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paw
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 4:55 am Post subject: |
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Kal
Where's the number ratings for video and audio?
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kal
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| Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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| paw wrote: | Kal
Where's the number ratings for video and audio? |
Someone pointed out that since I was only listing titles that had excellent audio/video quality that there was really no point in including the numbers. I agree. These are the movies that rate in the 90%-100% range of A/V perfection, so no point in stating whether they're a 90% or 100% or somewhere in between. The range is so tiny it doesn't really matter. What matters is that the title's listed at all. If it is, it's a sure-fire 100% quality disc in terms of audio/video.
Now that doesn't mean the movie content itself is any good (I stay out of that since that's more of a personal opinion). It also doesn't mean that a movie that would normally rate 70% in terms of A/V quality isn't worth watching of course.
We talked about it here: https://www.curtpalme.com/forum_archived/viewtopic.php@t=19191.html
Kal
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kal
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| Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 1:53 am Post subject: |
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Another reference disc:
Boogie Nights [Blu-ray] (1997)
(Click to order, hover over link for price)
| Quote: | Just about a contemporary classic, Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Boogie Nights' is a wildly ambitious, endlessly exuberant epic set in the California porn scene of the 1970s. The excellence of the movie is mirrored by the fine technical specifications of this Blu-ray disc, with the extra features (holdovers from previous versions) weathering the sands of time quite nicely. This is an essential purchase for any discerning movie lover. It's another must own, baby.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
The VC-1 1080p transfer on this disc (aspect ratio: 2.40:1) is a marked improvement from the previous home video iterations and an absolutely gorgeous transfer overall.
Everything looks better - colors are brighter (this being set in the '70's, there are a whole lot of colors), detail is sharper (particularly on the period textures and fabrics), skin tones look great, black levels are deep, dark and avoid crush, and the grain level, while sometimes inconsistent, adds a healthy movie feel to the transfer without ever overwhelming.
There are also no buggy technical issues to speak of, in terms of digital cleaning up, artifacts, or blots, dots, or scratches in the film. It's a pristine looking picture, through and through.
Quite frankly, it's probably the best the movie has ever looked, probably even eclipsing the original theatrical run. The transfer might not be as eye-popping as one would want for a reference quality disc, but this is easily one of the best transfers I have seen in a long time, especially for a twelve year old movie that's initially being released, unceremoniously, as a Best Buy exclusive. It's good to see 'Boogie Nights' looking this lush and wonderful.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Just as impressive as this disc's transfer is its Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track.
As I said before, this film has one of the best soundtracks ever, and all of those disco and funk classics absolutely boom with this new transfer. (If you have a system that handles bass beautifully, then you're even better.) Each song is brought to life with full-bodied dimensionality, filling your sound system.
Additionally, dialogue is clean and crisp and well prioritized, even when characters overlap each other (remember when I said Anderson was riffing on Altman?) Additionally, sound effects are strong and dynamic, without ever overwhelming.
Between the dialogue and the music, there's always something going on, with the full breath of the sound system always being utilized. Even in the quieter scenes, there's a level of ambience and atmosphere and approaching dread (particularly in the film's second half) that add a whole lot to the experience.
There aren't any noticeable instances of popping, scratches or hiss either. Just like the video transfer, it's a totally admirable track that really lives up to the excellence of the film.
While the box says there are mixes in English, German, Latin Spanish, and Castillian Spanish, this English track is the only audio option. There are also subtitles in English SDH, German, and Spanish. |
Kal
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kal
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| Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 1:55 am Post subject: |
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Another reference disc:
Lost: The Complete Fifth Season (Blu-ray)
(Click to order, hover over link for price)
| Quote: | I can hardly believe that, as I write this, 'Lost' is on the verge of airing its final run of episodes. Perhaps even more amazing is the fact that the show has maintained such a high standard of quality for so long. Season 5 is, from start to finish, intellectually fascinating and breathlessly exciting.
The Blu-ray set is another winner as well. Its video and audio are the stuff that home theater was made for. The supplements are also pretty interesting, especially the Lost University BD-Live option. This new season comes highly recommended once again, of course.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
Every season of 'Lost' has looked excellent in 720p broadcast, and even better on Blu-ray. Some seasons are slightly better than others, however. The Season 4 box set, for example, had a light application of artificial sharpening that left the picture with some minor edge ringing artifacts. It still looked great, of course, just a bit imperfect.
Fortunately, Season 5 is pretty much back to perfection, or as close to it as I've seen on the Blu-ray format. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfers are tack sharp and loaded with extraordinary detail. If anything, the fakeness of Jack's beard is a little too clear in this enhanced resolution. Colors are vibrant and natural. Contrasts are rich and have plenty of discernable shadow detail. There's no evidence of any artificial sharpening or Noise Reduction filtering. Grain is sometimes apparent, especially in night scenes, but looks organic and film-like. This is everything you could want from high definition video.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
The audio quality is up to par as well. 'Lost' has excellent sound design even by feature film standards, much less those of a TV show. Dynamic range is broad and engaging. Surround presence, although generally subdued, creates a very good sense of envelopment and makes effective use of directional activity when needed. Some of the sound effects that the audio team for the show comes up with are truly startling.
The Season 5 soundtracks are encoded in lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 format, much like the Blu-ray editions of Seasons 1 and 2. (Seasons 3 and 4 were issued earlier and used PCM 5.1 instead.) Once again, fidelity is outstanding across the board. |
Kal
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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We've got 4 new reference discs! Starting with the best!
District 9 [Blu-ray] (2009)
(Click to order, hover over link for price)
| Quote: | 'District 9' had me curious with its trailer, but nothing could have prepared me for the trip that the film is, a fantastic blend of intelligence and action. The replay value is infinite, as I found it to grow better with each and every viewing. This Blu-ray sports fantastic video and audio, and a healthy pile of extras. Based on the strength of the film and the disc, this is a must own title if ever there was one.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
'District 9' is presented by way of a 1080p AVC MPEG-4 encode in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, capturing the grit and extreme character of the film nearly flawlessly.
A film loaded with character, by way of decay and debris, 'District 9' brings beauty to the ugly. The ghetto is loaded with trash, graffiti, rust and decay, and there's no better way to see every inch of alien squalor than with this Blu-ray. Detail is out of this world (yes, that will be the only pun found here), with extreme clothing fabric and pattern definition, down to the stitching, super sharp characteristics in facial features, and nearly every inch of the sets. The picture is infinitely deep, and remains sharp, no matter how far down the rabbit hole goes.
Colors are natural and amazing. Edges are clean, and natural, without haloing issues, or any stairstepping or jaggedness, as this transfer is free from aliasing, even with the sometimes erratic camera movements. Skin tones are natural, though sometimes varied due to lighting, like the light from the camera in early sequences. Blacks are perfect in depth and brightness, while whites are clean and natural. Shadow definition is solid. I got a hell of a kick out of the heat waves that emanated from the Prawn technology.
Not all is perfect, though, with some issues that can be attributed to the transfer, some with the source. There's a wide range of film grades used in some sequences to show age, from security footage, to vintage news footage, that is clearly not up to the high bar set by the main aesthetic. The camera movements can be disorienting to some, rarely staying static. The Prawns seem to stand out a little, in that they are a hair lighter in definition than their surroundings, with a bit of softness in their hides preventing super clean definition that you see in humans, while the "evolutionary" changes are quite defined. There's a small amount of digital noise to be found, as well as some very light banding as well. In the grand scheme of things, though, 'District 9' is a stunner, a visual treat.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
The audio for 'District 9' defaults to a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix (while an English descriptive audio track and lossless French dub are also available) that's as breathtaking as the video.
Perhaps I was spoiled by 'Gamer,' but I just can't give this track a perfect five star rating. It isn't that it's bad, by any means (as the score given will attest), it just doesn't live up to some of the more lively mixes available, and seems somewhat limited at times. Dialogue is clear, always understandable (save for the obvious clicking Prawn language, and occasional ethnic dialogue that is quite indiscernible for this set of ears), always prioritized. The dialogue can jump with the movement or rattling of Wikus' clip-on microphone, a neat little gimmick.
