Best High Definition Discs

[Darth Lavender]

As discussed in my last post on the "HDDVD vs Bluray" thread. That thread is getting awfully big and covering an awful lot of topics, so I think it's time for a few High Definition threads.

I think the best way to split the topics for now is to have one thread about general High Definition issues (why do colors look more vibrant on HD? what titles are coming soon? (wether HDDVD or Bluray) Reviews of individual HDDVD and Bluray disks, etc. etc.
Particularly, I think this thread needs a firm rule against the HDDVD vs Bluray bickering which can sometimes overwhelm the other thread (and where it is quite suitable.)

So, to get the thread started, I'm wondering why HD disks (note: when I say "HD" (not HDDVD) I mean either High Definition format,) seem to consistantly have more vibrant (and, often, 'cooler') colors than the standard DVD counterparts. Is there some technological reason that S-DVD can't have these kinds of colors? (I know the HD is supposed to have more 'realistic' color, because of the greater bandwidth (so, as I understand it, less banding, etc.) but are the more vibrant colors (which really do tend to look great) simply engineers amping up the contrast on the theory that HD consumers want 'stunning' images (regardless of how the colors *should* look)?

Also, a minor point (prompted by the color discussion,) is Casino worth upgrading? I've heard it described as having truly amazing colors, but I am pretty content with my S-DVD (which, upscaled on my computer to 720p, is well within shouting distance of the average HD disk, anyway.)

[Luke M]

I just got done watching the Studio Canal HD-DVD of La Haine and I was blown away. This was probably one of the nicest HD discs I've seen. The movie just looks simply breathtaking.

I would consider it a must-buy for all those with a HD-DVD player.

I did notice there were some subtle difference in the subtitle translation. And there are no supplements which is why I will be holding onto my Criterion. But if you are a fan of the movie, I certainly recommend checking it out. Cheapest price online for us, US folks appears to be sendit.com

[denti alligator]

Thanks for the recommendation, Luke. Is the Studio Canal disc different from the UK version sold at xploitedcinema.com?

EDIT: Looks like this is the one you're talking about.

I just got my player, and so far have only sampled some discs. I have shipment coming from amazon soon. Planet Earth looks incredible. Last night I watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and it too is a stunner in HD.

Coming my way soon:
Mutiny on the Bounty, The Searchers, Rio Bravo, The Big Lebowski, The Bourne Identity/Supremacy, Forbidden Planet, Adventures of Robin Hood, Goodfellas, 12 Monkeys, + more. That amazon sale was a pocketbook saver! I have The Host and Casino here now and will watch those soon. I've heard that The Host has a glitch, so I'll report on that soon.

[Cosmic Bus]

In terms of overall transfer quality, particularly for its age, and sheer 'eye-popping-ness'(?) Warner's Grand Prix disc is a true stunner.

Magnolia's World's Fastest Indian is another extremely striking transfer, and one I would not've expected to be bowled over by. Planet Earth is a must, and I adore my German HD copy of Perfume; talk about a movie tailor made for the richness and detail of high def.

[Luke M]

Good to hear about Perfume. I haven't had much luck finding reviews on it.

[denti alligator]

I adore my German HD copy of Perfume; talk about a movie tailor made for the richness and detail of high def.

Is the film any good? I heard it was a clunker. I read the book ages ago (in German, in fact), and thought it was fun, but nothing to write home about.

[Luke M]

I haven't seen the movie yet and it doesn't seem too cheap a disc to come by. Decisions, decisions.

[denti alligator]

Calling david hare!

David, can you confirm that the French HD DVD of Mulholland Drive has issues? Have you tried it on other machines/displays? Have you seen other reviews that observe the same problems? I really, really want to get this--but will of course avoid if flawed.

Also, if you set your player to output 720p (to avoid the banding), won't your display upconvert it to 1080p, with hardly a difference in quality?

[denti alligator]

Ocean's Eleven, Twelve and 13 all coming to HD DVD in Germany on Oct. 12.

[Luke M]

I watched Casablanca recently and wasn't too impressed. Yes, it was better looking than the DVD but nothing worth going ga-ga over. If HD becomes the norm I certainly won't be rushing out to replace older movies.

[denti alligator]

The Bourne Identity , which I just watched, looks amazing. Superb disc.

Rio Bravo, from a few minutes skipping through different chapters, looks disappointing. Too dark, too brown. David, you were right. I'll watch the whole thing tomorrow and give report in full.

Right after The Bourne Identity I watched I Shot Jesse James (what a great film!), upconverted to 1080p, and it looked fantastic. I was getting concerned that HD would spoil me and SDs would start looking disappointing. Hardly the case with this Eclipse title.

[Luke M]

Some discs I checked out over the weekend:

Pitch Black - WOW! The scenes where the tint is bright yellow look gorgeous. The night scenes also look exceptionally well. If you enjoyed the movie, I can't recommend it enough.

Casino - Wasn't blown away, the transfer looked great but nothing in particular popped out at me.

