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Topic: Mastered in High Definition

Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2007 08:16 AM

We Watched 'Rocky Balboa' last night on the VP. The film was good, typical Rocky stuff set in Philly, and we enjoyed it. But the picture quality was crap - very grainy with really weak colors. To me it looked almost like home video! I looked at the DVD box and it said 'Mastered in High Definition'. Does this mean the film was shot on HD video cameras and not film? Or does it mean that a HD master tape was used to generated the DVD copies? Is 'Mastered in High Definition' supposed to represent an improvement in picture quality over 35mm film? If so, I think we are being sold a bill of goods.

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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 22, 2007 08:26 AM

Paul,

"Rocky Balboa" was shot on film except for the climactic bout, which was shot in HD to give it that pay-per-view feel.

Doug

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Joerg Polzfusz
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 815
From: Berlin, Germany, Europe, Earth, Solar System
Registered: Apr 2006

posted March 22, 2007 05:05 PM

quote:
'Mastered in High Definition'. ... does it mean that a HD master tape was used to generated the DVD copies?

I would think so. If this is correct, it would also mean that they've used better machines for the transfer, ... .
But it could also mean that they used a DI for the final print instead of "normal" intermediates... and used this DI as source for the DVD instead of scanning the final film again. ...
... But when it comes to the final quality, you can most likely ignore these "buzzwords" as another case of "digital mumbojumbo" to confuse the average costumer.

Jörg

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Claus Harding
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1149
From: Washington DC
Registered: Oct 2006

posted March 22, 2007 07:26 PM

Hello,
One place where I have seen the difference is in some of the films the Criterion Collection offers on DVD, using a newly re-done HiDef master as the source.
I have 'conventional' NTSC (US) TV here in Washington, and having viewed several of Bergman's greatest works recently, I was blown away at the incredible image quality extracted from the 35mm parts, even when viewed in standard resolution.
When done with care, the difference does show up. I can't wait to re-visit these masterpieces one day when Criterion has released them in HiDef (and I have the gear to show it.)

Best,
Claus Harding.

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"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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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

posted April 10, 2007 01:40 PM

I hear you guys. I look forward to Criterion releasing a restored print of Orson Welles "Chimes at Midnight" (also called "Falstaff"), Orson Welles last classic that's rarely seen. They did just release a deluxe edition of "Confidential Reporter" (Mr. Arkaddin), with THREE different versions of the film!!

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