The Crow: BD Comparison

[Markgway]

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-ray_ ... lu-ray.htm

[bradavon]

Thanks. At least the UK hasn't been tinkered with in the way the USA one has. I'd buy the USA one though because the UK has obvious flaws and the Japanese (whilst the best) will cost a bomb.

I'm happy with my R1 SE though.

[Markgway]

The UK and JP discs are obviously taken from the same print; the USA disc a newer master.
The differences in the framing are quite apparent and variable.
Overall the JP is sharper (let's discount the UK because of the PAL speedup and 1080i factors)
For me the USA wins on Caps #1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12.
....and the JP on #3, 4, 6, 9.
I'm sure others here will disagree...

[drees5761]

How can you have PAL speedup if its HD?

[bradavon]

I believe because whilst technically obviously it's not PAL speed up (HD isn't PAL!) but HD can just as easily run 4% fast as anything else can.

[Keung]

The UK BD is fine for me.

[luckystars]

Japanese disc is easily the best (tech specs + USA is horribly boosted to fuck)

UK is a good compromise for the £££

[saltysam]

i'll stick with my japanese disc.

[luckystars]

Is the film that great? Serious question...

[bradavon]

It's a decent action film. It's no masterpiece but is as good as many Arnie films.

[Markgway]

Is the film that great? Serious question...

No, but I remember it being good.

I'll pick up the Lionsgate BD when it goes under $10.

[Shingster]

How can you have PAL speedup if its HD?

If it's interlaced (1080i) then it runs at PAL or NTSC speed (PAL in this case because it's a UK release).

[bradavon]

How does that work? Interlaced just means every other line is a black line.

[gasteropod]

1080i films are usually 25fps I believe.

[drees5761]

How can you have PAL speedup if its HD?

If it's interlaced (1080i) then it runs at PAL or NTSC speed (PAL in this case because it's a UK release).

Thanks Shingster..didn't know that!

[Shingster]

How does that work? Interlaced just means every other line is a black line.

Interlaced video is when you take two fields (one made up of odd lines in a frame, one made up of the even lines in a frame) and show them fast enough that the eye perceives them as one complete frame. Each field of 1080i is 540 lines of picture and 540 of black alternated fast enough your eye perceives a 1080 line "frame" (which in essence is how 576i and 480i works). 60Hz and 50Hz are the speeds of 1080i (corresponds to the 30fps of NTSC and 25fps of PAL).

[Markgway]

@ Shing:

Out of interest how do you feel about the image comparison?

For me both the JP and US discs have their merits, but the USA edges it.

[bradavon]

Thanks Shing. I knew most of it but not the last sentence.

[Shingster]

@ Shing:

Out of interest how do you feel about the image comparison?

I think the USA disc looks DNR'd and very poorly encoded, not sure which release has the more faithful framing/colour balance, but I am sure that Liosngate should have done a much better job with their release.

[DangerousLeeHandsome]

Id be happy with either JP or US discs but the real determining factor is the price and for $10 at walmart, u cant beat the Lionsgate edition!

plus it has a Proyas commentary that I quite enjoyed.

[bradavon]

Agreed, price is a major factor. Especially when the quality is "roughly" the same. Over here the UK disc would be much cheaper than US one. It's a pity we got such a shit disc.