From Dusk to Dawn SteelBook Blu-ray Question

[Atari Charles]

I have the old Alliance release of this title and would like some opinions of people who own this version.

The Old Alliance release of From Dusk to Dawn is barebones and is in the wrong aspect ratio 1.78:1. The Original Aspect Ratio of the film is 1.85:1

For the new Alliance Steelbook release, what Aspect Ratio is the film in. Ignore the back of the case as this may be wrong, but when you watch this release on blu-ray, what is the Aspect Ratio you see?

Someone very wise said this while discussing another Alliance release: "...Alliance are well known for typically supplying incorrect information on the back of the box and most of the time, what the box says and what is on the disc does not correspond. Also, a vast majority of titles that are Alliance Exclusive, are normally taken from HDTV Masters that have been opened up for TV Broadcast."

That's why I don't trust the back of the box specs when it comes to Alliance releases.

Here is the Steelbook release below. Ignore the reviews as they are for various releases of this movie(amazon tends to bunch all reviews together)

http://www.amazon.ca/Dusk-Till-Dawn-.../dp/B005OA6QYA

So what is the real Aspect Ratio of this steelbook release and are you happy with the quality of the transfer itself?

[OrlandoEastwood]

Someone in one of the Echo Bridge threads, either the FDTD or 4 Films Sets, said the disc in the Steelbook is a new transfer which is the same as the Echo Bridge release of the film.

[Rhylliam]

Originally Posted by OrlandoEastwood

Someone in one of the Echo Bridge threads, either the FDTD or 4 Films Sets, said the disc in the Steelbook is a new transfer which is the same as the Echo Bridge release of the film.

That doesn't sound right... Alliance has yet to "ink" a deal with Echo Bridge, so none of that content should be showing up on our Canadian discs. The steelbook SHOULD be same as the 1st Alliance release.

[Atari Charles]

I have the first Alliance release which is fine aside from being bare bones and being the wrong aspect ratio. The 2nd release from Alliance states an OAR on the back of the case plus extras, but we all know that Alliance often incorrect specs on the back.

The 2nd Alliance release which is a steelbook, is not a crappola-rockin'-rolla Echo Bridge release. I do believe it does have the extras, but the big question is what is the real aspect ratio for this release?

I am hoping someone here actually has this release and can answer my question(s).

I don't want to double dip if the aspect ratio is not the Original Aspect Ratio, just so I can get some extras.

[Fanboyz]

The difference between 1.85 and 1.78 is meaningless.
Warner crops all 1.85 movies to 16x9 and still says their 1.85 on the box.

[Rhylliam]

The steelbook lists the extras on the back of the case, but I'm pretty sure they're not on the blu-ray. Its a combo BD+DVD release, so I think it does say "Extras - On DVD only".

[Atari Charles]

Originally Posted by Rhylliam

The steelbook lists the extras on the back of the case, but I'm pretty sure they're not on the blu-ray. Its a combo BD+DVD release, so I think it does say "Extras - On DVD only".

Wow that totally stinks! Why wouldn't I just buy the DVD on it's own with ALL the extras, not most of the extras as found on this set? Good ole Alliance has Allianced(cut) things once again.

I am really hoping someone here has this steelbox set and can answer what the real aspect ratio is and if the extras are only on the DVD or on both and if the extras are in HD.

It really sounds like Alliance used the blu-ray disc from the first From Dusk till Dawn blu-ray release and then simply added a Joe Blow from Eskimo DVD from one of their previous DVD releases. Boo!

[Atari Charles]

Originally Posted by Fanboyz

The difference between 1.85 and 1.78 is meaningless.
Warner crops all 1.85 movies to 16x9 and still says their 1.85 on the box.

Warner = Booooooo!

The difference between 1.85:1 and 1.78:1 means something if it is the truth and not a Donkey Kong Crop Job of 16X9.

[dickdarlington]

Originally Posted by Rhylliam

That doesn't sound right... Alliance has yet to "ink" a deal with Echo Bridge, so none of that content should be showing up on our Canadian discs. The steelbook SHOULD be same as the 1st Alliance release.

