The General HD Releases Thread!

[gasteropod]

Poppycock!!

[Markgway]

Sam is correct. A film of sound and fury about absolutely nothing.

[romerojpg]

At least it is not in Mono

[Markgway]

And not being mono makes it a good film?

I suppose you think Casablanca would be awesome if it was in DTS?

[romerojpg]

I dont like Casablanca so I could not care less if the sound did not even work

[Markgway]

I dont like Casablanca so I could not care less if the sound did not even work

I was talking about the remake directed by Paul Anderson in which Ingrid Bergman turns into a mutant.

[Markgway]

Back to LEON......

Just watched the Theatrical Cut and the DTS is superior to that on the Extended Version. No idea why? But I'm not complaining.

The PCM stereo is basically mono. There's no seperation at all - not during gunfire or the end theme song. Best avoid that track.

One possible quibble: on the DTS track (both cuts) there's a scene about 20 mins in where Leon walks passed his neighbours' doorway and hears the abusive father shouting. On my headphones the the seperation produced the shouting from my left speaker BUT on-screen the doorway is on the right. Have Optimum flipped the speakers again or is that how it's supposed to be?

Update:

I checked my Spectrum DVD (R3) and it confirmed my suspicions. The audio has been flipped on the Optimum BD. Again. The sound is correctly placed from the right speaker on the DVD (left on Blu). So if you thought Cliffhanger was a one-off... I won't be buying any more Optimum titles until someone confirms the audio is correct. I'm surprised that Shingster missed this.

[bradavon]

It's DTS on the UK BD? I'm sure it's DTS-HD MA. It's DTS-HD HR on the German BD. It's worth clarifying these things.

I still need to check my German BD for comparison. Thanks for checking though Mark. That is annoying about the audio. I didn't know Cliffhanger was stuffed up. I'll check my German BD for that too. If it's stuffed up, we'll know how to blame (given that it was released a full year earlier).

[bradavon]

Gladiator BD

Firstly I can confirm it's definitely Region A. I had to change my Players region coding. I didn't have too much trouble with the DVNR. I spotted it but it didn't really bother me. The Edge Enhancement is pretty extreme at times. I only checked about 30 minutes of the film but it was evident during all of it. I don't understand for a film only made in 2000 and costing so much, why the original film elements aren't already sharp enough. They must be.

That said, it's still easily superior to the DVD. The colours are much more vivid (in a way only HD can achieve) and even taking into account the edge enhancement, it is still noticeably sharper.

The DTS-HD MA (down-converted to 1.5Mbps DTS with my Amp) is much better to the DD5.1 on the Extended Cut 3 Disc DVD I have. I no longer have the 2 Disc DVD, so cannot compare it against the DTS on that (which will be 768Kbps).

Braveheart BD

A marked improvement over Gladiator IMO. You can really see the sharpness here is real sharpness and not fake edge enhanced sharpness. I cannot really fault it. The films never looked fantastic and this is carried over to the BD. It must be how it was shot but given what we have to work with, it's excellent. Again the TrueHD (down-converted to 1.5Mbps DTS with my Amp) is a marked improvement over the DD5.1 on the UK DVD.

I'm keeping both.

[Shingster]

Just watched the Theatrical Cut and the DTS is superior to that on the Extended Version. No idea why?

It's because the DTS-HD track on the extended cut isn't a proper 5.1 mix, it's a 2.0 surround track masquerading as 5.1. I do wonder if there even is a 5.1 track for the longer cut tbh, wouldn't surprise me if it was only ever released in stereo.

I'm surprised that Shingster missed this.

Yup must have missed that, I'm slipping! Is it a problem on just that occasion or could you detect it throughout? I don't recall any erroneous sound placement in the opening assassination sequence.

[bradavon]

It's because the DTS-HD track on the extended cut isn't a proper 5.1 mix, it's a 2.0 surround track masquerading as 5.1. I do wonder if there even is a 5.1 track for the longer cut tbh, wouldn't surprise me if it was only ever released in stereo.

Surely it would've been spotted before?

