Underworld: Evolution R1 USA vs. R0 Thai

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Jun 2006, 15:32

This isn't going to be scientific as I'm relying on Reviews for the R1 Captures but it will give us a good idea of the two ratios being used:

R1 - NTSC, 2.40:1
R0 Thai - Native-PAL, 1.85:1 Open Matt

R1 Captures courtesy of DVD Times and DVD Talk:

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=61770
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=21890

R1 2.40:1 -

R0 Thai 1.85:1 Open Matt -

R1 2.40:1 -

R0 Thai 1.85:1 Open Matt -

R1 2.40:1 -

R0 Thai 1.85:1 Open Matt -

R1 2.40:1 -

R0 Thai 1.85:1 Open Matt -

R1 2.40:1 -

R0 Thai 1.85:1 Open Matt -

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Jun 2006, 15:37

The R1 definitely looks better IMO it's sharper and personally I much prefer the scope ratio but if you love your open matt extra information 16x9 then go for it.

I'm not convinced of the DVD Talk Captures they look much bluer than both the Thai or DVD Times captures.

The Thai DVD is acceptable quality, fair extras and very cheap. I can also confirm it's Native-PAL and Region 0.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 10 Jun 2006, 15:48

Rooted. I bet if it had been far more than £5, you'd be banging your head against the table.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 10 Jun 2006, 15:56

Does that mean you watched the film?

and it looks wonderfull opened up, the picture may not be as good maybe (hard to tell from such small images), but its not as constrictive thats for sure.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 10 Jun 2006, 15:57

Romero just likes the full titty fullscreen.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Jun 2006, 16:05

EvaUnit02 wrote:I bet if it had been far more than £5, you'd be banging your head against the table.

Yep but I wouldn't have bought it. I fancied seeing the film and a fiver it seemed worth while. It was intended to tide me over until the proper DVD comes.

I don't care the extras are a bit lame as I was expecting it to be bare-bones and bought it literally for the film.

EvaUnit02 wrote:Rooted.

What does that Kiwi slang mean?

romerojpg wrote:Does that mean you watched the film?

Nope. When? I didn't get up until 1 (weekends are for lie ins) so haven't had a chance. All I've seen is a few scenes I'm still none the wiser and it's made want to see it more now.

romerojpg wrote:hard to tell from such small images)

Blame that on DVD Talk and DVD Review. I had to resize the Thai captures to match.

To be fair to the Thai DVD isn't not a bad looking DVD at all, it's just not quite up there with the Hollywood best (not as sharp). Are you going to buy it?

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 10 Jun 2006, 16:07

Hey I may buy it for £5 now

my problem is once I know a opened up version is out there I ussually watch them side by side and a few films are far better opened up (not all it has to be said)

The Matrix is far better, and Titanic is definatly far better and Terminato 3 is amazing! if they cropped some shots then I would be pissed, but its just plain and simple removal of black bars, andsome films feel far better for it.

Problem is I ussually would rather never know about the full opened up version as they rarley become avilable on dvd sadly, the 3 mentioned above will never come to dvd like that

just the digital TV versions so far, but they were amazing.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 10 Jun 2006, 16:09

and how did you find the exact time spot to get the pics? someone tell you, as I cannot imagine you went thru the film?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Jun 2006, 16:15

FYI the Thai DVD defaults to Thai but can be changed via the remote. The menus are dual English and Thai.

It's funny 2.35:1 is supposed to expand the screen from the original 1.33:1 but often what you're seeing is actually cropped from 1.85:1.

romerojpg wrote:and how did you find the exact time spot to get the pics? someone tell you, as I cannot imagine you went thru the film?

A couple aren't exact but you better believe I went through it as that's what I did.

The first is only 1.25 minutes into the film, a couple happened to be right at the start or near the beginning of a chapter which helped and the rest I just skipped around a bit.

It won't spoil it for "me" as I wasn't paying any attention to the film.

romerojpg wrote:and Titanic is definatly far better

Where did you see that? Do you own any of the films you mentioned on DVD/VHS/DivX or just through captures? Which ones looked worse?

Personally I think they all look worse, they look all wrong in opened up.

romerojpg wrote:and how did you find the exact time spot to get the pics? someone tell you, as I cannot imagine you went thru the film?

Aren't you going to thank me? You wouldn't have known if it wasn't for little old me

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 10 Jun 2006, 16:19

bradavon wrote: What does that Kiwi slang mean?

That it's fucked, stuffed, etc.

