Warner "Best Of" HD boxsets

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 18 Jun 2007, 16:02

Now here's a great idea:-
Warner High-Def “Best Of” Collections
Warner Home Video have announced the release of three “Best Of” collections for US Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats. Arriving on 18th September 2007 are three sets each made up of four titles that present a saving of almost $30 at retail (and closer to $40 in the case of Volume 3).
The sets feature the same films on both formats with the exception of Volume 2…
Vol.1 is the same for both formats and includes Lethal Weapon, Max Max 2, Swordfish and Training Day.
Vol. 2 includes The Last Samurai, Phantom of the Opera and Unforgiven on both formats. The fourth title for the Blu-ray Disc set is The Fugitive, while HD DVD gets Troy.
Vol. 3 is the same for both formats and includes Blazing Saddles, The Departed, Goodfellas and Superman: The Movie.
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=65103

The last boxset (vol.3) sound cracking. Definitely something I'd strongly consider buying.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 18 Jun 2007, 21:06

I'm a pain when it comes to mix and match.

I'd take two from #1, three from #2 (blu-ray), and none from #3.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 18 Jun 2007, 22:41

i have 7 of those movies already-i'd like lethal weapon but i hear it's not much of an upgrade on the dvd.

gojensen · Post by **gojensen** » 19 Jun 2007, 07:56

Nah it's supposedly interlaced crap... (i.e. they didn't do a full progressive master - it's mostly likely intended for 1080i HDTV broadcast - didn't look so good...)

As for these sets they are really mixing it up... and sadly I have 1 disc each from volume 2 and 3, and because of the Lethal Weapon issue I would be vary of volume 1.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 19 Jun 2007, 11:24

Damn, Lethal Weapon is the one I'd want most.

Maybe there'll be an upgrade by the time I go HD?

gojensen · Post by **gojensen** » 19 Jun 2007, 14:11

Hopefully...

And probably!

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 20 Jun 2007, 00:36

gojensen wrote:Nah it's supposedly interlaced crap... (i.e. they didn't do a full progressive master - it's mostly likely intended for 1080i HDTV broadcast - didn't look so good...)

I looked at the back of the R2 case and it says 1080p. So is that wrong?

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 20 Jun 2007, 05:48

Wouldn't it be the equivalent of trying to watch an interlaced DVD in progressive scan, eh?

They used a 1080i master for The Fugitive HD-DVD, does the BD use the same master?

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 20 Jun 2007, 06:46

Lethal Weapon is 1080p but like others it's from a 1080i master.

Eva, the HD-DVD and BD look pretty much identical.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 20 Jun 2007, 17:47

So it's like an upconversion? (Excuse my ignorance re. tech vocabulary).

I had a look and every Blu-Ray/HD-DVD case claims 1080p so there no way of telling the quality of the master without checking reviews I guess?

Didn't (at least) one American disc use a DVD master for HD? It looked quite awful.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 20 Jun 2007, 18:02

Markgway wrote:Didn't (at least) one American disc use a DVD master for HD? It looked quite awful.

I believe it was 'Miami Vice' which was simply an upconversion (or am I forgetting the proper word?) of the DVD picture to 1080P. How disgusting is that, most HDTVs and players can do that haha.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 20 Jun 2007, 18:12

gasteropod wrote:
Markgway wrote:Didn't (at least) one American disc use a DVD master for HD? It looked quite awful.
I believe it was 'Miami Vice' which was simply an upconversion (or am I forgetting the proper word?) of the DVD picture to 1080P. How disgusting is that, most HDTVs and players can do that haha.

Wasn't it Traffic?

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 20 Jun 2007, 18:15

Enter The Dragon is supposedly from a 1081i master but it blows the standard dvd away to my eyes-a big step up in quality. Blazing Saddles looks amazing.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Jun 2007, 20:10

I presume that's Mad Max 2? Odd choice.

Personally I'm not a fan of these types of box sets as they never have a complete set of films I want all of them of, same here.

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 20 Jun 2007, 21:11

Quite a few Warner titles used 1080i masters. :x

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 21 Jun 2007, 03:19

So people are rushing out to buy a product that isn't at its best yet.

Like when the studios were putting out letterboxed transfers for early DVD.

Another reason to hold off.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 21 Jun 2007, 07:10

Markgway wrote:Like when the studios were putting out letterboxed transfers for early DVD.

Another reason to hold off.

But will either HD optical format be successful for them to justify remastered re-releases? We didn't see many DVD double-dips until the format was fully embraced by the mainstream. Mainstream has no reason to bother with either HD format as they've got DVD. For one not only would they have to buy a new player, they'd also have to buy a new HD-capable TV.

When PS3 is significantly cheaper, things maybe different though. The PS2 having DVD playback pushed the format into a lot of homes.

gojensen · Post by **gojensen** » 21 Jun 2007, 07:17

Sony's remastering their 5th Element. (Which was a 1080p but just a rushed one... it still looked better than the SD-SuperBit-DVD)

(Though they will apparently offer trade-ins so no double-dips)

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 21 Jun 2007, 07:24

bradavon wrote:Personally I'm not a fan of these types of box sets as they never have a complete set of films I want all of them of, same here.

Please translate into English.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 21 Jun 2007, 07:27

gojensen wrote:Sony's remastering their 5th Element. (Which was a 1080p but just a rushed one... it still looked better than the SD-SuperBit-DVD)

(Though they will apparently offer trade-ins so no double-dips)

Then let's hope that people whine enough for Warner to re-release those duff early HDs.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 24 Jun 2007, 10:34

EvaUnit02 wrote:Please translate into English.

It makes sense to me, if a little bit confusing at first. I don't like "Best of" box sets as they never have titles I want equally, or at all, or I'd get one title I don't really want just to get the others. It's the same reason I never bother with 3 for £15 type deals.

Markgway wrote:Like when the studios were putting out letterboxed transfers for early DVD.

Personally I'd put letter boxing in another league to a 1080i master but that may just be me. 1080i is not a reason alone to hold off.

The thing is how long are some people prepared to wait? 5-10 years??? If you want HD you'll have to dip in at some point. There are still dodgy DVDs being released today years after the format became popular. Was it a mistake to get DVD?

Personally I'll be dipping in by the end of the year when finally a Combo Player that "Fully" supports BD should be released, I hope. I have 3 HD-DVDs ready and waiting.

p.s - Eva is right on the money with his comments on HDs future above.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 24 Jun 2007, 13:18

bradavon wrote: Personally I'll be dipping in by the end of the year when finally a Combo Player that "Fully" supports BD should be released, I hope. I have 3 HD-DVDs ready and waiting.

Unless the Samsung players are pieces of shit.