Last HD Movie Watched

[Derb]

Originally Posted by plissken99

Talladega Nights (uncut non PS3 version)

Video: 8/10
Audio: 6/10

Well the retail version is a marked improvement over the PS3 version. Though still not much better on the detail, the odd contrast problem is gone, the image has more pop to it. Audio is the same as I can't yet enjoy the uncompressed 5.1 the disc has yet(the PS3 just had a standard DD track), but I'm sure it's much better. And this one actually has features! I'll be buying this eventually.

That said, it was really dumb to include a cut, featureless version with a crappy transfer with the console.

My goodness. Thanks for giving both versions a spin. Yeah the "good" transfer isn't flawless, but it ain't shite either & it does pass as a decent HD transfer overall IMO.

Here is how I scored that one,

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10
HD Audio LPCM - 9/10

The LPCM track (like a lot of them I have been listening too) adds a nice 360 soundfield to the race scenes + the audible output is encoded roughly -6-8db higher than the standard dolby track.

[plissken99]

Originally Posted by Derb

My goodness. Thanks for giving both versions a spin. Yeah the "good" transfer isn't flawless, but it ain't shite either & it does pass as a decent HD transfer overall IMO.

Here is how I scored that one,

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10
HD Audio LPCM - 9/10

The LPCM track (like a lot of them I have been listening too) adds a nice 360 soundfield to the race scenes + the audible output is encoded roughly -6-8db higher than the standard dolby track.

You know I've got the Netflix version here... the only difference between the discs appearance is the PS3 version says "not for sale or rental" in very small letters... soooo tempting to be evil and pull a switch.

[plissken99]

Phone Booth (Blu Ray)

Video: 9/10
Audio: 10/10

[Derb]

Sky High (2005) (Blu-Ray)

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10
HD Audio LPCM - 9/10

[plissken99]

X-Men: The Last Stand (Blu Ray)

Video: 8/10
Audio: 10/10

This pretty accuratly reflects what I saw theatrically. That is to say their's a fine layer of grain throughout the movie, preventing it from being truely reference quality. That alone would have gotten 9/10, but I also noticed the very occasional jaggie, so 8/10, solid transfer. The audio is just flawless, totally enveloping and heavy. Can't wait till the PS3 will fully unlock the tracks potential. Now bring on 1 and 2!!!

[Derb]

Eight Below (2006) (Blu-Ray)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10
HD Audio LPCM - 9/10

Wasn't expecting much from this flick. Great blind-buy & another excellent Disney transfer.

[plissken99]

Broken Arrow (Blu Ray)

Video: 8/10
Audio: 9/10

[Derb]

Bullitt (1968) (HD DVD)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 7/10

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Derb

Crank (2006) (Blu-Ray)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10
HD Audio LPCM - 9/10

My rating would be slightly different:

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio LPCM - 9/10

The movie was ridiculous. I had no empathy nor was I really rooting for the Jason Statham character.

[ganthc]

House of Flying Daggers - Blu-ray

HD Video: 7/10
HD Audio LPCM: 9/10

There was a lot of film grain in the movie in various areas, along with soft images. But then there were also really detailed scenes too. The audio was nice, but could have been more aggressive, imo.

[plissken99]

The Terminator (Blu Ray)

Video: 9/10
Audio LPCM: 9/10

I went over this disc, rented from Netflix(renting all the titles I want that have negative reviews). I don't see where the complaints over this disc come from. It must be people unfamiliar with the many previous DVD versions. I've owned them all, and this is far and away the best the movie has ever looked! Yes there is grain, lots in places, but thats how this film is destined to look, it's an 80's B movie. Otherwise detail is very nice, and there are some 3D moments as well.

More suprising is the sound. I listened to the LPCM 5.1 track downconverted to 2.0 over optical and with Prologic II, it sounds amazing for an 80's B movie! Lots of range in the track, excellent levels of detail in the sound, and plenty of bass. The DTS on the Japanese version was pretty good, but this is just incredible, it truely sounds better than it ought to.

[Sehnzeleid]

Originally Posted by plissken99

The Terminator (Blu Ray)

Audio LPCM: 9/10

More suprising is the sound. I listened to the LPCM 5.1 track downconverted to 2.0 over optical and with Prologic II, it sounds amazing for an 80's B movie! Lots of range in the track, excellent levels of detail in the sound, and plenty of bass. The DTS on the Japanese version was pretty good, but this is just incredible, it truely sounds better than it ought to.

The only problem is the Blu-ray only has the 5.1 remix.

This remix has all (or nearly all) of the film's foley/A & B sound effects (gun shots/effects, impacts, car crashes, etc.) in the original 1.0 monaural mix replaced with entirely new effects from God knows where.

