DVDBeaver
- colinr0380
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:30 pm
- Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, UK
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
New...
Warner Home Video (Single disc release) - Region 1 - NTSC "The Matrix" vs. Warner Home Video (The Ultimate Matrix Collection Disc 1) - Region 1,4 - NTSC vs. Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/
Cheers,
Warner Home Video (Single disc release) - Region 1 - NTSC "The Matrix" vs. Warner Home Video (The Ultimate Matrix Collection Disc 1) - Region 1,4 - NTSC vs. Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/
Cheers,
- psufootball07
- Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:52 pm
- Darth Lavender
- Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:24 pm
Will you eventually be reviewing 'The Animatrix'? That's the one that I'm really curious about.
Also, just an FYI, the Matrix HDDVD was about 27gb as well (remember, dual-layer HDDVDs are 30gbs. You're thinking of single-layer Blu-Rays which are 25gb)
I can check my disk and tell you exact file size if you want (but, even without checking, I remember it's 27.something)
However, interestingly, some of the reviews are saying that The Matrix TrueHD is 24bit on Blu-Ray (an upgrade (albeit, a probably unnoticable one) from the 16bit HDDVD.
(The same reviews list The Animatrix as still being 'only' 16bit Lossless audio but, interestingly, someone in another forum posted screencaps of the menu listing a Japanese TrueHD track not listed on the box (presumably only for Animatrix))
Also, just an FYI, the Matrix HDDVD was about 27gb as well (remember, dual-layer HDDVDs are 30gbs. You're thinking of single-layer Blu-Rays which are 25gb)
I can check my disk and tell you exact file size if you want (but, even without checking, I remember it's 27.something)
However, interestingly, some of the reviews are saying that The Matrix TrueHD is 24bit on Blu-Ray (an upgrade (albeit, a probably unnoticable one) from the 16bit HDDVD.
(The same reviews list The Animatrix as still being 'only' 16bit Lossless audio but, interestingly, someone in another forum posted screencaps of the menu listing a Japanese TrueHD track not listed on the box (presumably only for Animatrix))
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
Thanks Darth - I'll correct that.
I'll do the best I can but I am swamped with DVDs and Blu-rays to cover. I'm watching about 4 a day.... I haven't had a chance to open Psycho yet...
Stuff coming up:
Comparisons with Spellbound and Notorious, reviews of Revenge of a Kabuki Actor, Omen Blu-ray boxset, Icons of Horror Hammer boxset (great!),Blu-ray Standard Operating Procedure, Stuck... review of Ophuls La Signora di tutti... and many more.
New...
BFI Region 2 - PAL "Revenge of a Kabuki Actor" vs. Animeigo - Region 1 - NTSC
New...
ITV DVD (UK) Region FREE Blu-ray "Capricorn One" vs. LionsGate (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Cheers,
I'll do the best I can but I am swamped with DVDs and Blu-rays to cover. I'm watching about 4 a day.... I haven't had a chance to open Psycho yet...
Stuff coming up:
Comparisons with Spellbound and Notorious, reviews of Revenge of a Kabuki Actor, Omen Blu-ray boxset, Icons of Horror Hammer boxset (great!),Blu-ray Standard Operating Procedure, Stuck... review of Ophuls La Signora di tutti... and many more.
New...
BFI Region 2 - PAL "Revenge of a Kabuki Actor" vs. Animeigo - Region 1 - NTSC
New...
ITV DVD (UK) Region FREE Blu-ray "Capricorn One" vs. LionsGate (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Cheers,
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
Sorry for the delay...
Universal (2-disc Legacy Series) - Region 1- NTSC "Psycho" vs. Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal Pictures (Benelux) (Psycho Collection) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Universal Tri-Star (Australia) - Region 2,4 - PAL
New...
Universal (2-disc - 50th Anniversary Edition) - Region 1- NTSC "Touch of Evil" vs. Universal Studios (US) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal Studios (UK) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Best,
Universal (2-disc Legacy Series) - Region 1- NTSC "Psycho" vs. Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal Pictures (Benelux) (Psycho Collection) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Universal Tri-Star (Australia) - Region 2,4 - PAL
New...
Universal (2-disc - 50th Anniversary Edition) - Region 1- NTSC "Touch of Evil" vs. Universal Studios (US) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal Studios (UK) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Best,
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
New...
