Another classic from our favorite western boy, Clint Eastwood

Kino's new release from a new 4K scan of Clint Eastwood's classic "High Plains Drifter" bests any version out there. This 4k and Blu-ray combo set features a largely stunning restoration. There are a few moments where the presentation falters just a little bit of softness in a couple of scenes but and in some color timing but, on the whole, Universal and Kino are to be commended for bringing their A game to this transfer. The Dolby Vision and HDR color grading helps this transfer stand out over the previous blu-rays (I should note that the previous Blu-rays were from an older transfer and the new 4K and the standard Blu-ray BOTH feature the newly created transfer). The improvement in detail, grain management and depth, delineation are greatly improved overall for this film. What does that mean? If you're watching this on a properly calibrated 4K screen, it should look marvelous. The compression artifacts and uneven grain in some of the previous Blu-rays aren't in evidence here-the presentation still stays true to its film roots but also benefits from a superior authoring on disc as well. As a result, some of the murkier images are clearer here and detail even in dark scenes are much improved. The only area where the new version is too conservative has to do with some of the color timing. The reds, for example, when the town is painted red and the “Hell” sign are both not as vibrant as they should be. Not sure why the decision to turn down the intensity of this during the color timing phase of the transfer was made but it is one of the few flaws in an otherwise very nice looking transfer. The audio sounds quite good as well. The 5.1 mix here is the same as the previous (and may even use the same track prepared for previous editions) in terms of dialog, music and sound effects presentation. The previous Kino disc had an audio commentary on it and it is supplemented here with a newer one by Alex Cox. There are also three new interviews with (at the time) surviving cast on the Blu-ray; Mitchell Ryan, Marianna Hill and William O'Connell all appear in these recent interviews. We also get a "Trailers from Hell" hosted by Edgar Wright (and in a separate one Josh Olson) discussing the film as well as an assortment of trailers for other Eastwood films. Radio and TV spots round out the special features. The vintage featurette "A Man Called Eastwood" is also included. It's always a tough call as to which films will benefit the most from a 4K upgrade but fans of this film will be pleased with the improved detail and quality of the film. It's nice to see that the cover art here is the same as the previous Blu-ray (which used, as I recall, the poster artwork) rather than create something that might be inferior.

This is a solid A/V transfer for Clint Eastwood's classic acid western. I wouldn't say that either the picture or sound is near reference, but they both were good enough to give me the feeling of being in the theater 50 years ago watching this brand new.

Excellent transfer to 4k and watching it on a 8k tv its absolutely amazing

Outstanding western starring the veteran Clint Eastwood. Clint is a drifter coming into a sleepy town one day, with intentions of getting even. Unfortunately for the towns people, they already know what's coming and hire this "drifter" to help protect them. Things get dicey when on the first day of arrival, the three men previously hired to protect the town get themselves shot to death by antagonizing the drifter while he is in for a shave. The town "leaders" are then forced to hire him not knowing who he really is. Great picture quality! It's an improvement over the previous Blu-ray and the sound is superb. Well done KINO LORBER! Special Features are brought over to this edition and easy selections on the menus.