IVL's Chow Yun-fat On Fire Trilogy - Picture Comparisons

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 11 Sep 2005, 00:07

Prison on Fire:
R0IVL vs. R2e-m-s

Prison on Fire 2:
R0IVL vs. R2e-m-s

City on Fire:
R0IVL vs. R2HKL

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 11 Sep 2005, 09:41

Looking at PoF, the IVL's contrast is a bit too high isn't it? I mean the first screenshot, you lose much of the neon light details. But then the e-m-s does have noticeable combing.

Same goes for PoF2. The IVL looks cropped.

CoF - tough one to call. Does anyone know how the film is supposed to look? I presume the IVL is more accurate as it maintains the blue tinge but my word, that contrast level is high again - losing out on details.

Cheers LD.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 11 Sep 2005, 10:58

In most shots the HKL looks better than the IVL IMO

The IVL is too bright.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 11 Sep 2005, 18:01

The HKL does look a tad better than the IVL, but the blue has been desaturated completely. On the IVL's plus side is the fact that there's no HKL Prison on Fire I or II yet - nor has it even been announced.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 17 Sep 2005, 20:31

Ok people so with regards to City on Fire. Think the IVL is worth it for the blue tinge or what?

gojensen · Post by **gojensen** » 19 Sep 2005, 09:34

I haven't looked at the IVL COF yet, but from what I've seen the HKL looks sharper and more detailed - so it probably depends on how big a screen you have

As for the quality of the two PoF discs. It seems IVL/FS has gone on a contrast bender. Everythings too bright. I guess they did this because parts of the movie is a bit dark. But most of the detail is still actually left in the picture - atleast by reducing the contrast on my projector by about 20% I got a much more tolerable picture.

PoF (1) has some noticeable grain/noise - especially in the beginning, but it seems to pass (or you get used to it). Both movies have at times mpeg and interlacing artifacts, maybe PoF2 more so than PoF1. But the total amount is maybe 10 seconds for both films - and you may not notice this is if your screen is less than 50".

As for the sound, it's very well done. There's some new foley and surround effects, but nothing that sticks out as bad. Only problem is that the original soundtrack actually has more dynamic and width to it. Unfortunately IVL/FS did absolutely nothing to remove the hiss that is very prevalent in the original soundtrack (though it seemed to only come from the right speaker, so you may perhaps just disconnect it

). Still a very tolerable soundtrack.

I can't speak of the accuarcy of the subtitles, but at least they were mostly error free and readable.

I must say it was great to rewatch these, especially PoF as it's one of my favourite movies. On POF there's an "interview" fluff piece with RingoLam where he talks about various parts of the filming etc while the screen delivers images from the film - and it's subtitled in English.

They could have done a better job with these, but it's good enough considering it's an old HK film IMO.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 12 Dec 2005, 19:09

Is COF HKL from a FS remaster? If not I'll ignore this comparison and get the box set.

FS Remasters (almost) always look better to my eyes regardless of what screen capture comparisons tell me, which in this case that both the HKL and IVL look tosh.

BiscLimpkit wrote:Ok people so with regards to City on Fire. Think the IVL is worth it for the blue tinge or what?

Good question, anyone?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 13 Dec 2005, 10:51

The HKL is from the Media Asia re-master.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 13 Dec 2005, 10:55

And by the way, I don't think that the IVL has a higher blue tinge than the HKL. If you go to the comparison and look at the picture from below, the HKL clearly looks more blue than the IVL does.

But then again you have screenshots like the top one. Hmmm...? Well, to me, it didn't take any enjoyment of the film.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 13 Dec 2005, 12:52

Both transfers are good, neither great, both flawed.

The HKL is too dark (cap #2), but is sharper (licence plate, cap#1), has more image on all four sides.

The IVL retains the infamous blue tint (cap #4) and has more natural colours, but is too glarish (cap #6) and has little of the film grain and texture of the HKL (see CYF's face on cap #3)

So... both have their pros and cons. Whichever one you have I would just hang on to it. But if you have neither I might be tempted to go for the HKL if it's cheap enough.

But additional questions regarding audio and subtitles are raised. Anyone?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 13 Dec 2005, 13:11

Note: The IVL also seems to be cropped on all sides.

As for the subtitles, I am sure the HKL subs are superior language-wise. They didn't seem to be westernised. Chinese writings and the jazz song is subbed as well.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 13 Dec 2005, 13:23

Good point on the subs. I'm in no rush to get either so will decide later but must admit I have more interest in seeing COF to POF/POF2.

thelostdragon wrote:The HKL is from the Media Asia re-master.

Oh yes thanks. I wonder why they didn't use FS's one.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 13 Dec 2005, 16:28

thelostdragon wrote:Note: The IVL also seems to be cropped on all sides.

I as good as said that!

As for the subtitles, I am sure the HKL subs are superior language-wise. They didn't seem to be westernised. Chinese writings and the jazz song is subbed as well.

Thanks, that's good to know.