DVDBeaver Comparisons

[Gary Tooze]

New:

Zoke Culture - Region 0 - NTSC "Riding Alone For Thousands of Miles" vs. Sony Region 1, 4 - NTSC

NOTE: We have added some comparing screen caps taken from HD source in our Casablanca comparison and it is Feature DVD of the Month.

New...

MGM (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC "Goldfinger" vs. MGM (Remastered - single edition) - Region 1,3 - NTSC

SE


Remastered


New...

Universal - Region 1 - NTSC All Quiet on the Western Front vs. Universal (Cinema Classics) - Region 1 - NTSC

Remarkable...

Original release


Cinema Classics


Cheers,

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

P.S. All Quiet on the Western Front should be posted soon and the differences in that (original vs. Cinema Classics) are dramatic.

[Gigi M.]

Excellent Gary,

When is Criterion's Bicycle Thieves do? Anytime soon?

[BusterK.]

The new All Quiet on the Western Front screencaps are a feast to the eyes! What a great improvement, Thanks Gary =D>

[Gary Tooze]

Just a non-comparison related note - As evidenced by our Paul Robeson: Portraits of the Artist review, Criterion appears to have abandoned their practice of 'pictureboxed' DVD transfers. I know many fans will be happy.

New...

Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC "Bicycle Thieves" vs. Arrow Film - Region 0 - PAL vs. Image - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Film Sans Frontieres - Region 0 - NTSC

Image Entertainment


Arrow - PAL


Criterion - NOTE: Criterion transfer is pictureboxed


http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Best,

[solent]

Just checked the Beaver review of Wenders vol. 2.
WRONG MOVE is seen as widescreen rather than 4:3. To my knowledge the film was made for German TV in 4:3 and the BFI VHS is in the same format. Has the film been cropped or opened up? Compared to Wenders' other films of the time most were in 4:3 but KINGS OF THE ROAD, made after WRONG MOVE was in 1.66:1. Without having the DVD I can't check it against the VHS.

[Gary Tooze]

New...

BFI - Region 2 - PAL "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" vs. Warner - Region 1, 4 - NTSC
Infinity Arthouse (2-disc) - Region 0 - PAL "Ginger and Fred" vs. Warner - Region 1 - NTSC

P.S. 49th Parallel and Caprice on deck. Review of When a Woman Ascends the Stairs soon as well.
I love this film....

Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1- NTSC "49th Parallel" vs. Carlton - Region 0 - PAL vs. Warner Home Vidéo (2-disc) - Region 2 - PAL

From the new Lions Gate Hitch set... full review coming soon, but we recommend the upcoming Optimum set.

Studio Canal (2-disc) - Region 2 - PAL "The Manxman" vs. Lions Gate - Region 1- NTSC

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Best,

[peerpee]

I prefer the framing of the Lions Gate set. I hope the forthcoming Optimum set has that framing. The rounded corners, the edge of the film frame, show how much is lost on the Studio Canal by zooming in to remove those rounded corners. Gimme rounded corners everyday!

[justeleblanc]

I'm wondering if Lionsgate is going to release a second Hitchcock box at a late date. Would make sense since there are 4 more titles that Optimum is releasing, unless Criterion or someone already owns them in R1, but then I find it hard to believe.

[Matt]

It is my contention that Lions Gate didn't do much here - they purchased (or were given) the Studio Canal's transfer - compressed it a bit - stuck it on three DVDs with some basic packaging, added subs to 2 of the 3 discs and stuck a video supplement in.

It's pretty clear from the screen captures provided that these are completely different transfers. I like the framing and the visible grain of the Lionsgate set, although the forthcoming Optimum set may be the best bargain and will probably use the same transfers as the Lionsgate set.

[charulata]

Yes, love rounded corners too - but only square ones on the Optimum. Looks to be the same as existing Studio Canal R2 France.

Check this splendid site, Alfred Hitchcock DVD Wiki, already referenced in this thread, for captures from the set and comparisons to other available versions.

[Anthony]

Gary,

Did Criterion windowbox When A woman Asends the Stairs just like they did to the Yojimbo/Sanjuro release? I can't tell from your screen captures.

[Gary Tooze]

Hi Anthony,

No. They didn't. Pretty tight to the frame edges.

