What Have You Just Ordered or Received?

diceman · Post by **diceman** » 05 Dec 2008, 20:51

Ninja Wars:

Plus I'm now trying to catch up a little on my Hiroko-Yakushimaru Quota. Therefore:

Tragedy of W:

G.I. Samurai:

Never give up:

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 06 Dec 2008, 10:16

City of Violence 2 Disc (R2 UK)

Was this one of Premier Asia's last releases? Weird to see the back of them

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 06 Dec 2008, 12:38

Oh no, no, no. IVL is bad. Evil. Adness has released all of these Kadokawa films except W in the US with better transfers and better subtitles. Most of the US discs are dvd-9, while IVL’s releases are exceptionally poorly encoded dvd-5.

My estimation based on my own experience. Just tio give a very rough idea. Encoding rated on scale 1-10:

Adness: 8
Kadokawa: 9
IVL: 3
Adness / Kadokawa compressed to dvd-5 with dvd-shrink default settings: 6

You can get most of the US releases in very cheap box sets

The Samurai Collection US$ 9.53

* Ninja Wars (good transfer)
* Legend of the 8 Samurai (good transfer)
* G.I. Samurai (Old Kadokawa transfer)

Time Slip (aka GI Samurai) Two-Disc Special Edition US$ 12.13

* This is most likely a port of the Kadokawa SE (which has a great new tranfer and excellent extras. See my review here

You should also get the The Shogun Collection US$ 12.13

* Shogun's Samurai
* Shogun's Ninja
* Fall of Ako Castle
* Shogun's Shadow (this is one of the best 80's chambara films)

As for W I've got the Kadokawa dvd. It's not subbed of course so maybe this one you want to get on IVL.
https://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... php?t=4445

But I think it's unacceptable to have Hiroko's godly face breaking into pixels

As for Never Give Up you should probably wait for the upcoming double pack.

Never Give Up/Resurrection of Golden Wolf US$ 9.53

* I have the the single releases of both. Resurrection is one of the best crime movies ever made. As usual, Adness features the Kadokawa transfer. It's a bit faded, but fits the film's mood. The new Kadokawa Yusaku Matsuda box set features the same transfer, so there's no better alternative available. Never Give Up I haven't found time to watch yet as it's a 2½ hour film. But with Takakura and Yakushimaru it's bound to be good.

diceman · Post by **diceman** » 06 Dec 2008, 13:09

I appreciate your concern, but I never gave any serious weight to encoding. DVD-5 or 9, I don't see the difference, at least not that much that it'll bother me. So far I don't care about Blu-Rays, either, never been into the technical aspect of movie-watching in the first place. I already own a couple of IVL-Kadokawa-DVDs, and they are all fine with me. There are a couple of actually hideous transfers I fell for (and on which I've already upgraded), but for me these IVL's really don't fall into that category.

But I agree with you about SHOGUN'S SHADOW: Epic movie with lots of great action. Love it.

//EDIT: The only thing I care about is whether the image has been cropped, or a DVD comes as non-anamorphic widescreen only. Because those REALLY suck.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 06 Dec 2008, 13:26

Yes, one of the last

.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 06 Dec 2008, 13:28

Well, life is indeed easier if you can live with IVL

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 06 Dec 2008, 13:30

A lot of people who even like BD and can see it's better still buy DVDs, as BDs cost so flipping much

.

I virtually only buy BDs now but spend the same, so I buy less. It's cool I cannot find the time to watch what I do buy.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 06 Dec 2008, 14:28

BD's are still wayyyy too expensive now, and DVDs are still very good quality. It's not like DVDs suddenly look like VCDS now or something.

They really need to bring down the prices, if they want to sell them. Also, the more and more mediacenters are taking their place in the livingroom, and the faster downloadspeeds are becoming, the more people will turn to downloading FullHD BD-rips when prices stay this high.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 06 Dec 2008, 14:57

Until more people own BD Players and actually want to use them (PS3) prices will probably stay high. BDs are considered a premium product, selling in small numbers (hence the high price) instead of large numbers.

Downloading movies has to get significantly more efficient and attractive (like it has with downloadable music) before the masses will consider it. It's not only speed holding this back.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 06 Dec 2008, 15:15

Yi-Long wrote: DVDs are still very good quality.

you reckon?read this review of the year's biggest dvd release

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/sd- ... ition.html

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 06 Dec 2008, 18:04

384Kbps DD5.1 only. What is it with Warner and using this ridiculously low bitrate. Especially when they give lossless to their BDs.

Does the DVD also have a shifting aspect ratio?

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 06 Dec 2008, 19:00

Angel-A DVD and Chocolate Blu-ray arrived today, nice one, looking forward to checking them both out. I've been feeling in a French mood lately so that's why I decided to buy Paris je t'aime and Angel-A without seeing them previously hehe. And Chocolate just looks mad

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 06 Dec 2008, 20:21

bradavon wrote:384Kbps DD5.1 only.

I know little about audio, but that can't be good since Toei's mono tracks are 384Kbps...

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 06 Dec 2008, 20:41

bradavon wrote:
Does the DVD also have a shifting aspect ratio?

no,2:35:1 throughout.digital copy has the shifting ratio though,i believe.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 07 Dec 2008, 17:54

HungFist wrote:I know little about audio, but that can't be good since Toei's mono tracks are 384Kbps...

That's very impressive. Mono is almost always 192Kbps.

DD5.1 (on DVD) is either 384Kbps or 448Kbps, while it's debatable you can tell the different with that little bitrate change it's still poor to use the lower one. DD6.1 on HD-DVD/BD is almost always 640Kbps (so close to Half-rate DTS on DVDs, 768Kbps).

saltysam wrote:no,2:35:1 throughout.digital copy has the shifting ratio though,i believe.