The transfer could've come directly from Miramax themselves. Alliance could've used the same encode that Echo Bridge made or used the same master to make a brand new encode. It doesn't surprise me that Miramax gave them a new master to work with considering the past release might've been made initially for HDTV.

Warner removes the mattes on all 1.85 movies to 16x9.

Fixed. Most films shot on 35mm, unless shot using say anamorphic lenses for examples, have a negative aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The director/cinematographer usually frame the film for 1.85:1 (or 2.35:1 if shot in Super 35mm) exhibition during production. Sometimes, depending on the circumstances, they'll do the matting in post-production.

[Neutron82]

i just got this in the mail with 4 other steels from amazon... all freaking 5 of them were dented or scratched and one had a loose disc... so now my WHOLE order is going back to be replaced... i have the old alliance blu and if it weren't for amazons hack job of packaging i would pop it in and compare the steelbook

[Atari Charles]

Originally Posted by Neutron82

i just got this in the mail with 4 other steels from amazon... all freaking 5 of them were dented or scratched and one had a loose disc... so now my WHOLE order is going back to be replaced... i have the old alliance blu and if it weren't for amazons hack job of packaging i would pop it in and compare the steelbook

That's too bad. Hopefully when you get your replacements, you can compare the FDTD Steelbook to the old Alliance release.

[Neutron82]

Originally Posted by Atari Charles

That's too bad. Hopefully when you get your replacements, you can compare the FDTD Steelbook to the old Alliance release.

replacement order is already on the way

[depooter]

Originally Posted by Rhylliam

The steelbook lists the extras on the back of the case, but I'm pretty sure they're not on the blu-ray. Its a combo BD+DVD release, so I think it does say "Extras - On DVD only".

Nope. All the extras are actually on the blu-ray!

[Atari Charles]

Originally Posted by depooter

Nope. All the extras are actually on the blu-ray!

That's good. [Unlike Dawn of the Dead 2004 BD+DVD release.]

Do you know what the actual aspect ratio of this From Dusk Till Dawn release is when you play the movie?(The aspect ratio listed on the back of the case is meaningless with Alliance releases as they are often incorrect)

[Neutron82]

got my steelbooks in from amazon.ca today... well 2 of the replacements they sent were still dented up but 3 were good and from dusk till dawn was one of the good ones... here are a few comparison shots from the original alliance release vs the steelbook... overall i think the disc in the steelbook looks a tad bit better and the sound is better plus it has extras and comes in a really nice case so if you don't own any of the different versions the steelbook is the way to go if you ask me, and it's pretty cheap through amazon... the old alliance version is 1:78 and the steelbook is 1:85 but there isn't much difference... the shots below are not exact but i tried to get them as close to the same as possible... the steelbook has an alliance intro which throws the times a little off from each other

top: old alliance (1)
bottom: steelbook (2)

(1)

(2)

(1)

(2)

(1)

(2)

[Atari Charles]

Thanks for posting this! The brightness is slightly brighter in the 1st Alliance release. The screen ratio does look the same as does the amount of information in both shots. The 1:78:1 aspect ratio should fit the screen of the flat screen perfectly, but a 1:85:1 aspect ratio should show the black bars on the top and the bottom of the screen of a flat screen tv. So unless you have chosen the image to fit screen on your flat screen TV, the aspect ratio of From DuSk to Dawn Steelbook is still 1:78:1.

It is true there is little difference between 1:85:1 and 1:78:1 but there should be enough to see a difference. In the 3rd image from both discs, the image is exactly the same(or seems so from what I can see), so it makes me think this new steelbook is in 1:85:1 ratio. I am not seeing in more information on either side of the screen in the steelbook release than what there is in Alliance's first release. I could be wrong so if someone wants to correct what I have written, please do.

If you'll notice on the Echo Bridge release(sorry to those who are offended by these very vulgar two words ) there is a slight black bar on the top and bottom of the screen. Even look at the the Benny's world of liquor screen and compare it to your screen shots of your 1st Alliance release and your Alliance Steelbook and you will see you are missing information. Either your TV is set-up incorrectly or you have been Allianced.