MGM - Region 1 - NTSC "From Russia With Love" vs. MGM (2-disc Ultimate Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL vs. MGM / Fox - Region 'A' Blu-ray
MGM - (Special Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL "Thunderball" vs. MGM - (2-disc - part of Ultimate Collection Vol. 2) - Region 1,3 - NTSC vs. MGM / Fox - Region 'A' Blu-ray
Note...
Our Blu-ray review of Dr. No has 2 screen capture comparisons with the Special Edition SD-DVD.
This Bond Blu-ray looks exceptionally good.
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/
Best,
MGM - Region 1 - NTSC "From Russia With Love" vs. MGM (2-disc Ultimate Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL vs. MGM / Fox - Region 'A' Blu-ray
MGM - (Special Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL "Thunderball" vs. MGM - (2-disc - part of Ultimate Collection Vol. 2) - Region 1,3 - NTSC vs. MGM / Fox - Region 'A' Blu-ray
Note...
Our Blu-ray review of Dr. No has 2 screen capture comparisons with the Special Edition SD-DVD.
This Bond Blu-ray looks exceptionally good.
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/
Best,
- perkizitore
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:29 pm
- Location: OOP is the only answer
- The Fanciful Norwegian
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:24 pm
- Location: Teegeeack
Er...
Vampyr comparison
Salo BD review/comparison (I dunno what you mean by "full review," but this is as detailed as any of the the standalone BD reviews)
No La Ronde comparison yet.
Oh, and re: Flight of the Red Balloon: the green look is almost definitely intentional -- I saw it theatrically and clearly recall the "greenness" of some parts (the piano lesson, for example), and while I haven't seen the UK DVD, the French DVD exhibits the same tendency. The screenshots of the Network release at DVD Times aren't very big, but they show a clear green bias. (The Network disc is also a DVD-5, apparently.)
Vampyr comparison
Salo BD review/comparison (I dunno what you mean by "full review," but this is as detailed as any of the the standalone BD reviews)
No La Ronde comparison yet.
Oh, and re: Flight of the Red Balloon: the green look is almost definitely intentional -- I saw it theatrically and clearly recall the "greenness" of some parts (the piano lesson, for example), and while I haven't seen the UK DVD, the French DVD exhibits the same tendency. The screenshots of the Network release at DVD Times aren't very big, but they show a clear green bias. (The Network disc is also a DVD-5, apparently.)
- perkizitore
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:29 pm
- Location: OOP is the only answer
Gary on the MoC edition of Vampyr:
Looking solely at the captures he has provided I would tend to agree with his summation and if I feel the need to augment with further observations, Henry has agreed to allow to me to do so once my own disc arrives.
Gary on the BFI Salo Blu-Ray:
I was only sent the first disc - hence, this is all I can review at this point.
Looking solely at the captures he has provided I would tend to agree with his summation and if I feel the need to augment with further observations, Henry has agreed to allow to me to do so once my own disc arrives.
Gary on the BFI Salo Blu-Ray:
I was only sent the first disc - hence, this is all I can review at this point.
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
Apologies, yes.... always my intention to return to Vampyr (it's sitting right here by my computer) and I'm at least grateful that Henry was able to contribute that information. I never imagined that I would be this busy... I'm working about 55-60 hours a week right now.
I haven't received the final copy of Salo (Blu-ray) from BFI - postal times can really vary from overseas to Canada.
I don't have the Second Sight La Ronde.
Life of a DVD Reviewer:
I should note that I don't receive every DVD release in the world. BUT I do occasionally get some viable ones from studios/distributors (to augment what I buy myself) - this is with a cavalacde of lesser discs that I won't bother to relate. 100's come each month... with a few being premium DVDBeaver territory.
On this last Thursday a very large package came - extremely heavy and kind of bulky - sitting on my front step. I opened it as I was driving to pick-up my son from school. As I scracthed at the covering - it suddenly hit me - "ohh my God... it's Murnau-Borzage!" - just as the contents spilled out to reveal... [drum roll]..... The Complete Series of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
perkizitore, I'll continue to do the best I can...
Cheers,
Gary
I haven't received the final copy of Salo (Blu-ray) from BFI - postal times can really vary from overseas to Canada.
I don't have the Second Sight La Ronde.
Life of a DVD Reviewer:
I should note that I don't receive every DVD release in the world. BUT I do occasionally get some viable ones from studios/distributors (to augment what I buy myself) - this is with a cavalacde of lesser discs that I won't bother to relate. 100's come each month... with a few being premium DVDBeaver territory.
