Res Dogs/DVD Quality ...

[madfanpst]

i know there has been MANY posts about the new Reservoir Dogs DVD and the video quality of it, i just wanted to add my 2 cents and since this is more of a rant, i placed it in the Soapbox forum.

personally i have viewed the new Reservoir Dogs DVD today at my friends house (his arrived early) and i do think the video quality is TERRIBLE and should NOT have been released looking like this. the problem i have is that i see so many people posting that they will buy this title anyway, "for the extras", i believe that if so many people buy this title anyway, instead of refusing and demanding better, that there will be no chance of the DVD ever getting fixed. the $14.99 price tag is tempting but im going to hold steady and refuse to buy this subpar DVD, regardless of the extras, which i can see for a rental price of $2.99 instead. just because crap has sprinkles on it, it doesnt make the crap good. i think that such an anticipated special edition like Reservoir Dogs sitting on the shelves and piling up, not being purchased, would send a huge message to Artisan that they screwed up, and that the public wont stand for it, and they need to fix it. sure, they may decide never to fix it regardles of anything, but thats a chance im personally willing to take.

oh well, thats my thoughts on the matter. thanks.

[MrTony]

I'm inclined to agree with you. Artisan has shown they are willing to go back and fix things in the past - this fall will see the third release of Stargate. I just won a LD player on eBay and might try to pick up Dogs that way.

[downhuman]

Originally posted by MrTony
I'm inclined to agree with you. Artisan has shown they are willing to go back and fix things in the past - this fall will see the third release of Stargate. I just won a LD player on eBay and might try to pick up Dogs that way.

They also did the same thing with the Frank Herbert's Dune release and the results (Director's Cut reissue) where quite spectacular, I think.

Maybe they'll keep an open ear with the Reservior Dogs release.

[Disco Stu]

Originally posted by downhuman
Maybe they'll keep an open ear with the Reservior Dogs release.

Good one.... Open ear....

[MrTony]

Stu -

Seriously though, I was just thinking about this part at the end of DVDFile's review:

"...definitely give it a rent before you buy, or get ready to turn that brightness knob way down. "

Now, of course this is a joke intended to be a comment on the transfer. But then I started wondering if anyone has thought to actually try turning down the brightness on their TV to watch it. Would that make much of a difference?

[SeanL]

Originally posted by MrTony
But then I started wondering if anyone has thought to actually try turning down the brightness on their TV to watch it. Would that make much of a difference?

It depends on how much you'd have to turn it down. Turn it down too much and your blacks and shadow detail suffer.

[MrTony]

Originally posted by SeanL
Turn it down too much and your blacks and shadow detail suffer.

Well, it was a thought.

[Cap'n Katanga]

Did it occur to anyone that its SUPPOSED to look shitty? Its an ode to 70's noir, fellas...a rough, grainy, washed-out flick...this is certainly better than any format I've ever seen it...on-screen, VHS, and the previous release...

[downhuman]

Originally posted by Disco Stu


Good one.... Open ear....

Oh shit, that was so unintentional.

Might have something to do with me being half-drunk when I posted.

[Flash Ahhh]

Soapbox: Talk here about industry issues, tech concerns, new formats, and the future of DVD.

Software: Discuss any aspect of any movie NOT currently in theaters and all the latest DVD movie software here.

This thread isn't an industry issue, but a discussion of a particular DVD, so this is a Software thread.

Moving.

-Flash

[UserNameUndecided]

I didn't mind the transfer at all. I actually feel kind of silly having bought into the bad rep it was getting and wondering if I should even buy the set.
I did notice a few strange things with the brightness level while watching the movie yesterday though. Like in some scenes, one shot will look a little overly bright, and then the very next shot would look fine.

Also, why is it that the black level on title cards were so light, but the part of the movie where we are left with just the radio playing against a blank screen, the black level is seemingly perfect (as in it matches the black level of the letterbox bars)??

Even though it was noticeable, it didn't bother me. I was just so into the movie. I'm still curious as to how Tarantino, or others feel about the picture though.

