bitrate on the low 50+ mbps side is still better quality than a blu-ray encoding at 40mbps.

 

[howarmat]

The original bluray release with extras still clocked in around 27 Mbps for video and got very high marks on quality still. This should be around the same but does have a few more languages added

 

[Real Steel]

The original bluray release with extras still clocked in around 27 Mbps for video and got very high marks on quality still. This should be around the same but does have a few more languages added

Yes, that's right. But most modern movies can still reap the tremendous benefits from 35+ mbps bitrates. Technically many below 30mbps can get high or even perfect marks. But I have seen the differences between below 30mbps and above 35mbps even from the same movie with high pic quality (e.g. The Handmaiden). It's not something measurable, I believe; not in terms of the colors, contrast and details, but what you get is an organic, very natural looking pic with good dimensionality. The superlatives, 'gorgeous' and 'mouth-watering', would come to mind. Actually, I never realised this until I dug into several 38+ mbps movies recently. And then, like having tasted better wines, I just find the pq of under 30mbps movies underwhelming.

An analogy would be like CD sound which is said to be perfect. But when you listen to analogue, there's a naturalness to it that endears. Yet with videos at high bitrates, you can get the naturalness with no compromise to the dynamic range.

 

[Deleted member 29108]

@Apollon
I take it there will be a GB for this?

 

[howarmat]

im sure that @Aniv will host a GB

 

[Mickle_89]

@Apollon
I take it there will be a GB for this?

@Aniv will be hosting one I'm sure.

 

[Steelselecta]

Prices are out

Full Slip $48.99
Lenti $43.99
1/4 Slip $38.99

Eh? That’s a first isn’t it? Lenti being cheaper? Bonus! The lenti is what I want! Makes me think there will be a very special finish to the Fullslip then !

 

[howarmat]

Disc selection is the reason. The FS is 4K while the Lenti is not.

Eh? That’s a first isn’t it? Lenti being cheaper? Typical, I want the Fullslip!

 

[Steelselecta]

Disc selection is the reason. The FS is 4K while the Lenti is not.

I made a mistake, I meant the lenti so well chuffed. Although I didn’t know the Fullslip will have 4K, so that explains a lot !

 

[Mickle_89]

Eh? That’s a first isn’t it? Lenti being cheaper? Bonus! The lenti is what I want! Makes me think there will be a very special finish to the Fullslip then !

I got a bit confused then as well lol. Immediately thought back to RPO...

FS (4K+2D) and DL (3D+2D) were both $48.99. SL (3D+2D) was $1 cheaper at $47.99. But SOW SL and 1/4 are just 2D only and don't include the 3D disk which explains the $5 difference compared to the usual $1 lol.

Think that makes sense

 

[blu-steel]

If your so worried about bit rate then get the 4K edition. 4K players are cheap and you can always downscale to 1080P if you dont have a 4K display.

 

[Aniv]

@Apollon
I take it there will be a GB for this?

im sure that @Aniv will host a GB

Yes GB will be posted next weekend most likely. The box is currently awaiting production acceptance cycle. Once the product shot is released we will be on.

I asked for an early preview and this is what I got However keep your fish food ready if you know what I mean

 

[DylanH]

Will there be an exact time and day announced before the GB goes up? I'm super looking forward to this and don't want to miss out.