The Bluray Video Quality thread.

[GodofHardcore]

Ok so when I was looking at Blu Ray players Yakumo brought up how horrible the Ghostbusters Blu Ray was. Well I LOVE the move so I picked it up last week and
WHAT THE BLEEDING HELL?

Yeah it's not perfect but after watching on two different TV I didn't really see too much of an issue. The Rocky Blu Rays were way worse. I saw some flickering
maybe a small bit of grain but it didn't really look horrible.

So what's the deal here did I somehow pick up a different version than everyone knows about or am I just not as picky about how my Blu Rays look? (Seriously though the Rocky Movies LOOK LIKE ASS on Blu ray)

Even Blu-ray.com agreed with me.

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Ghostb...-Blu-ray/3661/

Edit- As Requested a List of what's great, good and MEH on Blu Ray

GREAT

Alien
Aliens
Apocalpyse Now
The French Conenction (Best Buy Version)
Jaws
Batman begins
The Dark Knight
The Last Starfighter
Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut
The Lost Boys
Robocop
Tokyo Drifter
Blow Out
Casablanca
Hara Kiri
Red Cliff
The Fall
Royal Tenebaums

Good

Evil Dead
Ghostbusters
The Thrid Man (Studio Canal versioN)
The Terminator
Terminator 2
Total Recall
Rocky 3,4, Balboa
Star Trek Next Generation
The Killer
Hard Boiled
The Day the Earth Stood Still

MEH

American Ghost in the Shell 2.0
Escape from New York
Rocky 1,2

[XxHennersXx]

It seems like a bad transfer because the film was cheap that the movie crew used. The bluray just shows that. Standard DVD hid it.

While grainy, the detail is superb.

[GrindheadJim]

Well, I suppose the hardware might enter into it, too.

That said, it's really subjective. If you want to see examples of ridiculously good transfers, check out the original Dawn of the Dead, the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and, for the coup de grâce, The Road Warrior. :)

[Yakumo]

Not to sound like a rich bastard or anything (because I'm not) but I have a very high quality LED screen that really shows how poor the Ghostbusters BluRay really is. Like XxHennersXx said, it was also shot on cheap film but still, they could have cleaned it up a bit. Also, don't forget that I grew up with top end AV equipment all my life. We weren't a rich family by any means but for some reason we always had top end AV equipment. I guess my parents liked it. I remember back in the early 80's we were watching videos in Hi-Fi Stereo while everyone else made do with standard mono.

[GrindheadJim]

I remember back in the early 80's we were watching videos in Hi-Fi Stereo while everyone else made do with standard mono.

We have a common past. :)

[derekb]

studios are getting better, some of the early bluray transfers were atrocious, some still get through the cracks though when the studio doesnt wanna spend the money to properly restore / uses an existing transfer w/ upscaling.

Ghost In The Shell's bluray looked pretty bleh, not sure if it ever got rereleased

wheres all the Ghibli blurays at :(

[GrindheadJim]

studios are getting better, some of the early bluray transfers were atrocious, some still get through the cracks though when the studio doesnt wanna spend the money to properly restore / uses an existing transfer w/ upscaling.

Ghost In The Shell's bluray looked pretty bleh, not sure if it ever got rereleased

wheres all the Ghibli blurays at :(

That's why I stick with the GITS special edition DVD. :)

One thing I've always wondered is why a major feature of Blu Ray tech has been largely unused - its storage. I, for one, would be psyched if old TV series (which wouldn't benefit from HD conversion) were released in 480i on BR - you could fit entire seasons on maybe a few discs, as opposed to dozens.

[Blai]

That's why I stick with the GITS special edition DVD. :)

One thing I've always wondered is why a major feature of Blu Ray tech has been largely unused - its storage. I, for one, would be psyched if old TV series (which wouldn't benefit from HD conversion) were released in 480i on BR - you could fit entire seasons on maybe a few discs, as opposed to dozens.

