Dawn of the Dead (2004) HD-DVD audio/video review

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » 08 Sep 2007, 03:33

Dawn of the Dead

This new HD-DVD release from Universal comes to us in 1080p 2.35:1 HD video and 5.1 Dolby True-HD audio. For
the running time I was quite impressed from what I saw and heard even though there were a few slip-ups in the
video transfer.

Video:

Dawn of the Dead has a very unique style coming from Zack Snyder, who would later go on to direct the visually
impressive 300. The film has a lot of contrast and grain. Fortunately, this HD transfer handles both of those
quite well. The VC-1 compression did a reasonable job at keeping the grain looking natural but there were a
few times that I sensed slight posterization, mostly on a few dark scenes. Daylight scenes look very impressive.
Colours generally looked quite accurate and do justice to the visual style of the movie. This transfer is extremely
sharp and detail pops off the screen. Dawn definately has that 3-D appeal of high definition. Unfortunately, the
transfer has some problems with dirt! Being only a three year old film, I was expecting a rather clean look but
many scenes show excessive amounts of specks, dirt and even hair. This really surprised me but it never really
became too distracting while I was watching.

Audio:

Dawn of the dead is one of the few Universal titles to feature lossless audio. Containing both 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus
and 5.1 Dolby true-HD surround tracks, Dawn is very agressive in the audio department and these soundtracks
live up to it. The true-HD track is just that much better with a higher bit-rate and extra bang for your buck.
This is a very impressive soundtrack and one of the best I've heard on HD-DVD and Blu-ray matched only
by The Fifth Element, 300 and Casino Royale.

As a side note, all the extras from the Unrated DVD are ported over so there's no real reason to hold onto your
original disc.

Movie: 7.5/10
Video: 8.5/10
Audio: 10/10
Extras: 6/10

slasher13 · Post by **slasher13** » 08 Sep 2007, 07:47

Nice mini review, apparantly the US HD has the censored version of the blood splat with the naked zombie, I wonder if all other HD are affected by this

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 08 Sep 2007, 08:39

the uk dvd was uncut so i'm hanging fire on this to see if we get the uncut version here.how stupid of universal to censor an unrated dvd

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 08 Sep 2007, 13:28

Its only dirty in the parts where the new footage appears, so thats ok with me

the dvd was the same.

No way wait for the UK, its EIV RELEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Just get the Canadian version, they get it uncut like their dvd was

when I get it I will confirm that for HD DVD, but I dont see why it would be changed for them.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 08 Sep 2007, 13:43

Hey CJ

How does PCM compare to Dolby True-HD? I'm looking forward to finding out.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 08 Sep 2007, 13:59

if it's EIV who own it here then it won't be getting a uk hd-dvd release.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 08 Sep 2007, 14:02

They'll go and add regional coding to it too

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 08 Sep 2007, 15:52

bradavon wrote:Hey CJ

How does PCM compare to Dolby True-HD? I'm looking forward to finding out.

Do you even have any intrest at all in the film?

and hey maybe if CJ has equipment worth many thousands he would notice a difference, unless you spend a fortune you wont get much of anything from the sound end.

but PCM and TRUE HD are basically the exact same thing, so there should be NO difference at all in any way, unles some have been recorded at slightly different levels on each track..

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 08 Sep 2007, 16:51

romerojpg wrote:Do you even have any intrest at all in the film?

Nope.

romerojpg wrote:but PCM and TRUE HD are basically the exact same thing, so there should be NO difference at all in any way, unles some have been recorded at slightly different levels on each track..

And you became an expert when exactly? You cannot even play either so fat lot of real world experience you have. I asked CJ as he can, something few HD owners are able to do.

Besides I know on paper both are lossless thank you but I'd still like to ask "a man on the street" how they compare. Why bother with comparison reviews? They're all DVDs with the same MPEG2 specification are they not? Yet strangely can differ wildly.

Get over yourself. I didn't lambaste you for your comments.

Back on topic, if you are able to answer my question CJ I'd appreciate it thanks.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 08 Sep 2007, 17:04

Get over myself? What the fuck are you talking about!

Sucking crakhead pills are you? insane post of the year or what!

What would anyone lambast me for my comments?

I have the HD DVD and a HD DVD PLAYER, and know what the hell I am on about in regards to everything about the film, dvd and HD DVD, unlike you who has no knowlege at all in any way of anything to do with the film or HD as you dont have anything.

and How the hell do you know what equipment I have seen this film on, you crack me up you really do.

Why even look in a thread you have no interest at all about the film, Troll much?

I know far more than you will ever know in regards to everything HD, you had to ask hence I know more than you. So Get over Yourself.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 08 Sep 2007, 17:10

I'm not going to turn this thread into yet another Romero rant fest to gratify your little ego but will just say unless your amp/player has HDMI or your amp/player has analogue inputs/outputs you cannot possibly have any idea how HD Lossless audio sounds.

