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Blu-ray disc release list and must-have titles. Buy the latest and best Blu-ray titles to show off in your home theater!

Benchmark Blu-ray DVD?

 
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Phil Smith




Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 7717



PostLink    Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:46 pm    Post subject: Benchmark Blu-ray DVD? Reply with quote


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What considered the best blu-ray transfer? I don't own any Blu-ray discs, and need a test disc. Any suggestions?
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emdawgz1




Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 7949



PostLink    Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Blade runner, it looks spectacular!



Also Hidef digest has a rating of blu ray discs.

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/reviews_video.html

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ecrabb
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Joined: 13 Mar 2006
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Location: Utah

TV/Projector: JVC RS40, Epson 5010


PostLink    Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are a slew of reference disks, actually.

Ratatouille and Cars are both reference audio/video if you like Pixar animation stuff. Ratatouille is just gorgeous. The Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds disc is reference material (both audio and video) if you're into his music.

Cliffy's raved about Shoot 'Em Up if you like crazy over-the-top action stuff, but I haven't seen it. Crank is excellent, too although it has some slight edge enhancement.

I Am Legend is supposed to be hot-sh*t, too. I have it, but I've been waiting to watch it until the G70 is set up.

SC
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kal
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Location: Ottawa, Canada

TV/Projector: JVC DLA-NZ7


PostLink    Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Instead of having to wade through hundreds of reviews, I've done it for you and compiled the best looking and sounding "Must Have" Blu-ray discs in my BLU-RAY DISC RELEASE LIST & MUST-HAVE TITLES.

Use that link or click on the blue button at the top right of every forum page. Here's the complete list:

Quote:
Must-have Blu-ray Discs

Want to show off how good your home theater looks and sounds? Use these discs! They represent some of the absolute best that Blu-ray has to offer in terms of audio and video quality. Every movie collection must have at least one of these films! Video and Audio ratings are on a scale from 0 to 5. To make the list the disc must have a combined audio + video score of at least 9/10.

NEW! To see pricing, pictures, and more information for any of the discs below simply hover your mouse over the link!

The Patriot (Extended Cut) (Sony) Video: 4.5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
The Fifth Element (Remastered) (Sony) Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
The Host (Magnolia) Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
Chris Botti Live with Orchestra and Special Guests (Sony BMG) Video: 4.5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Hellboy (Sony) Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
Primeval (Buena Vista) Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (*NOT* Region free)
Ghost Rider (Sony) Video: 4.5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
Black Snake Moan (Paramount) Video: 5 Audio: 4 (Region free)
From Hell (Fox) Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (*NOT* Region free)
The Day After Tomorrow (Fox) Video: 4.5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
Black Book (Sony) Video: 5 Audio: 4.5
Troy: Director's Cut (Warner) Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
TMNT (Warner) Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (Sony) Video: 5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
Remember the Titans (Buena Vista) Video: 5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (Fox) Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (*NOT* Region free)
The 6th Day (Sony) Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
Ice Age (Fox) Video: 5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
I, Robot (Fox) Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (*NOT* Region free)
I Am Legend (Warner) Video: 5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Enchanted (Walt Disney) Video: 5 Audio: 4.5 (*NOT* Region free)
No Country for Old Men (Walt Disney) Video: 5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
Shoot 'Em Up Video: 4.5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
Live Free or Die Hard Video: 4.5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
Ratatouille Video: 5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
Cars Video: 5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Video: 4 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Video: 5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl Video: 5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Planet Earth: Complete BBC Series Video: 5 Audio: 3 (Region free) (audio's not quite up to the same standards as the video, but this 4-disc collection is phenomenal!)
Blade Runner: Complete Collector's Edition Video: 5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
The Fifth Element (Remastered) Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
Crank Video: 4.5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
300 Video: 4 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Spider-Man 3 Video: 4.5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (*NOT* Region free)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Warner) Video: 5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds: Live at Radio City Video: 5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
Meet the Robinsons Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (*NOT* Region free)
Open Season Video: 5 Audio: 4 (*NOT* Region free)
Surf's Up Video: 4 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
Pan's Labyrinth Video: 4.5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
The Patriot (Extended Cut) Video: 4.5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Man on Fire Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (*NOT* Region free)
The Rock Video: 4.5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith Video: 4 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
Cast Away Video: 5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)


For the best image quality stick to the ones with a Video rating of 5/5 for the cream of the crop of video quality, which would be this small list:

