Last HD Movie Watched

[Derb]

Ladder 49 (2004) (Blu-Ray)

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

Crash (2004) (Blu-Ray)

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

Young Guns (1988) (Blu-Ray)

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

[Derb]

The Departed (2006) (HD DVD)

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

Employee of the Month (2006) (Blu-Ray)

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

[Derb]

Reservoir Dogs (1992) (Blu-Ray)

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

At first glance this disc looks like reference material but that quickly changes throughout the course of the film. Interior shots have slight grain & noise. I noticed a bit of macro & some edge enhancement as well. Colors really pop & there is a fine level of consistency with the Video transfer. The dts atmosphere is a hint better than the Dolby mix. Randomly switching between the two, I found dialog sounded a bit more crisp with Dolby even though the audible output between the two soundtracks are nearly identical. Surrounds are not that active nor should they be for this flick. Was a bit disappointed with the LFE. A much better release from Lionsgate & a definite upgrade for fans.

[plissken99]

Nine Inch Nails: Beside you in Time (HD-DVD)

Video: 10/10
Audio(DTHD): 16/10



Ultimate audio reference disc of our time...

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by plissken99

16/10

Wow!

[Derb]

Originally Posted by plissken99

Nine Inch Nails: Beside you in Time (HD-DVD)

Video: 10/10
Audio(DTHD): 16/10



Ultimate audio reference disc of our time...

Good to hear, I am always sceptical with Pete's reviews.
If ya get the PS3, give Resident Evil a rent.

PH, remember our talk about how loud we listen to our HDs in db?.. If you had your receiver volume level at -20db on RE, I would bet my entire collection that at least 1 of your speakers would blow right the fuck up.

Hollywoodland (2006) (HD DVD)

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

Half Baked (1998) (HD DVD)

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

[plissken99]

Originally Posted by Derb

Good to hear, I am always sceptical with Pete's reviews.
If ya get the PS3, give Resident Evil a rent.

You mean RE:2? I'll likely buy it, can't wait for the first one especially.

PS3 is finally arriving this week, had to buy off Ebay. Gamestop.com had the $499 system in stock for over a week. I'm finally ready to order, then suddenly their on backorder, not even on their site now. Went through a whole deal with Buy.com who said in stock, but the order went nowhere for 3 days, called em and it wasn't in stock with no ETA. So cancelled that and ordered off Ebay, no warranty either way.

The NIN concert is truely mind blowing. I can feel the grungy sounding guitar in my gut! It's discs like this that make me happy I bought a top end Klipsch system, those speakers love Nine Inch Nails!

[Derb]

Originally Posted by plissken99

You mean RE:2? I'll likely buy it, can't wait for the first one especially.

PS3 is finally arriving this week, had to buy off Ebay. Gamestop.com had the $499 system in stock for over a week. I'm finally ready to order, then suddenly their on backorder, not even on their site now. Went through a whole deal with Buy.com who said in stock, but the order went nowhere for 3 days, called em and it wasn't in stock with no ETA. So cancelled that and ordered off Ebay, no warranty either way.

Yep, meant RE:2 Oops. I dunno how you are gonna set-up the audio from the PS3, but ya have to do HDMI for the LPCM tracks. Anyways, RE:2 was the first ever title that actually had me worried my Klipsch speakers would blow.

[SilentBob]

He could still do the 2.0 LPCM and use a Pro Logic II setting on the receiver. Tried this out with my Prestige copy and the sound was a lot cleaner and stronger i thought then the 5.1 Dolby track. NOt as Disccrete but it as indeed punchier in LFE i thought and the front speakers were very crisp sounding

[Derb]

Originally Posted by SilentBob

He could still do the 2.0 LPCM and use a Pro Logic II setting on the receiver. Tried this out with my Prestige copy and the sound was a lot cleaner and stronger i thought then the 5.1 Dolby track. NOt as Disccrete but it as indeed punchier in LFE i thought and the front speakers were very crisp sounding

Trust me, not the same. That was 1 reason I didn't want a PS3 because I wanted the analog option. A Sima Splitter solved that issue for me. Each channel has a unique sound from one another & they blend in awesome when combined. Much more so than Dolby or dts.

