Gladiator Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by gates70

I don't mind grain depending if it's meant for the movie "a la 300 or Black Hawk Down".

Simply put, a movie shot on film (this would be nearly 100% of movies with an exception here and there, like Zodiac) will have grain, as film stores its image on grain. 300 was digital if I recall, with exaggerated grain added in post-processing. Black Hawk Down was also processed heavily to give it a washed-out, grainy look. Maybe if you watch the deleted scenes you could see what it looks like without processing?

[TTUBatfan2008]

Originally Posted by gates70

I don't mind grain depending if it's meant for the movie "a la 300 or Black Hawk Down".

Grain is part of the filmmaking process, not just some digital addition like in 300. Gladiator has had much of its grain stripped and then on top of this, they added artificial sharpening which made the film look even more fake.

[gates70]

Originally Posted by jd213

Sounds to me like you're more sensitive to heavy film grain than to EE/sharpening and DNR. Which is cool, everyone is different.

I guess, I don't know. All I know is that I was expecting this horrific transfer and it was actually quite good. Not perfect, but very good. When I started the movie, I started the Extended version. Does that make a difference ? Same transfer right ?

[TTUBatfan2008]

Originally Posted by gates70

I guess, I don't know. All I know is that I was expecting this horrific transfer and it was actually quite good. Not perfect, but very good. When I started the movie, I started the Extended version. Does that make a difference ? Same transfer right ?

Not the same transfer entirely. The theatrical cut is the one that's been processed all to hell. The extended scenes look a lot better because they come from a different master. The grain is in tact on those scenes and there hasn't been anywhere near as much artificial sharpening applied.

[Blu-Ron]

Finally sat down and watched GLADIATOR. I have to say...after reading these posts and wondering. I mean no disrespect but you are all wrong and must have something not right in the head. This BD was pure awesomeness!

Nothing wrong with it.

[doctorthodt]

Originally Posted by Blu-Ron

Finally sat down and watched GLADIATOR. I have to say...after reading these posts and wondering. I mean no disrespect but you are all wrong and must have something not right in the head. This BD was pure awesomeness!

Nothing wrong with it.

I mean no disrespect but you are wrong and must have something not right in the head. This BD was pure crap and has plenty wrong with it.

See how easy that is?

[kerbiep]

relax guys. the most we could get from this release is another addition to our bd collection. can't wait for lotr trilogy on bd!

[Yautja]

Gee, lucky you guys, we have to wait until Sept 30 here in Australia for the release of Gladiator!

[DMC86X]

People are saying that its not as bad as Gangs Of New York. They havent rereleased that yet so I highly doubt they will rerelease Gladiator. Oh well lets just hope they do it right from now on

[SonOfArathorn]

The user reviews on this one are cracking me up, everything from well thought out reviews to Wolverine's "If the steelbook is better I will get that" there needs to be some sort of standard for user reviews. Better yet they should make people pass some sort of writing test so that not every schmuck with a keyboard can post one.
After watching this movie I can honestly say that the negative hype was WAY overblown. Yes, I would like a reference quality disc, but I would like every movie to be reference quality and some just aren't. Guarantee many of the people writing reviews haven't even seen the movie for themselves yet and just trying to perpetuate the negativity.

[BluCheez]

I watched Gladiator twice today (once on my own and once with the wifey). I was expecting the worst from all of the negative buzz, but I was pleasantly surprised. The PQ wasn't bad at all. In fact I thought it was great! Perhaps we got a superior version up here in Canada. Or perhaps my eyes aren't as discerning as they used to be. Regardless, I am fussy when it comes t PQ and I heartily recommend this BD.

[jsub]

Just finished watching the Gladiator Blu. It's not that bad. You guys over-react with everything that isn't perfect. A bunch of anal fanatics who pause movies every 5 seconds and stick your faces 2 feet from the screen to examine for imperfections.

Everybody who isn't a videophile (i.e. normal people), have no fear and go ahead and buy this Blu-ray! Go to Bestbuy...I got it there with Braveheart for only $17.99.

[emilio1316]

I think a big problem may be that Paramount is slapping this "sapphire" label on Gladiator, implying its the best of the best.

[HumanMedia]

Originally Posted by jsub

Everybody who isn't a videophile (i.e. normal people), have no fear and go ahead and buy this Blu-ray! Go to Bestbuy...I got it there with Braveheart for only $17.99.

