Blu-ray, in General

[Donald Brown]

ISF calibration will definitely improve a display beyond what one can achieve alone using a calibration disc like Avia or Video Essentials, though one of those should be used at a bare minimum.

In addition to increasing the sharpness (which actually reduces sharpness), people tend to boost the brightness and contrast levels, thinking more must be better. I don't know how they don't get a headache from the blaring volume and garish, blinding light from the their TVs.

[flyonthewall2983]

Many multi-channel mixes are front heavy to begin with. Many audiophiles don't think any more than two channels are necessary, anyway. Multi-channel rarely enhances a film in any significant way, and more often offers a distraction when the mix is artlessly done. It's nearly as big a gimmick as 3-D.

I'm more interested in music in 5.1. I listened to Steven Wilson's Insurgentes, which has a 5.1 mix, on a 7.1 system. Surprisingly there was some action in the rear speakers. I'm looking forward to purchasing the Blu-Ray for his latest album Grace For Drowning. Aside from the music, there's plenty of visual material (videos, pictures, lyrics, etc.) which makes it more than just a simple 5.1 mix. I bought it on iTunes and am quite familiar with the songs already, which I think is the best way to prepare your ears for a surround mix. Taking it in all at once spoils the surprise a good surround mix can bring.

I'm hoping it signals a move towards BD as a new format for more artists to get behind. People lament the loss of certain things once the industry transitioned from vinyl to CD, partly having to do with the artwork. An artist smart enough (like Wilson) can use this format to resurrect that part of the experience in a huge way. Just imagine if an artist like Storm Thorgerson or Roger Dean back in the day had this technology to use as a tool for their artwork.

[manicsounds]

Universal Japan will release it on 2/3/2012, with all the 2-disc DVD extras.

[eerik]

Amazon UK has put up placeholders for the following Warner Bros titles:
Get Carter
House of Wax 3D
Best in Show
Little Shop of Horrors
Dave
Fallen
House of Dark Shadows
Night of Dark Shadows
Alfred Hitchcock Collection
Strangers on a Train
To Catch a Thief
Dial M for Murder 3D
The American President
The Iron Giant

[mfunk9786]

What's a DVD?

[Noiretirc]

What's a DVD?

It's what some Luddites still use for their viewing pleasure of films, knowing that 100 percent technical perfection is a complete fallacy, no matter how expensive your system is, or how beautifully manufactured (oh...wait!) these Blus are. (Oh dear, I'm going to get into a lot of trouble now, aren't I?)

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

DVDs are these little discs that people like me who can't afford to upgrade to blu still use to enjoy movies. So will the White DVD be reissued (like Carlos will be) or has Criterion not yet made a statement about it?

[mfunk9786]

I don't mean to be an antagonist on the level of aox, do what you please: But it's really hard not to be able to afford to upgrade to Blu-ray at this point.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Thanks, I'll upgrade when those LCD HDTVs are as cheap as blu-ray players.

[knives]

I've got a player and only this past month have I gotten an HDTV (and even than it was a gift). You know that they play on regular teevees too?

[Noiretirc]

I don't mean to be an antagonist on the level of aox, do what you please: But it's really hard not to be able to afford to upgrade to Blu-ray at this point.

Agree, the prices are close. But my 25 dollar DVD player and my 15 year old CRT tv (as well as my non perfectionist technical sensibilities wrt film viewing) just don't care. Those god damned DVDs look quite fine to me.

Oh Christ I've hijacked this thread with this and I'm going to be scolded, I know it.....

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Yes. I'd like to enjoy a set-up that makes use of the blu disc picture quality, though. A regular TV for The Red Shoes blu-ray? That seems to defeat the point. I'd also like to wait and see when (if?) the region-free blu player situation improves at all.

[matrixschmatrix]

Might as well continue in this direction now that it's gone there.