[bembol]

Babel HD DVD

HD Video: 9/10
DOLBY Digital Plus: 9/10

[plissken99]

Originally Posted by Derb

Trust me, not the same. That was 1 reason I didn't want a PS3 because I wanted the analog option. A Sima Splitter solved that issue for me. Each channel has a unique sound from one another & they blend in awesome when combined. Much more so than Dolby or dts.

I have been worried about the LPCM tracks, as I don't have an HDMI reciever(that'll be the next big thing I suppose). Whats this Sima splitter you mention?

[ganthc]

Derb, I noticed that your Reservoir Dogs and Half Baked reviews had similar ratings for both discs. So does an 8/10 for hd-dvd translate to an 8/10 for bd, or is an 8/10 on hd-dvd equal to a 10/10 on bd? Just wanting to gauge your critique of the formats' presentations of the movies.

Thanks.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by plissken99

I have been worried about the LPCM tracks, as I don't have an HDMI reciever(that'll be the next big thing I suppose). Whats this Sima splitter you mention?

Its an HDMI switcher, should have posted that. Doh!

Crap, no HDMI huh? Unfortuantely, thats the only way to hear these lossless tracks on the PS3.

Originally Posted by ganthc

Derb, I noticed that your Reservoir Dogs and Half Baked reviews had similar ratings for both discs. So does an 8/10 for hd-dvd translate to an 8/10 for bd, or is an 8/10 on hd-dvd equal to a 10/10 on bd? Just wanting to gauge your critique of the formats' presentations of the movies.

Thanks.

Hey ganthc, I have always been rating both formats discs as equels. In other words, I rate based on the idea that there is just 1 format so yes an 8/10 for a HD DVD or BD are equels in a sense. Those 2 titles indeed have their strengths & weaknesses. The HD DVD looks "dated" as if the source material wasn't kept in good shape while the BD looks like it has been re-mastered & the source didn't transfer perfectly. I look for flaws (I shouldn't, should just enjoy the damn flick ) on both formats & judge them afterwards. When I pop in a flick, I immediately start from a 10/10 & work downhill from there. Reservoir Dogs held that 10 for the entire opening scene in the coffee shop & in the car with Orange & White. When they get to the warehouse thats when the transfer takes a turn & shows its ugly side. Thankfully the look of the film doesn't stay that way throughout the rest of the flick or I'd give it a 7 or maybe less. Half Baked looks good as well, but has many scenes with a flat appearance. Noise & grain are evident throughout the flick & there looks to be marks on the print itself in a few spots. Defintely, the source hasn't been kept in the best shape so I was surprised it held that level of consistency throughout. Still looks dated though & I felt giving it a 9 would just be wrong.

Short answer to the bold in your quote, yes. Sorry got carried away.

[ganthc]

Okay, that's good to know. Some of your commentary on bd transfers had me question that a little. Wasn't sure if you were handing bd a handicap because you've found their pq to be weaker. Otherwise, a lot of your ratings are not too far off the mark between formats.

[Derb]

The Wicker Man (2006) (HD DVD)

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

Babel (2006) (HD DVD)

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

The Prestige (2006) (Blu-Ray)

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

[Derb]

Beerfest (2006) (HD DVD)

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

Vertical Limit (2000) (Blu-Ray)

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

Vertical Limit looks like a 10. Aside from a few rough patches & maybe 5 seconds of softness, this disc is something else. 1.85:1 & MPEG-2 & an LPCM track & over 2 hours, this flick must have pushed beyond 25GB. Thankfully Sony used a BD-50 disc for this title cause I seriously doubt the level of consistency with both picture & sound would of been this good otherwise. The LPCM track didn't blow me away, however I couldn't find anything wrong with it neither.. hence the 10 rating. If you are at all a fan of this flick, you won't be disappointed with this transfer.