I've always wondered this myself

[7Force]

I was also very disappointed in the Ghostbusters Blu-Ray, but the one in my collection with worst picture quality has to be Escape from New York.

One thing I've always wondered is why a major feature of Blu Ray tech has been largely unused - its storage. I, for one, would be psyched if old TV series (which wouldn't benefit from HD conversion) were released in 480i on BR - you could fit entire seasons on maybe a few discs, as opposed to dozens.

Yeah, I'd love to see a 26-disc complete classic Doctor Who collection

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

Speaking of Blu-rays, the Jaws Blu-ray is coming out next week. I'm looking forward to it.

[Yakumo]

We have a common past. :)

I saw many videos in Hi-Fi Stereo in the early 80's but one that I remember was The Never Ending Story. That sounded fantastic in so many areas of the movie. I think with being brought up with that sort of audio at a young age is why every games system I've ever owned since the Mega Drive has it's audio through the amp, not the TV. Actually, come to think of it, I don't think I've ever used my LED screens speakers even once. They're switched off as default in the settings since I use an amp.

anyway, back on topic. I ordered a few cheap BluRays from Amazon US the other day all for under 10USD each. Fingers crosses these are good transfers since they are all pretty old movies.



Yakumo

[7Force]

The only one of those I have is Total Recall, but it does have a decent transfer.

[GrindheadJim]

The only ones I can speak to are The Terminator and The Evil Dead - both great releases.

The Terminator is a phenomenal upgrade. That is all I have to say.

[slayer2k8]

Total Recall is the newest version and is a directer approved transfer:-)
Terminator is okish but suffers from being an early release although a remaster is due out in a month or two i'd wait for that version
The others no idea

[GrindheadJim]

Total Recall is the newest version and is a directer approved transfer:-)
Terminator is okish but suffers from being an early release although a remaster is due out in a month or two i'd wait for that version
The others no idea

The thing with the Terminator release, is that it has ALL the special features of the widely-regarded best DVD release. This new transfer probably won't have those features (I don't get it, but that happens a lot).

[XxHennersXx]

I thought Terminator looks pretty good on my plasma...

you want a BAD transfer - look up the prerelease for Robocop.

Gag.

[GrindheadJim]

Suggestion: Can we sticky this thread and repurpose it as "The Videophiles' Nerdy discussion thread"? I eat this stuff up, so , I know this thread is unlikely to die. :)

Hidden Gem/Honorable Mention Blu Rays:
The Last Starfighter (the transfer got a great treatment, and there are considerable special features, and includes an identical DVD, all for under $10 USD)
Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut (Say what you want about this film, but see this cut and you might rethink your opinion - I did. This BR release is easily found on DVD, but the BR goes for $100 USD or more these days. I got mine last year for about $90 USD, and it was worth it. )
The Lost Boys (classy package, and cheap. You'll note that I tend to favor releases that have documentaries on them.)

[GrindheadJim]

I thought Terminator looks pretty good on my plasma...

you want a BAD transfer - look up the prerelease for Robocop.

Gag.

I have a copy of Robocop - it looks great. Are they rereleasing it?!

EDIT: You mean the reboot. Derp.

[7Force]

Hidden Gem/Honorable Mention Blu Rays:
The Last Starfighter (the transfer got a great treatment, and there are considerable special features, and includes an identical DVD, all for under $10 USD)

I had no idea The Last Starfighter was on Blu-Ray. Of course, it's not region free so it doesn't really matter to me.

Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut (Say what you want about this film, but see this cut and you might rethink your opinion - I did. This BR release is easily found on DVD, but the BR goes for $100 USD or more these days. I got mine last year for about $90 USD, and it was worth it. )

Why, did they change that really stupid new ending?

[GrindheadJim]

I had no idea The Last Starfighter was on Blu-Ray. Of course, it's not region free so it doesn't really matter to me.

Well, I've been crying over the UK release of Flash Gordon, so, we're even.

Why, did they change that really stupid new ending?

Well, it's better, if not perfect.