DVDBeaver Comparisons

[Hashi]

Gary, the review for The Hanging Tree states some uncertainties about the aspect ratio being off... any ideas what is the correct aspect ratio? I watched this a while ago and didn't notice anything odd with the framing etc. I mean if the AR is incorrect, it looked more like open matte than p&s.

[Gary Tooze]

I mean if the AR is incorrect, it looked more like open matte than p&s.

Yes, I never said it was p&s. From DVDBeaver review:

...but it is highly likely that they used the open matte negative - I can't imagine a major studio film being shown theatrically in 1960 at full frame.

Brian, who has a 35mm and 16mm print of it, hasn't got back to me - but I suspect its 1.85.

Best,
Gary

[Hashi]

Yes, I never said it was p&s. From DVDBeaver review:

...but it is highly likely that they used the open matte negative - I can't imagine a major studio film being shown theatrically in 1960 at full frame.

Brian, who has a 35mm and 16mm print of it, hasn't got back to me - but I suspect its 1.85.

Yeah I didn't mean that you said anything about p&s, I was only thinking aloud about that DVD framing(/AR) vs. supposed OAR. Anyway, I guess you'll mention it in the review if you hear from this Brian. Thanks!

[Gary Tooze]

One more...

Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC "The Naked City" vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC

Image Entertainment


Criterion


http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Have a great weekend!

[jt]

Hi Gary, are you planning on adding the new Kino release to your Stalker comparison?

Also, can you let me know where you get the images for all the original posters that always accompany your reviews?

Cheers.

[Gary Tooze]

Isn't the Kino the same transfer but divided onto 2 discs?

One new...

Cinema Club (2-disc SE) - Region 2 - PAL "Lost Highway" vs. Shock Records (Australia) - Region 0 - PAL vs. mk2 (2 disc Edition Limitee) - Region 2 - PAL

One more...

Tartan - Region 0 - PAL "Kissed" vs. MGM Region 1 - NTSC

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Best,

[Lino]

Gary, any chances the other titles in the R2 Optimum Buñuel set get comparison reviews too?

I repeat my question. Please?

[Gary Tooze]

Apologies.

If we are able Lino, we certainly will.

In our new review of the Criterion's Eclipse Series One (Early Bergman) we have compared one frame of Crisis to the Tartan Video (Bergman Collection) - Region 0 - PAL. We hope to add more (the other 4 DVDs) as we are able.

One more...

Universal Pictures Video - Region 2,4,5 - PAL "Children of Men" vs. Universal - Region 1- NTSC

NOTE: the R2 SE that came out yesterday has the exact same supplements as the NTSC coming out next week (spread onto a 2nd disc), but you can save $8.50 US buying the NTSC (we assume the transfer will be the same as it is in our comparison).

One more....

Edko Video (Limited Collector's DVD Boxset) - Region 3 - NTSC "Curse of the Golden Flower" vs. Sony - Region 1 - NTSC

Noir Gold...

Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC "Brute Force" vs. Wild Side Video - Region 2 - PAL vs. Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Film Prestige - Region 0 - NTSC

Paramount (EU) - Region 0 - PAL "Detour" vs. Alpha, Gotham Distribution - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Image - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Siren (UK) - Region All - PAL

New...

Optimum Home Entertainment (SE - 10th Anniversary Edition) - Region 2 - PAL "La Haine" vs. Criterion (2-disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC

Optimum


Criterion


http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Regards,
Gary

[Glass]

Hi Gary,

First of all, I really appreciate the work you're doing (but that statement you've probably heard hundreds of times, already).

My question is maybe a bit of the point, but could you update 'The Director's Chair' Databse'? It's has always been a great index for me, but I feel names like Robert Altman, David Lynch, Martin Scorsese, Terrence Malick, Billy Wilder, John Ford, Howard Hawks, David Cronenberg, Wes Anderson, Preston Sturges, and others are still missing, though they should have enough reviews and references in literature to make their own entry.

Best,

[Gary Tooze]

It has always been our intent to continue and include Naruse and Imamura etc. as well. But time, time, time...

Best,
Gary

[AZAI]

it is mentioned elsewhere, but the review of La Haine contains a significant spoiler in the last screencap...... which could completely ruin the climactic ending....

[Gary Tooze]

Thank you - it is removed.

Pasta anyone?....

Blue Underground - Region 0 - NTSC "Texas Adios" vs. Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC vs. - Carat - Region 2 (DK) - PAL

We hope to have many new reviews completed this week - The Natural, Howard Hawks 'The Thing From Another World' , All That Jazz, Volver and more... Stay Tuned!

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Best,

[Gordon]

I was surprised to see that the new R2 set of The Thing From Another World has a commentary track by John Carpenter. But I think that Universal may have fucked up, as it is on an unrestored, scratchy transfer, when they have also supplied a gorgeously restored transfer, as well as a crappy colorized transfer! Eh? What are they playing at? Just release the restored transfer with the Carpenter commentary, you cocks! #-o

[Gary Tooze]

True Gordon,

New...

20th Century Fox/Pathe (2-disc) - Region 2 - PAL "Volver" vs. Sony Pictures - Region 1 - NTSC

Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC "The Thing From Another World" vs. Universal (2-disc) - Region 2- PAL (black and white and colorized)

As promised...

Sony - Region 1,3,4 - NTSC "The Natural" vs. Sony (Director's Cut) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC

Theatrical DVD edition


Director's Cut DVD


New...

