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    Invelos Forums->General: General Home Theater Discussion Page: 1  Previous   Next
Anyone have a suggestion?
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DVD Profiler Unlimited Registranttwojayz
Registered: September 7, 2007
United States Posts: 265
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Hey guys...Been a while since I've been here! I feel like a rookie all over again. Anyway, I did the honorable thing yesterday, picked up a PS3. Ironic isn't it? I have a nice collection of 3 Blu-rays...Spider-man 3, Memoirs of a Geisha and Underworld. So far, and I'm just being honest, I'm a little underwhelmed by it. Don't get me wrong, the picture is great (just as I knew it would be) but I'm really used to the HD DVD style now...Can anyone suggest a disc or two that will really blow me away? Everything from the menus (none of the three I own are all that great) to the picture...A complete package if you will. I'm thinking of Cars to start with...What are some others?
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorNewEnglander
Registered: 11/13/2003
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United States Posts: 1,911
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1. Ratatouilie
2. Cars
3. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Just to name 3 off the top of my head.
Signature banned: Reason out of date...
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantTHEMADCHEF
Registered: May 23, 2007
United States Posts: 83
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Lord of the Rings
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributor?
?
Registered: March 14, 2007
Posts: 3,830
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Sources for one or more of the changes and/or additions were not submitted. Please include the sources for your changes in the contribution notes, especially for cast and crew additions.
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorErik
It's a strange world.
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
Norway Posts: 422
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Try this handy list (often with screencaps):

10:

Open Season (Blu)
Ratatouille (Blu)
King Kong
Inside Man
Resident Evil: Extinction (Blu)
The Bourne Ultimatum
Casino Royale (Blu)
Hot Fuzz
The Descent (Blu)
Silent Hill
Erik

"Has it ever occurred to you, man, that given the nature of all this new stuff, that, uh, instead of running around blaming me, that this whole thing might just be, not, you know, not just such a simple, but uh - you know?" -- The Dude, The Big Lebowski

 Last edited: by Erik
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantFLighT
Registered: May 26, 2007
United States Posts: 57
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I think the biggest improvements that Hi-Def can deliver are with older material. I've done a lot of simultaneous comparison viewing of several discs available in all 3 formats (SD, BRD, HD-DVD).

"300": very little difference between the SD issue and either Hi-Def issue. If you didn't have them side by side at the same time the average viewer might not notice any difference between SD and Hi-Def
(given a good up converting SD player that minimizes or corrects some of the digital artifacts inherent to the process). Even side by side it's not all that meaningful a difference.

"2001: A Space Odyssey": I have both recent BRD and HD-DVD issues as well as the 2001 Kubrick Collection SD Widescreen Anamorphic issue, and a pre 1998 (I believe) Widescreen
Non-Anamorphic /Non enhanced for 16 x 9 picture, SD. Here the differences between the two Hi-Defs are non existent but between those two and the other two SD's, and between the anamorphic and non anamorphic SD its like 3 different animals. The Non-Anamorphic version on my Pioneer Kuro150FD displays wide black bands on all four sides of the picture and mutes the color pallette considerably along with some dirt and scratches in the film. The 2001 Anamorphically Enhanced reissue will display in normal letterboxing with better colors but has dust and dirt spots and other problems through out the movie. Either of the Hi-Def issues is miraculous in the restoration given to them to clean up the dust and dirt specs, reprocess the color, and probably numerous other improvements I haven't noticed or are not even aware of as yet. My favorite test with this movie when comparing TV sets/monitors is how obvious the paint brush strokes in the mat painted background skies is in the opening sequences leading up to the first appearance of the monolith. 

So, for me personally, 300 was not an eye opening, wow, this is what Hi-def is all about, experience. 2001 was. The problem is it's takes a lot more time and money to reprocess the older films, locate the best original prints, digitally clean them up and re- process color, audio, and on and on, before putting them on Hi-def medium. The quick money is to take a recent film like 300 that needs little or no prep work (by comparison) and get it on the shelves.

But then have you seen the (at last) recent SD issue of El Cid? Wow! When that gets a Hi-Def release I may buy it just to see what could possibly be improved other than the not always so obvious difference true 1080P can show over upcoverted 1080i.

So I suggest comparing a couple of your favorite films from 15, 30, or 50 years ago (if available in in Hi-def at this time), like "Close Encounters", another terrific reprocessing job and worth every cent in Hi-def. And again, it's all in the care given the reprocessing before it ever gets onto the disc itself.
 Last edited: by FLighT
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorwidescreenforever
Under A Double DoubleW
Registered: March 13, 2007
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We watched Ratatouille on our HDD Toshiba A3 upconverting player last night, and the Image, contrast as well as The Colors just exploded off our 46' Wega .. I personally don't care that this Disney Pixar film is only available in BluRay  as I am very satisfied on the quality of a film done digitally from the ground up. And that alone  is the most I  could ask for these days.. Also agree on the HD of 300,  but since it was part of the 'packaged deal' (free),,  I would have never have bought it over my previously owned 300 in non HD ..
2001 ??  I thought the Kubrick box set from last Fall was an absolutely stunning transfer over the previous Kubrick collection series from 8 years ago.. and the HDD of 2001.., I could not see any difference in picture quality, ,so I will now wait it out till I get a newer digital audio receiver so I can compare Dolby Digital Plus over my regular 5.1 Dolby .

and while I'm at it.. Let's count how many versions/Studio copies of 2001 I have purchased over the years..  hmm
1981- pan and scan / mono MGM speeded up VHS..  $100
1984 - letter box HiFi Stereo  Beta in correct true speed running time .. $40
1989- Criterion Laser Disc Letterbox  CAV 6 sided  dolby surround $120
1998 - MGM DVD first edition ... $30
2000-  Warners Collectors Kubrick collection - $20
2007- SD Kubrick Box set including 2001 - $60
2008-  single version HD-DVD - $20


Is there any more on the horizon??.. I have more money..   
In the 60's, People took Acid to make the world Weird. Now the World is weird and People take Prozac to make it Normal.

Terry
 Last edited: by widescreenforever
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantstefc
Registered: March 14, 2007
United Kingdom Posts: 254
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Blade runner 5 disc is my favourite so far.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantFLighT
Registered: May 26, 2007
United States Posts: 57
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Quoting widescreenforever:
Quote:
and while I'm at it.. Let's count how many versions/Studio copies of 2001 I have purchased over the years..  hmm
1981- pan and scan / mono MGM speeded up VHS..  $100
1984 - letter box HiFi Stereo  Beta in correct true speed running time .. $40
1989- Criterion Laser Disc Letterbox  CAV 6 sided  dolby surround $120
1998 - MGM DVD first edition ... $30
2000-  Warners Collectors Kubrick collection - $20
2007- SD Kubrick Box set including 2001 - $60
2008-  single version HD-DVD - $20


Is there any more on the horizon??.. I have more money..   


LOL, I forgot my VHS and Lazer disc editions. Looks like I'm not the only one that really likes this movie.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantTraneMan
Registered: January 5, 2008
United States Posts: 70
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Pan's Labyrinth
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registranttwojayz
Registered: September 7, 2007
United States Posts: 265
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Thanks for the responses guys. Maybe this will help some new HD owners as well. You've all made some good points and suggestions. On the HD DVD side some of the best "quality" (audio and visual) are Transformers and The Bourne Ultimatum.

It still feels strange for me to own a PS3!
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantCalidain
You're no Daisy at all!
Registered: March 16, 2007
Posts: 405
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I was almost sold on a PS3 the other day, but at the last moment I decided to stand pat and wait on the Panasonic DMP-BD50!!!
My Collection!!!
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