Localization is solid, and I found great enjoyment out of the placement of the dialogue from the camera operator, as it is located in the rears when Wikus is in the focus. The film puts you right in the middle of the action, at times like you're Wikus, experiencing the sights and sounds he does, while other times like you are behind the camera. No matter how you see it, it's an incredibly immersive audio environment, made all the better by the superb directionality and movement effects.
Bass levels start light, but slowly pick up in ferocity as the film treks along, growing to a head in the second act, and exploding from the tension in the climax. Gunfire was a tad less than impressive, sadly, but has a beautiful high pitched ring. Just as the bass expounds and explodes, so does the activity through the surround speakers, as the sh*t hits the veritable fan when the search copters fly overhead over the alien ghetto. The whine from the Prawn weapon use is also superb, hitting a great high pitch.
The score can get drowned out and overwhelmed by atmospheric (and action) elements, and sounds raspy due to such. Rear use was solid, but sometimes would fade a bit, rather than picking up intensity, also. This is a great sound mix, worthy of great praise, it just falls short of the rarified air, the highest echelon. Close counts, though, in horse shoes, hand grenades, and audio mixes. |
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The Hurt Locker [Blu-ray] (2008)
(Click to order, hover over link for price)
| Quote: | Hands down, this is one of 2010's first must own Blu-ray releases. The movie is an absolute, pulse-quickening masterpiece, the disc's audio and video are staggering and the extra features, while not voluminous (it leads me to believe, should the movie get the Academy Awards appreciation that's predicted, we'll see another, fancier version down the line), are really wonderful just the same. This is one disc that deserves to be in everyone's collection.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
The MPEG 4-AVC 1080p transfer (maintaining the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1) is totally wonderful.
The film's look, overall, is quite washed out, color-wise. They actually filmed in the Middle East, so it's full of grays and dull oranges. What this transfer does, brilliantly, is maintain a striking amount of detail and clarity in an image that could easily have been washed away. This is evident in the very first sequence. This level of superior picture quality remains throughout the film.
Skin tones look excellent, the occasional bursts of color really pop, black levels are deep and inky (perfect for a prolonged nighttime sequence), and there are no traces of scratches, splices, or anything like that. There's also a welcome absence of digital noise reduction or any buggy technical issues. A fine level of dirt adds to the 'you are there' authenticity and doesn't detract at all from your viewing experience.
Otherwise, there isn't a whole lot to say about this transfer. It's a stunner; an absolutely wonderful transfer, totally worthy of the movie.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Just as jaw dropping as the picture quality is the disc's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix.
Had this disc sported that great transfer and totally dropped the ball on the audio, it would have been an unmitigated disaster. Thankfully, the audio is just as impressive. The sound field is almost active the entire time. Every crunch of sand beneath a soldier's foot, every bullet fired, every bomb detonated, the strained breathing of a bomb technician underneath his cumbersome suit, all of this is beautifully rendered and prioritized and brought to fully formed life by this transfer.
Sound effects sound crisp and new, the film's score really comes through, and nothing collides or oversteps anything else. The mix never becomes overwhelming or cacophonous; instead it puts you right into these hairy situations with shocking authenticity.
And while the action sequences will (justifiably) get most of the attention since they are the things that will probably whoosh your hair back like the old Maxell ads, the quieter scenes, in between the set pieces, with the soldiers talking to each other (and a longer sequence following one of our heroes home) sound just as good. Dialogue is crisp and clear and just as well prioritized.
There's no crackle or pops or any other technical concerns. This is just an excellent mix, on par with the disc's superb video.
The other audio options are a English 2.0 Dolby Surround Mix as well as Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 track, with subtitles in English SDH and Spanish. |
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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray] (2009)
(Click to order, hover over link for price)
| Quote: | Sure, Pixar is still king of the CGI world, but they may have some competition if Sony keeps putting out quality titles like 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.' This is such a cleverly delightful movie, with stellar audio and video presentations, that it's a must own for families, and highly recommended for everyone else. Its infinite rewatchability value just solidifies the deal. Pick this one up!
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
The 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer on this release looks exactly as you'd hope. This is near perfection. 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs' was purposefully given a more cartoony look, and it works here. Colors are bright and vivid. Blacks are nice and deep, and delineation is as revealing as ever. Fine detail is one of the many highlights of this video presentation. The food falling from the sky is so detailed that you think you could pick it right off the screen and start eating it. The CG animation is perfectly rendered, with each and every scene nearing the ever-elusive demo-worthy quality. While Pixar films like 'Up' may indeed be more detailed in their animation, there's nothing here - except for some ever-so-slight banding - that keeps this release from perfection. This is definitely one you'll want to use to show off your HD.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
The DTS-MA 5.1 lossless audio track brings just about as much to the table (pun intended) as the AVC-encoded video. Engaging throughout, this soundtrack is full of fun and exciting effects that whirl around the surround channels. As gigantic food rains down, the surround channels are rarely at rest. LFE is plentiful when giant meatballs and corn cobs land with thunderous thuds on top of buildings. Dialogue is never drowned out up front, even with all the action going on around you. This soundtrack is every bit as entertaining and engulfing as those created for Pixar Blu-rays like 'Up' and 'Monsters, Inc.' |
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Gamer [Blu-ray] (2009)
(Click to order, hover over link for price)
| Quote: | It's hard to take any film featuring teabagging in the middle of a battle seriously, unless you're of the assortment who will teabag the corpses of victims in the middle of a first person shooter duel. It's also hard to hate on a film making fun of modern user names so, so crudely (no examples will get past the editorial process, trust me). 'Gamer' is certainly not a film for everyone, not your standard action fare. It attempts to be innovative and clever, but really feels like a bastard 'Death Race' remake, only without cars. In fact, that could have been the entire review for the film right there. While 'Gamer' disappointed me a bit, there was no disappointment with the video, stellar audio (the sound mix found within is an experience, audiophiles!), and the immersive supplement package that is much deeper than it appears. Action fans, I recommend you give this one a purchase or rent, and the same goes for all the readers with receivers capable of handling lossless audio. I can't beam about this track enough.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
'Gamer' is presented with a 1080p AVC MPEG-4 encode in the film's natural 1.85:1 ratio. The result? A solid video quality that is sure to appease fans and newcomers to the film alike. Perfection is not achieved, but with results this good, it's hard to complain.
The film is startlingly deep at times, with extreme fine object detail. Explosions bring more life than they take, with dirt, debris, limbs and blood being propelled with unbelievable clarity. Skin tones are appropriate, with obvious aesthetic influences sometimes wearing on them. Edges are extremely sharp, with the tiniest of hairs popping straight out, curling, and screaming "LOOK AT ME!!!"
Delineation is solid, with no lost detail in the shadows, while black levels are utterly appropriate from the get go (whites, particularly in the prison sands, are unreal, which is a good/bad thing). Facial features are amazingly defined to the tiniest pore, dirt molecule, bead of sweat, blemish protrusion, or tiny prick of stubble. Aliasing is never an issue. The digitizing effects found in the world of 'Slayers' are amazing, how sharp such short flashes can be.
The colors in 'Gamer' are a tough gauge, as there are three distinct worlds in the film, between the real world, the stark brutality of 'Slayers,' and the vibrant utopia of 'Society.' Reality is brutal, with no flash, no flare, just natural colors and elements, while 'Slayers' boasts an extreme contrast that makes colors run a bit hotter, with nuclear backgrounds, and 'Society' is unbelievably detailed, deep, bright, and immersive, so sugary sweet it's possible to develop diabetes just looking at it.
There is some very minor banding, though it is far from frequent, as well as some equally light artifacting issues. Shots can occasionally feel flat, especially with full digital backgrounds, though this problem doesn't pop up all that often. The film has an extreme "sensory overload" aesthetic, as a whole, that may distract some, but it made the experience all the more memorable for me.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
'Gamer' has laid down the gauntlet for 2010 early, with a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix that is sure to be considered among the best audio mixes of the year. From demo-worthy material to power for the sake of power, this track is flat unbelievable.
The opening sequence is, without doubt, one of the craziest, and not just looney crazy, but legitimately apeshit crazy, scenes I've had the honor to sit through. There's stuff going on everywhere, from each and every channel to the other, back and forth, forward and backward, with heavy bass roars and an incredible high range to boot. Simply put, it raises the basket to unreachable heights and wraps it in barbed wire.