My only genuinely HD screen is on my computer (which does actually have a blu player) but I buy blus in preference to dvds because a.) at some point I'll have a better TV and I don't want to rebuy everything, b.) if you want to resell stuff blus hold value better, c.) blus don't scratch as easily, d.) there's a bunch of stuff that requires less disc switching on blu, e.) there are a few blu-exclusives out there, f.) I like chapter stops and the way the menus work on Criterions, and g.) probably some more stuff.

I mean, I'm not in a rush to upgrade everything I've got, but blus are pretty preferable and if you care about PQ you're going to be kicking yourself when you do have a setup that really makes you notice the difference and you start the long, long process of upgrading.

[knives]

The disc switching thing is the only reason I upgraded. I hate the figure eight cases that Criterion has.

[aox]

What's a blu-ray?

[MichaelB]

I mean, I'm not in a rush to upgrade everything I've got, but blus are pretty preferable and if you care about PQ you're going to be kicking yourself when you do have a setup that really makes you notice the difference and you start the long, long process of upgrading.

...which is why I find it so bizarre that people complain about dual-format releases. After all, one of their main functions is to ensure that upgrading is comparatively painless.

Put it like this: if Criterion had gone down the dual-format route, I might actually have bought one of their releases over the last three years. Now that I'm multi-region, I'm starting to catch up, but there's next to no chance that I'll end up buying as many as I would have done otherwise.

[Noiretirc]

My only genuinely HD screen is on my computer (which does actually have a blu player) but I buy blus in preference to dvds because a.) at some point I'll have a better TV and I don't want to rebuy everything, b.) if you want to resell stuff blus hold value better, c.) blus don't scratch as easily, d.) there's a bunch of stuff that requires less disc switching on blu, e.) there are a few blu-exclusives out there, f.) I like chapter stops and the way the menus work on Criterions, and g.) probably some more stuff.

I mean, I'm not in a rush to upgrade everything I've got, but blus are pretty preferable and if you care about PQ you're going to be kicking yourself when you do have a setup that really makes you notice the difference and you start the long, long process of upgrading.

Agree, and I know that I'll have a nice setup in future years. I do actually have a few Blus for that eventuality. And let's face it, in any related store now, the Blu shelves are bigger than the DVD shelves. The writing is on the wall. I just thank the heavens that a Blu setup will still play my old DVDs, which I'll never complain about, tech-wise.

[domino harvey]

Interesting to see that Sony's gone dual format only (no just DVD or Blu-ray releases) for some of their upcoming titles like Restless and Higher Ground. Which would be an interesting bordering on applaud-worthy decision were it not for the mind-blowing $44.99 MSRPs

[fdm]

Wondered why those two started out at such extreme prices. Tree Of Life was dual format only as well (although I see a "rental ready" dvd is also for sale; whether it's supposed to be or not, heck if I know).

Bugs me to be paying for two (or more) discs in various shapes and sizes when I only want the blu-rays. Even if it is "just" an extra dollar or two (which it just about always is), if not more so.

[SamLowry]

Anyone else annoyed that Blu Ray releases now rarely contain the full soundtrack? After just completing the Three Colors trilogy, I can't help but lament the absence of Preisner's complete scores in at least 24/192. I would have taken this over any of the special features included on the discs. Given Blu-Ray's potential for storage, it's sad to see that more releases don't include the complete soundtrack too for the menu or as the audio track to a slideshow for posters, stills & promotional material...which is much preferable to 95% of the commentaries I've heard.

[Matt]

It's not like that was ever a common feature on DVDs.

[MichaelB]

There may well be copyright issues - you'd certainly need contractual permission to separate substantial chunks of the soundtrack from the original context, just as you also need explicit permission to feature clips from the main feature in the extras.

Which is very straightforward if the label is affiliated to the production company and therefore owns everything outright (i.e. a Hollywood major), but a fair bit fiddlier otherwise.

[manicsounds]

"Gate Of Hell" (1953) Japanese Blu-ray, their first color film and US Academy Award Winner

[knives]

I thought Carmen Comes Home was the first Japanese colour film?

[manicsounds]

sorry, my mistake.