So I can't support the Blu-ray release. I wouldn't mind the 5.1 remix if it wholly utilized the film's original sound, but it noticeably doesn't. For example, when the Terminator blows away the wrong Sarah Conner, his gun sounds just like Dirty Harry's hand cannon in the original mono mix. In the 5.1 remix, his gun sounds like that cheap silencer effect you hear in over and over in Steven Seagal's latest epics. Even though that's just one example, there are numerous others. Like all the shotgun blasts sounding different in the car chase sequence. In the 5.1 remix they sound a lot like the hollow cannon effect the sound team on T2 used while layering effects to create the Terminator's shotgun sound effect for that film. This points to the fact that the new effects were probably pulled from a generic effect bank that anyone can use.

The MGM SE DVD has the 5.1 remix as well as what's billed the "Original English Mono", but it's actually stereo split mono. So while the Blu-ray may be the best looking version, it's not the final word on the film's sound.

The only optical disc release to feature the true 1.0 center channel mono mix is the ancient and out-of-print Hemdale/Image Entertainment DVD and LaserDisc.

[SilentBob]

The Matador HD-DVD


VIDEO: 9/10
AUDIO (DD+): 8/10


Wow for a disc that was suppose to be glitchy as hell on the HD-A1 player i had no problems what so ever except for a 2-3 minute load time. The audio score i would of like to of given a bit higher but i deducted some marks for a mostly front channel presentation and for the center channel being a bit low in its volumn. Although some great bass moments from the car explosion, bull/horses and the opening thunderstorm

[Derb]

Originally Posted by plissken99

The Terminator (Blu Ray)

Video: 9/10
Audio LPCM: 9/10

I went over this disc, rented from Netflix(renting all the titles I want that have negative reviews). I don't see where the complaints over this disc come from. It must be people unfamiliar with the many previous DVD versions. I've owned them all, and this is far and away the best the movie has ever looked! Yes there is grain, lots in places, but thats how this film is destined to look, it's an 80's B movie. Otherwise detail is very nice, and there are some 3D moments as well.

More suprising is the sound. I listened to the LPCM 5.1 track downconverted to 2.0 over optical and with Prologic II, it sounds amazing for an 80's B movie! Lots of range in the track, excellent levels of detail in the sound, and plenty of bass. The DTS on the Japanese version was pretty good, but this is just incredible, it truely sounds better than it ought to.

Aye! My all time fav flick. Must be in the 400's now watched sinse 84

The PQ imo is a few notches up on the standard-def MGM upconverted. The LPCM is defintely a 10. I don't care that the BD doesn't include the original mono track. I've heard that one 300+ times. The 5.1 remix serves the film very well. The opening war & than the opening title sequence in LPCM

[Sehnzeleid]

Originally Posted by Derb

I don't care that the BD doesn't include the original mono track. I've heard that one 300+ times. The 5.1 remix serves the film very well. The opening war & than the opening title sequence in LPCM

So it's your "all time fav flick" and you don't care that it was substantially altered from it's original state and that's the only option found on the supposed next generation of home video?

Of course, one could say it's not that big of a deal, but it really is. It sets a dangerous precedent for the film. What happens if subsequent video releases only include the 5.1 remix? That means the film is probably now damned to be EDITED for a long time to come. I would be okay with it if Cameron gave his blessing to the changes, but to my knowledge nothing has been said.

So as it stands now the 5.1 remix is one big "Fuck You" to the 28 people that worked on the film's sound, the director, and the composer designed to sell a few more copies ("Look! it's in 5.1!") of a fucking DVD and now Blu-ray. Who did the remix? Probably some MGM jerk-off toiling away in a cramped sound studio deciding that "LOUD HORN #47B" was to be the "new" truck horn sound effect heard when the Terminator is run over by the semi.

Even though The Terminator isn't the only film to be "quietly" raped in this fashion (it's sequel has 5.1 sound alterations as well, but not nearly as severe), that doesn't make this practice okay and it shouldn't be tolerated--especially by those who claim it's their favorite film of all time.

It's like going to your favorite restaurant and finding out they changed your favorite dish. Of course, it may be okay tasting anyway, but it's not the same dish that made it your favorite in the first place. When you fit that into a home theater hobby scenario, why in the fuck should you settle for anything less than the original intentions when you (or most others) spent thousands into the hobby to get something close to the original intentions?

Also this isn't a "hate on Blu-ray" thing or some bullshit like that, it's a caring about film thing. If we stopped caring about the medium, just what the hell are we doing investing so much into it.

I also find it ridiculous some golden-earred assholes are complaining about ever-so-slightly higher pitched audio on some HD DVDs from France when I haven't really heard one word about this Terminator debacle. It seriously makes me question the priorities of the people buying into these new formats. It's almost like "We don't care how it got this way, so long as it sounds good!"