As the film progresses, dialogue doesn't get drowned out, no matter how extreme effects can be. I didn't have to adjust my volume settings once, no matter how quiet or rip-roaringly loud the proceedings got. Movement is superb and without any noticeable hang ups, localization (in gunfire, effects, and dialogue) is used constantly and effectively, directionality is spot on, basically any positive that can be said about the audio. Bass levels take a page from Rick Astley, as they neither give you up, or let you down (or run around and desert you). Headshots (BOOM!....headshot!) have a sickening noise that made me want to applause the carnage I was witnessing. The multiple world feel of the program does bring distinct sound changes, from the subdued talk show, to the exaggerated 'Society,' but every second of 'Slayers,' including when it transgresses its realm, is wild and uncontrollable. A track that can go from silent to screaming in a tenth of a second flat and still be convincing, with camera swoops and whirs that whisk through the soundstage, 'Gamer' is audio perfected, making the excesses of the film look restrained. |
Kal
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kal
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| Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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A new reference disc:
Che (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (2008)
(Click on picture to order, hover over for price)
| Quote: | A couple weeks into this new year and Criterion's dynamic presentation of Steven Soderbergh's difficult, brilliant epic 'Che' sets the bar ridiculously high. The movie is a masterpiece, and a must-see for anyone who missed its festival screenings or roadshow presentations (don't worry - they've been reproduced beautifully here) or has an interest in history or film. This package has an outstanding, voluminous collection of top-tier special features and flawless A/V is that is nothing short of stunning. This set goes beyond great. It feels downright revolutionary. Highly recommended.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
This presentation of 'Che' is nothing short of jaw-dropping. In particular, the first half is one of the most gorgeous-looking Blu-ray discs I have ever seen.
Each half has its own aspect ratio, faithfully reproduced here. Part 1 has a more classically cinematic aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and Part 2 comes equipped with a squarer aspect ratio of 1.78:1. (Soderbergh was his own brilliant director of photography.) Both are 1080p transfers with MPEG-4 AVC encodes.
These are direct-from-the digital source transfers (except, of course, for the 16mm stuff in part 1) and they are totally gorgeous in every way. Just like all the peerless Pixar movies, the direct-from-source transfer leaves you with a picture quality that is nothing short of flawless.
The first half, in particular, with its lush jungle settings, absolutely pop on Blu-ray. I'd be hard pressed to say I've seen anything like it, because I just don't think that's true. Everything is outstanding – detail, clarity, skin tones, black levels (except in some nighttime scenes, which Soderbergh wanted to look a little softer), textures, and colors. There are no buggy technical issues of any kind, and while the transfer attempted to maintain a "film-like" look, there is no actual grain to interfere with the image. (Again, unless it's intentional, like the deliberately old-looking 16mm bits.) Part 2 has a more muted color pallet but all of the superlatives remain.
I dare anyone, home video enthusiast or just casual viewer, to pop in the first part and not let out an audible gasp at the gorgeousness of this transfer. Just beautiful, this one ranks up there with the best of them, a reference-quality picture if I've ever seen one.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Just as brilliant as the transfer is the Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix on this disc. As far as I can tell, this mix is flawless.
Dialogue is crisp, clear, and strongly reproduced. The surround field is used excellently - not only in the intense battle sequences, with bullets whizzing by and trains toppling over, but in the simpler scenes, with the sound of rain hitting the leaves in the jungle - active but never overly bombastic. Additionally, the beautiful, subtle score by Alberto Iglesias (who works with Almodovar a lot) sounds incredible. The mix dazzles throughout, in the quieter scenes and in the more action packed stuff alike. And what's so great, so essential about this mix (particularly in the film's second half) is that it really does put you in the shoes of one of those idealistic grunts, following Che through some godforsaken South American jungle.
There is no hiss, no pops, no technical issues to speak of either. It's hard to describe something that is more or less perfect, because that is what we have here. It's just great.
A couple of notes about the mix: although the Spanish mix is the only one available for both parts, there is an option on the first part to have a bit of narration be in Spanish or in English. It was in Spanish for the Cannes cut and then Soderbergh (rightfully) thought it was too overwhelming and changed it to English for the Toronto and New York Film Festival premieres and subsequent roadshow presentations. I agree with the move to change this brief bit to English, although the disc gives you the option to watch it the other way around. It's really wonderful that Criterion gave us the option. (If you want to cite why they are still the greatest producers of home video content, you can point to this.) Also, both films have optional English subtitles. Since the aspect ratios are different, when you watch the first half, the subtitles will be in the black space while on the second half they will appear 'in-frame.' |
Kal
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| Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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A new reference disc:
Smokin' Aces [Blu-ray] (2007)
(Click on picture to order, hover over for price)
| Quote: | Joe Carnahan's 'Smokin' Aces' is an adrenaline-fueled, gun-toting bonanza of action, and a cheeky salute to gritty 70s low-budget action flicks. With some fancy photography and visual design, the movie is sleek and entertaining. The Blu-ray edition arrives with an excellent A/V presentation and a nice collection of bonus material. Fans who have been holding out on a purchase will definitely want to pick this one up, but HD DVD owners may not see the need to upgrade.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
Compared to its HD DVD counterpart, this 1080p/VC-1 transfer (2.35:1) appears to be identical, honoring the deliberate photography of Mauro Fiore and Carnahan's intentional visual style. Things don't look very impressive at the start, but after a few minutes, it becomes clear this is part of the effort to emulate the look of drive-in features with a contemporary, glossy sheen.
Immediately noticeable is the heightened color palette with a strong preference for yellow tints and steely blues, rendering prominent, forceful primaries and some unnaturally striking secondary hues. Contrast levels are also abnormally pronounced and running very hot in many scenes with many blown-out whites and sometimes glaringly distracting. On the plus side, it doesn't deter from the excellent picture quality of the image as visibility of random items and articles of clothing is clearly detailed and sharply defined. While skin tones can look a bit pale and erratic, facial complexions, especially in close-ups, are exceptionally revealing and wonderfully textured. Blacks are intense and profoundly deep, so much so that there are a few times of dark shadows swallowing up a bit of detailing. And the picture possess strong dimension throughout. Finally making its way to the Blu-ray format
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Accompanying the excellent video is an equally excellent audio presentation that perfectly matches the rowdy mayhem of unbridled violence and sheer anarchy. The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is not only thunderous with gunfire, but it's also aggressive and uncompromising once we arrive at the final shootout.
Rear speakers are often in use with subtle, distant atmospherics, and Clint Mansell's ('Requiem for a Dream,' 'The Wrestler,' 'Moon') original score enhances the soundfield, keeping the audience engaged from beginning to end. With each sudden burst of action, discrete effects are handled expertly with near-transparent directionality and seamless pans that envelop the listener. In the front soundstage, channel separation is persuasive, the mid-range is cleanly delivered with an expansive presence, and imaging is appealing and wide. Amidst all the loudness, dialogue reproduction never falters and remains distinct throughout while low-frequency bass is forceful, precise and effective. The difference between this lossless mix and its lossy Dolby Digital Plus equivalent is minimal, but this high-resolution track is the preferred and best way to enjoy 'Smokin' Aces.' |
Kal
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| Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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A new reference disc:
Pride & Prejudice [Blu-ray] (2005)
(Click on picture to order, hover over for price)
| Quote: | 'Pride & Prejudice' is one of the better adaptations of a Jane Austen novel, one that's made even more impressive by the fact that it was directed by a first time feature-length director, Joe Wright. It's a gorgeous-looking period romance, and fans of the much beloved novel will not be disappointed. The Blu-ray edition of the film comes with an excellent A/V presentation and a healthy package of supplements. Fans of the film are sure to buy this quality BD disc while everyone else is urged to give a rent.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
Originally released on HD DVD, Universal brings 'Pride & Prejudice' to Blu-ray with an identical 1080p/VC-1 transfer (2.35:1) that is simply gorgeous and boasts a near-reference picture quality that's sure to surprise fans and first-time viewers alike.
