Take Over Tuesday: Featuring Jon Thompson Eyes Wide Open: Bit Depth, Dolby Vision, and Defending Kubrick’s Intent
It’s Take Over Tuesday where you the listener run the podcast.
And this week’s episode is featuring Jon!
Not ‘Good Enough’: Inside the Eyes Wide Shut 4K Debate with Jon Thompson
In this surprise live recording session of Takeover Tuesday, DJ sat down with Steve to dive deep into First Blood (1982) from a host’s-eye view—less an action flick, more a character-driven drama with seventies DNA. They trace John Rambo’s journey from that soulful Jerry Goldsmith overture and the “Welcome to Hope” irony, through small-town escalation, to a raw, devastating finale that remains some of Stallone’s finest acting. The guys unpack how the film critiques institutions—law enforcement, civilian attitudes, and the military—while centering the human cost and mental health fallout of Vietnam, contrasting the film’s restraint with the novel’s darker, bloodier path and the sequels’ eighties bombast. They trade first-watch memories, real-world military anecdotes, and the symbolism of uniforms, knives, and that “body bags” warning—plus why Rambo’s restraint shapes our empathy and why this movie is endlessly "talk-about-able". The Bright Side Boys also touch on Troutman’s layered presence, the National Guard satire, iconic quotes, and why First Blood is, yes, a holiday classic set in a tinsel-trimmed Hope. Later "today" they're back to break down the home theater experience and mixes—because this classic deserves a proper play-through.
So much Fun!
If you don’t believe it…
Push Play and Hear for yourself!
🍿Chapters🍿
1. (00:00:00) Opening banter and setting the agenda
2. (00:00:45) Eyes Wide Shut on Criterion sparks a quality debate
3. (00:04:40) Dolby Vision vs HDR10: history, licensing, and bit depth
4. (00:07:36) 8‑bit to 16‑bit: lessons from VFX, DCI testing, and standards
5. (00:12:19) Pixel depth over pixel count and the rise of HDR cinema
6. (00:16:43) Kubrick’s influence: obsession with perfection and process
7. (00:20:01) Case study: The Long Good Friday—12‑bit vs 10‑bit impact
8. (00:31:41) High‑end processors and niche features: Trinnov and pro Atmos
9. (00:41:26) Why file‑based playback can rival DCPs
10. (00:44:53) Film vs digital highlights, dynamic range, and capture choices
11. (00:50:13) Grain myths and proper grain management in scans
12. (00:56:42) Why not 12‑bit? QC, seamless branching, and costs
13. (00:59:31) Criterion’s track record, pricing, and likely silence
14. (01:03:15) Trickle‑down tech: DLP, big OLEDs, and falling prices
15. (01:05:41) Resolution vs HDR: when 2K is enough on smaller screens
16. (01:06:25) Why Kaleidescape images pop: ASICs and HDMI design
17. (01:10:27) Power supplies and noise: linear vs switch‑mode in AV
18. (01:19:41) Kubrick team lore: lenses, DPs, and preparation for Eyes Wide Shut
19. (01:26:48) AI accusations, editing tools, and writing voice
20. (01:45:02) Chroma subsampling 4:2:0 vs 4:2:2 vs 4:4:4 explained
21. (01:50:06) Digital archiving woes: lost tapes and fragile negatives
22. (01:54:05) Studios restoring classics and obsessive research culture
23. (02:03:00) Is streaming anti‑art? Group experiences and curation
24. (02:05:00) Context matters: then vs now in theatrical awe
25. (02:07:17) Community, tribes, and social media echo chambers
26. (02:12:00) Pre‑internet research, libraries, and conspiracy thrillers
27. (02:14:18) Bandwidth overkill and file sizes then and now
28. (02:16:49) From flying negatives to digital delivery timelines
29. (02:18:18) Cameras shrink, phones shoot 8K, and custom IMAX rigs
30. (02:21:36) Nolan, Odyssey, and managing IMAX spectacle
31. (02:25:35) What does space smell like? Humor and human details
32. (02:26:24) Moon landing conspiracies, restorations, and Armstrong’s tale
33. (02:33:11) Closing thoughts: Kubrick’s rigor and the 12‑bit ask
34. (02:42:43) Wrap‑up, meta on discourse, and sign‑off
🍿Links from the Show🍿
Follow & Say Hi to the Guys on Twitter
DJ - 🍿Bright Side Home Theater🍿 (@BrightSideHT) / Twitter
John - John Circone ⚽️ (@JohnCircone) / Twitter
Steve - Steve George (@LegalBeagleOK) / Twitter
And if you’d like to contribute to the show…
Here are Two Ways YOU CAN BE ON THE SHOW
Email the guys and put “HT Experience” in the subject line they will talk about your comment on the Podcast.
Email or DM Them on Twitter to schedule to record a Take Over Tuesday episode.
A movie you liked or a Movie you hated?
A favorite scene?
Good or Bad Experience with Home Theater gear?
Comments about past Bright Side Home Theater podcasts?
Anything about your Home Theater Experience, just let them know and you’ll be on the show!
🍿Links
Patreon: patreon.com/brightsidehometheater
Twitter: @BrightSideHT
email: brightsidehometheater@gmail.com
web: Brightsidehometheater.com
Merch: www.teepublic.com/user/bright-side-home-theater
🍿Thanks to:
Theme Music by Jeff Bernheart/Throne Vault Productions.
https://thronevaultproductions.bandcamp.com/
