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denti alligator
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#126 Post by denti alligator » Tue Nov 18, 2008 7:19 pm

Gary Tooze wrote:<without which I will not buy it>
Me either... been burned enough thanx.
Gary, would the caps in this thread
convince you that it's worth your money?

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#127 Post by Gary Tooze » Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:33 pm

Possibly Denti - thanks.
***
New...

New Line Cinema - Region 1 - NTSC "The Mask" vs. New Line Cinema - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

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Best,
Gary

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#128 Post by Gary Tooze » Fri Nov 21, 2008 5:10 pm

New...

Warner - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC "Quo Vadis" vs. Warner (Japan) - Region FREE - Blu-ray

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Have a great weekend!

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#129 Post by Gary Tooze » Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:06 am

New...

Fremantle Home Entertainment (2-disc) - Region 0 - PAL "Fellini's Casanova" vs. Carlotta - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

NOTE: We will probably add comparitive SD captures to our existing Blu-ray review of The Dark Knight.

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Best,

videozor
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#130 Post by videozor » Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:42 am

Captures from Casanova BD proove that the DVD image was indeed vertically strached. Glad I didn't buy it

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#131 Post by Gary Tooze » Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:57 pm

New...

ITV (UK) - Region FREE - Blu-ray "The Shawshank Redemption" vs. Castle Rock (US) - Region FREE - Blu-ray

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Best,

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#132 Post by Gary Tooze » Tue Nov 25, 2008 6:39 pm

New...

Trimark - Region 1 - NTSC "La Femme Nikita" vs. MGM (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Sony - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

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Cheers,

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#133 Post by Gary Tooze » Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:45 pm

New...

Fox/Lorber Region 0 - NTSC "Irma Vep" vs. Second Sight - Region 2 - PAL vs. Zeitgeist - Region 1 - NTSC

Electric Parc/Tartan (The Lars von Trier Collection - 4 disc) - Region 2 - PAL "Europa" vs. Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC

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Cheers,

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#134 Post by Gary Tooze » Wed Nov 26, 2008 7:24 pm

New...

Artificial Eye (Collector's Edition) - Region 2 - PAL "Zatoichi" vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL vs. Bandai Visuals - Region 2 - NTSC vs. Artificial Eye - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

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Cheers,

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#135 Post by Gary Tooze » Thu Nov 27, 2008 11:07 am

New...

Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL "Hidden" vs. Artificial Eye - Region FREE - Blu-ray


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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#136 Post by Gary Tooze » Thu Nov 27, 2008 7:41 pm

New...

20th Century Fox Home (Studio Classics series) - Region 1 - NTSC "The Day the Earth Stood Still" vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 2,4 - PAL vs. 20th Century Fox Home (2-disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC

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Happy Thanksgiving to Americans,

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#137 Post by Gary Tooze » Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:59 pm

New...

Miramax / Buena Vista - Rolling Thunder - Region 1 - NTSC "Chungking Express" vs. Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 'A' Blu-ray

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Best,

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denti alligator
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#138 Post by denti alligator » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:23 pm

Gary,

to my eyes the Blu-ray caps looks identical to the SD caps from the Criterion (except that the former are a bit larger -- by the way, is there a reason for this? it would be easier to compare if they were the same size).

Am I not seeing the difference, or is the difference really only noticeable in motion?

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#139 Post by Gary Tooze » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:11 pm

...by the way, is there a reason for this? it would be easier to compare if they were the same size
But they are not the same size natively. Let's do some math...
It's late so forgive any mistakes. The SD-DVD native capture sizes for 16X9 widescreen NTSC are 960 X 540.
For Blu-ray they are 1920 X 1080.
We reduce the SD-DVD to 800 pixels wide (a 16.6% decrease). This was done as originally over 50% of our following had their screen monitor resolution set to 800 wide. Today I find it is, 1st spot, 42.19% have at 1024x768 and 28.49% at 1280x1024. I am one of the 1.64% that have their monitors at 1600x1200.
Reducing images tends to lessen there ability to define deficiencies.
If we reduce the HD images to 800 wide we would be reducing them by a whopping 58.3% (technically this could be considered an unfair advantage). In trying to even this playing field to some degree we've decreased this number to 50% (960 wide) but realizing this is still far too much we've added links to their original resolution. I've debated cropping off segments of the image (as Leonard did for Fearless.) I don't want to increase beyond in native segments as I find this lends itself to an unfair representation (for SD) and my software cannot to as good a job as most people's HT systems. The larger you blow up an image from its native capacity - the worse it looks. If you don't believe me try it on your own computer (save a small image from the Net and increase its size).
I suspect when you say:
Am I not seeing the difference...
You are referring to detail, and even color, - which can indicate more extravagant differences in other comparisons we've done. As I state:
...supports the ... color palette of the Criterion DVD
...The film itself has some sporadic, kinetic camera movement that doesn't lend itself well for demo'ing the detail of 1080P but the grain is so beautiful...
The lack of 'difference' that you state is probably more a testament to Criterion's strong DVD transfer. I agree this is a lesser improvement than we have seen elsewhere. Dependant on the system - the Blu-ray has far less to expand an image for a HT than SD. The larger the system - the more expansion - the greater the superiority will be noticeable.
I've removed hotlinking of images from my Server or could probably post in this thread what I am referring to visually with zooming. In the instance of Chungking Express the visual improvement is more evident with other attributes than simply 'detail' (ex more grain, less noise). This has more to do with the film than Criterion's Blu-ray transfer. I can see the improvement toggling back and forth on my 42" system but if I was to project this to 120" it would be far more dramatic. Beyond simple math telling us why the Blu-ray image is better / the audio is and it's cheaper than the SD.
For those watching Blu-ray on a 26" tube (an unlikley circumstance) the superiority will be minimal, but why pay more (DVD) when you will eventually be buying a better system (and you will). The Criterion Blu is presently the best way, in the world, to watch this film digitally in your home theater. The amount it improves visually and aurally will depend on your system (and your eyes and ears).
Best,

atcolomb
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#140 Post by atcolomb » Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:59 pm