The highly-detailed image comes with a consistently thin veil of grain, giving it an appreciable film-like appeal. Every nuance and texture in the costuming and architecture is razor-sharp and revealing, exposing every detail in the far distance as well as the foreground. Flesh tones appear natural and lifelike, with close-ups revealing every wrinkle and facial feature in the cast. The warm color palette is opulent and vividly saturated, while all other hues are robust and accurate. Contrast and brightness levels are perfectly balanced and precisely rendered with inky blacks and crisp whites, allowing for every minute detail to be clearly visible, and providing the picture with wonderful dimension. Low-lit interiors, too, hold up excellently well with various objects in the shadows nicely delineated. In the end, 'Pride & Prejudice' looks spectacular and stunning on Blu-ray.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Accompanying the beautiful video presentation is this surprisingly impressive DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. For a dialogue-driven period piece, the film's sound design does a remarkable job at generating a realistic soundscape to engage audiences. It may not be the sort of knockout performance that will push sound systems to their limits, but with an abundance of ambient effects throughout, the lossless mix is very active and enjoyable.
In nearly every exterior sequence, the sounds of nature envelop the viewer with wonderful transparency, creating an exceptional and pleasing atmosphere. Even during interior interactions, acoustics and fidelity are extraordinary, room-penetrating, and spaciously wide. The random chatter of conversations and music while in the middle of a ball is distinct and immersive. The front soundstage delivers fantastic warmth and richness, exhibiting excellent clarity and definition. The clanging of silverware and voices echo subtly into the background, allowing for any given room to feel vast and empty. Vocals are superbly rendered and precise so that listeners can make out every emotive inflection by the actors. The LFE channel doesn't make much of presence, which would be expected of a period drama, but low bass is put to use during the appropriate moments and adds some depth to those scenes. For a film primarily focused on character interaction, 'Pride & Prejudice' makes for an enthralling and engrossing audio experience. |
Kal
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| Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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A little more Keira Knightley for you! Another reference disc:
Atonement [Blu-ray] (2007)
(Click on picture to order, hover over for price)
| Quote: | A brilliant adaptation of an unforgettable novel, 'Atonement' satisfies both those familiar with Ian McEwan's multifaceted story and those discovering it for the first time. Joe Wright's intimate epic overflows with emotion, but keeps sentimentality at bay, and the director's inventive style heightens the intensity of this sumptuous production. Though it took almost two years for Universal to transfer this Best Picture nominee from HD-DVD to Blu-ray, the finished product is worth the wait, featuring superbly upgraded lossless audio that makes double-dipping a must for fans. The high-def picture remains as clear and lush as always, and while the extras could be more comprehensive, what's included makes the grade. 'Atonement' may not be everyone's cup of tea, but this incisive, artistic, deeply moving motion picture yields tremendous rewards and comes highly, highly recommended.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
'Atonement' arrives on Blu-ray sporting the same dazzling transfer as its HD-DVD counterpart, a luscious rendering that fully immerses us in the period atmosphere while maintaining a striking contemporary look. Hints of grain lend the image a lovely warmth without sacrificing the dimensionality that's such a vital element of high-def presentations. Clarity is superb; fine details exhibit marvelous texture and presence, and even soft focus scenes remain well defined. Consistently strong contrast enlivens the picture, with a gorgeous silhouette of Knightley on the coastline at sunset providing perhaps the most striking evidence of balance and depth. Whites can run a little hot, but the occasional prevailing brightness seems an intentional directorial choice, emphasizing the steamy weather and steamy emotions that fuel the story's engine. Blacks are deep and rich, but even during dark scenes, detail levels remain high. Colors often burst forth with a faintly muted lushness – Cecilia's ravishing green gown, her red lipstick, McAvoy's pale blue eyes, the pastel suits of Leon and Paul, and manicured landscaping of the Tallis estate all make a bold statement, but never overwhelm the palette or steal focus from the narrative. Fleshtones stay true as well, accurately rendering both the pale skin of McAvoy and Ronan, and Knightley's more sun-kissed complexion.
No blemishes mar the glorious source material, allowing for total immersion in the story, and digital noise is absent even during the darkest scenes. The transfer remains free of banding, edge enhancement, and other distractions, never compromising the beauty of this meticulous production. Kudos to Universal for this exceptional effort, which makes 'Atonement' feel more vital, immediate, and powerful than ever before.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
The big news here is Universal's decision to upgrade the lossy Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 track that graced the HD-DVD to the far superior DTS-HD Master Audio format, thereby erasing the major blot on the previous release's résumé. The noteworthy switch makes the film's surprisingly active audio at last sound like it should – vibrant, lifelike, and all-consuming – and improves the viewing experience by leaps and bounds.
From the opening frames, sound plays a major role in 'Atonement,' from the rustling of sheets of paper and the buzzing of a bee to the delicate ticking of a clock, whirring of a fan, and flick of a lighter. All are marvelously crisp and distinct, yet stay within the boundaries of the well-balanced mix, which enjoys wonderful purity of tone. Ambient atmospherics delicately dance across the rears, and first-rate front channel separation adds welcome dimension to more intimate scenes. Solid bass frequencies come into play during the Dunkirk sequence, providing some necessary weight, and dialogue is always properly prioritized, so nary a word is missed. (Occasionally the accents get a bit thick, garbling a few lines, but the track is not to blame.)
One of the great joys of 'Atonement' is its inventive, Oscar-winning music score by Dario Marianelli, incorporating the rhythmic tap-tap-tapping of typewriter keys into its melodic, highly romantic themes. The percussive influences provide a driving, pulsating urgency to the story, punctuating the drama and ramping up tension, and the lossless track honors this captivating work of art well. Superior fidelity and depth of tone heighten the emotional pull of the piece, especially as the music gently bleeds to the rear speakers and swirls about the sound field. An operatic recording early in the film tests the limits of the track's dynamic range, and it passes with flying colors.
The anemic HD-DVD audio was a big disappointment, and the righting of that ship makes this Blu-ray edition worthy of an upgrade for those who want to fully experience this masterful piece of filmmaking. |
Kal
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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Two reference quality discs for you - these ones from Criterion:
Hunger (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]
(Click on picture to order, hover over for price)
| Quote: | Steve McQueen's debut film 'Hunger' is undeniably "hard to watch." That said, it's also highly recommended. Not only is it a beautiful film about an extremely different period in very recent history, but it's got some wonderful performances and really will move you. Some flawless A/V and a host of great bonus features make this one a no-brainer. It's a disc as well done as the film.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
The MPEG-4 AVC 1080p transfer (preserving the original aspect ratio of 2.39:1) is pretty spotless; a superb presentation of a superb film.
From the accompanying booklet: "Approved by director Steve McQueen, this new high-definition digital transfer was created from the original 2-perforation 35 mm negative, which was scanned on an ARRISCAN pin-register scanner at 2K resolution."
All in all, it's a crackling good presentation. Detail is excellent, particularly on surface textures. (There's a great scene where some art is made on the cell walls by, er, human waste). Colors are wonderful too, drab when they need to be (like the faded linoleum tiles of the prison), striking where appropriate. Additionally, black levels are deep and bottomless, skin tones are right on (even when Bobby Sands' color is draining out of him) and there aren't any buggy technical issues to point out.
This is a wonderful transfer, through and through.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Equally impressive is the disc's English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. For a prison to really come to life, it needs that extra layer of atmosphere.
You can hear the prison, and really feel it, thanks to the cries of the captives, the sound the guards' shoes make against the linoleum tile, the rush of urine (or spray of water), or the buzzing of a fly. Everything is rendered beautifully and takes full advantage of the surround sound. Ambience is premium. It's a subtle and nuanced track but one that won't blow the doors off your living room.
Dialogue reproduction is excellent and well prioritized (although those who have trouble cutting through the occasionally thorny Irish accents can always flip on the subtitles). The score, too, co-authored by David Holmes (of the 'Ocean's' movies) sounds gorgeous here.
While the English DTS-HD is the only audio option, there are subtitles in English, for what it's worth. When the sound is this good, you only need one audio option. |
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Revanche (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] (2008)
(Click on picture to order, hover over for price)
| Quote: | I loved Götz Spielmann's mesmerizing, beautiful, deeply complex 'Revanche.' It's a revenge movie like you've never seen before, whose introspective themes of guilt and redemption don't overwhelm what is essentially a really well done genre picture. (Yes, it's plenty entertaining.) With a gorgeous video presentation, superb audio, and a handsome collection of extras, this is Highly Recommended, with a bent towards Must Own. Get ready to get caught up in 'Revanche.'