[plissken99]

The Prestige

Video: 10/10
Audio: 8/10

Excellent movie to boot!

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Derb

Flight of the Phoenix (2004) (Blu-Ray)

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio dts - 8/10

The transfer is inconsistent. Lets see, grain, digital noise, compression artifacts, softness in picture, yada yada. The dts mix is loud, unfortunate they encoded the disc 4.1 Center channel?, we don't need no stupid center channel! Alright not that bad, but it isn't anywhere close to the other channels audible output so you basically need remote in hand to balance the mix yourself.

I'd disagree with the ratings slightly

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio DTS - 8/10

I noticed slight grain on some desert scenes and in the dark part at night in the plane fuselage. Other than that, it was very sharp, and I didn't notice any compression artifacts at all. The soundtrack was loud, and there was only one scene near the end where Miranda O and Dennis Q are talking where I had to turn it up to hear the dialogue. Otherwise the surround was nice and aggressive. I was impressed that I could even hear the engine pinging on the plane after it had stopped when they first landed.

I thought this was going to be a bad transfer, but it wasn't bad at all...certainly not as bad as Total Recall or Stargate. I guess I would have to see the dvd version to compare, but I thought it was nice HD film.

[ganthc]

Underworld: Evolution Blu-ray

HD Video: Reference
HD Audio: Reference

I think that this is a premier reference disc for the format. The fact that it's in mpeg2, after all the trash I've heard about it, and it's flawless shows that it just takes some good effort to make the pq really shine.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by ganthc

Underworld: Evolution Blu-ray

HD Video: Reference
HD Audio: Reference

I think that this is a premier reference disc for the format. The fact that it's in mpeg2, after all the trash I've heard about it, and it's flawless shows that it just takes some good effort to make the pq really shine.

Indeed.

The only fault that can be put on this release is the dolby digital track.

edit

Watched Half Baked on HD DVD again & noticed for the first time that my tv's lamp is near death. Contrast is flickering & the PQ is darker. No ratings from me for a bit.

Watched Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back.

[plissken99]

Sad to report, I watched all of the Nine in Nails HD-DVD, and it skips frequently(at least on the DTHD track), like at least once every couple of songs. It's actually very small skipping, but as soon as I have an HDMI reciever I'm buying the Blu Ray version.

Perhaps if Toshiba ever releases another firmware update for the A1, it may fix this.

[SilentBob]

THE PRESTIGE Blu-ray

VIDEO: Reference
AUDIO (Dolby Digital): 8.5/10 (would love to hear the LPCM track)

[Derb]

Originally Posted by plissken99

Sad to report, I watched all of the Nine in Nails HD-DVD, and it skips frequently(at least on the DTHD track), like at least once every couple of songs. It's actually very small skipping, but as soon as I have an HDMI reciever I'm buying the Blu Ray version.

Perhaps if Toshiba ever releases another firmware update for the A1, it may fix this.

That sucks. Will let ya know if it skips on the A2.

Is there a scratch on the disc?

[Derb]

Species (1995) (Blu-Ray)

[plissken99]

Originally Posted by Derb

That sucks. Will let ya know if it skips on the A2.

Is there a scratch on the disc?

Nope it's totally flawless, I spent a couple of minutes carefully blowing off any hint of dust, skipping continued.

Reservoir Dogs (Blu Ray)

Video: 9/10
Audio: 8/10

The Punisher (Blu Ray)

Video: 8/10
Audio: 9/10

Sat down and watched this, and it looked great. I thought it was gonna be a bad when I first got the PS3 and looked at a few scenes, but the image is actually quite detailed and the colors are great. I hadn't compensated for the strangely high black level of the PS3 when I first glanced at it. Still hard to gauge because it is a dark movie, and shot in a very gritty style, even bright daylight scenes on the beach look a bit dark, but hat reflects what I remember theatrically.