Blu-Ray Best Of The Best - for discussing releases only

[Lyris]

I'm not really an expert on telecine technology, but yes, the new transfers will have more detail since they're direct scans. Big budget films like Independence Day and Terminator will already have been re-transferred with that technology though, but as you say, the extra resolution on BD will probably be even more revealing.

[Strider]

I personally think Dark City looks stunning. yes it's spoiled by New Line's insistance on going post production crazy and I'll certainly agree with Lyris on the waxiness you can sometimes see in character's faces, but I was really impressed with this and would personally give it 7/8 out of ten.

It absolutely ****s on the original DVd release from a gigantic height, and I'f I'm honest that all I ever really wanted from this fantastic film.

[JP]

Oh, and Warner are stiffing us Brits again!

We get http://www.play.com/DVD/Blu-ray/4-/6...y/Product.html

USA gets http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=68375

Those dam Yankies eh?

The Matrix Trilogy hasn't been announced by Warner for anywhere yet and Play have had that listing up long before it was announced for release on blu-ray.

We may end up getting a set like that as we did with Blade Runner but all they've done is drop 3 DVDs with extras on as The Animatrix has been showing a seperate release on Play for ages too. As with Blade Runner you end up paying more over here but I'm really not convinced I would miss the DVDs at all if we didn't get them to be honest.

I notice also that the US version is using flippers like the HD DVD set did.

[Bydo]

The Matrix Trilogy hasn't been announced by Warner for anywhere yet and Play have had that listing up long before it was announced for release on blu-ray.

We may end up getting a set like that as we did with Blade Runner but all they've done is drop 3 DVDs with extras on as The Animatrix has been showing a seperate release on Play for ages too. As with Blade Runner you end up paying more over here but I'm really not convinced I would miss the DVDs at all if we didn't get them to be honest.

I notice also that the US version is using flippers like the HD DVD set did.

Hmmm? Didn't know that. I'll wait and see then. May end up getting the UK BD version and keeping my old 'Ultimate' DVD set. Thanks John.

[Lyris]

I personally think Dark City looks stunning. yes it's spoiled by New Line's insistance on going post production crazy and I'll certainly agree with Lyris on the waxiness you can sometimes see in character's faces, but I was really impressed with this and would personally give it 7/8 out of ten.

It absolutely ****s on the original DVd release from a gigantic height, and I'f I'm honest that all I ever really wanted from this fantastic film.

I think the cinematography is certainly stunning. But see my post #2185 for my opinion on comparisons to SD DVD

Pictures grabbed by Xylon at AVS:

DVD: http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...y/e75f1894.png
BD: http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...y/16cc8499.png

Waxy face vision: http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...y/4557f215.png

[dvdmike]

The Matrix Trilogy hasn't been announced by Warner for anywhere yet and Play have had that listing up long before it was announced for release on blu-ray.

We may end up getting a set like that as we did with Blade Runner but all they've done is drop 3 DVDs with extras on as The Animatrix has been showing a seperate release on Play for ages too. As with Blade Runner you end up paying more over here but I'm really not convinced I would miss the DVDs at all if we didn't get them to be honest.

I notice also that the US version is using flippers like the HD DVD set did.

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=68375

It has been announced for somewhere

[Miguel007]

Does anyone know if Sarah Connor Chronicles on Blu-Ray is region free - it looks as if Movietyme have got theirs in now but there is no mention on their Blog or website to say if it's Region Free?

[JP]

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=68375

It has been announced for somewhere

Not according to that link it hasn't, it says quite clearly that it's the Ultimate Matrix set that's been announced by Warner.

Wrong link maybe?

[dvdmike]

Sorry John thought you ment any Matrix Blu discs ! my bad

Forget Dark City the more alarming AVS news is that Escape from NY looks to be an upconvert and a bad one at that (either 480p/720p)

Does anyone know if the UK EIV dark city is an exact port of New Line's mess ?

[JP]

Not really sure how much of a bargain this is at the moment but Amazon.co.uk have the Band of Brothers tin boxed set for pre-order at ?37:49.

I'm not sure if it's been announced for the UK yet but they have it down for release on 10/11/08.

Although they are listing the RRP at ?49:99 the US RRP was $99.98 (available for $69:95 at Amazon.com) so I wouldn't be too surprised to see it being around ?69:99 over here.

[Miguel007]

Band Of Brothers is ?34.99 available to pre-order at HMV Online here:

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=-1;12;-1;-1&sku=838117&WT.ac=blu-ray-PBODY-BLU_PRODUCT_COMINGSOON4-838117

[Lyris]

Luverly packaging.

Wait, what, digitally remastered? Isn't this show from this decade and shot on film?

[Kit]

Should be interesting considering the DVD version is pretty much showcase quality.

Edit:

a few comparison shots with the HD DVD version.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=901348

[ne0star]

Watched a couple of bluray's over the last couple of days. First up the 'Perfect Storm'. In all honesty i'm not sure why I bought this as I didn't really think a great deal of it at the cinema, but its aged pretty well.

Unfortunatley the picture quality is pretty inconsistant. Where it tends to shine is in scenes that are shot in broad daylight. Colours are vibrant, and there is some excellent detail. However when it comes to the night time shots everything looks a bit 'flat'.

The water special effects still look fantastic though, bettering a lot of stuff done today. One of the side effects of the higher resolution is its now blatently obvious when they are shooting on a sound stage in a water tank.

next up is the spiderwick chronicles. I had my nephew over and he really wanted to see it. We all really enjoyed it, and I think the BluRay version made it even better. The picture quality was astonishing in places. It uses a lot of particle effects which were all pine sharp. The special effects in general were superb.

A lot of scenes are shot in dusty old attics with loads of trinkets and junk around which really benefit from the extra detail and resolution. It allowed you to imerse yourself in the environment a lot more.

I thought it was an excellent throwback to the more fantasy style films of the 80's like Labyrinth and the never ending story.

I think you can always tell a decent kids film when the 8 year old kid watching it is dealy silent all the way through.

[Atticus]

a few comparison shots with the HD DVD version.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=901348

Amazing comparison shots there. I'll definitely be placing a pre-order for this.