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
The MPEG-4 AVC 1080p transfer (upholding its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1) is nothing short of stunning. I think my eyes might have popped out of my head once or twice, even.
To quote from the accompanying booklet: "Approved by director Götz Spielmann, this new high-definition digital transfer was created from the Super 16mm color negative, which was scanned at 2K on a Northlight scanner and color graded on a Baselight EIGHT system."
If you're not really sure what that means, I can sum it up in one made-up word: Yowza. I mean that: Yowza. The picture looks gorgeous, without any detectable grain, scratches, pops, or anything else. Additionally, there are no buggy technical issues either, which means no alias, halos, crush, or noticeable DNR.
Where it counts it really excels: flesh tones look exceptional, colors are rendered vividly and realistically (with the colorful garishness of the city giving way to natural greens and browns of the countryside), and there are a couple of scenes where Alex is tromping through the woods in the middle of the night, in pitch blackness, with only his flashlight for illumination, that really stunned me. It appears that the flashlight alone illuminates the entire scene, and the blackness that surrounds him is so deep and bottomless that I could not believe my eyes. If you want to test out how well your television handles black levels, pop this baby in and watch those scenes. It's the new gold standard.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
While not as gobsmacking, the German/Russian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is still quite a feat.
Again, according to the booklet: "The audio for this release was mastered at 24-bit from the original digital audio master files using Pro Tools HD." What this means is the track sounds really, really great. Dialogue and sound effects are both beautifully reproduced here.
This isn't an incredibly muscular track, with car chases and giant robot hordes, but it's a decidedly nuanced track, one that is gorgeously rendered. Dialogue is crisp, clean and well prioritized, sound effects are real and naturalistic (again, the differences between the city and country environments are wonderful), and the track has nice depth and density, with some nicely ambient atmospherics.
There's not a whole lot to talk about in regards to this track besides it being really great. I also just wanted to note that as the film begins, Tamara is speaking Russian (she's Ukrainian). Subtitles do not appear on this scene, or in any other scene where there's Russian being spoken. Your disc isn't defective or anything. This is a stylistic/narrative decision. Do not fret.
The only audio option is the German/Russian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 with optional English subtitles. But when the lone track is this good, you don't need anything else. |
Kal
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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Another reference disc:
2012 (Two-Disc Special Edition) [Blu-ray] (2009)
(Click on picture to order, hover over for price)
| Quote: | Roland Emmerich delivers another large-scale, end-of-times apocalypse feature that wows with the spectacular visuals and excites the imagination with an entertaining premise. '2012' is purely a popcorn blockbuster that surprisingly works better than Emmerich's previous efforts despite the plot's implausibility. The Blu-ray arrives with excellent video, a demo-worthy audio presentation, and is loaded with special features. Fans, and home theaters enthusiasts, should be very happy with this purchase, which comes recommended mainly for the A/V reference qualities of the disc.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
'2012' definitely makes a big splash on Blu-ray, delivering an impressive visual experience that will have fans cheering as planet Earth meets its destructive demise. The 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer (2.40:1) displays an ultra-clean and glossy presentation that is faithful to its theatrical showing (or at least from what I can remember). It's a great-looking picture to be sure, but it also arrives with some small annoyances which keep it on this side of reference.
Every minute detail is distinct and resolute in any number of scenes with great outlining in a variety of objects. Nowhere else is the image's sharpness more evident than during the many scenes of CGI disaster as every person scuffling and grappling for safety and protection is plainly perceptible amidst all the well-defined rumble and mayhem. Adding to the striking picture quality are the rich and dynamic black levels, furnishing the flick with pleasing dimensionality. Shadow delineation is equally excellent as background info is observable in the darkest portions of the frame. Contrast is spot-on, with crisp gradations in the grayscale and wonderful visibility and clarity of random items in the distance. Colors are vividly saturated and accurately rendered at the same time that facial complexions appear warm, natural, and revealing.
While the encode shows no glaring signs of edge enhancement or noise reduction, there are a few quips worth noting which subtract from a five-star presentation. Considering how sharp the image looks, the scenes that appear slightly softer by comparison are made more apparent and textural details are noticeably smoother. There are also a few negligible instances of banding which don't hinder the picture greatly, but they are there nonetheless. In either case, these issues are very minor and likely ignored while watching the movie.
The biggest thing of concern is a result of the use of HD cameras, which give the film an unattractive, artificial, and digital appearance several times throughout. It may not be a consistent issue, but it's noticeable enough to be a critical distraction. Imagine the movie looking very cinematic and warmly appealing one minute, then suddenly switching to something straight out of 'Cloverfield' or 'Public Enemies' the next. Had the entire presentation looked all digital to the very end, this really wouldn't be a big deal, but the constant switching back and forth for folks with big projection screens, this is rather irksome and puzzling. Ultimately, this is just to caution our readers to expect the visual distraction as part of an otherwise excellent transfer.
On another side note, there are a variety of characters speaking in foreign languages throughout '2012'. Unfortunately, the subtitles accompanying the narrative are not contained within the image proper. As result, this makes the movie unsafe for viewing on Constant Image Height projection screens.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Being a modern-day disaster flick, you would expect this DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack to be nothing short of superlative aural ecstasy. In many cases, I would agree with this sentiment and not hesitate in labeling this high resolution option as undoubtedly reference quality. But one small, persistent nitpick, that after a while becomes a bothersome deficiency in the design, prevents me from praising it as a godsend of five-star audio presentations.
On the positive side of things, the lossless mix is quite phenomenal and most assuredly one of the best things we've heard on Blu-ray in a while. In fact, I imagine the track will quickly turn into the demo disc of choice in many home theaters as it sounds exactly how you'd expect a summer blockbuster to sound. Listeners are marvelously encompassed with such heightened energy that one can't help but feel fully immersed by all the destructive action. Surround use is continuously active, creating a terrific 360-degree soundfield from beginning to end. Discrete effects are sharply well-rendered and pan between each speaker with great precision and without the slightest amount of effort while imaging is ceaselessly engaging and expansive. Dialogue is perfectly balanced amidst all the action and never outdone by all the commotion and pandemonium. Even in its quietest moments, atmospherics are clear and non-directional whilst the musical score fills any voids with a room-penetrating mid-range and detailed fidelity.
The one slight limitation, which may or may not be observable by certain viewers, is an unconvincing low end, especially for such a loud popcorn flick. This is not to suggest that the bass is wanting or weak. As a matter of fact, it is quite accurate and at times particularly punchy and bombastic for those selected scenes of explosive eruptions. But there's something about the lower frequencies that never truly feels persuasive or all-encompassing. Many on-screen events, particularly the earthquakes sequences, appear to lack intensity and a realistic force which ideally should extend far into the room, yet they don't. Again, many may not think this a major impediment, but for those who love their bass, it's a bit of a letdown. If we simply ignore this one small nitpick, this lossless mix is pure reference quality, and one that will surely be used to demo the sound system. |
Kal
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| Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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Another reference disc:
The Princess and The Frog (Three Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo with Digital Copy) (2009)
(Click on picture to order, hover over for price)
| Quote: | Disney’s 'The Princess and the Frog' was a better musical than 'Nine' and a better movie about the underprivileged female black experience in America than 'Precious.' Also, it had a lot of voodoo, which both of those movies sorely lacked. A glorious return to traditional 2D animation, Ron Clements and John Musker’s beautiful, under-seen gem hit all the right notes in a jazzy update of the classic 'Frog Prince' fairy tale set in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Between the catchy Randy Newman songs and the spritely animation, it was hard not to fall in love with this handcrafted fable, as dazzling and engaging as any work of computer-generated trickery. And thanks to a flawless A/V presentation and a bayou's worth of extra features, this is a fairy tale of a Blu-ray disc.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
Picture-quality-wise, the MPEG-4 AVC 1080p transfer (aspect ratio 1.78:1) is perfect. Literally. It's flawlessly gorgeous.
Rarely has hand drawn animation looked this great on Blu-ray. I mean that. This is a stunner. Colors are particularly vibrant, contrast is good, blacks are deep and bottomless, backgrounds pop with an almost three-dimensional depth, and everything looks amazing. That's really all there is to it.