[romerojpg]

Gladiator BD
That said, it's still easily superior to the DVD.

Well it is idiots like you buying shit discs like this and giving them cash to produce more shit transfers, keep it up

It is shit, end of.

[gasteropod]

Even though Romero said it harshly, I do agree people should avoid buying that disc.

[bradavon]

Why? Like I said it's superior to the DVD.

I'm not anal like some and will avoid a BD/DVD just because it isn't 150% perfect. Plenty of BDs aren't perfect or have flaws but are still better than the DVD. The simple truth is, the "joe public" will be very happy with it and it's joe public who will make it a success. Some people actually like EE and DVNR remember. Are we going to see a new BD anytime over the next 2-3 years? No chance. It cost me all of 10 bucks. I sure as hell wasn't going to pay the RRP but for 10 bucks, I was happy to see it for myself.

I clearly noted it's flaws. Romero as ever is just choosing to pick out the one sentence he disagrees with, ignoring the wealth of bad points I mentioned about the disc.

You guys haven't even seen it for yourself, so excuse me, you cannot comment (that smiley's for Gas btw!).

[IronMonkey]

Who the hell actually likes EE?!

[bradavon]

It makes things look artificially sharper. Not everyone spots the "edge" halos but they do the fake sharpness. EE would be ace if it wasn't for the halos it creates with it (i.e - sharpness on it's own cannot be a bad thing). I didn't spot EE until I got an LCD TV. The same crowd who prefer a really DVNR'ed image too.

[romerojpg]

You guys haven't even seen it for yourself, so excuse me, you cannot comment (that smiley's for Gas btw!).

I have seen both the UK and USA discs (In full, unlike you who has not yet ), on set ups costing the price of a cheap house, so get some facts right

The only people who prefer Noise Reduction and Edge Enhancement are tits who need a smack in the face with a brick, and any HD media taken from their cold dead hands and given to charity. Then burn their homes to the ground and plant a tree and dedicate it to a blind prick

[gasteropod]

[Shingster]

You guys haven't even seen it for yourself, so excuse me, you cannot comment (that smiley's for Gas btw!).

TBH I'd take the opinion over someone who hasn't even seen the transfer over yours any day of the week. You've constantly proven over the years that you're so clueless when it comes to assessing video transfers that you wouldn't spot a dollop of shit on the print if it was smeared across the entire frame!

[Markgway]

It's DTS on the UK BD? I'm sure it's DTS-HD MA. It's DTS-HD HR on the German BD. It's worth clarifying these things.

Point is: It's the DTS track I was referring to. The kind of DTS is irrelevant to this discussion.

I still need to check my German BD for comparison. Thanks for checking though Mark. That is annoying about the audio. I didn't know Cliffhanger was stuffed up. I'll check my German BD for that too. If it's stuffed up, we'll know how to blame (given that it was released a full year earlier).

Worth checking those German discs. Even if it was the Germans Optimum could easily have corrected the flaw. I'm hardly an expert (not even by the standards of this forum) and yet I noticed it first viewing. What does that say? Can someone check the Sony BD for Leon? I'll be getting the Cliffhanger BD come January (or rather when it's a decent price). I'd be surprised if Sony make the same fuck-up.

Another point of interest is that the TC on the Optimum disc (oddly dismissed as a mere extra) is the French theatrical version with French credits. Never seen that before. My Korean DVD used the American print titled 'The Professional'. The old UK DVD was titled Leon (as in France) but with English credits.

[Markgway]

It's because the DTS-HD track on the extended cut isn't a proper 5.1 mix, it's a 2.0 surround track masquerading as 5.1. I do wonder if there even is a 5.1 track for the longer cut tbh, wouldn't surprise me if it was only ever released in stereo.

The credits on the TC have a Dolby Stereo logo.

Yup must have missed that, I'm slipping! Is it a problem on just that occasion or could you detect it throughout? I don't recall any erroneous sound placement in the opening assassination sequence.