Black Snake Moan (Paramount) Video: 5 Audio: 4 (Region free)
Black Book (Sony) Video: 5 Audio: 4.5
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (Sony) Video: 5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
Remember the Titans (Buena Vista) Video: 5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
Ice Age (Fox) Video: 5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
I Am Legend (Warner) Video: 5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Enchanted (Walt Disney) Video: 5 Audio: 4.5 (*NOT* Region free)
No Country for Old Men (Walt Disney) Video: 5 Audio: 4.5 (Region free)
Ratatouille Video: 5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
Cars Video: 5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Video: 5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl Video: 5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Planet Earth: Complete BBC Series Video: 5 Audio: 3 (Region free) (audio's not quite up to the same standards as the video, but this 4-disc collection is phenomenal!)
Blade Runner: Complete Collector's Edition Video: 5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Warner) Video: 5 Audio: 5 (Region free)
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds: Live at Radio City Video: 5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)
Open Season Video: 5 Audio: 4 (*NOT* Region free)
Cast Away Video: 5 Audio: 5 (*NOT* Region free)


These look fantastic. Lots of scenes with that 3D pop/contrast look to them.

Kal

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emdawgz1




Joined: 14 Mar 2006
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PostLink    Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If Blu ray has its stuff together 4 releases this summer have "reference" potential.


Indiana Jones, Batman, Iron man, and Forbidden Kingdom.

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Phil Smith




Joined: 08 Mar 2006
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PostLink    Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks guys!

Too many choices! We need an agreed upon "the" DVD like 5th Element was for SD DVD.
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Phil Smith




Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 7717



PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I rented 'Dead Man's Chest' and 'Ratatouille', both rated 5 star video quality on the list. 'Ratatouille" looked awesome. 'Dead Man's Chest didn't look good at all.

How can this be? Confused Mr. Green
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WanMan




Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 10273



PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Weren't there problems with the Pirates of the Carribean movies? I thought it had something to do with framing.
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Phil Smith




Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 7717



PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Blacks seemed crushed, and it just didn't look all that great to me.

I don't think you can trust those lists very much. Who are the goobers rating the video quality, and what gear are they viewing the movies with? I have no confidence that they have any idea what they're talking about.
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kal
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TV/Projector: JVC DLA-NZ7


PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've seen both movies and both look fantastic on my setup. Dead Man's chest has a lot of absolutely 3D looking contrast scenes. Like the ones in the jungle when they first meet Johnny Depp and he multiple sets of eyeballs painted on his face. It's one of the most posted screenshots due to the excellent quality and depth of image.

What's your setup Phil? Maybe you're crushing blacks on your setup?

The framing error on the first pirates movie has nothing do to with image quality: There's about 10 seconds where one of the scenes is framed incorrectly. Tens of 1000's of customers never noticed. It took someone over at AVS to watch the BD and DVD versions together (playing on two TVs at the same time) to notice it. Then everyone complained. Wink

I've seen 90% of the 5-star rated video quality movies and they're definitely good.

Kal

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Phil Smith




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PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

kal wrote:
What's your setup Phil? Maybe you're crushing blacks on your setup?
Same as you Kal as far as the player goes: PS3. Then into a Moome HDMI card with gamma, installed in a G70. That's it.

If it's my setup, why does 'Ratatouille' look so good?
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kal
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PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You need to use test discs to make sure. By using actual content you'll never be sure. When you see what appears like loss of black detail or crushed black, it may be what the director actually intended (like it or not). With test patterns you know exactly what you're supposed to see.

Kal

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Phil Smith




Joined: 08 Mar 2006
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PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well you make a good point. But still - assuming my PJ is setup correctly - if I'm seeing what the director intended, I ain't liking what I'm seeing. Shocked
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garyfritz




Joined: 08 Apr 2006
Posts: 12024
Location: Fort Collins, CO


PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

But only on that one Pirates disk? Everything else looks OK?

My projectors (XG852, 8500, Dwin HD700, G70) have all looked "too dark" for my tastes. If I boost the low end so the picture looks "right" to me, the fade-to-blacks are nowhere near the inky blacks people rave about here. I've had an RTC2200 and a Moome box (which I still haven't had a chance to play with much) and their gamma boosts didn't seem to fix it either. I've pretty much concluded that if you like inky blacks and have your projector set to go totally dark on FTB's, then you must be crushing shadow detail like mad. Or else your projector works a whole lot differently than my 4 have.
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