8mm Forum: No Blu-ray for me

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Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on April 17, 2008, 04:09 PM:

My local Border's book store has now devoted an area for new Blu Ray DVD releases. I was scanning their shelves today and was totally dismayed by the titles they were offering. All modern violent crap for the teenage crowd. Count me out, I will stay with standard DVD where the cream of the films are.

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on April 17, 2008, 04:23 PM:

I cant agree more Paul. Ive always believed all the best films have already been made. Modern films are just full of swearing, computer special effects and the comedy just isnt funny. The biggest problem I have with modern films is that they are overlong by at least 30 mins and padded out so it goes over the 2 hour mark.

However, now and again there are gems to be had like the Aviator and Master and Commander. And LOTR is very long but is excellent when viewed on a large screen.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on April 17, 2008, 06:53 PM:

Although I would like to get a comparison between "The Searchers" 1956 filmed in VistaVision thats the 50th anniversary which I already own and the Blu-ray version thats now available on the shelf out here, anyone got a Blu-ray copy? otherwise I will report my findings on this title later this year when I connect a Blu-ray player to the Panasonic, other titles I have my eye on are "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" 1977 and some Harry Potter films as well others included are "Bullitt" 1968 with Steve McQueen which has one of the best car chases ever, and another John Wayne "The Cowboys" 1972 not a bad movie, although I have as yet to use Blu-ray I wonder if anyone would like to comment on the last Derann open day which I understand included a demo, and has anyone got one? and what is it like?.

Graham. [Smile]

Posted by Paul Stanley (Member # 1109) on April 18, 2008, 07:30 AM:

Mr Sinden. Have you seen "21" yet? A good film and still in Cinemas around the country.

Paul. Our national papers are giving us vintage war films over the next two weeks with each issue and these include: In which we serve, Aces High, Ill met by moonlight and Went the day well? If anyone here likes vintage films then its a good idea to get the Daily Mail for this and all next week.

The problem with Blu Ray as you say is that older films are not on said media. My own view is that they do not show HD at its best so this is why they are slow coming through. Its still early days for HD even yet, and as I work on HD Delivery (everyone else name drops on here) it will be some time before you see older titles on Blu Ray I feel. The best way to go is use a good DVD player with HDMI out to a decent large screen and to my eyes this looks just as good as HD but not on paper.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on April 18, 2008, 10:23 AM:

Has anyone bought one of those "up converter" DVD players, that take standard DVD and give them a 1080 boost up? I'm going to buy one but I'd love to hear from someone on the forum who may already have one.

I have heard that, while they do not match a blu-ray, they make the standard DVD a pretty decent comparison.

Posted by Paul Stanley (Member # 1109) on April 18, 2008, 10:51 AM:

Yes Osi. Read my message above.
Just for domestic use at home I use the Sony GX350 DVD recorder which has HDMI Upscaling to 1080P and also the Optoma HD80 projector which is near Cinema quality. A very good combo which is good value for money I feel.

Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on 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.

Posted by Trevor Adams (Member # 42) on April 22, 2008, 04:05 PM:

I watched a Blueray version of Casino Royale.Definition was stunning-I doubt an image could be sharper.However,the film left me cold.Bond's outrageous pranks were in the same catagory as the ultra-violence seen in a Tom & Jerry cartoon! Beyond unbelievable-LAUGHABLE! [Smile]

Trev

Posted by Alan Paterson (Member # 661) on 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

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