The General HD Releases Thread!

[Shingster]

Is the current Robocop Blu 'definitive'??

Not only is it missing all the extras but the image is subpar to the 20th anniversary DVD.

And do you have a link to a screengrab comparison to back that claim up?

[grim_tales]

No idea why that one was postponed.

When the US BD goes sub $10 I'll order it .

Me too hopefully.

[bradavon]

And do you have a link to a screengrab comparison to back that claim up?

Romero reckons the Gladiator DVD(s) beats the Gladiator Blu-ray. Enough said.

[romerojpg]

And do you have a link to a screengrab comparison to back that claim up?

Romero reckons the Gladiator DVD(s) beats the Gladiator Blu-ray. Enough said.

classic. You really are king clueless.

[Markgway]

Austin Powers (Optimum BD).

Uncut but missing ALL the DVD extras(!)

http://www.avforums.com/movies/index.ph ... view=10198

[bradavon]

How weird. I fully expected it to be the longer European cut and good to see it's still in the proper 2.40:1 aspect ratio. Not that incorrect open matt 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Used on the R1 DVDs (maybe the BD too).

I like Austin Powers 1 and 2 but neither have aged well and I no longer own the DVDs. What once was funny, now just seems stupid and dated.

[Markgway]

I didn't expect NEW extras but I equally didn't expect the to DROP the current extras.
Even the edited New Line disc has those.
Arses.
BTW. I think the aspect ratio was corrected for the New Line BD.

[bradavon]

Specs for the 3-disc Apocalypse Now

Three-Disc Full Disclosure Edition

This is going to be 2.35:1 . For very first time on any home format:

http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/ ... -now2.html

FINALLY! I wasn't that bothered about upgrading but I may just have to now. It's always looked so cramped in 2.00:1.

[gasteropod]

Is it just me or does the MGM BD of Escape from New York look like shit? http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-ray_ ... lu-ray.htm

[saltysam]

If those caps are accurate the hated uk disc looks better than the MGM one

[Shingster]

Nope, the US clearly looks better to me. The Optimum release is insanely clipped and peppered with really ugly EE that in particular ruins any shot with Plissken's eyepatch in it, as the overly boosted blacks and bright halos screams out "THIS PICTURE HAS BEEN PROCESSED" really overtly.

If you compare the full resolution shots (not sure if you're just looking at the shrunken grabs on the main review page, as they favour the Optimum's boosted look) then you can see that there's actually little difference in detail between the "sharp looking" Optimum and "soft looking" MGM disc, and certainly the contrast is far better on the MGM disc.

The real problem with the MGM seems to be that it looks extremely dark in some grabs and quite soft, perhaps down to how the film was shot (low lighting and/or poor focus maybe) or because of DNR and a faded print in need of remastering. The colours generally look better to me but a couple of the grabs do look a little warm compared to the DVD, although I never like to fully trust a DVD transfer for colour balance.

[bradavon]

Looking at the smaller captures, the Optimum easily wins. However, if you enlarge them (darkness aside) the MGM wins. The Optimum has been pretty badly edge enhanced (which leads to why it looks much sharper in the smaller captures). That said, the MGM is ridiculously dark (hiding the detail that is there), so overall I still prefer the Optimum BD.

In other words, the darkness outweighs the edge enhancement. It's a shame the Optimum has lower video and audio bitrates (especially the DTS-HD MA bitrate). The Optimum does have extras though.

I didn't know you could enlarge DVD Beaver captures. Is that a new addition?

[HungFist]

That said, the MGM is ridiculously dark (hiding the detail that is there), so overall I still prefer the Optimum BD.

Well, if you look at the last two caps, you can see how MGM actually has tons more detail in the dark areas...

I didn't know you could enlarge DVD Beaver captures. Is that a new addition?

I don't know if it was there from the beginning (for BD), but it has been there for several years for sure.

[bradavon]

Well, if you look at the last two caps, you can see how MGM actually has tons more detail in the dark areas...

Good point. Why did MGM have to ruin it and make it so dark! The EE is awful in some of those Optimum captures but the MGM is so dark.

Funnily enough I watched Big Trouble in Little China again last night and still love it to bits. Shockingly I've never seen Escape from New York. So figure I must check it out. I'll probably get whichever is cheaper, so that's the UK disc then. Kurt Russell is so much fun in Big Trouble in Little China.

EDIT: Damn it. There is no UK Big Trouble in Little China BD and the USA one is expensive. It's Fox in the UK too, so get your act together. The UK Escape from New York is reasonably priced though.

[Markgway]

I've never liked Escape from New York.

I think it's the weakest Carpenter movie of that era.

Not that I'm mad on Christine either.

[romerojpg]

Shockingly I've never seen Escape from New York. So figure I must check it out. I'll probably get whichever is cheaper, so that's the UK disc then. Kurt Russell is so much fun in Big Trouble in Little China.

EDIT: Damn it. There is no UK Big Trouble in Little China BD and the USA one is expensive. It's Fox in the UK too, so get your act together. The UK Escape from New York is reasonably priced though.

For a few quid get the DVD I say, you could hate the film. It is not as if the Blu Ray is amazing.

Big Trouble was very cheap on Amazon.com at $8.99 (I could be wrong haha, but I think it was), its only $11.49 now, so hey £11 after delivery aint to bad I am sure Movietyme had it for a tenner as well, not too much as long as you are willing to go over £10.

[saltysam]

MGM is far,far too dark...maybe Escape is one of this films that are perenially destined to look like crap.

[bradavon]

Thanks Romero. The Escape from New York UK BD is about £5. So I may as well get that. I'm bidding (i.e - sniping) a listing on eBay.

Big Trouble is £14.99 on MovieTyme now. I'd not want to spend more than £10 really. I can wait for the eventual UK BD.

I think it's the weakest Carpenter movie of that era.

Big Trouble is easily my favourite. It has so much re-watch value but Halloween is technically more impressive.

[saltysam]

Big Trouble is £12.99 on Playusa-worth every penny,a sterling transfer that pisses on the dvd.

[Shingster]

Big Trouble was very cheap on Amazon.com at $8.99 (I could be wrong haha, but I think it was)

IIRC it was around that price ($9.99 I think) in their Black Friday sale last year. I dithered about buying it with a couple of other similarly priced titles back then and never bought anything in the end because I took too long and the prices were going up & down on various titles.

[Markgway]

I ordered BIG TROUBLE for $9.99 (lowest price).

I didn't mention it because we don't usually post $$$ bargains do we?

Actually I'm sure this disc is Region Free.

PRECINCT 13 and THE THING are Carpenter's very best.

[saltysam]

Precinct 13 gets better with every viewing even 30 odd years later.

[grim_tales]

Quantum of Solace isnt getting a "definitive edition" - at least not yet Seems the news got mixed up with the release of an Australian 2 disc set (which the rest of the world has).

http://forum.blu-ray.com/united-kingdom ... ion-2.html

I dont think its coming anyway as sites such as Amazon, Play, HMV would have had it for sale by now.

[Markgway]

I'm happy with the film as is to be honest.

[grim_tales]

Me too for the moment but if a new release does come, I'd like to see the original ending.