Last HD Movie Watched

[Derb]

Originally Posted by plissken99

King Arthur (Blu Ray)

Video: 10/10
Audio(PCM): 10/10

Superb presentation, up there with some of the HD I've seen. I watched in 2.0 PCM converted to 5.1 by the reciever, as the DD track was way too bland. Even without benifit of active surrounds, it's a quality track, very clean.

Thats surprising given this review,

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/kingarthurdc.html

I look forward to seeing this now. Thanks for the feedback.

Happy Feet (2006) (Blu-Ray)

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

[bembol]

Children of Men HD DVD

VC-1: 10/10
DOLBY Digital Plus: 9/10

Happy Feet HD DVD

VC-1: REFERENCE!
DOLBY TrueHD: REFERENCE!

[ganthc]

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (Blu-ray)

HD Video: 8.5/10
HD Audio: 8/10

Great movie, I was really surprised at how good it was. The picture was very crisp, but had grainy areas in a few areas that prevented a higher score. The audio had to be turned up for me to really get a good feel for it. It's definitely one I might buy to add to my collection.

[plissken99]

Originally Posted by Derb

Thats surprising given this review,

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/kingarthurdc.html

I look forward to seeing this now. Thanks for the feedback.

Yeah I know, I don't his reviews any farther than I can digitally throw them. I mean there is intentional grain here and there(going for the Braveheart look), but it's all highly detailed with deep rich colors, great transfer.

[sambow87]

Payback

Video: 8/10
Audio: 8/10

Pretty grainy, which is not bad, but there were some scenes that looked really bad. Only a couple though.


Dune

Video: 7-8/10
Audio: 6/10

Sound was really crappy in this. Especially the LFE, sounded like my new fronts were blown when they were thumping the ground. Dialog was clear though. Weird, weird movie though.

NIN Beside You In Time

Video: 10/10
Audio: 10/10

Loving it


Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Video: 8/10
Audio: 8/10

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by sambow87

Dune

Video: 7-8/10
Audio: 6/10

Sound was really crappy in this. Especially the LFE, sounded like my new fronts were blown when they were thumping the ground. Dialog was clear though. Weird, weird movie though.

Bummer, I figured Dune would have been (should have been) a great transfer. Those Polks bottom out???

[sambow87]

I was actually impressed with the PQ, but there were just enough scenes to drop it to an 8. I'd say my final decision is 8/10.

Polks didn't bottom out, atleast I don't think. I just put in NIN HD DVD and it sounded great. First time listening to it with these new polks. So, I don't know.

[Derb]

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) (Blu-Ray)

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

Couldn't find anything wrong with the PQ. The LPCM track is a step up on the DD track but not by much as there are only a few scenes in this dialog driven flick to give the surrounds any workout. The film may have had that processed look some reviewers shrug at, but imo I think more of it is intentional now with newer films because of new HD equipment & directorial choice. Anyways, this film is a real winner for Will Smith & his son.

[plissken99]

Identity (Blu Ray)

Video: 9.5/10
Audio(DD): 8.5/10

[plissken99]

Hellboy UK (Blu Ray)

Video: 10/10
Audio DD: 9/10

Excellent bunchof BD's I've been watching lately, very nice transfer.

[ganthc]

Gridiron Gang (Blu-ray)

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

Another good movie, and great transfer.

[Derb]

Legends of Jazz is the first BD title I've heard a TrueHD track. Besides the sound quality, I was surprised to see it has a VBR which ya can see on the PS3's display option. While every other track option I've heard before stays on a solid Mbps transfer rate, this one jumps around 2-6mbps. Also nice to know Dolby TrueHD plays back flawlessly on the PS3..

March of the Penguins (2005) (Blu-Ray)

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

Bubble (2005) (Blu-Ray)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10
HD Audio dts - 8/10

Legends of Jazz: Showcase (2006) (Blu-Ray)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 10/10

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005) (Blu-Ray)

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

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by Derb

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005) (Blu-Ray)
HD Video - 9/10

Okay, I always think you overrate the video on discs (on both formats), but I gotta call BS on this one. I saw it in the theater and I wouldn't even give the theatrical presentation a 9. Half the film is made up of SD TV footage! I have a hard time believing the BD improves things.
I do have a question though. One review mentioned that they stretched or cropped the SD footage to 16x9 on the disc. Is this true? Because in the theater the SD TV stuff was all 4x3.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by dugpa

Okay, I always think you overrate the video on discs (on both formats), but I gotta call BS on this one. I saw it in the theater and I wouldn't even give the theatrical presentation a 9. Half the film is made up of SD TV footage! I have a hard time believing the BD improves things.
I do have a question though. One review mentioned that they stretched or cropped the SD footage to 16x9 on the disc. Is this true? Because in the theater the SD TV stuff was all 4x3.

Yes, unfortunately it is. Doesn't effect the "HD" quality of the video presentation though.

The transfer has a bit of noise, very minor macro & a couple shots of colors bleeding, hence the 9.

I base ratings on visual quality & consisteny. I don't know what you are expecting from HD.. apparently something more.

edit

On the PS3 anyways, it is cropped.

Let me equate some of your ratings.. pretty harsh;

X-Men: The Last Stand
2/5
The Devil Wears Prada
3/5
Sky High
4/5
Crash
2/5
Talladega Nights
0/5
The Pursuit of Happyness
3/5
Rocky Balboa
2/5
Heart: Alive in Seattle
1/5

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by Derb

The transfer has a bit of noise, very minor macro & a couple shots of colors bleeding, hence the 9.

