Theatrical Reference Thread

[Derb]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

I'm not upset; I just don't want this thread to become worthless.

No worries there, I think this thread can be of good use.

Originally Posted by piratehunter

I would, however, like you to read the sentence you just posted.

You wrote:

"I just didn't like the theatrical presentations I saw"

This thread has nothing to do with whether or not you liked a theatrical presentation. This is what you're missing. This thread is only about what the film looked like theatrically. That’s it.

Ok, I formed an opinion of what I thought the overall presentation looked like, IE grain, noise, softness, sharpness etc etc & graded them on their presentations.

Originally Posted by piratehunter

You are not rating the theatrical experience; you are merely imparting what the film should look like.

Ok, unless you are actually sitting at the premier, that statement is subjective.

Originally Posted by piratehunter

If the film has grain, just say "the film has grain." Don’t give the film a low score (or any score for that matter) because you happen not to be a fan of an intentional film element.

I couldn't separate what was an intentional film element & what was not an intentional film element from the low quality SD like images. I saw a bit of Macro during a dark blue scene in Transformers. Wether this was intentional or not...

Would help to know the exact calibration & sound design which the theater used. Point is, you obviously have better theaters (Wether they are the best their is) in your area which displayed the image & sound better than my theater. Congrats.

I wouldn't dismiss sound though. You can probably get a more accurate intentional perspective of the sound design than you can of video.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by Derb

Ok, I formed an opinion of what I thought the overall presentation looked like, IE grain, noise, softness, sharpness etc etc & graded them on their presentations.

And that’s where you’re missing the point of this thread. If you thought that there was a possible problem with the print you saw (i.e., sharpness, softness, etc.) than you have no business posting in here. If I was to see a film that I thought looked too green or something, I wouldn’t comment in here because obviously I had seen a flawed print. There is no grading here. We don’t grade in this thread. No grades shall be given out!

Originally Posted by Derb

Ok, unless you are actually sitting at the premier, that statement is subjective.

Actually, if you’re in a DLP theatre or a good 35mm, you can pretty much tell what the film is supposed to look like. Brightness can vary, but usually you can tell if there’s a problem.

Originally Posted by Derb

I couldn't separate what was an intentional film element & what was not an intentional film element from the low quality SD like images. I saw a bit of Macro during a dark blue scene in Transformers. Wether this was intentional or not...

Okay, there are so many things wrong with this statement; I don’t even know where to begin. If the image in your theatre looked like a SD image then YOU WERE IN A BAD CINEMA! I’m also pretty sure that you didn’t see macroblocking in a 35mm print. And, most important, if you can’t separate intentional film elements from print problems, you shouldn’t be reviewing films. Again, I’m not saying this to be mean, but until you know what you’re looking at, all you’re doing is posting misinformation. Cinema projectors are not the same as your TV.

Originally Posted by Derb

I wouldn't dismiss sound though. You can probably get a more accurate intentional perspective of the sound design than you can of video.

Not really. Since cinemas are built for many people and aren’t calibrated like our home stages, the sound will invariable be different, not massively different, but enough to make it a tough call. It’s also more difficult to properly describe the sonics in a cinema. The video is easier because—when you know what you’re looking for—these new HD transfers should more closely match than SD ever could… thus the point of this thread.

[Derb]

Ok.

[Pirate]

Sunshine

Studio: Fox Searchlight
Cinema Type: 35mm
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shooting Process: 35mm / Super35 (sun shots)

Experience:
This film has deep, deep blacks, icy blues, and a lot of (obviously) bright whites and oranges. Most of the film is razor-sharp, but Boyle used filters in several instances that made certain scenes look soft. There are also a lot of wide-angle shots that employ a warping effect of sorts. There is also smidgeon of grain here and there, but the film is mostly without. There’s no reason this film should look anything but stellar in HD.

[Pirate]

The Bourne Ultimatum

Studio: Universal
Cinema Type: 35mm
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shooting Process: 35mm

Experience:
The aesthetic of Ultimatum looks mostly identical to Greengrass’ The Bourne Supremacy. Lot’s of violent, gritty camera work and handheld action sequences. The color scheme also remains pretty much the same, with the color palette leaning heavily towards blue and green. There are certain scenes that looked overly “cured” and boosted, but skin tones are natural (although a bit pasty at times). There is a thin layer of grain throughout the entire film that does become heavy during certain shots (especially wide city shots). Supremacy looked great in HD and this should be no different.

[Pirate]

The Simpsons Movie

Studio: 20th Century Fox
Cinema Type: DLP
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shooting Process: Animation

Experience:
This is, well… a cartoon. Clean lines, bright colors, and an animated television show’s sketchy frame rate. There are very few complexities, so it should translate perfectly to HD.

[Pirate]

Stardust

Studio: Paramount
Cinema Type: DLP
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shooting Process: Panavision (anamorphic)

Experience:
This was a somewhat odd experience. Normally I would just not post this, dismissing it as a bad print, but I fear that many of the problems I saw were, in fact, native. First of all, the film has a pervasive layer of grain, so expect it when it hits HD. I also noticed several instances of what looked like video noise. I’ve seen several films in this DLP theatre, so I don’t think it was the projector. Hopefully they’ll clean that up when transferring to home video. Other than that, the film has strong colors and a lot of detail, and vast mountain vistas and such that should look great if treated properly.

[Pirate]

Superbad

Studio: Columbia Pictures
Cinema Type: DLP
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shooting Process: HDV

Experience:
Superbad was shot using Panavision Genesis HD cameras, and it shows. The film is crystal clear, with almost no grain. There are a few stylized sequences that are intentionally… um… 70’s-esque, but, other than that, this film should look rock-solid in HD.

[Pirate]

The Invasion

Studio: Warner
Cinema Type: DLP
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shooting Process: 35mm (Spherical)

Experience:
The Invasion has a very sharp and mostly bland image. There was no grain that I noticed. This should translate fine to HD.

[Pirate]

Goya’s Ghosts

Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Cinema Type: 35mm
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shooting Process: 35mm (Spherical)

Experience:
The film has bright, vivid colors and intricate, beautiful locations. Black levels are solid and skin tones (when not bathed in makeup) look natural. There is grain present, but it’s not pervasive. If treated properly, Goya's Ghosts should look wonderful in HD

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Superbad

Studio: Columbia Pictures
Cinema Type: DLP
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shooting Process: HDV

Experience:
Superbad was shot using Panavision Genesis HD cameras, and it shows. The film is crystal clear, with almost no grain. There are a few stylized sequences that are intentionally… um… 70’s-esque, but, other than that, this film should look rock-solid in HD.

FIXED.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by ganthc

FIXED.

Oops.

[SilentBob]

SuperBad was a FLAT 1.85:1 ratio and not a SCOPE 2.35:1 ratio. Just a heads up

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by SilentBob

SuperBad was a FLAT 1.85:1 ratio and not a SCOPE 2.35:1 ratio. Just a heads up

That's odd. I could have sworn it was scope.

I just screwed that one all up!

[Pirate]

Shoot 'Em Up

Studio: New Line Cinema
Cinema Type: DLP
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shooting Process: Super35

Experience:
The film, for the most part, is razor sharp. The film also boasts vivid colors, strong black levels and gritty urban landscapes that should all look strong in HD. There is grain present throughout the film, only becoming really noticeable in skylines and in darker scenes. Hopefully New Line will be in the HD game by the time this hits DVD.

[ganthc]

PH must not go to the theaters anymore to watch movies.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by ganthc

PH must not go to the theaters anymore to watch movies.

I somehow really doubt that.

Wait.