"Root" equivalent slang:- fuck, shag, etc.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Jun 2006, 16:23

Rooted that it's bad quality, open matt or something else? Cheers btw.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 10 Jun 2006, 16:25

I watched all these opened up version on digital TV on the whole and a few dvds have been like that. Until you see one hold your judgement, as some scenes you miss important things and some amazing effects work too.

T3 was stunning as the action was much bigger the chase esspecially was supirior opened up, in fact it was ruined on dvd by cropping its fair to say.

I forget any bad ones, as they didnt stick in my mind

but some were opened up and has problems like sound booms, mistakes, crew etc.. in frame, which you are obviously not suposed to see. But others are 100% finished, as if they made it for that aspect ratio.

and I guess thanks then,

but also bugger as I am maybe going to waste 5 pound buying a dvd I am already going to buy

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 10 Jun 2006, 16:31

bradavon wrote:Rooted that it's bad quality, open matt or something else? Cheers btw.

Cuz it's bad quality and open matte.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Jun 2006, 18:54

Open Matt is good Eva. It's much better than cropping anyway but agreed I'd prefer the proper aspect ratio.

I watched all these opened up version on digital TV

Was it just by luck you happened to turn it over or is it advertised anywhere?

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 10 Jun 2006, 20:45

Do you have a problem with your "e" key, Brad ?

It's Open MattE.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Jun 2006, 21:40

Oh dear a frog telling me how to spell, you don't catch me correcting your Frog do you?

Seriously it's Matte or Mat:

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Matte
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Mat

Mat could be the American spelling of Matte I don't know.

But in this instance I was talking about an Open Guy named Matt so I was right

(okay that's bollocks Matt is wrong 8) )

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 10 Jun 2006, 21:56

I sometimes like to pronouce it "mattay." 8)

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 10 Jun 2006, 22:08

Odd. Thai cap #1 is cropped (as you would expect from a scope film) but the remaining Thai caps reveal MORE unmatted info top/bottom akin to Super 35. I'm puzzled at the discrepancy.

EDIT: The IMDB say the film was shot Super 35. They must've just blown up the first image to fit the frame?

2.35 is still the intended ratio.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Jun 2006, 23:22

BiscLimpkit wrote:I sometimes like to pronouce it "mattay." 8)

Markgway wrote:Odd. Thai cap #1 is cropped (as you would expect from a scope film) but the remaining Thai caps reveal MORE unmatted info top/bottom akin to Super 35. I'm puzzled at the discrepancy.

I know it's weird. I checked that scene a few times to make sure I had the right frame (i.e - as near as frame possible). The rest of the captures are more accurate of the general look, as is the really blue tinge but this must be deliberate considering the R1 is the same.

Underworld wasn't this blue.

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 10 Jun 2006, 23:45

A blue movie with Kate Beckinsale in it? How come no-one told me of this before?!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 11 Jun 2006, 00:01

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 11 Jun 2006, 00:49

As for how I found out the TV version were opened up, well I ussually tune into TV showings to check if they are cut etc.. and if they are opened up I sometimes stick the dvd in and run them at the same time and compare

its amazing sometimes the difference the opened up version come alive and seeing new stuff really makes you feel shit they cropped any of it out, the bastards!

Many films you see extra tits and bum etc.. in fact they have shown some opened up PG films, accidentaly exposing boobs which were not suposed to be shown ever

there used to be a thread on dvdtalk about shit like that, very interesting to see pictures of things that were always suposed to be covered for all time by black bars and the companies transfered them wrong for TV or Video or dvd

a few actresses I remember have took them to court over it as they were never suposed to show there bits

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 11 Jun 2006, 01:24

Cool, T&A lovely.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 11 Jun 2006, 01:58

I think my sig say a lot about the bits they may not want to show, not sure if Kristana Loken wanted to show that much, or the bum shots that were matted out either, but in the opened up versions she exposes more. Doesnt make the film better, but its nice to look at, but the action is better opened

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 11 Jun 2006, 07:08

bradavon wrote: It's much better than cropping anyway but agreed I'd prefer the proper aspect ratio.

True, but I still prefer the film in or close to the OAR.

It makes no noticeable difference if soft-matted 1.85:1 films are opened up a little at the top and bottom in-order to fill a 1.78:1 screen (a transfer preserving the 1.85:1 ratio would've been over-scanned anyway on most TVs), but I'd rather a Scope film remain matted close to the OAR.

romerojpg wrote: not sure if Kristana Loken wanted to show that much, or the bum shots that were matted out either, but in the opened up versions she exposes more. Doesnt make the film better, but its nice to look at, but the action is better opened

She exposes her whole tatas in the Uwe Boll shitfest Bloodrayne, so she must have no problem with it!