Predator targets Blu-Ray on 4/15

[supercutz]

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...r_Blu-ray/1355

One of the "monster" franchises of the '80s (along with the 'Alien' series), the original 'Predator' has long been on the wishlish of early adopters for high-def release. Now Fox has heeded the call to hunt, setting an April 15 street date for the Blu-ray.

[sub780lime]

I just watched my SD-DVD a month or so ago. I think I will stick with the SD-version for this one.

[plissken99]

Big time upgrade for me! Even if it's a marginal improvement, any is welcome with this absolute classic! This may be my favorite Schwarzenegger movie ever.

[Sehnzeleid]

[SharpShooter5]

sweet...hopefully this means Bluray alien is not too far off

[ganthc]

Sign me up for that one when it comes out. And ditto on the ALIEN sentiments. I'm hoping that Quadrilogy release a few years back meant remastering that will show up well in hd.

[Sehnzeleid]

Here's a Predator Region B BD vs DVD comparison.

Wow, a trailer.

[plissken99]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

Here's a Predator Region B BD vs DVD comparison.

Wow, a trailer.

Those comparison pics are great! Can't wait to get this!

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

Here's a Predator Region B BD vs DVD comparison.

Wow, a trailer.

Decent but hopefully they will re-encode with MPEG4 AVC for the US release - those screenshots while a big upgrade over the SD version have some noticable macroblocking. If I'm gonna pay $40 I want perfection!

[Sehnzeleid]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Decent but hopefully they will re-encode with MPEG4 AVC for the US release...

I highly doubt it.

[SharpShooter5]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

Here's a Predator Region B BD vs DVD comparison.

Wow, a trailer.

nice screen shoots, but is that all we are getting in terms of extras...i though i read somewhere that all the extras from the Special edition would be ported over?

[chlngr1970]

Originally Posted by SharpShooter5

nice screen shoots, but is that all we are getting in terms of extras...i though i read somewhere that all the extras from the Special edition would be ported over?

But I thought extras weren't important?

j

[SharpShooter5]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

But I thought extras weren't important?

j

of course extras are important, and if they are putting the movie out on bluray, it just seems like a waste not to use the extra space and include all available extras for the movie

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by SharpShooter5

of course extras are important, and if they are putting the movie out on bluray, it just seems like a waste not to use the extra space and include all available extras for the movie

It appears they are using the extra space for an MPEG2 encode instead

Also, $40 is a ridiculous price great movie or not for something this old. It should be $30 MSRP max, especially with no extras and no VC1/AVC encode!

[plissken99]

Yep it definitly looks like it's getting the old half assed Fox job. Expect a newly remastered release in 2-5 years. Unfortunatly, this movie is my Evil Dead, I'll buy it, and the next releases also. All time favorite Schwarzenegger movie!

[Sehnzeleid]

Originally Posted by Ruined

It appears they are using the extra space for an MPEG2 encode instead

For me, if the transfer doesn't have any EE or DNR, it can be MPEG-2 all day and night for all I care. Especially considering this particular film should be pretty grainy and this will further mask any artifacting.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by plissken99

Yep it definitly looks like it's getting the old half assed Fox job. Expect a newly remastered release in 2-5 years. Unfortunatly, this movie is my Evil Dead, I'll buy it, and the next releases also. All time favorite Schwarzenegger movie!

Wow, better than T2 and Running Man?

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

For me, if the transfer doesn't have any EE or DNR, it can be MPEG-2 all day and night for all I care. Especially considering this particular film should be pretty grainy and this will further mask any artifacting.

Maybe, but the more grainy a film is the harder it is to compress and hence the more likely there are to use DNR with a codec like MPEG2 that is bandwidth inefficient.

[Sehnzeleid]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Maybe, but the more grainy a film is the harder it is to compress and hence the more likely there are to use DNR with a codec like MPEG2 that is bandwidth inefficient.

So that explains why quite a few Universal's VC-1 encodes of catalog titles are DNR'ed...I see...

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Sehnzeleid

So that explains why quite a few Universal's VC-1 encodes of catalog titles are DNR'ed...I see...

No, they were butchered by an incompetent tech.

Of course, master is most important but the man behind the dials is more inclined to use DNR with MPEG2 than AVC/VC1. MPEG2 struggles with grain.

[Wurms]

Since predator dropped to 13.95 and was part of a B2G1F deal, I picked up 3 copies (gifts coming up for some friends, lol ).

I was pleasantly surprised with the PQ. The daylight jungle scenes were about as good as I was hoping for if not better, and most of the night scenes were great as well. The film looks really bad with shadows, but that is just how predator looks. Overall, Predator looks great and no fan of the movie shouldn't pick this up, especially for under $15 at Amazon.

I was wanting more from the sound, a little more punch, but am happy with whats here. The assault on the camp was great with the rear speakers active throughout.

NOTE: One scene freaked me out. When Pancho and Arnie are looking at guts of Hawkins I heard a big ass bug flying around my fucking apartment. I jumped up, turned on my lights, and paused the movie and the sound stopped. Right then I knew the movie had got me, haha.

[Shawn Watson]

Have you noticed that Fox crop all their trailers to 2.35:1?