See, those last two would never never let it above an 8 for me.

Originally Posted by Derb

I base ratings on visual quality & consisteny. I don't know what you are expecting from HD.. apparently something more.

I'm looking for the most faithful representation of the theatrical presentation (the ideal one that is, I don't want them to add scratches to the print and make it out of focus like most multiplexes )

Originally Posted by Derb

On the PS3 anyways, it is cropped.

Bummer. I was thinking about getting it anyway because it is a good doc and I never picked up the dvd. But that's a no sale for me. Guess they didn't want people complaining about their screen not being filled.

Originally Posted by Derb

Let me equate some of your ratings.. pretty harsh;

You lost me there, what are you equating and what do those numbers mean? They're not the ratings I gave those discs, and not the ones you gave them.

[orko007]

Just watched Casino Royale in 2 channel glory on Blu-Ray.

My receiver has been playing up, and it finally kicked the bucket 50 mins in. Now to scrape together $500 for a replacement.

But the film was enjoyable, looked a treat. Cannot comment about the sound

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by orko007

My receiver has been playing up, and it finally kicked the bucket 50 mins in. Now to scrape together $500 for a replacement.

Get the Onkyo TX-SR605!

[orko007]

That receiver is $1399. (We're talking Australian Bananas here).

Bit out of my price range at the minute unfortunately.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by dugpa

You lost me there, what are you equating and what do those numbers mean? They're not the ratings I gave those discs, and not the ones you gave them.

Simple really. I use a 10 scale because it is possible for an HD to look worse than a DVD. Havn't seen it yet. 4/10, example. 5/10, par with SD & anything above is an improvement over SD. I converted your ratings to 5 stars. If I give any video rating an 8/10 another way to look at it is, 3/5 stars. 8.5/10 - 3.5/5 stars. etc.

5/10 = 0/5
6/10 = 1/5

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by Derb

I converted your ratings to 5 stars. If I give any video rating an 8/10 another way to look at it is, 3/5 stars. 8.5/10 - 3.5/5 stars. etc.

5/10 = 0/5
6/10 = 1/5

Your conversion is flawed. If you're going to properly convert to 5 from 10 you should halve it, not subtract five. So 6/10 now equals 3/5.

[sambow87]

Dog Day Afternoon

First time seeing this film (hey, i'm still young!) and it was very good. Great performance from Al Pacino, probably my favorite to date.

Video: 8.5/10

Transfer looked very good, some film grain, which is not a problem, but the colors and depth was awesome.

Audio: 8.5/10 (for hard hearing of whispers in some cases)

I didn't know this was 1.0 mono, so, it kind of sucked a little bit. Couldn't hear all the whispers from the dialog, everything was a little quiet. Thought something was wrong with my sub for the first 10 minutes because it was still on passive. But for being a 1.0 mono, it actually sounded quite amazing.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by dugpa

Your conversion is flawed. If you're going to properly convert to 5 from 10 you should halve it, not subtract five. So 6/10 now equals 3/5.

This is how I rate 'em.

4/10 = Worse than SD
5/10 = 0 star = no difference between SD & HD
6/10 = 1 star = minor improvement from SD to HD
7/10 = 2 star = noticeable improvement from SD to HD
8/10 = 3 star = average HD transfer with room for improvment
9/10 = 4 star = Above average HD transfer with minimal flaws
10/10 = 5 star = Excellent HD transfer
Reference = same as 10/10.

You can use this scale for any of my ratings, equate them to 5 stars this way. Do so, & I bet you'd change your thought on how excellent you think I've been giving these transfers.

Just because something doesn't look appealing to the eye, doesn't mean there is anything at all wrong with a transfer which is why I Reference titles that are basically HD eye candy. In other words, some 10's look better than other 10's but there is nothing wrong with either.

Comparing HD to film.. well I just won't go there.

[Vonner]

Spy Game (HD-DVD)

[Ruined]

Man, Dune has never looked so good!

[SilentBob]

HAPPY FEET HD-DVD


VIDEO: Reference
AUDIO (TrueHD): Reference



I remember seeing this film in theaters and i had high hopes for the HD release and they lived up to what i expected. The picture for a Digital-to-Digital film should always look this good. The depth of the picture was amazing and the detail in the penguins that are in far background can easily be made out and don't blur at all like on a dvd. I personally didn't notice any banding from the underwater scenes (that have been reported) The surrounds were always active and the sub got a pretty damn nice work out as well. It is your new Demo disc to show off.

[Derb]

One Last Thing... (2006) (Blu-Ray)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 9/10
HD Audio dts - 9/10

I am finding most, if not all Magnolia titles, a wash when comparing the DD to dts tracks. Kinda feel like they are just wasting space by providing the 2. ahh well. Dialog is crisp & clear throughout, surrounds rarely used, (not a complaint, just an observation) as well as the LFE channel. Audible output is mixed around 10db lower than most dts tracks I've heard but again this is just an observation & not a complaint. Turn up the volume & overall this soundtrack is very consistent throughout. The PQ is soft throughout most of the film's runtime so rarely any three-dee-ness to the picture which is my only complaint. No noise, no film grain, color reproduction is excellent. No macro, no bleeding, no edge enhancement. A solid transfer & a near 10 all around.