Le Pacte des loups - This transfer looked perfect till about halfway through the movie and then I noticed some scenes had some serious grain issues. It seemed to be a bit more noticeable with the scenes at night. The scenes that look good rank up there with the best but the bad is real bad.

[denti alligator]

To confirm: Rio Bravo is unexceptional. At times it looks great, but most of the time it looks no better than a SD DVD. The transfer is too brown, first of all, so everything looks darker than it should.

[Darth Lavender]

Quickly summing up my own DVDs...

King Kong - Just plain magnificient transfer. The level of detail in the later city scenes is incredible, and the depth of field and three-dimensionality to the jungle is magnificient.
However, I really can't recommend this for the simple reason that we all know Universal is bound to release the Director's Cut in HD eventually. (I got mine free with the X-Box)

The Departed - This actually surpassed, quite considerably, my theatre experience. Colors were so much more vibrant, and although this isn't the most obvious 'HD' movie (drama, lots of close-ups, etc.) there's occasional moments were the format is able to shine (wide-shots of boston, etc.) and all the things like fabric detail, etc. are truly first rate.

Sleepy Hollow - Closer to SD, but that's probably how the film was shot. I saw some beautiful fine-grain in many scenes, and although the overall impression is "not much sharper than SD" there are plenty of individual shots throughout the film (especially with fallen leaves in the foreground, etc.) that are undeniably and stunningly HD.


I'll comment on the rest of my HDs (Chronos, Forbidden Planet, Black Rain, Enter the Dragon, Hulk, Chronicles of Riddick and Mad Max 2) later.

[pro-bassoonist]

Apocalypto is absolutely stunning to look at!! Casino Royale is also magnificent.

I was also very impressed with The Lives of Others...very natural looking and tight print. Nothing to complain about, really!

Pro-B

[Luke M]

I'll have to check out both of those. I have a PS3 in transit to me and am itching to check out some movies.

I've noticed that exterior scenes almost always look better than interior ones. Which is why I really hope New Line releases The New World soon.

[denti alligator]

The Bourne Supremacy doesn't look nearly as good as The Bourne Identity. Not as much detail. Plus I could've sworn I saw a couple-few jaggies. The film isn't nearly as good, either. The whole last third is pointless. Why does Bourne need to go tell this girl that he actually killed her parents when it'll be all over the papers the next day anyway? At least now I can go see the third installment.

[souvenir]

Why does Bourne need to go tell this girl that he actually killed her parents when it'll be all over the papers the next day anyway?

To quell his guilt. One of the twelve steps in the reformed government assassin help program.

[Darth Lavender]

Just watched "The Mummy" on HiDef... Overall, a disappointment (but that has a lot to do with the movie itself.)

Daytime scenes out in the desert (20, maybe 30 minutes of the whole film,) are genuine demo material. Sharp, slight grain, etc. (although there are also some mild scratches, etc. on the film)

Unfortunately, so much of the film is set in dimly let tombs and night-time camps, that I really have to call this a disappointment. Fine encoding, etc. but far too much of this film looks no better than SD.

As for the movie itself, I had only seen it once (on TV,) and found it a little funnier than I expected but ultimately nothing special. My HD viewing just reinforced that view. It was 'OK,' but this is the first HD movie that I actually regret buying.

Going out on a positive note, those (too brief) desert scenes really were magnificent, though. Now, more than I ever, I want to see Lawrence Of Arabia on HD (or Bluray, via a cheap enough drive.)

Also picked up Apollo 13 (which I don't think I've seen since it was a new release on VHS,) but haven't had time to watch that one yet.

[Luke M]

The Matrix looks amazing. Even though a lot of scenes are very dark the picture is still crystal clear. The only bad thing is that now every scene that takes place in "The Matrix" is tinted green and it became very distracting especially since I had watched the original DVD so many times and became very used to it. Why must directors change their original films to match their greatly inferior sequels?

[denti alligator]

The Host is one of the best looking HD DVDs I've watched. Incredible. Only problem is it freezes on my player twice, and requires you to skip ahead one second to keep it going. Seems this is a problem lots of people are having, so there's no point in trying to get a replacement.

[Cosmic Bus]

I was pleasantly surprised with the Big Lebowski's transfer. Not a movie I'd have expected to be so lovely in HD, although Deakins' camerawork doesn't hurt.

Picked up a copy of the Departed last night on the cheap, and am looking forward to watching it again. Wasn't all that impressed when I saw it theatrically, so we'll see how much weight a nice high-def picture has on my opinion of things.

Has anyone seen the French Graduate disc and might comment on the picture, and whether or not there are forced subs?

denti: My copy of the Host does the same thing; good(?) to hear it isn't just bad luck on my end of things.

[denti alligator]

Starz's Blu-ray releases of Day of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead are the first that really make me wish I had Blu-ray capabilities, too.

[Luke M]

I'll have to check out The Big Lebowski. Out of Sight blew me away, not a movie I thought would have a great transfer but simply gorgeous.

The upcoming Spider-Man trilogy and The Seventh Seal pushed me over the edge to purchase a PS3.

[Luke M]

The Searchers looks like it was shot yesterday. The landscape is simply beautiful.