On this last Thursday a very large package came - extremely heavy and kind of bulky - sitting on my front step. I opened it as I was driving to pick-up my son from school. As I scracthed at the covering - it suddenly hit me - "ohh my God... it's Murnau-Borzage!" - just as the contents spilled out to reveal... [drum roll]..... The Complete Series of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
perkizitore, I'll continue to do the best I can...
Cheers,
Gary
- perkizitore
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:29 pm
- Location: OOP is the only answer
Every request/reminder is made as an encouragement, always keeping in mind how valuable your reviews are.I know it's not easy when you actually outline the general differences of some releases to get back to them,as always there is something new but when i see a 'return' comment,i can't wait for more.
- fiddlesticks
- Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:19 pm
- Location: Borderlands
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
- Location: Worthing
- Contact:
Still, at least with Salo and Vampyr you got an interim report. I can only assume that the BFI's Jan Svankmajer package is one of the "lesser discs" that Gary referred to, since I know for a fact that he was sent a copy.perkizitore wrote:Every request/reminder is made as an encouragement, always keeping in mind how valuable your reviews are.I know it's not easy when you actually outline the general differences of some releases to get back to them,as always there is something new but when i see a 'return' comment,i can't wait for more.
I shouldn't complain, though - its only mention on DVD Beaver was a place on the 2007 end-of-year Top Fifty, so his readers clearly rated it even if he didn't!
- Darth Lavender
- Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:24 pm
Mods, feel free to delete, but I thought this was relevent to both threads (this and the Salo BFI thread)
Darth Lavender wrote:To revise my earlier thoughts on Salo's quality.
I was watching Battlestar Galactica on HDDVD the other day and it's a fine transfer indeed. Obviously exactly what the directors wanted, there's lots of grain throughout (in this case, intentional digital noise) no excessive sharpening... It's ranks with 'Bullit' as one of the most 'authentic-looking' movies I've seen on High Definition...
Then I happened to pause it and, in 'freeze-frame' it looked truly, utterly horrible...
Horrible in exactly the same way as the Salo captures
Tried the same with 'Elizabeth,' comparing freeze-frames with freeze-frames, and there's really no similarity there.
So, I'm completely revising my own estimation of the BFI blu-ray's quality. (Of course, the EE was silly as heck, just because it gives the reviewers something to criticise)
And, if I might offer a bit of free advice to the BFI (I might even send an email) this is one Blu-Ray which (if I'm right about the stills vs motion thing) could DEFINITELY benefit from a 1080p trailer online (all the major studios are doing those already, so the technology is there, and it's really the only way (aside from dubious-sounding praise) to convey just how good this Blu-Ray (I assume, based on BG) looks in motion.
- perkizitore
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:29 pm
- Location: OOP is the only answer
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
perkizitore - I'm sure Leonard (who wrote the review) is aware of that:
P.S. Let's keep this thread about, its title, 'comparisons'. If you wish to email me - I am always accessible at gary@2ze.com.
Thanks,
New...
Mei Ah - Region FREE - Blu-ray "Mad Detective" vs. Masters of Cinema - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Cheers,
He's commenting, albeit generically, on the packages as a whole. I don't have a problem with that.As a group, the titles in Volume 2 are higher quality than Volume 1, but both must-haves for the Bond aficianado. The earlier films benefit most from their restorations, already evident in the Ultimate DVDs, but the extra vivid dimensionality – that reach out and touch it feeling we get with a high definition image is worth the investment. It's also nice that all the titles come with their original audio tracks for the purists among us, though I found myself preferring to the uncompressed audio, despite its being exaggerated in moments of excitement. Thumbs Up.
P.S. Let's keep this thread about, its title, 'comparisons'. If you wish to email me - I am always accessible at gary@2ze.com.
Thanks,
New...
Mei Ah - Region FREE - Blu-ray "Mad Detective" vs. Masters of Cinema - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Cheers,
-
- Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:29 pm
- Location: Boston MA
Not knowing how this film is supposed to look, I find myself a bit flummoxed at the vastly different color timings of the two releases. I'm inclined to believe that MOC's cooler tones are more accurate, but that's solely based on my high opinion of MOC's prior work (and considerably lower opinion of Mei Ah's prior work). On the other hand, I disagree with your reviewer that cranking the contrast on the MOC disc will emulate the look of the Mei-Ah. Color timing issues aside, I'm seeing what appears to me to be a real - not perceived - increase in fine detail on the Mei Ah release. Facial skin textures, in particular, seem to bear this out.Gary Tooze wrote:Mei Ah - Region FREE - Blu-ray "Mad Detective" vs. Masters of Cinema - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC
I'd love to hear some additional comments on these transfers, particularly as I suspect the warmer color timing of the Mei Ah is incorrect.