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC "All That Jazz" vs. 20th Century Fox (Music Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC

One new...

Fox Lorber - Region 0 - NTSC "L'Ennui" vs. Artificial Eye Film Co. - Region 2 - PAL

Warning: There is nudity in this comparison.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Best,

[justeleblanc]

Warning: There is nudity in this comparison.

Hardly. How disappointing.

[Gary Tooze]

One new (well, don't be fooled)...

MGM - Region 1 - NTSC "The Pride of the Yankees" vs. MGM (65th Anniversary Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC

New... a wonderful film:

Enter One - Region 0 - NTSC "Wanee & Junah" vs. Edko Film - Region 3 - NTSC

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

P.S. Our review of the English subtitled Jean-Luc Godard's Histoire(s) Du Cinema is now posted!

Cheers,

[skuhn8]

Hey Gary, any possibility of doing a Withnail & I R1 CC vs. R2 20th Century Anchor Bay edition?
Thanks,
skuhn8

[manicsounds]

Hey Gary, any possibility of doing a Withnail & I R1 CC vs. R2 20th Century Anchor Bay edition?

Anniversary, you mean. if you haven't gotten it already, you really should. at 5 pounds on amazon.uk, its a steal for the 3 disc set.

[Doctor Sunshine]

I would love to see a comparison with the UK and Japanese Branded to Kills. Perhaps some of the other Suzukis too. This would enhappyn me very much.

[Gary Tooze]

One new...

Legend Film (colorized and B+W) - Region 1 - NTSC "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" vs. GCTHV (Edition Collector Numérotée) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Kinowelt / Arthaus (Germany) - Region 2 - PAL vs. . Water Bearer Films - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Tartan Video - Region 2 - PAL vs. Out of Print Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC

New... I loved this movie.

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 2, 4 - PAL "The Purple Heart" vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC

In our review of the Robert Siodmak Boxset - Phantom Lady (1944), Cobra Woman (1944), The Killers (1946) - from Carlotta , we have compared The Killers with the Criterion edition.

Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC "The Killers" vs. Carlotta - Region 2 - PAL

Upcoming Criterion release...

Panorama - Region 3 - NTSC "Vengeance is Mine" vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Eureka (Masters of Cinema #17) - Region 2 - PAL

Masters of Cinema


Criterion


http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Best,

[Steven H]

I doubt the 1:66 is correct. It seems wrong to me that the cinematographer, Himeda Sinsaku, let the log go out of focus within the frame. Also, here's a bit of info from the VistaVision Wikipedia article:

VistaVision may be shown at any widescreen aspect ratio from 1.75 to 2:1... VistaVision films were shown in a number of aspect ratios, the most popular being 1.85:1.

[Gary Tooze]

In our review of 6-disc The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky we compared the Raro of El Topo and The Holy Mountain with the splendid Anchor Bay

Raro - Region 0 - PAL vs. Anchor Bay - Region 1 - NTSC

Raro


Anchor Bay


And one more...

Lucertola Media - Region 0 - NTSC "Rabid Dogs" vs. Anchor Bay ('Kidnapped' Version) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Anchor Bay ('Rabid Dogs' version) - Region 1 - NTSC

Comparisons have been made from the new Mario Bava Collection, Vol. 1...

Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC "Black Sunday" vs. Ripley's Home Video (Edizione Speciale) - Region 0 - PAL vs. Image - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Films sans Frontières - Region 0 - PAL

Image - Region 0 - NTSC "Black Sabbath" vs. Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC

Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC "The Girl Who Knew Too Much" vs. Films sans Frontières - Region 2 - PAL vs. Image - Region 1 - NTSC

Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC "Kill, Baby... Kill" vs. VCI - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Laser Paradise - Region 0 - PAL

New... thanks goodness

Paramount Home Video Region 1 - NTSC "To Catch a Thief" vs. Paramount Home Video (Special Collector's Edition) Region 1 - NTSC

Original release


New Collector's Edition


http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Cheers,

[Rich Malloy]

I apologize for cross-posting from the screen captures thread, but I think this may be the better thread... it appears that the R4 and R1 "To Catch a Thief"s are not the same.

There is a nearly identical frame in the Beaver's review and in one of the captures here (the shot of Grant sitting next to Hitch in the car).

It's certainly not much to go on, but the R1 appears brighter (perhaps more contrasty) and redder, and to my eyes the R4 looks superior. Looking at the various other frames from each transfer seems to reinforce that, as none of the shots from the R1 seem as nice as those from the R4.

[Gary Tooze]

Rich,

Is there any standardization to those captures?

I've received 1000's (yes thousands) of screen captures from well-meaning sources in email over the years. But different software (filters) at even slightly different settings can produce radically different results.

DVDBeaver pride ourselves on using a strict methodology to obtain accurate results for all our screen captures.
***

New...

Sony - Collector's Edition - Region 1- NTSC "The Caine Mutiny" vs. Columbia Tri-Star Video Region 1 - NTSC vs. Columbia Tri-Star Region 2/4 - PAL

Columbia NTSC


Sony CE


http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Best,

[Rich Malloy]

No idea, Gary! (Obviously, they weren't posted by me.)

Do you think the apparent differences between the captures could be explained by the use of different filters in the software? I do recall seeing some well-intentioned shots posted before on another forum that turned out not to remotely reflect the quality of the video, so I your point is well taken.

Perhaps someone could forward Gary some proper R4 captures? Anyone?