I'm a little bit dissapointed with the extra features. Probably in part of my being spoiled with Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown all last week.
But, especially that second page of special features on disc2. I watched the "Style of Reservoir Dogs" featurette, and after the 15 second montage thing I was like "ok, cool introduction"... and then it just went back to the menu screen! I couldn't believe that was all it was -- hardly worth a place on the disc.

[Qwkslvr24]

For me, ignorance is bliss. I may not be any authority on quality, but I have the original dvd for comparison. Although there is a notable difference, its not enough to make the film unwatchable. Artisan, I'm sure, knows that what they are putting out is sub-par, but if the untrained eye doesn't complain, then no amount of boycotts is going to force a mega-seller like this back to the drawing board. As far as the "crap with sprinkles on it" comment made earlier, I'm a fan of the film, not the extras.

[cardaway]

Was there this much uproar about the transfer (other than non-anamorphic) when the original DVD came out? It looks like the red level was off on that transfer and it is just as flawed as the new one. More so if you count that the original transfer was riddled with artifacts.

[godmoney]

I honestly didn't think it was as bad as everyone says. I've seen both versions, and I enjoy both. In a purist sense this may be a shit transfer, but I'm a film student / buff / etc, and this didn't bother me horribly. But it really could of been a lot better, I will admit that.

But even though this could of been better, its a fine set, and I would never to go as far to say this is "horrible" or "unwatchable". That's way over-exaggerated. Enjoy it for the film, and enjoy it for what the set has to offer. If you are that against it after reading all the reviews, don't purchase it, to each his own I guess.

And yeah Artisan might of fucked up, but I don't think "showing them who's who" by not buying the DVD is neccassary. If you want it, get it, if you don't, wait for that "better" version.

If they fix it, let em, I'll either buy that one or exchange mine. But for now, I'm content with my set, and It's a proud addition to my collection.

[BsK]

If they were to "fix" the transfer...anyone have any idea on how long that might take? This could be a major factor in terms of buying now versus later. I actually felt that the Pulp transfer was slightly washed, but probably would never have thought about it, had I not been reading all of the reviews and opinions on the Res Dogs transfer. This is actually hurting my interest in DVD right now, when I should just be stoked to go get a movie that I enjoy with some nice extras.

[rolisme]

I like the DVD, I just watched it tonight. I think the transfer looks better than the last edition. Originally I was going to keep both, but then I realized I would probably only watch the new disc ever so I gave the old one away. Sure the colors were a little faded, but the overall quality of the disc more than makes up for it. Plus, (on my crappy equipment, and with my untrained eye) it looked a lot less graining and cleaner.

[MrTony]

Well, hell. I was pretty close to not buying this, but I'm thinking about it now.

[mgdewey]

Just wanted to put my 2 cents in...

I have watched the new RD DVD twice now and I spent last night rewatching the original DVD and I have to say, in my opinion this must be the way they intended the picture to look. The new transfer is noticibly improved as far as clarity, sharpness and coloration...

While it is not what we commonly see with a Lucas or Spielberg flick, go back and watch some of the films that were made during the time that this film pays homage to...sit down and watch Dog Day Afternoon (Pacino, Lumet), Mean Streets (DeNiro, Scorsese) or even Brazil (Gilliam).

I know that a lot can be done with film as far as tayloring the picture to look the way you wanted by doing different exposure and types of stock, I'd have to say this is what QT wanted.

This was a low budget flick that was a dialogue machine where everything else was just for fun (i.e. the blood looking fake complaints).

Just my opinion and I don't claim to be an expert, I just feel that this is similar to people I have heard complaining about the washed out (Mexico), colorized (cityscenes) or other parts of Traffic (Soderbergh). Give QT and Miramax a little more credit, half of you still claim it as one of your favs...

Yell back!

[Squid Lips]

I think most people here must have only discovered RD after it played in theaters as the comparisons are always with the other DVD/VHS. Well, it's original theatrical release did have a more washed out look so I think if you are waiting for some different look in clarity, you might be in for a long wait as this was along the lines of Tarantino's intended look.