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
Hey Rich,
You may not belive this but I was just thinking of you when this email notice of response came in... weird. Hope you and Avril are well...
Actually, I am the reviewer. What I did was zoom in to a few screen grabs (even ones not matched or posted) and I don't *think* the Mei Ah is actually sharper (more detailed). I think they are the same. I agree that it does look sharper but that could be simply boosting black/ darker red levels - which, btw, I didn't do when boosting the contrast to get that image. I've no doubt that the folks at Mei Ah spent more time manipulating than the few seconds I did (trying to match their color using a MoC grab). Its pretty astounding what you can do with elevating black levels slightly - too much and we can see evidence - but I'll admit in my limited zooming I didn't see EE or extravagent halos on the Meh Ah. But I don't on many Criterions either and they often boost black levels to avchieve a higher perception of detail. Others in email to me have noticed the minor EE on the Mei Ah.
I agree with you about the differences though... 'flummoxed' was pretty much how I felt. I guess its our 'official' first Blu-ray comparison.
Cheers,
You may not belive this but I was just thinking of you when this email notice of response came in... weird. Hope you and Avril are well...
Actually, I am the reviewer. What I did was zoom in to a few screen grabs (even ones not matched or posted) and I don't *think* the Mei Ah is actually sharper (more detailed). I think they are the same. I agree that it does look sharper but that could be simply boosting black/ darker red levels - which, btw, I didn't do when boosting the contrast to get that image. I've no doubt that the folks at Mei Ah spent more time manipulating than the few seconds I did (trying to match their color using a MoC grab). Its pretty astounding what you can do with elevating black levels slightly - too much and we can see evidence - but I'll admit in my limited zooming I didn't see EE or extravagent halos on the Meh Ah. But I don't on many Criterions either and they often boost black levels to avchieve a higher perception of detail. Others in email to me have noticed the minor EE on the Mei Ah.
I agree with you about the differences though... 'flummoxed' was pretty much how I felt. I guess its our 'official' first Blu-ray comparison.
Cheers,
- HerrSchreck
- Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:46 am
I was thinking the exact same thing, but wasn't in the mood for controversy (after the Sirk). But the color scheme issues aside, in terms of getting what you're supposed to get viz Blu versus SD--increased definition-- the Mei Ah (thought I'd never articulate such a thing) seems far more of an HD transfer in terms of detail, crispness, etc.Rich Malloy wrote:Not knowing how this film is supposed to look, I find myself a bit flummoxed at the vastly different color timings of the two releases. I'm inclined to believe that MOC's cooler tones are more accurate, but that's solely based on my high opinion of MOC's prior work (and considerably lower opinion of Mei Ah's prior work). On the other hand, I disagree with your reviewer that cranking the contrast on the MOC disc will emulate the look of the Mei-Ah. Color timing issues aside, I'm seeing what appears to me to be a real - not perceived - increase in fine detail on the Mei Ah release. Facial skin textures, in particular, seem to bear this out.Gary Tooze wrote:Mei Ah - Region FREE - Blu-ray "Mad Detective" vs. Masters of Cinema - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC
I'd love to hear some additional comments on these transfers, particularly as I suspect the warmer color timing of the Mei Ah is incorrect.
Perplexing for sure, as I don't doubt the transfer used by MoC matches the color scheme of the film upon release.
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
New...
HBO Home Video (Extended Version) - Region 1 - NTSC "La Vie En Rose" vs. Sony/TVA Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/
Have a good weekend,
HBO Home Video (Extended Version) - Region 1 - NTSC "La Vie En Rose" vs. Sony/TVA Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/
Have a good weekend,
-
- not perpee
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:41 pm
Boosting contrast increases the perception of detail, more pronounced blacks and whites increase the sense of depth, etc - but as seen with these two discs, it also introduces a whole host of other problems.HerrSchreck wrote:in terms of getting what you're supposed to get viz Blu versus SD--increased definition-- the Mei Ah (thought I'd never articulate such a thing) seems far more of an HD transfer in terms of detail, crispness, etc.
These are details from both discs (from grabs taken by DVDBeaver):
The "grain" on the Mei Ah is not extra 35mm grain or facial skin texture, it's just contrast boosting. Look at the haloing on the thumb in the Mei Ah, the blown out whites in the reflections on the metal rack. It looks like a 35mm cinema print in comparison to the MoC's more subtle rendering of the original neg.