Regards,
Gary

[justeleblanc]

It is my contention that Lions Gate didn't do much here - they purchased (or were given) the Studio Canal's transfer - compressed it a bit - stuck it on three DVDs with some basic packaging, added subs to 2 of the 3 discs and stuck a video supplement in.

It's pretty clear from the screen captures provided that these are completely different transfers. I like the framing and the visible grain of the Lionsgate set, although the forthcoming Optimum set may be the best bargain and will probably use the same transfers as the Lionsgate set.

I'm wondering if the 4 remaining Hitch titles not included in the Lionsgate set will be Eclipse titles further down the road (along with maybe even a few others). So I'm not sure if the Optimum is the way to go just yet.

[tryavna]

I prefer the framing of the Lions Gate set. I hope the forthcoming Optimum set has that framing. The rounded corners, the edge of the film frame, show how much is lost on the Studio Canal by zooming in to remove those rounded corners. Gimme rounded corners everyday!

Yeah, as I recall, rounded corners were fairly common throughout the silent and early sound era. So it's not like Lions Gate has done anything terribly untoward here.

[Gary Tooze]

From Eric of the DVDBeaver ListServ:

"The zooming you speak of is a non-issue, it is the Lions Gate that is flawed here. The rounded corners of the film frame are apparent in many of the screencaps. These portions are meant to be cropped off and should not be shown. We are never *really* seeing the full 35mm frame, even if the film is "full frame", though this is entirely normal. I think the rounded corners (plus slight pictureboxing) would be more distracting, actually, and not faithful to what the theatrical projection would have been like"

I recall in a conversation with Peter Becker, we specifically discussed this and he agrees with Eric - the rounded corners are NOT meant to be seen. If you have seen it - it was probably on lazy Image Entertainment or Kino transfers.

Best,

[tryavna]

I recall in a conversation with Peter Becker, we specifically discussed this and he agrees with Eric - the rounded corners are NOT meant to be seen.

Of course, this is the man who still denies there's anything wrong with the aspect ratio of Criterion's Gertrud.

Actually, I think the question boils down to exactly when it became standard practice not to project the entire aperture. It's true that we're not meant to see the corners any more. But as I recall, the rounded corners were a Kodak innovation c. 1924 to increase steadiness, and I've never been sure if Kodak intended those corners to cropped off or if the studios made that decision or if it became a convention due to what projectionists were actually doing.

I'd be genuinely interested to know; perhaps someone's done the historical research. But I've seen plenty of rounded corners -- and not just from Image and Kino. (I seem to recall that even Peter Ustinov's 1949 film Vice Versa employs rounded corners during the opening titles to recreate the feel of a magic latern show/nickelodeon.)

[Gary Tooze]

Two more...

Optimum (Optimum Buñuel Box) - Region 2 - PAL "Belle de Jour" vs. Warner (Buñuel box 1) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Miramax - Region 1 - NTSC vs. RusCiCo. - Region 0 - PAL

Genius Products/The Weinstein Company (Special Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC "Police Story 2" vs. Fortune Star (Police Story Series) - Region 0 - NTSC

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Cheers,

[HerrSchreck]

I recall in a conversation with Peter Becker, we specifically discussed this and he agrees with Eric - the rounded corners are NOT meant to be seen.

Of course, this is the man who still denies there's anything wrong with the aspect ratio of Criterion's Gertrud.

Actually, I think the question boils down to exactly when it became standard practice not to project the entire aperture. It's true that we're not meant to see the corners any more. But as I recall, the rounded corners were a Kodak innovation c. 1924 to increase steadiness, and I've never been sure if Kodak intended those corners to cropped off or if the studios made that decision or if it became a convention due to what projectionists were actually doing.

I'd be genuinely interested to know; perhaps someone's done the historical research. But I've seen plenty of rounded corners -- and not just from Image and Kino. (I seem to recall that even Peter Ustinov's 1949 film Vice Versa employs rounded corners during the opening titles to recreate the feel of a magic lantern show/nickelodeon.)