I only noticed it on the aforementioned example in the hallway and on a couple of other minor occasions: a car driving past was on the wrong side, as were some footsteps. There didn't seem to be a lot of active seperation so if one were taking notes and distracted it could easily be missed.

The only people who prefer Noise Reduction and Edge Enhancement are tits who need a smack in the face with a brick, and any HD media taken from their cold dead hands and given to charity. Then burn their homes to the ground and plant a tree and dedicate it to a blind prick

[bradavon]

Point is: It's the DTS track I was referring to. The kind of DTS is irrelevant to this discussion.

I knew you'd say that. You used headphones (where frankly DD2.0 would be just the same), many want to know what the audio is. I know I certainly want to know if the BD has DTS or DTS-HD (HR or MA my Amp cannot tell the difference).

Your statement implied the BD had an authoring error! It's only 3 characters more -HD .

Worth checking those German discs. Even if it was the Germans Optimum could easily have corrected the flaw.

It's Kinowelt. It has DTS-HD HR instead of MA, so the discs aren't simply being re-used. I'll make a point of checking for both flaws this w/e.

Another point of interest is that the TC on the Optimum disc (oddly dismissed as a mere extra) is the French theatrical version with French credits. Never seen that before. My Korean DVD used the American print titled 'The Professional'. The old UK DVD was titled Leon (as in France) but with English credits.

An extra WTF . I bet this means the UK BD is an identical BD to the French one.

Aren't Optimum owned by Studio Canal?

[bradavon]

I have seen both the UK and USA discs (In full, unlike you who has not yet ), on set ups costing the price of a cheap house, so get some facts right

. I don't believe you for a second. Perhaps if you didn't bullshit so often I may do. You often bring up this mythical person who buys all the discs you refuse to. Post a photo, if he/she actually exists.

I know this to be utter bullshit, as you're expecting us to believe you've sat down and watch the film on BD not once but twice? (that's 5Hrs). For a BD you've made very clear is shite. At least if you're going to make shit up, make it believable.

The only people who prefer Noise Reduction and Edge Enhancement are tits who need a smack in the face with a brick, and any HD media taken from their cold dead hands and given to charity. Then burn their homes to the ground and plant a tree and dedicate it to a blind prick

That may be but it's those people who will ultimately decide if we see the BD fixed (instead of re-released in a glossy new form).

TBH I'd take the opinion over someone who hasn't even seen the transfer over yours any day of the week. You've constantly proven over the years that you're so clueless when it comes to assessing video transfers that you wouldn't spot a dollop of shit on the print if it was smeared across the entire frame!

That may be but I clearly stated where the BD has failed. If you too are choosing to ignore that and just go along with "Brad knows shit" hyperbole, that's your problem.

[Markgway]

Your statement implied the BD had an authoring error! It's only 3 characters more -HD .

It does have an authoring error. Just not the one you thought. As I went on to explain what said error was it should've been apparent that I wasn't referring to an absense of -HD on the DTS track. If the wrong track had been used I would've made that much clear.

[romerojpg]

. I don't believe you for a second. Perhaps if you didn't bullshit so often I may do. You often bring up this mythical person who buys all the discs you refuse to. Post a photo, if he/she actually exists.

I know this to be utter bullshit, as you're expecting us to believe you've sat down and watch the film on BD not once but twice? (that's 5Hrs). For a BD you've made very clear is shite. At least if you're going to make shit up, make it believable.

I guess you have never borrowed, reviewed and compared discs in your life then, obviously with your eye sight, as you are Blind. Some of us acctually watch films a lot, unlike you who talks about them as if you are an expert on them, but acctually only watch about 1 a month, as you are too busy going off others opinions.

I have acctually seen Gladiator 3 times in the last few months, so guess that makes me even more of a bullshitter

Anyone that knows me knows I watch films many times, and many versions of the same films in short spaces of time, many times with different people. You obviously have no friends, so you will never know what it is like to watch films with others.

I have had to sit thru Law Abiding Citizen 3 times in the last 9 days alone in the cinema, but you will know better than me obviously Ohh how your words hurt me