The General HD Releases Thread!

[romerojpg]

I heard new ones were fixed. I guess that means some retailer have older stock if that is the case, which is a minefield.

[grim_tales]

When is the Sony due?
Glad I still have my Korean DVD for now then

[gasteropod]

It's already out as far as I'm aware.

[bradavon]

I, on the other hand, have a shitty BD of A Tale of Two Sisters because I had pre-ordered it, not going to make that mistake again with Tartan from now on hah.

By your token, I could equally say, you were stupid to risk a pre-order and not wait for reviews! Knowing it's sub-par quality, doesn't excuse the fact it's sub-par and they're possibly re-releasing it. The fact so soon after, basically says "we know it wasn't good enough first time".

p.s - They should offer a return procedure but it wouldn't stop me re-buying and selling the BD on eBay.

[gasteropod]

No, I've already qualified why I wasn't particularly stupid to pre-order.

[romerojpg]

Stupid = Knowing the discs shit, and still buying it.

[bradavon]

Like I said, it easily beats the DVD and therefore was a logical purchase. I don't regret buying it, not at all. I'll just upgrade.

[gasteropod]

It most certainly was not a logical purchase I'm afraid

[saltysam]

By Releasing it again so quickly they are basically admitting the recent releae was botched.While it's unlikely a returns procedure will happen (the release itself wasn't faulty,just a shit transfer) maybe they'll offer a small rebate at least.

[bradavon]

Leon UK BD and German BD:

The opening set piece, particularly the scene when the fat man sends his goons outside and the shutters come down and Leon dispatches them off camera. Also follow through until the fat man shoots through the shutters with his uzi. The difference between the 2.0 and 5.1 (or 7.1) should be very obvious here.

I've finally checked this. The German BD only has:

English DTS-HD 7.1 (I believe HR but cannot check)
German DTS-HD 7.1 (I believe HR but cannot check)
Isolated Music Score DD2.0

So I cannot compare the differences. The music only score obviously only has music, so not much point comparing. The DTS-HD definitely has front surround separation and is louder though.

I compared this scene (using the DTS-HD 7.1) on the Director's Cut and Theatrical Cut. Both sound identical. If I'm being picky, I'd say the Theatrical Cut is slightly louder but I could just as easily be looking for differences, where none exists.

Just watched the Theatrical Cut and the DTS is superior to that on the Extended Version. No idea why? But I'm not complaining.

How so exactly? So I can compare on mine.

One possible quibble: on the DTS track (both cuts) there's a scene about 20 mins in where Leon walks passed his neighbours' doorway and hears the abusive father shouting. On my headphones the the seperation produced the shouting from my left speaker BUT on-screen the doorway is on the right. Have Optimum flipped the speakers again or is that how it's supposed to be?

I checked my Spectrum DVD (R3) and it confirmed my suspicions. The audio has been flipped on the Optimum BD. Again. The sound is correctly placed from the right speaker on the DVD (left on Blu).

It's coming out of the right speaker on the German BD. Which it should do, like you say, the shouting is on the right side of the screen. I played the scene several times with my ear to each speaker. It's hard to hear because the music is louder than the shouting (not surprising it's meant to be background shouting).

At least we know the German Kinowelt BD doesn't have this problem.

It's because the DTS-HD track on the extended cut isn't a proper 5.1 mix, it's a 2.0 surround track masquerading as 5.1. I do wonder if there even is a 5.1 track for the longer cut tbh, wouldn't surprise me if it was only ever released in stereo.

It doesn't appear to be on the German BD, at least not the scene you asked me to check. Both cuts have identically sounding DTS-HD 7.1. I really do think I'm imagining the Director's Cut being quieter. Both certainly sound as "alive" and "surround sound", as each other.

Unless someone says otherwise, I'm inclined to think the German BD has perfectly fine audio.

p.s - The opening titles say "Gaumont", no mention of Columbia or Sony.

[bradavon]

No one interested in Leon any more?