I for one happen to adore seeing the aperture marks rounding the corners. I even love the idea of seeing the sprocket holes, as in the YEVGENI BAUER MAD LOVE set. There's no greater assurance that you're getting a fullframe transfer. I see it as True Cineaste Telecine greatly pleasing to those interested in the art of cinematography. As I have anamorphic controls on my monitor, I have the option of cropping those corners off if I want (I never do).

Besides, there are CC transfers where the marks are visible (JOAN OF ARC comes immediately to mind). I love the idea of seeing what the director sees when holding the frame up to the light, or what the cinematographer saw when looking thru the viewfinder on an academy OAR pic. When one is a collector beyond a certain level of fanaticism, I'd imagine the idea is to come as close as possible to having the equivalent of having the reels themselves sitting on your shelf-- like old time collectors purchasing 16's. Those marks were visible on the reels, and ideal situation would be dvd-controllable zoom/monitor controls to simulate the framing possibilities presented by a projector. But I don't like being deprived of anything that's on the reels themselves. Hence the irritation with electronic intertitles vs subtitles.

[Gregory]

I can see the appeal of that in cases where filmmakers could rest assured that if they composed to the very edge it would not be cut off. To make an analogy, the black border on Cartier-Bresson's photographs from the natural boundaries of the negative shows not only that the exact framing is important but also that he got it right when he took the photograph. On the other hand, I believe a lot of filmmakers have had to assume that some of the edges will be lost so they leave a little extra dead space. We don't necessarily benefit from seeing that extra space in terms of a nicely framed image, only in the pleasure in itself that comes from knowing that everything is there. But we're not talking about a big difference here, so my point is probably a trivial one.

[Napoleon]

Criterions Umberto D. has rounded corners.

Good to see that Becker is keeping on top of things.

[Kinsayder]

I prefer the framing of the Lions Gate set. I hope the forthcoming Optimum set has that framing. The rounded corners, the edge of the film frame, show how much is lost on the Studio Canal by zooming in to remove those rounded corners. Gimme rounded corners everyday!

From the screenshots that Matt posted in this thread, it looks like The Manxman may be the only title in the Lions Gate box to have those funky rounded corners.

[Gary Tooze]

One more....

Columbia Tri-Star - Region 1 - NTSC "A Man For All Seasons" vs. Sony (Special Edition) - Region 1, 4 - NTSC

Old Release


New Special Edition


One new...

Anchor Bay - Region 1- NTSC "Highlander" vs. Kinowelt (2 Disc 'Steelbook' Special Edition) - Region 2, 8 - PAL

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Best,

[mbalson]

Gary,
Just looking over Per-Olof's review of Bergman's Prison and the screen caps are riddled with compression artifacts. Are these part of the original DVD image or are the caps compressed?

If it's the DVD itself then it surely would have benefitted from being on a DVD9 even with it's short running time.

[Gary Tooze]

A fair question Martin ( I know its Mark ),

The caps are at 95% (only 5% compression) so what you are seeing is probably the way it will look if you own the DVD. I know Per-Olaf is very high on it and I trust his judgement - he usually screens through projection and if he didn't notice I probably won't either. Caps look pretty good to me for a single-layered job.

Two new by Eddie....

Genius Products/The Weinstein Company - Region 1 - NTSC "Infernal Affairs II" vs. Media Asia (Limited Edition Trilogy Box Set) - Region 0 - NTSC

Genius Products/The Weinstein Company - Region 1 - NTSC "Infernal Affairs III" vs. Media Asia (Limited Edition Trilogy Box Set) - Region 0 - NTSC

2 new...

Kock Vision (Screen Sirens Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" vs. 20th Century Fox (Hemingway Film Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC

20th Century Fox (Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC "The Hustler" vs. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Special Edition) - Region 2, 4 - PAL

The Snows of Kilimanjaro

Koch Vision


20th Century Fox


Another. A film I thoroughly enjoyed...

Optimum - Region 2- PAL "Lovers of the Arctic Circle" vs. Home Vision - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Tartan Region 2- PAL vs. Soqepaq Video - Region 2 - PAL

One more...

Cinema Club - Region 2 - PAL "The Sun Also Rises" vs. 20th Century Fox (Hemingway Film Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Cheers,

[Lino]

Gary, any chances the other titles in the R2 Optimum Buñuel set get comparison reviews too?