There's not a hint of grain, there are no pesky technical issues (fear not – there's not even a hint of banding or jagged edges), it's just a flawless presentation of a very worthy film. There's not much else to say about this transfer besides the fact that it's one of the very best I've seen and your breath will surely be taken away.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Just as impressive is the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. It's pretty wow-worthy, too.
As I've said before, this is a big, brassy, Broadway-style musical and the musical moments in 'Princess and the Frog' really pop. In fact, the Keith David musical number "Friends on the Other Side," I would include in any "Blu-ray highlight reel," because it just sounds so amazing. Sequences like that, which are so wholly immersive, with the dialogue so crystal clear and the surround atmospherics at peak precision, are the sequences that will sway anyone towards the glories of the high definition format.
But even when the musical numbers aren't on screen, the mix is pretty much perfect. (I know these are strong words. They're also true.) Dialogue is always crisp, clear, and well prioritized; effects shimmer and shake all around you; all with immersive surround sound that will have you feeling like you're really down in New Orleans (or the marshy swamps beyond).
It's been a while since I've been this out-and-out dazzled by a surround sound track, but if anything's worthy of that praise, it's this mix. It's impressive in every way without ever being overwhelming or "too much." It's an amazing, reference-quality mix all around (to go along with the reference-quality picture).
The other audio options included on the disc are French Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, and English DVS 2.0, with subtitles in English SDH, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. |
Kal
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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Another reference disc which ironically just landed in my mailbox 2 minutes ago. Woohoo!
Toy Story (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo w/ Blu-ray Packaging) (1995)
(Click on picture to order, hover over for price)
| Quote: | This is a must own Blu-ray from the top down. With 'Toy Story,' Pixar created a film and characters that will be loved for years to come, and its historical significance in the realm of CG animation cannot ber overstated. The audio and video presentations are perfection. Sure the animation is starting to show its age a little, but it still looks pretty darn good. This is just a stunning high definition presentation. CG animation has been one of the biggest benefactors of 1080p resolution, and this time is no different. It took 15 years, but now we can finally see 'Toy Story' the way it was meant to be seen.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
As you would expect, 'Toy Story' looks absolutely perfect in 1080p HD. While the animation – especially of Scud the dog – is starting to show its age, 'Toy Story' looks more vibrant and beautiful than ever. Colors burst off the screen. Fine detail is maxed out with textures, like Rex's skin, showing each and every groove between his plastic scales. Edges are precise. Delineation is perfect. Stick in the DVD and then stick in the Blu-ray, the difference is out of this world, and the Special Edition DVD looked pretty dang good upon its release. Blu-ray gives 'Toy Story' the visual stage on which it was meant to be seen. There are no technical blips to point out either. The transfer is completely clean, without blemish. No banding, noise, or ringing to report either. Anyway I can find to say it, it would just come out the same: This video is demo quality, period.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
I'm pleased to announce that the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 presentation accompanying 'Toy Story' is just as astounding as its video counterpart. The surrounds are alive with action. From Andy's birthday party to the chaos at Pizza Planet, the surrounds are constantly pumping in ambient noise to keep you fully immersed in what's happening on screen. LFE is cranked up, and when called upon, creates a sense of wonder and dread. When the rocket is lit, and takes off after the moving van, the bass rumbles the room. Dialogue is perfectly prioritized, and intelligible. The soundtrack never drowns out the voices of the characters. The sound design in top-notch and this Blu-ray is the perfect way to show off what it can do. |
Kal
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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Another reference disc:
Toy Story 2 (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo w/ Blu-ray Packaging) (1999)
(Click on picture to order, hover over for price)
| Quote: | 'Toy Story 2' represented a pivotal turning point for Pixar. We all know how successfully it turned out. This is a must own movie, one that we highly recommend adding to your Blu-ray collection, along with the first 'Toy Story.' Together they comprise a dynamic duo of computer animated demo material, one that will delight you and your guests for years to come. 1080p is truly the home for material like the 'Toy Story' franchise.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
Featuring updated techniques, 'Toy Story 2' is a demo material, just like 'Toy Story,' but with the added value of slightly better animation. Like 'Toy Story's video presentation, the colors pop right off the screen. Primaries are bright and vibrant. The greens of Buzz's suit and Rex's body, reds of Jessie's hat and hair, the blues of the sky and Woody's pants are all perfectly rendered and exciting to look at. Edges are exact, and fine detail is crystal clear. From the texture of Al's cheeto dust-covered fingers, to the intricate stitching of Woody's vest, no detail is too fine. Care is taken to make the toys look worn and played with. Smudges of dirt and streaks of black occasionally speckle each character with a sort of chaotic precision. There are no blemishes or artifacts to speak of. This is a perfect video presentation, plain and simple. Demo, demo, demo!
The Audio: Rating the Sound
If it's possible, this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 accompanying 'Toy Story 2' is even more of a sonic delight than that on the 'Toy Story' Blu-ray. The LFE kicks right in during the prologue as Buzz blasts through the air. The rumbling from the subwoofer is perfectly prioritized with the other sound effects and dialogue happening as to never drown those out. Panning effects are smooth and without hesitation. Dialogue is perfectly clear through the center channels. The surround channels are alive with all types of clear, engulfing ambient sounds. When Woody falls through the pile of cards during his dream, the cards click and clack around the room with care. The soundtrack is given ample room to flourish. Suffice to say, this is another demo quality audio presentation from Pixar. |
Kal
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Nashou66
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kal
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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Another reference disc (and one that's in my top 10 favourite movies of all time!):
Apollo 13 (15th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] (1995)
(Click on picture to order, hover over for price)
| Quote: | 'Apollo 13' is a modern masterpiece. A monumental piece of filmmaking that still retains the resonating spirit it had when it was first released. There is no better way to release this film than on Blu-ray. It looks and sounds magnificent. This is just the type of release you'd expect for such an audacious and awe-inspiring film. This one comes very highly recommended.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
This is the 15th Anniversary Edition of 'Apollo 13,' yet Universal succeeds in providing us with a lushly detailed AVC-encoded transfer. Fine detail is uncanny for the most part. Some soft shots are occasionally sprinkled in, but the scenes in space are some of the best as far as detail and crispness that I've seen on a catalog title of this vintage. From the worn instruments of the spacecraft to the facial details of its inhabitants, this is an extremely rich video presentation. Blacks are deep. When the lights in the spacecraft are shut off, delineation is spot on, providing fantastic depth and dimension. Technically, this presentation is leaps and bounds above the DVD presentation. This will delight videophiles and will give you great demo material to show to your friends. When they come over, show them the rocket taking off. The launch scene is one of the most detailed of the entire movie, and it looks amazing in high definition.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 presentation, like the video presentation, is something to behold, especially for a catalog title. Clear and concise dialogue pour through the center channel without sounding muted or underwhelming. The beginning of the film is very dialogue-heavy so this is key to its success, but once that rocket blasts off, anything hanging on your walls will be shaking. The LFE let loose during the blast off scene is tremendous and booming. It rumbles from the subwoofer as heavy and rich as I've ever heard. Not only does the LFE engulf you, but the surrounds are alive with action and sounds which completely overtake you while you're watching. When the astronauts reach the desolate darkness of space, the presentation shifts back to a subdued, but spectacularly clear dialogue film. Panning effects are done smoothly, and as the astronauts bang around in the inside of the spacecraft clinks and clanks are heard throughout the rear channels. This is a technically proficient audio presentation which will suck you into the movie just like the video. One of the best I've heard on a catalog release. |
Kal
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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Another reference disc:
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus [Blu-ray] (2008)
(Click on picture to order, hover over for price)
| Quote: | 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' isn't the best Gilliam film ever made, but it's far from the worst. This film will be remembered more for the performances within, and the men and women involved, particularly Heath Ledger, but there is more to this film than what it is famous for. The performances by Plummer, Waits, and Farrell deserve praise, and the imagery found in the film is as imaginative and unique as the film itself. With gorgeous video and riveting audio, this release is definitely recommended for purchase or rental, but I can't help but wish the extras had more beef, and less fluff.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
Sony brings 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' to Blu-ray with an AVC MPEG-4 encode at 1080p (in the 1.85:1 frame) that certainly reaches for the clouds, as it were.
