The Fifth Element - Which is the best version/region?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Nov 2005, 11:30

I hear it's the R1 UE but is there a better one? The French R2 maybe?

The UK R2 SE has full-rate DTS + a commentary but I hear overall it's the R1 UE.

I saw 2/3 of it on E4 last night and was lovely in. I had to turn it off as it was getting late but really want to see the rest now.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 22 Nov 2005, 12:02

I believe that the R2FR has a different master.

The french picture is brighter and has slightly better colours.
The R1 UE picture is darker but slightly more detailed.

I've always preferred the R2 master because the R1 picture is too dark for my taste.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Nov 2005, 13:03

Tom2681 wrote:I've always preferred the R2 master because the R1 picture is too dark for my taste.

I noticed that on the screen caps but all reviews I've read say the R2 master has lots of specs not on the R1 master.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 22 Nov 2005, 13:07

Yep, it's true that the R1 master has been extensively cleaned up.

But I didn't notice it. I guess it's because I'm so used to watching old unrestored kung-fu flicks with lots of specks and spots.

I'd say that both masters have pros and cons.
Just trust your instincts. I'm sure you'll be happy with any of these UE versions.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 22 Nov 2005, 16:43

i have the region 1 superbit which to my eyes is excellent.

biguy · Post by **biguy** » 22 Nov 2005, 16:55

The best version of this movie is the one where they edit Mr Tucker out of it....

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 22 Nov 2005, 17:46

I actually like him in The 5th Element because his role is so small.
In very small doses, Chris Tucker can be funny.

In the Rush Hour movies you get a lethal Tucker dose and you just want to kill the guy.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Nov 2005, 18:22

Tom2681 wrote:Just trust your instincts. I'm sure you'll be happy with any of these UE versions.

They say to go with the R1 UE but then there is the:

Full-rate DTS
50 Minute Making of.

Of the UK R2 SE. Still I started this post for some answers??? Thanks though.

How does the French R2 extras wise fair?

It's strange there is a French R2 SB from the CT print and also a single disc French R2 from the Gaumont print.

Tom2681 wrote:In the Rush Hour movies you get a lethal Tucker dose and you just want to kill the guy.

I have no problem with him. He's not Chapman To or Hayden Christensen!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Nov 2005, 19:11

I've decided to go for the R1 UE (AKA - SBD). It's looks a bit dark but is otherwise much better than the UK R2 SE.

It's cheap as chips from DVD Pacific too (about £8). Here is a very good comparison site:

http://www.frenchfilmsondvd.com/ShowCom ... =187306810

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 22 Nov 2005, 20:09

£8) is a good price indeed.

frenchfilmsondvd dot com ? How come I didn't know this one ?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Nov 2005, 22:01

Tom2681 wrote:frenchfilmsondvd dot com ? How come I didn't know this one ?

I've no idea. It's in English though.

It worked out at £9.30 after postage and conversion.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 23 Nov 2005, 03:13

If you'd prefer a PAL version, the R4 CE is identical to the R1 UE.

Also the R4 boxart is whole lot better than the R1 bollocks art with the floating heads and the Diva square in the centre.

R4 CE art

R1 UE art

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Nov 2005, 14:14

EvaUnit02 wrote:If you'd prefer a PAL version, the R4 CE is identical to the R1 UE.

I looked at that cheers but it's a third more expensive. All being equal I prefer PAL but not if it's much more money.

R4 DVDs don't seem to go down in price like R1. It's weird.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 23 Nov 2005, 23:00

bradavon wrote:I looked at that cheers but it's a third more expensive. All being equal I prefer PAL but not if it's much more money.

I prefer PAL too myself, but not if it's more expensive than the R1 or has worse specs/extras.

R4 DVDs don't seem to go down in price like R1. It's weird.

Fuck yes. Probably becuz R4 is a much smaller market than R1/2, so there's less competition pressure.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Nov 2005, 23:12

I guess but that doesn't explain why the UK R2 market has very competitive pricing compared with the French R2 market which has virtually none.

And France has a bigger population (just, both in the 60 million mark). Germany has 80 million people and again has virtually no competition it seems.

I prefer PAL too myself, but not if it's more expensive than the R1 or has worse specs/extras.

I'm exactly the same. Except if the PAL DVD is only marginally more I may steep to it.

gojensen · Post by **gojensen** » 24 Nov 2005, 08:23

Superbit

Though I usually say bollocks to the extras if they eat away bitrate for the presentation, extras on their own discs is OK. In this case I'm not too sure how they did the UE... though since it's not called a Superbit Deluxe... :-/

As for the covers they both suck!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 24 Nov 2005, 14:01

It's an SB Deluxe in all but name Gojensen. The SB logo is on the back cover. This is the same as their Leon DVD.

Superbit is a marketing joke! I've yet to own a SB DVD and doubt I'll ever get one. Except Leon and FE of course.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 24 Nov 2005, 16:05

Superbit titles do have higher bitrates and less vertical picture smoothing.
That makes them slightly sharper than non-SB titles.

My main gripe with SB is that most of them have still 2 or 3 gigabytes left on them.
You could easily put 1 or 2 hours of extras in there.

sky75 · Post by **sky75** » 24 Nov 2005, 16:31

I personally own the UK region 2 special edition with full bit rate DTS but from everything I have read the region 1 UE is the best version available. I didn't notice any problems with the picture but then again I haven't got a decent set up. Still it has a stonking soundtrack!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 Nov 2005, 18:28

Tom2681 wrote:My main gripe with SB is that most of them have still 2 or 3 gigabytes left on them.
You could easily put 1 or 2 hours of extras in there.

Exactly or at least make the DTS full-rate and there is all the dub soundtracks wasting space.

sky75 · Post by **sky75** » 28 Nov 2005, 15:30

Exactly or at least make the DTS full-rate and there is all the dub soundtracks wasting space.

I'll second the idea of having full bit rate DTS soundtracks

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 06 Feb 2006, 17:54

the 2-disc fifth element is part of the new 3 for £15 promotion in blockbuster 8)