Cheers.

My Dark Knight arrived yesterday. Did anyone else's have an annoying sticking saying "Exclusive Dual Cover", which just meant "Slip-case". They used that glue which holds stickers on too tight. I now have glue residue on the case, grrr!

As to the shifting aspect ratio it works well. I'd be surprised if anyone cares after the initial surprise. The IMAX footage looks incredible. The Open Matte aspect ratio allows for a much more expansive field of vision.

As to the overall quality, it's one of the best looking HD Discs I've ever seen, amazing.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 08 Dec 2008, 14:33

bradavon wrote:My Dark Knight arrived yesterday. Did anyone else's have an annoying sticking saying "Exclusive Dual Cover", which just meant "Slip-case". They used that glue which holds stickers on too tight. I now have glue residue on the case, grrr!

Yeah, I see what you mean. Not only is it a bitch to remove, but it's a completely pointless sticker as well - who's going to be swayed to buy it because there's a picture of the Joker on the case cover?!

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 08 Dec 2008, 15:33

Yikes that edge enhancement on the 2.35:1 bits can be nasty, especially on the crowd scene where the facepaint-less Joker shoots Gordon and you see everyone duck, they look like they've been pasted onto the scene with their white rings around them!.

Sometimes the aspect ratio shifting works well, other times it's jarring and badly implemented, making it feel like you're watching some kind of special feature rather than the actual film. It doesn't work when it changes mid-scene and then keeps swapping over between shots, I thought it would be common sense to at least make it only apply to full action scenes, not swapping back and forth with no real reason.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 08 Dec 2008, 17:21

I've seen many far better looking HD discs than Dark Knight.it's decent but not great.Brad do you now have a bigger telly or are still watching on a 26" ?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 08 Dec 2008, 18:55

saltysam wrote:Brad do you now have a bigger telly

No.

saltysam wrote:or are still watching on a 26" ?

And No. 32".

There's no way I can afford a new TV, not a chance. It's also way down on my "to spend a load of cash" on list. I know you didn't ask but my car needs servicing, my car insurance is going to be through the roof next February, I've not had a holiday proper holiday (i.e - abroad) since March 07 and I need a new car stereo way more. CDs suck in 2008! I miss my Car MP3 Player

. The stock Ford Focus CD Player does the job but it's bland to say the least. I also have some other things to get which will cost hundreds too.

A new TV is so far down my list. I'd only get a 37" Full HD anyway, so I may as well wait until I get a bigger front room. Which won't be until I move, probably not until 2010 now. I've also no idea how I'd shift a 32" TV anyway. It would be a nightmare to post (i.e - eBay) and "pick up only" auctions never work.

Any ideas?

IMO it's excellent, maybe not the best but definitely better than just decent. I still say you can tell the difference between DVD and BD with a 32" HD Ready TV.

gasteropod wrote:the facepaint-less Joker shoots Gordon and you see everyone duck, they look like they've been pasted onto the scene with their white rings around them!

I cannot say I noticed. I'll have to check it out.

gasteropod wrote:Sometimes the aspect ratio shifting works well, other times it's jarring and badly implemented, making it feel like you're watching some kind of special feature rather than the actual film. It doesn't work when it changes mid-scene and then keeps swapping over between shots, I thought it would be common sense to at least make it only apply to full action scenes, not swapping back and forth with no real reason.

Agreed. I'd have preferred if they'd made it all 1.78:1.

Some of the action scenes it looks amazing but changing between aspect ratios every few seconds (as it does in some parts of the film), for no good reason is a bit annoying. Also sometimes it's in the IMAX aspect ratio when clearly it would work better in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. When Alfred is reading the letter from Rachel I'm sure it's oddly in the IMAX aspect ratio.

Overall I think the idea is a success though.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 08 Dec 2008, 20:06

Brad apologies i wasn't being funny i honestly thought you had a 26" tv. 32" is probably the starting pint where you can notice the difference significantly with HD. i know HD on my 27" bedroom looks good but then so does DVD.Viewed on my 46" though the difference is enormous.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 08 Dec 2008, 20:09

Incidentally talking about pick up only my son's LCD conked out and the tv guy couldn't solve it.so it's currently on ebay pick up only starting at £20.no bidders yet but he's had an offer of £50.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 08 Dec 2008, 21:35

saltysam wrote:Brad apologies i wasn't being funny i honestly thought you had a 26" tv.

No worries. I read it that way

.

I remember seeing a portable DVD Player once. It looked amazing but then the screen was tiny. I also remember thinking some rubbish DVDs looked fine on my old 28" CRT (such as Dawson's Creek S1, on my 32" it looked hideous). The flaws were hidden with CRT.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 08 Dec 2008, 22:27

I'll probably get a 32" when I go HD, LCD or whatever

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 09 Dec 2008, 13:13

It depends how big your bedroom is but yes I imagine 32" will be the perfect size for you. 26" is pretty small but 32" is good.

My Mum is finally going to upgrade her ancient Mono 14" 4:3 TV and Mono VCR come January. For her 22/23" is perfect. She'll never ever get into HD and the room isn't really big enough for any bigger. It's long and narrow, and the TV is in the corner.

She had a 23" for a few hours (the built-in DVD Player was duff) and it looked perfect, for the room size + anything is a revelation after the utter shite TV she currently has.

As to the Recorder I'm recommending a Sony HDD/DVD Recorder. They're such a bargain for what you get (£176): Freeview, DVD Recorder, DVD Player, Hard Disk, DivX (which she won't need).

She has a thing about cabling and number of remotes. Two remotes will suit her much better.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 09 Dec 2008, 22:37

My room isnt THAT big TBH but I imagine with moving with things around (and with a LCD/Plasma TV being flat) the room will seem larger.