Colors are beyond assorted, as this film sports a wild, ever-changing aesthetic (it is, after all, a Gilliam film) that can, at times, seem a bit schizophrenic. The result is sheer, unbridled eye candy, though, as the tones in the real world are perfectly natural, drab, muted, somewhat dingey and somber, while the world of imagination sports the pizazz, brilliant primaries, and colors that know no limits. Detail is also quite superb, as the tiniest snowflake, or even pore, are often visible quite clearly, with beautiful definition of clothing or sets (the paintwork for the traveling stage, for example). Even the white ear hairs of the devil leap (disgustingly) off his head. The picture is amazingly deep and quite enveloping, and can truly suck the viewer right into the film. Best of all, this disc is superb in its technical prowess, as DNR, edge enhancement, artifacting, banding, and aliasing are not a part of this equation.
That said, perfection is not met, despite how often it is flirted with. Black levels are often too bright for their own good, not fitting with the dark mood the film often has. While no flaw of the transfer or disc, there are a few moments where the green/blue screen work makes itself known all too well, as characters can stand out from their environments in all the wrong ways, with different lighting elements than the scenes themselves. There's an odd vertical orange line for one full shot at the 1 hour, 8 minute spot, which is amazingly out of place in an otherwise perfectly clean film. Sony did an amazing, consistent job on this one, and they deserve great amounts of praise.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
But what good is great video without great audio? The experience that is 'Doctor Parnassus' is amplified with a gorgeous DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix. Much like the video, it's perfection slightly teased, almost attained, flirted with often, but still quite solid and worthy of kind words.
The film receives a very active sound mix. Motion is solid, localization is utilized quite frequently and superbly, with lots of atmosphere and effects loading the room with damn-near non-stop activity. It's quite the circus, honestly, but it comes through amazingly clear, with little jockeying for that coveted prioritization. Bass levels are somewhat light, but they pop up from time to time when needed for light emphasis, and the effect works. Explosions, for example, are thunderous and quite fun. When the stage constructs itself, its an audio marvel how many things are going on at once.
But, alas, that is also the main (possibly only) fault with this audio mix: too much going on at the same time. On more than one occasion, the score can completely obliterate the dialogue, making a few lines extremely difficult to discern. I am still wowed by this one, and think the world of this track, but it falls just short of the best of the best.
There are a variety of subtitles available, as well as a lossy Spanish dub and a lossless Portuguese track, for the non-English speaking. |
Kal
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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Another reference disc (and one that's in my top 10 favourite movies of all time!):
Apollo 13 (15th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] (1995)
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| Quote: | 'Apollo 13' is a modern masterpiece. A monumental piece of filmmaking that still retains the resonating spirit it had when it was first released. There is no better way to release this film than on Blu-ray. It looks and sounds magnificent. This is just the type of release you'd expect for such an audacious and awe-inspiring film. This one comes very highly recommended.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
This is the 15th Anniversary Edition of 'Apollo 13,' yet Universal succeeds in providing us with a lushly detailed AVC-encoded transfer. Fine detail is uncanny for the most part. Some soft shots are occasionally sprinkled in, but the scenes in space are some of the best as far as detail and crispness that I've seen on a catalog title of this vintage. From the worn instruments of the spacecraft to the facial details of its inhabitants, this is an extremely rich video presentation. Blacks are deep. When the lights in the spacecraft are shut off, delineation is spot on, providing fantastic depth and dimension. Technically, this presentation is leaps and bounds above the DVD presentation. This will delight videophiles and will give you great demo material to show to your friends. When they come over, show them the rocket taking off. The launch scene is one of the most detailed of the entire movie, and it looks amazing in high definition.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 presentation, like the video presentation, is something to behold, especially for a catalog title. Clear and concise dialogue pour through the center channel without sounding muted or underwhelming. The beginning of the film is very dialogue-heavy so this is key to its success, but once that rocket blasts off, anything hanging on your walls will be shaking. The LFE let loose during the blast off scene is tremendous and booming. It rumbles from the subwoofer as heavy and rich as I've ever heard. Not only does the LFE engulf you, but the surrounds are alive with action and sounds which completely overtake you while you're watching. When the astronauts reach the desolate darkness of space, the presentation shifts back to a subdued, but spectacularly clear dialogue film. Panning effects are done smoothly, and as the astronauts bang around in the inside of the spacecraft clinks and clanks are heard throughout the rear channels. This is a technically proficient audio presentation which will suck you into the movie just like the video. One of the best I've heard on a catalog release. |
Kal
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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Another reference disc! This one made enough money to run a small country for about 10 years.
Avatar (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray] (2009)
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| Quote: | In most likelihood, you've already seen 'Avatar' and have made up your mind whether to buy it on Blu-ray or not. Most of you reading this probably will. I won't begrudge anyone for that. All I can do is give you my perspective on it. You can take that or leave it. Truth be told, 'Avatar' isn't a terrible movie. It's just a terribly disappointing one. I'll be honest that it plays better on second viewing, after you've come to terms with its shortcomings and know what to expect. Still, this film could and should have been much better than it is.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer on this Blu-ray is presented only in 2-D format. The disc has no option for 3-D viewing. With that out of the way, the next most important issue to discuss is the choice of aspect ratio, which is a bit more complicated than most movies.
'Avatar' was shot with digital video cameras that had a native capture ratio of 16:9. James Cameron has long been a fan of "scope" 2.35:1 projection, and composed the movie to be safe for matting to that ratio. (This is similar to how the Super 35 film format that he normally uses works.) All 2-D theatrical prints of the movie were projected at 2.35:1. However, for the IMAX 3-D presentation, Cameron instructed that the mattes be lifted to a ratio of 1.85:1. He felt that the taller image was more immersive in 3-D, especially on IMAX screens. Digital 3-D theaters were distributed copies of the movie in both aspect ratios, and were instructed to project whichever would be larger on their screens.
In interviews conducted last year, Cameron stated that 1.85:1 was his preferred aspect ratio for the 3-D version of 'Avatar'. However, at the same time he also emphasized, "But only in 3-D. I still like the scope ratio compositionally for flat projection." Because of this, it was expected that the initial 2-D Blu-ray release would be presented at 2.35:1, while an eventual 3-D Blu-ray down the road might be opened up to 1.85:1. More recently, Cameron turned around on this issue. This first Blu-ray release, although still just 2-D, is presented in a fully open-matte 16:9 (1.78:1) transfer. According to Cameron, "Even though I love the Cinemascope ratio compositionally, I actually found myself falling in love with the movie in 16:9, as we went along, and I prefer to watch it in that."
It must be emphasized that this is a decision that James Cameron made after-the-fact. While shooting the movie, he composed the photography for 2.35:1. When I saw the film projected theatrically at 2.35:1, I found that framing to be very well composed. For this review, I watched it in full at 16:9, as it's encoded on the disc. Although I can see what Cameron is saying about certain sequences (specifically, the flying sequences) having a more immersive sense of vertigo at that ratio, for the most part the movie looked very unbalanced and awkward to me. There's too much dead space in the frame, especially the lower part of the frame. Also, the subtitles for Na'vi dialogue are positioned up high in the middle of the screen, much higher than subtitles are normally placed. This looks very strange, especially in medium and wide shots. I'm sure most viewers won't notice, but I personally don't care for the full-frame 16:9 presentation of this particular movie. The scope theatrical screening I saw was much more satisfying from a compositional standpoint.
Because I have a 2.35:1 Constant Image Height projection screen, I attempted to zoom the movie to 2.35:1. Unfortunately, a straight zoom doesn't work very well in this case, mainly because the theatrical scope portion of the image was not a direct center extraction from the original capture files. It was taken a little above center. Also, certain on-screen graphics (like those for Jake's diary entries) have been repositioned a bit for the 16:9 transfer. They still float strangely in the middle of the 16:9 frame, but extend beyond 2.35:1. A great deal of the movie looks fine at 2.35:1, but foreheads are clipped in too many scenes, especially most of the Na'vi scenes. I didn't find this acceptable.
As a compromise, I adjusted the aspect ratio of the movie to 2.20:1 (the 70mm theatrical ratio). To my eye, this looks pretty much perfect. Faces are correctly framed, and on-screen graphics fit the screen without getting cut off or floating in the middle. Overall, the movie just looks much better composed this way than 16:9. Even the flying sequences look fine.