Well those that are not videophiles should stay with the $5 DVD.

[leem6453]

Originally Posted by jsub

Just finished watching the Gladiator Blu. It's not that bad. You guys over-react with everything that isn't perfect. A bunch of anal fanatics who pause movies every 5 seconds and stick your faces 2 feet from the screen to examine for imperfections.

Everybody who isn't a videophile (i.e. normal people), have no fear and go ahead and buy this Blu-ray! Go to Bestbuy...I got it there with Braveheart for only $17.99.

+1. Come on in people, the waters fine. Don't be afraid. The movie has a great HD picture. I promise. Some people just overanalyse way too much.

[TheZoof]

[Wolverine1980]

Originally Posted by jsub

Just finished watching the Gladiator Blu. It's not that bad. You guys over-react with everything that isn't perfect. A bunch of anal fanatics who pause movies every 5 seconds and stick your faces 2 feet from the screen to examine for imperfections.

Everybody who isn't a videophile (i.e. normal people), have no fear and go ahead and buy this Blu-ray! Go to Bestbuy...I got it there with Braveheart for only $17.99.

I don't over-react to anything and I don't do that while watching a movie. HOWEVER, this is one of the few times I agree with the overwhelming majority, this transfer is absolutely horrible PQ-wise, otherwise so many of us wouldn't have complained to Paramount about it. The worst thing is this is one of the movies they launched their premier blu-ray series with and it just doesn't even come close to measuring up.

[usps03]

Thats it! Im not even going to purchase this movie now. Instead, Im going to pretend that I read none of this discussion and also pretend like it never came out on blu-ray. That way, when the "fixed" version comes out, I'll be able to watch it with a peaceful mind. I don't want to have to pick a side on the "it's crap" vs. "it's ok" debate/issue before, during or after I see it...and the next one will be less expensive. I'll wait...not like it's tough or anything, I mean I've only been waiting to see this movie in blu-ray since 2007. What's it gonna hurt to wait a few more months for a better, less expensive copy besides the feelings of a few people who decided to mass produce something that 50% of perspective buyers think is total crap?

[Gentso]

I noticed some haloing at the very beginning and the ocassional smudge (also at the beginning), but it really seemed fine after that. Granted, I also have such grain-tastic Blu-Rays as Robocop and 28 Days Later, among others. However, Gladiator was beyond tolerable, and I'd even braced myself for the worst after reading these forums. ... but I only watched the extended edition. Some of these posts make it sound like there's two transfers on the Blu-Ray, but it's just one with seamless branching of extended scenes, right?

(Edit: as TTU described above)

I'm no video engineer so I won't say I KNOW what looks good, I only know what looks good to me. But I know what looks bad. Gladiator wasn't really that bad with the exception of a few hitches in the first act. It kind of stinks that Paramount put out one great film with a few hitches in the transfer alongside another film with no hitches. If it wasn't for Braveheart's release I'd ask if it's reasonable to expect a 10-year-old film to be perfect ... but Braveheart is 15 years old and perfect.

Long post short, I think a few people might be disappointed when Paramount doesn't make another transfer of this film. Not that I trust Hollywood, but Ridley Scott seems to care about his films. Don't you think he probably had to sign off on its release ... or at least not object to it if he thought it didn't reflect his intention? ... just thinking out loud.

[Wolverine1980]

Originally Posted by usps03

Thats it! Im not even going to purchase this movie now. Instead, Im going to pretend that I read none of this discussion and also pretend like it never came out on blu-ray. That way, when the "fixed" version comes out, I'll be able to watch it with a peaceful mind. I don't want to have to pick a side on the "it's crap" vs. "it's ok" debate/issue before, during or after I see it...and the next one will be less expensive. I'll wait...not like it's tough or anything, I mean I've only been waiting to see this movie in blu-ray since 2007. What's it gonna hurt to wait a few more months for a better, less expensive copy besides the feelings of a few people who decided to mass produce something that 50% of perspective buyers think is total crap?

Part of the problem with that is we don't know if Paramount WILL press a new transfer for this movie or not. They may ignore our complaints and just let this one be the only Gladiator blu we get. Also, even if they decide to re-press it it won't be a "few" months, it'll probably be a lot of months or even years. So while I'm not happy with the way the transfer was handled, I am glad to own the movie and will hold onto it until something better comes along.