I just viewed Zulu (1964) released by Paramount-UK on Blu-ray. I have seen the movie on tv as a kid and then on video tape and when Criterion released it on laserdisc. Then it was released on dvd in various editions including the MGM release which was the best looking version i ever saw. But when i saw the Blu-ray version on my LCD tv it was so sharp and absolutely breathtaking with deep colors...very clean for a 44 year old film. This is one good example why Blu-ray is the best way to see a movie when the transfer is done right!

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#141 Post by Gary Tooze » Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:54 pm

New...

Warner - Region 2/4 (UK) - PAL "Casablanca" vs. Warner - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (SE) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (2 disc) - Region FREE Blu-ray

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Best,

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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#142 Post by Gary Tooze » Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:08 pm

New...

Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC "The Third Man" vs. Criterion (2-disc RE-Issue) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

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Best

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#143 Post by Gary Tooze » Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:14 pm

New...

Sony - Region 1 - NTSC "Bottle Rocket" vs. Criterion (2-disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

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Cheers,

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#144 Post by Gary Tooze » Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:53 am

New...

Genius Products (2-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC "Planet Terror" vs. BroadMedia (Japan- 6-disc) - Region 2 - NTSC vs. Genius Products (2-Disc) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

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Cheers,

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#145 Post by Gary Tooze » Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:55 pm

New...

Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC "The Man Who Fell to Earth" vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Anchor Bay (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC

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Cheers,

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perkizitore
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#146 Post by perkizitore » Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:06 pm

atcolomb wrote:I just viewed Zulu (1964) released by Paramount-UK on Blu-ray. I have seen the movie on tv as a kid and then on video tape and when Criterion released it on laserdisc. Then it was released on dvd in various editions including the MGM release which was the best looking version i ever saw. But when i saw the Blu-ray version on my LCD tv it was so sharp and absolutely breathtaking with deep colors...very clean for a 44 year old film. This is one good example why Blu-ray is the best way to see a movie when the transfer is done right!
Yeah,the Zulu transfer is gorgeous!

Rich Malloy
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#147 Post by Rich Malloy » Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:27 am

Gary Tooze wrote:New...

Genius Products (2-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC "Planet Terror" vs. BroadMedia (Japan- 6-disc) - Region 2 - NTSC vs. Genius Products (2-Disc) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

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Cheers,
I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. I find myself even more suprised that you like it, Gary!

I had sorta dismissed it as the lesser of two essentially throwaway flicks, but then it started popping up all the time on cable a few months back and I continued to find myself drawn to its, um... charms? And I really wonder how the "scratch-free" version would play. Did you find it to be preferable? A welcome alternative providing a different but effective experience? Or do you prefer the original?

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#148 Post by Gary Tooze » Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:07 pm

Hi Rich,
I'm tending to enjoy all of Robert Rodriguez's trashy B-mock/homage stuff...
I got a big kick out of El Mariachi/Desperado/ From Dusk Till Dawn...
I've received e-mail from quite a few who HATE the scratch and damage effects on both modern 'Grindhouse' flics - they find it incredibly fake. I think its wonderful and found it really helps with the mood setting. The 'cleaned' version was just like seeing it again but if I had my choice I'd opt for the grain filled 'dirty' image. Still... all very cool. To each his own.
Best,
G

Rich Malloy
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#149 Post by Rich Malloy » Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:24 pm

I suspect I'll gravitate toward the scratchy version. As you point out, some of the damage wasn't removed from the "scratch-free" print, and I suspect these are some of those moments where it's integral to the film. Ah, the film. It's growing on me still. And I would be remiss not to mention Ms. Rose McGowan. She's so... compelling. Carnally speaking. Stumpy and all. I hunger like wolf. Also drool like wolf.

(Woof. Ahem.)

Anyway... I wanted to add my thoughts on the the HK-BD of "Days of Being Wild". I perceived not much difference from the still grabs, but was moved to purchase it on the basis of your comments... not without some reluctance.

Turns out you were right on the money. Despite some typically dodgy subtitle translations that you refer to, the HK disc looks quite a bit better "in motion". In fact, a direct A:B between my Tartan WKW-Collection release (upscaled to 1080i via Oppo) and the HK-BD (output at 1080i via Panny BD30) revealed that the latter had a more solid, stable image, better color rendition, and finer detail. It was also derived from a much more pristine print, which is not readily apparent in the still images. And - no small thing - you were also absolutely right that it marks a huge step up in audio quality. This was certainly one of those occasions where your comments were much more valuable than the still images, and underscores the limitations of the screengrab comparison alone.

So, now that I've made that purchase, Kino is free to announce the imminent release of its domestic BD! :)

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Gary Tooze
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Re: DVDBeaver Comparisons

#150 Post by Gary Tooze » Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:49 pm

New...

More of a plug than a comparison comment - BUT we did comare one frame of the Movietone version of 'Sunrise' to the European silent version of feature film in our overview of Murnau, Borzage and Fox.

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Best,

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