As I said, most viewers won't see anything wrong with the 16:9 framing. However, CIH viewers with the ability to do so are advised to try watching the movie at 2.20:1. In my personal opinion, that's the best compromise for this Blu-ray.
As for its other image quality attributes, this 'Avatar' Blu-ray is, frankly, perfect. I can find nothing at all wrong with it. The digital video picture is razor sharp and has enormous amount of fine object detail that puts the comparable DVD to shame. There is absolutely no grain or noise in any shot. Nor are there any digital processing artifacts such as artificial sharpening, Digital Noise Reduction, or compression flaws. The vibrant, vibrant, vibrant colors are stunningly beautiful. Cameron uses colors in 'Avatar' that you just don't see in other movies. The contrast range has solid blacks and excellent shadow detail. For a 2-D image, the picture has a terrific sense of depth. Really, this is the best-looking demo material yet released on Blu-ray, regardless of which aspect ratio you watch it in. I'd give it 6 stars if I could.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
When I saw 'Avatar' theatrically, I was pretty underwhelmed by the audio experience. I chalked that up to the particular theater I was in having a poor sound system. That may be the case, and the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack on this Blu-ray is certainly a big improvement over my first viewing. However, it's still missing something. Make no mistake, it does sound excellent. I'm not complaining, per se. But I can't list this disc among the best that I've heard on Blu-ray.
First, the compliments. In general, this is a very well balanced sound mix. Although it has a lot of dynamic range, it isn't obnoxiously loud just to be loud, like some other recent sci-fi action movies. Dialogue is always crisp and clear (though I do have to say that the ADR dubbing of the Na'vi characters is sometimes too obvious). Sound effects are sharp. And the surround channels are put to very smart use. Directional effects distinctly pan to the rear channels in a natural extension of the on-screen action. They're not gimmicky, and create an immersive, convincingly three-dimensional soundfield. The 5.1 track also matrixes nicely into 7.1 with Dolby ProLogic IIx decoding.
The mix has a lot of low-end rumble in many places. The AMP suits make a nice thump when they walk, for example. Some of the action scenes rev up nicely. On the other hand, the bass never really extends to the deepest registers, even when you expect (or need) it to. As a result, certain sequences, like the destruction of the Life Tree and the big action climax, are curiously uninvolving from an auditory standpoint. I would say that James Horner's score is presented with fairly good fidelity. But, for much of the movie, it lacks warmth and sounds too sterile. (To be fair, it's better in some scenes than others.)
None of this is to say that the soundtrack on the Blu-ray is "bad" in any way. I've just heard others that impressed me more. |
Kal
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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Another reference disc!
Saving Private Ryan (Sapphire Series) [Blu-ray] (1998)
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| Quote: | 'Saving Private Ryan' may be one of Steven Spielberg's greatest films, even if it doesn't hold a candle to his previous WW2-era offering. A superb cast quickly find themselves blending in to their roles. Arguments can be made about the film and its message, but it's hard to fault the film, and it's famous opening sequence that can cause severe physical reaction may be one of the single-most effective bits of film ever created. Paramount hit a homer with this Blu-ray release, with superb audio and video elements being given plenty of space to breathe on their own disc, while a supplement package full of good information is also included. Buy this, don't hesitate one second. Regardless of price, be it twenty bucks or forty, it is worth every penny.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
'Avatar' made a big splash on Blu-ray, particularly with the announcement that the film disc would have no extras, to maximize the space for the audio and video, to maximize, in turn, the quality of said presentation components. With little fanfare, it seems that 'Saving Private Ryan' took the same approach... only Paramount didn't skimp out on the supplements package, including a bonus disc for extras (see, Fox, it isn't that hard).
Like 'Avatar' before it, 'Saving Private Ryan' takes the ball and runs with it. The already twelve year old film (how time passes!) doesn't have a digital, unimpeded look to it; but it makes up for the lack of dragons and blue people by having actual story and developed characters, and a general feel of realism...grit, dirt. This isn't a polished, pristine, borderline photoshop created visual masterpiece. It's realistic, instead. Tough. It has been to war and back.
The 1.85:1 AVC MPEG-4 encode (at 1080p) is not perfect, and I would like to stress this. This is easily the best 'Saving Private Ryan' has ever looked, and is so damn good it eeked out a five star score, after much internal debate.
The film has a few varying aesthetics to it. Much like how the score disappears for battle scenes, at times the video changes to an exaggerated mirror image to the normal scenes in the film. Grain levels can go from strong and somewhat thick to nearly transparent. Contrast, which is pitch perfect in non-combat situations, is kicked up about twenty notches. Scenes can occasionally look like a colorized version of a black and white film due to such, while color bleed is exaggerated as well.
After the Normandy landing, realism kicks back in. Camera movements become less frantic, while grain, contrast, and colors all return to beautiful perfection and naturalism. Blacks remain accurate, no matter what visual appearance the film takes, while shadow detail is perfect, with never a single moment of crush, yet no overly bright blacks, either. Detail is amazingly strong, as well, with more popping materials than the most airborne of debris, and the varying fabric and materials on uniforms differentiating to the point you may as well be feeling them. Skin tones are natural, ranging, and outright sumptuous. Edges are gorgeous, while aliasing is never an issue. If DNR was employed at any point, it slipped right by me (if it were, the changes in aesthetics could mask it in numerous sequences), which means I'm either blind, or it would be very, very minor. I'm hoping for the latter of those two options. A few pans were jarring, made worse by the jumpy camera doubling the stuttering look, while some sequences left much to be desired in terms of clarity (the way that bugs are barely even visible on the bodies left to rot in front of the machine gunner field, for example) but a few in a nearly three hour film isn't enough to worry about. Sit back, don't bother looking for problems, and just enjoy the carnage in all its beauty.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
'Saving Private Ryan' won five Academy Awards in 1998. This is relevant here, as one of said five awards was for its sound design. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix for the film makes it sound better than damn near any film ever made, so it's safe to say that justice has been served here, and there will be little to no room for any complaints about the audio from those who have put in the money for a good system.
We all know how this film opens. Normandy. Waves. Machine guns. Explosions. Screaming. Carnage. It doesn't take long for this disc to stand up and show why it has earned the prestigious five star mark. When you have waves crashing through the room from proper angles, with little bass kisses to boot, as landing crafts approach beaches, you're in for a treat. Machine gun whirs, constant water movement, and small details, like water rattling in a canteen, or dirt being kicked up from the slight movements, this is all top-notch. There's constant activity coming from, and moving to, each and every possible angle. Sand dislodged from explosions sprinkles across the room long after the impact. Best of all, bass isn't overpowering, even in explosions, in this opening scene.
We don't get a half hour of extreme awesome, then a return to a generic, front-heavy talky. No sir. 'Saving Private Ryan' can get as quiet as any war film wants to be (sometimes silence speaks more than aggression), and not once will you need to adjust your volume settings. When there isn't a battle going on, dialogue doesn't stray too far from the front channels, but there is always a little something going on to keep the room full and engaged. The lows found throughout are matched nicely with high ends, particularly the metal on metal "ting" heard from spent, ejected magazines. Dialogue is always clear (except when purposely not heard, in the middle of all the confusion), no matter the amount of atmospheric brouhaha. Movement is always accurate, localization is superb. Explosions? As beautiful sounding as the harbingers of death can be. The finale, the battle in the ruined city, is, believe it or not, the highlight of this release, at least audibly speaking, with the deepest bass, coming from the tanks, which appear for the first time in the film in the foreground. This film is bookended by extremely active, bombastic audio, but everything in between is certainly perfect, as well. One of the best audio tracks laid down on Blu-ray.
Now, one last thing. There have been reports from readers about the audio going "out of sync" from chapter 15 onward. Using my Playstation 3, I noticed lips did line up with spoken word, and, realistically, some shots show impact before their sound is heard. I could not register a complaint using my primary player. Utilizing my LG BH100, I found no sync issues in the reported problem areas. It appears that this is an issue affecting particular players. Since I cannot get the glitch to work on either of my players, I cannot dock this release based on the reports of others. |
Kal
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