[Sehnzeleid]

Also just to make clear, Derb. I'm not meaning my rant to be a personal attack or anything, I just think it's more important to think of the broader picture for the actual film than the Blu-ray's quality.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

Also just to make clear, Derb. I'm not meaning my rant to be a personal attack or anything, I just think it's more important to think of the broader picture for the actual film than the Blu-ray's quality.

From your rant, I think maybe its not my favorite film of all time.

Yes you make good points & I probably would be a little upset if there were no original elements to be found anywhere.. Well, there is the DVD from Hemdale. Also, Mr. Cameron as far as I know supervised the edited audio for the MGM special edition dvd. You could even use your rant against picture no? I don't see why not. Why did VistaVision do a massive overall on a HD DVD title called The Searchers!?! I WANT THE ORIGINAL, not some glorious looking HD images which seem to have been re-vamped by Mr. Lowry himself. The picture looks like crap because it looks toooooo good!

[Sehnzeleid]

Originally Posted by Derb

Yes you make good points

I don't see how you can say that when you are missing my point.

Also, Mr. Cameron as far as I know supervised the edited audio for the MGM special edition dvd.

Where is the proof? To my knowledge, there is nothing on MGM's Special Edition DVD stating so. Also, just because there are "newly recorded" interviews with Cameron on the DVD doesn't mean he even saw or heard one bit of the final DVD.

Looking at the MGM SE DVD their own stupidity is clear:

"New State-of-the-Art 5.1 Stereo Remix"

How can 5.1 Surround be 2.0 Stereo?

You could even use your rant against picture no? I don't see why not. Why did VistaVision do a massive overall on a HD DVD title called The Searchers!?! I WANT THE ORIGINAL, not some glorious looking HD images which seem to have been re-vamped by Mr. Lowry himself. The picture looks like crap because it looks toooooo good!

Though one could easily find serious fault in some of John "DNR" Lowry's "restoration" jobs, that's beside the point.

You're missing my point completely here. I don't care how good/bad the video and audio quality is. I'm talking purely about content here. If MGM remastered the original Mono mix and it sounds almost too good, great. If MGM utilized the original Mono mix completely to create the 5.1 remix, I can live with that, I'm not that much of a diehard. If the existing LPCM 5.1 remix sounds amazing, more power to it, but it's not the original soundtrack because it has numerous different sound effects.

Same goes for the Kung-fu Hustle Blu-ray, the film is edited. I don't if it looks or sounds so incredible Stephen Chow jumps outta the TV kicks me upside the head, it's still edited (and differently color-timed). Therefore, I will never buy the U.S. BD (and DVD) release unless Sony corrects it.

[Derb]

Sehnzeleid,

Dude, I never missed your point. You want the film's original audio in the same sense people want their films presented in OAR. Also you note that this problem could become a trend with future catalogs re-released. No argument from me. I'm just saying I like the 5.1 remix & it sounds better than the MGM dvd.

A title to avoid on Blu-Ray if ya care about OAR is Species presented in 2.35:1 (Actual aspect ratio - 2.55:1)

[plissken99]

Gotta say I'm with Derb here. The new sound effects do serve the film well, and I've seen the movie enough that I don't need to hear the cheesy Dirty Harry gunshots when he kills the woman. That said, they really should have included the original 1.0 mix, as I'm sure they will on some future release.

One thing Sehnzeleid, can you fill me in on the Kung Fu Hustle changes? I was about to order that in a couple of weeks, but I won't stand for a movie that actually been cut.

[plissken99]

Speed (Blu Ray)

Video: 8/10
Audio: 9/10

Video is ok, softer than I'd like, but has some nice detail, especially in the interior scenes. Audio is where this movie truely shines, nice and loud, lots of bass and crystal clear dialog.

[Pirate]

Pliss, I'm thinking of going Blu. As a fellow larger screen-owner, would you say it's worth it? Is that pesky MPEG-2 gonna give me trouble?

[Derb]

Nine Inch Nails: Beside You in Time (2006) (HD DVD)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 10/10

The Getaway (1972) (HD DVD)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

[plissken99]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Pliss, I'm thinking of going Blu. As a fellow larger screen-owner, would you say it's worth it? Is that pesky MPEG-2 gonna give me trouble?

Nah, some of the Mpeg 2 titles I've seen look as good as the AVC titles, The Prestige and Casino Royale look as good as the best of HD-DVD. Go for it dude, the waters of peace are warm. Bask in the world of not caring what color the case is.

Casino Royale (Blu Ray)

Video: 10/10
Audio (DD 5.1): 9/10

This is an absolute reference disc, even the DD 5.1 is pretty kick arse, can't wait to get an HDMI reciever to hear the PCM track(I,m sure it's 10/10)! I like Craig as much as Brosnan, and Brosnan is my favorite Bond, a welcome addition to the franchise!

[Derb]

Stranger Than Fiction. (2006) (Blu-Ray)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10
HD Audio LPCM - 9/10

[Pirate]

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