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Topic: No Blu-ray for me
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Claus Harding
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1149
From: Washington DC
Registered: Oct 2006
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posted April 18, 2008 11:13 PM
It's true that a lot of material on Blu-Ray, for the moment, is forgettable, but the classics are slowly coming along.
We just got a 58-Inch Panasonic plasma 1080-resolution screen. Since the early Blu-Ray players are so slow and cranky in dealing with the discs, we bought a Sony Playstation to use as a dedicated Blu-Ray player.
It is currently the best choice by far as it can be updated via the internet as the Blu-Ray playback demands evolve. It is also, rare today, a solid, hefty machine unlike the flimsy players we are used to.
Films look amazing. The combination of the bigger screen and the relaxation of the eye from the increased resolution (TV, Blu-Ray) is very noticeable.
We watched the German film 'Other People's Lives' in HiDef 1:2.35 and the combination of the Blu-Ray transfer and the stunning deep blacks of the Panasonic make for one heck of a nice viewing experience. Next up is Ridley Scott's re-cut of 'Blade Runner.'
Among regular DVDs, my Superbit copy of 'Das Boot' looks very, very nice for a regular-resolution disc. Same with the reg. DVD release of 'Glengarry Glen Ross'; a good transfer goes a long way.
But the ones I am really looking forward to are some of the Criterion Collection discs, which were already mastered from HiDef sources for regular DVD release. Their Bergman films already look stunning in 'regular'; I can't wait to see the Blu-Rays.
Claus.
-------------------- "Why are there shots of deserts in a scene that's supposed to take place in Belgium during the winter?" (Review of 'Battle of the Bulge'.)
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Alan Paterson
Film Handler
Posts: 70
From: Hants, UK
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted April 22, 2008 05:03 PM
I think we'll start to see a wider range of Classics start to appear in the Blu-ray format. Then we'll be able to enjoy our own kind of movies. I've got 'The Searchers' on HD-DVD and it looks superb - much better than the DVD, projected on a 7 foot screen. I also have 'The Cowboys'in HD-DVD - not such a great transfer, but perfectly acceptable. One of the worst transfers on HD I've seen is 'Rio Bravo'. Looks like it was taken from a ropey old print. The contrast is way too high, it's too dark, skin tones look odd. The DVD is much better but a bit softer. I'm stocking up on HD-DVD titles, which at the moment can be bought for £4.99 each on-line. Some of the best sales have been in the land of Oz. I watched 'Viva Las Vegas', the old Elvis pic last night. Fantastic print quality - and I also remembered how much I fancied Ann Margret as a youngster.
I like my Bond movies to have a smile on their face, so am looking forward to the Roger Moore pics coming out on Bluray - although the ultimate edition standard definition DVDs are very good. I suspect taken from HD masters. Bond should be enjoyable entertainment.
Bluray will help keep movies alive for those of us who love good quality - and I think that's most of us here.
Alan
-------------------- If God had meant us to run, we'd have been born with spikes in our feet.
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