Which as you went for a cheapo HD-DVD Player which doesn't have Analogue Outputs and your Amp is pre-HDMI that quickly disqualifies you.

Jeez we don't half argue a lot on this forum.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 08 Sep 2007, 17:15

Again what are you on about!

you have no idea what I watched the film on you muppet! How do you know what equipment I have? or where I even watch films?

You HAVE NO IDEA as I did not say.

How is it a Romero Rant? please explain that classic.

You are wrong again. You loose, get over yourself. Stop Trolling and blaming others for your childish outbursts.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 08 Sep 2007, 17:18

We all know as you publicly posted all about it, here and The Import Forum. Do you have a new amp then? Serious question I'm interested.

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » 08 Sep 2007, 17:44

Comparing PCM and Dolby true-HD using The Fifth Element, I can't really hear a difference. True-HD doesn't take up much space though, PCM is something like 4.5 MBPS.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 08 Sep 2007, 18:34

bradavon wrote:We all know as you publicly posted all about it, here and The Import Forum. Do you have a new amp then? Serious question I'm interested.

Have you even read anything I wrote at all? above or on other forums and threads?

Obviously not, or you just forget.

I do not watch all films at my home on my equipment.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 08 Sep 2007, 20:35

captainjoe wrote:Comparing PCM and Dolby true-HD using The Fifth Element, I can't really hear a difference. True-HD doesn't take up much space though, PCM is something like 4.5 MBPS.

Thanks CJ. What bitrate is the True-HD out of interest? Not that in reality it makes much difference I know.

I never knew Sony were using True-HD it must be almost unique. Good to see they're giving users the choice, even if everyone who can play True-HD will be able to play PCM anyway.

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » 09 Sep 2007, 06:31

It varies but mostly spikes to about 2.5 or so. PCM is a constant bit-rate

dvdvision · Post by **dvdvision** » 09 Sep 2007, 07:17

Romero you seem to have a problem. Behave yourself 8)

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 09 Sep 2007, 09:51

Romero went over the top there with his rant but it's a bit off for Brad to have a dig at him buying a "cheapo" HD-DVD player when he's been hanging the latch for months himself waiting for a combo player to come down to a "cheapo" price. :twisted:

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 09 Sep 2007, 12:20

saltysam wrote:when he's been hanging the latch for months himself waiting for a combo player to come down to a "cheapo" price. :twisted:

I've been waiting for a Combo player period, screw the cheapo price. Bar the LG Crapness no Combo player is yet to be released.

The Samsung is due sometime next month (but nothing official) and the LG Mark 2 (with Full HD-DVD Support this time) is also due next month. Street price looks to be $999 or £529.99 (from Amazon.co.uk). So not exactly cheap.

I wouldn't be interested in an £200 Combo Player if one existed, hardware at that price point always cuts to many corners for my liking. In the case of an HD Player I need Analogue outputs (to go with my Non-HDMI Amp) which is the first thing to go on cheap HD Players.

I paid £550 for my DVD Player which definitely shows why I paid more for it.

Oh and I'm currently unemployed so I won't be buying anything that expensive until I get another job, but assuming it's out by then I'll be getting one with my first pay packet. I have more than enough HD Discs to get me started.

saltysam wrote:Romero went over the top there with his rant but it's a bit off for Brad to have a dig at him buying a "cheapo" HD-DVD player when he's been hanging the latch for months himself waiting for a combo player to come down to a "cheapo" price. :twisted:

I wasn't though. There was no digging.

I was just pointing out (following Romero's comments) that his combination of a HD-DVD Player with no Analogue outputs but HDMI against his Amp with no HDMI but Analogue inputs will not allow you to listen to HD Lossless Audio. Therefore Romero couldn't have any idea how different PCM and True-HD sound. Romero then corrected me I believe in saying he watched Dawn of the Dead elsewhere.

Why Romero ranted in the first place I do not know. That I thought came from nowhere and fell under the category "Why bother?"

But anyway moving on . . .

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 09 Sep 2007, 12:28

captainjoe wrote:It varies but mostly spikes to about 2.5 or so. PCM is a constant bit-rate

Thanks CJ. That's still a respectable bitrate.

Strange though as I thought Lossless Audio had a much higher bitrate (and 4.5mbps too). I guess it wasn't needed for The Fifth Element.

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » 09 Sep 2007, 18:25

It probably varies for scene to scene, but when I checked the bit-rates on the PS3 it was averaging around 2.5. But I did see it go a little higher. Scenes with explosions or gun fight would be encoded at a higher rate than dialogue scenes.