[saltysam]

Just caught some of Rumble In The Bronx on the Sky HD Channel. It looked great in HD but sadly it was the usa edit Sad to think watching it that three of the main cast (Bill Tung,Anita Mui & Mark Akerstream) are now no longer with us

[grim_tales]

Groundhog Day not on UK BD yet but will probably come one day:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Groundhog-Day-B ... 110&sr=1-8

[saltysam]

Groundhog Day not on UK BD yet but will probably come one day:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Groundhog-Day-B ... 110&sr=1-8

Grim that link has been on Amazon at least a year.Slow news day?

[grim_tales]

Yeah.

[Markgway]

It's coming out of the right speaker on the German BD. At least we know the German Kinowelt BD doesn't have this problem.

Obviously an Optimum fuck-up.

p.s - The opening titles say "Gaumont", no mention of Columbia or Sony.

That's the same as the Optimum. Only US-based prints were Sony. I suspect the Sony Blu will have the Columbia logo/credits.

[Shingster]

You know I really should check my disc again as obviously I didn't pick up on it when I reviewed the title and I tend to be very anal about the A/V of every title I review. I'll have a shufty tomorrow, was it on the Theatrical Edition or the Version Longue or both Mark? I tended to focus on the latter when I wrote my review.

[bradavon]

It was the Director's Cut I checked. I don't recall checking the Theatrical Cut for the left/right audio cock up. Is it a Director's Cut btw or an Extended Cut?

[Markgway]

You know I really should check my disc again as obviously I didn't pick up on it when I reviewed the title and I tend to be very anal about the A/V of every title I review. I'll have a shufty tomorrow, was it on the Theatrical Edition or the Version Longue or both Mark? I tended to focus on the latter when I wrote my review.

IIRC, both versions, but it was the TC I watched right through.

Is it a Director's Cut btw or an Extended Cut?

Version Longue it was called when it was re-released in 1996. I think Besson had control over the 1994 cut.

[grim_tales]

Wasnt the Long cut released in 1994 but only in France?

[saltysam]

Going back to Gladiator,i certainly can't slate Brad for buying it-i'm the fool who paid £20 each for Police Story & Once Upon A Time In China still ebay brought me some of my money back and i have no regrets over the Bruce Lee ones (they look great imo and sacrilege i know i can live easily without the mono)

[bradavon]

As long as you go in with your eyes open, ultimately, who gives a fuck? I've no problem re-buying and selling on eBay. This Gladiator we're talking about! Some films I've re-bought so many times, so this is really no different.

[Shingster]

I have an Optimum LEON BD with the audio coming out of the wrong speakers.

I'm waiting until the Sony disc goes cheap at Amazon (ie. under $10) so I can ditch it.

OK I've gone through the disc today and I can confirm that the problem only affects the LPCM 2.0 track on the Theatrical Edition, both the 5.1 DTS-HD MA and LPCM 2.0 tracks are mixed correctly on the Version Longue, as is the 5.1 DTS-HD MA track on the Theatrical Cut.

The problem is with the LPCM 2.0 track on the TC, on my setup Michael Badalucco shouting whilst Leon is listening outside the door is clearly heard across both left and right speakers (not just the left) when my amp is set to direct out, but when I set it to prologic mode then I get a single audio source from my centre speaker only, so it could be that this LPCM 2.0 is either mono throughout the whole film or just that sequence (and maybe some others).

Sooo.... I wouldn't be so quick to replace it with the Sony release Mark unless you're certain that it has an English LPCM 2.0 track on the TC (DVDBeaver and Bluray.com only talk about DTS-HD MA 5.1 for the English track) and that that audio option is actually mixed correctly.

[Markgway]

Wasnt the Long cut released in 1994 but only in France?

Don't think so. Only the standard cut was released in 94 then later in 96 came the VL with the extra 26 mins.

[Markgway]

Sooo.... I wouldn't be so quick to replace it with the Sony release Mark unless you're certain that it has an English LPCM 2.0 track on the TC (DVDBeaver and Bluray.com only talk about DTS-HD MA 5.1 for the English track) and that that audio option is actually mixed correctly.

Thanks for checking. I'll pop in the disc later and have another listen.