Superman Motion Picture Anthology - June 7, 2011

[Dragon Lee]

Supes Returns & Dark Knight DVD transfers are the reason I switched over to Blu.

[HeavyHitter]

I finally ordered the UK boxset from Amazon....$36.13 shipped although I suspect my credit card company will charge me a couple of dollars for an international purchase, but still a great price. I've been wanting this for a while.

Edit: 3% Charge, so I got it for $37.21 total.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I finally ordered the UK boxset from Amazon....$36.13 shipped although I suspect my credit card company will charge me a couple of dollars for an international purchase, but still a great price. I've been wanting this for a while.

Edit: 3% Charge, so I got it for $37.21 total.

You could've used Visa, so Amazon UK would've done the conversion and you would've been charged US dollars, thereby circumventing the extra charge.

[benricci]

Originally Posted by MrHT

You could've used Visa, so Amazon UK would've done the conversion and you would've been charged US dollars, thereby circumventing the extra charge.

This. I always check out in US Dollars on Amazon UK.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by MrHT

You could've used Visa, so Amazon UK would've done the conversion and you would've been charged US dollars, thereby circumventing the extra charge.

Originally Posted by benricci

This. I always check out in US Dollars on Amazon UK.

Amazon's converter adds a little extra of their own so either way you're paying a wee bit more.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by mredman

why is Superman Returns rated so low in PQ. Isn't it intended to look this way?

It's really two separate problems. Singer to save a bit of cash making Superman Returns shot it digitally, before the technology was really mature enough to handle a project of SR's scope. It's early digital HD and looks it, with banding and some other problems baked into the master. The second problem is that it was first released when Warner was still obsessed with HD DVD and crippling their BDs to save money. The video encode has never been re-done since that first mediocre VC-1 job back in 2006.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by TheOneWithThePrize

Amazon's converter adds a little extra of their own so either way you're paying a wee bit more.

I did a test and you're right!! I did a checkout of SUPERMAN now just to see what it converts to.

After Amazon Conversion- $36.10
Using Yahoo Finance Converter- $34.78

Sneaky sneaky Amazon!

HeavyHitter ended up paying $1.08 extra with his 3% conversion. With Amazon's converter, the extra amount is $1.32. Maybe it's better to have the CC charge you the fee after all.

[Kirk Out]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

It's really two separate problems. Singer to save a bit of cash making Superman Returns shot it digitally, before the technology was really mature enough to handle a project of SR's scope. It's early digital HD and looks it, with banding and some other problems baked into the master. The second problem is that it was first released when Warner was still obsessed with HD DVD and crippling their BDs to save money. The video encode has never been re-done since that first mediocre VC-1 job back in 2006.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

It's really two separate problems. Singer to save a bit of cash making Superman Returns shot it digitally, before the technology was really mature enough to handle a project of SR's scope. It's early digital HD and looks it, with banding and some other problems baked into the master. The second problem is that it was first released when Warner was still obsessed with HD DVD and crippling their BDs to save money. The video encode has never been re-done since that first mediocre VC-1 job back in 2006.

Man, I remember how it was so annoying what they were doing to BD in those early days.

[KubrickFan]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

It's really two separate problems. Singer to save a bit of cash making Superman Returns shot it digitally, before the technology was really mature enough to handle a project of SR's scope. It's early digital HD and looks it, with banding and some other problems baked into the master. The second problem is that it was first released when Warner was still obsessed with HD DVD and crippling their BDs to save money. The video encode has never been re-done since that first mediocre VC-1 job back in 2006.

Well, other movies from the same year also using the Panavision Genesis (like Apocalypto) look excellent on Blu-ray. Not to mention the last two Star Wars prequels, that also used digital cameras and look amazing. I think it's primarily the master used.

[GP Legend]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

It's really two separate problems. Singer to save a bit of cash making Superman Returns shot it digitally, before the technology was really mature enough to handle a project of SR's scope. It's early digital HD and looks it, with banding and some other problems baked into the master. The second problem is that it was first released when Warner was still obsessed with HD DVD and crippling their BDs to save money. The video encode has never been re-done since that first mediocre VC-1 job back in 2006.

Was the HD-DVD version any better?

[Indiana Jones]

Originally Posted by GP Legend

Was the HD-DVD version any better?

At the time it was the best format to get the film on as it had TrueHD audio while the BD only had Dolby Digital 5.1

[motorheadache95]

Originally Posted by KubrickFan

Well, other movies from the same year also using the Panavision Genesis (like Apocalypto) look excellent on Blu-ray. Not to mention the last two Star Wars prequels, that also used digital cameras and look amazing. I think it's primarily the master used.

While I don't know the specifics, I've heard that Bryan Singer messed with the image a lot in post-production-- adding a bunch of DNR and other alterations to make the movie have that "hazy" kind of look that the Donner films had. Of course, it didn't really work and looks nothing like Donner's Superman, it just made the movie look crappier.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by GP Legend

Was the HD-DVD version any better?

No, the HD DVD version has an identical video encode to the Blu-ray.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

At the time it was the best format to get the film on as it had TrueHD audio while the BD only had Dolby Digital 5.1

The re-released BD with PCM and TrueHD begs to differ. Damned near blew out my speakers with that bad boy, and maybe it's me but the DTS-HD encode on the boxset version just doesn't have the same kick as the PCM. LOVE that opening scene, gives me goosebumps every time.

[tyler2tall147]

Was just looking at this set after seeing the Man of Steel teaser. Was super suprised to see a 2011 release date with such a shitty reviewer score. With it being so recent, I suppose there is no chance of it being "redone" when Man Of Steel comes out. Although, hopefully it drops to the more reasonable $20-$30 price range like many other Blu-ray sets. Although the Batman set seems to go OOP whenever there is a new Nolan movie coming out.

[joliefan]

will we get another box set next year which will include man of steel? for the 35th anniversary ?

[basketball]

I recently bought 1 and 2 during U&S.

I found the new version of S2 to be "interesting," but not quite as entertaining as I had hoped. I recalled enjoying the original version of S2 quite a bit so felt compelled to see the original once again.

Now, after seeing the original optical effects in S2, a number of which are literally cartoons (as unconvincing as the effects in The Ten Commandments), I was let down once again.

Superman Returns was another letdown. This remake doesn't add anything to the original at all--aside from a spectacular aerial plane/shuttle sequence, the film is completely unremarkable. Detail and contrast in this film are quite poor. It appears as if they inserted a CG superman in some scenes where it was completely unnecessary; for example, when he is onboard the plane: why was CG necessary then? Couldn't they film a real life actor for that relatively short sequence? Or, was it the actual actor, who only looked like a CG character because the digital film made him look so waxy?

If I had to do it again, I would not have bothered picking up this set. Superman 1 and the Donnar Cut of 2 are more than worthwhile on their own.

I paid well under $40 for this UK version, but even then, there is precious little that I would consider to be "must have material" in this collection (aside from what's immediately available otherwise).

[adamclark83]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

The re-released BD with PCM and TrueHD begs to differ. Damned near blew out my speakers with that bad boy, and maybe it's me but the DTS-HD encode on the boxset version just doesn't have the same kick as the PCM. LOVE that opening scene, gives me goosebumps every time.

Maybe it's due to the bitrate being so low. It's only around 2.2 MB.

[basketball]

duplicate post.