Allianced: resizing of the screen ratio different to what the director had intended losing relevant image data on top and bottom of screen. Also can mean a stripped down Blu-ray release with no extras. A quirky Canadian term for a Blu-ray release that has been stripped of all extra features usually released by Alliance on Blu-Ray. This may also mean a resizing of the format size of the film for no apparent reason such the Alliance release of Blade 3.

Alliance: meaning fools-gold in ancient Greek, tin in ancient Latin, and donkey dung in ancient Mesopotanian. It is also a film company that releases popular films in blu-ray that usually do not have extra features and/or may be reformatted in screen size for some unknown reason.

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/From-D...1/#Screenshots

Here is a very interesting wiki article on Aspect Ratio:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_%28image%29

The extras are cool, but are not complete compared to what has been released on DVD.

Here is a set of definitions that I and others have come up with for Blu-rays:

http://forum.blu-ray.com/blu-ray-mov...finitions.html

[Neutron82]

Originally Posted by Atari Charles

Thanks for posting this! The brightness is slightly brighter in the 1st Alliance release. The screen ratio does look the same as does the amount of information in both shots. The 1:78:1 aspect ratio should fit the screen of the flat screen perfectly, but a 1:85:1 aspect ratio should show the black bars on the top and the bottom of the screen of a flat screen tv. So unless you have chosen the image to fit screen on your flat screen TV, the aspect ratio of From DuSk to Dawn Steelbook is still 1:78:1.

It is true there is little difference between 1:85:1 and 1:78:1 but there should be enough to see a difference. In the 3rd image from both discs, the image is exactly the same(or seems so from what I can see), so it makes me think this new steelbook is in 1:85:1 ratio. I am not seeing in more information on either side of the screen in the steelbook release than what there is in Alliance's first release. I could be wrong so if someone wants to correct what I have written, please do.

Here is a very interesting wiki article on Aspect Ratio:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_%28image%29

The extras are cool, but are not complete compared to what has been released on DVD.

the steelbook has deeper black levels (some shots you do lose a bit of detail) and higher contrast, more noticeable in reds... sometimes it's a bit hot but overall it looks better on screen to me... the older alliance release still doesn't look bad at all though... i have my tv setup to 16:9 so if black bars were meant to be there then they would be... i agree on the extras not being much but it is more than the older release which is better than nothing at all... still no full tilt boogie but i heard they were releasing that on it's own sometime in the future, maybe someone can elaborate on that

[Atari Charles]

Originally Posted by Neutron82

the steelbook has deeper black levels (some shots you do lose a bit of detail) and higher contrast, more noticeable in reds... sometimes it's a bit hot but overall it looks better on screen to me... the older alliance release still doesn't look bad at all though... i have my tv setup to 16:9 so if black bars were meant to be there then they would be... i agree on the extras not being much but it is more than the older release which is better than nothing at all... still no full tilt boogie but i heard they were releasing that on it's own sometime in the future, maybe someone can elaborate on that

For screen shots, you'll have to go into your TV's menu and choose the setting under picture to "Just Scan" so you can see the black bars which means you are also getting more of the picture. If you take pictures this way, you can show that the Steelbook is indeed the Original Aspect Ratio of 1:85:1 and not 1:78:1.

By keeping your TV in 16X9 mode all the time, you are missing part of the screen of the movie. Also the black bars will not show up if your TV is set to 16X9. Ask anyone about this or try it for yourself.

[Neutron82]

ok yeah i do see the bars on the echo release and there is a little missing off the sides... i checked my tv and it was on 16:9 and no matter what i change it to i see no bars... the first blu i found besides fdtd in 1:85 was the original terminator so i put that in and still no bars... checked my bd player and it's set up to original aspect ratio... the only other thing i can think of is maybe my receiver but i'll have to look into that later... i know for sure on 2:35 and 2:40 movies i get the black bars... maybe my tv is compensating for the slight difference in 1:78 to 1:85, i have no idea... i have a samsung ln55c650 if that helps

[Neutron82]

Originally Posted by Atari Charles

For screen shots, you'll have to go into your TV's menu and choose the setting under picture to "Just Scan" so you can see the black bars which means you are also getting more of the picture. If you take pictures this way, you can show that the Steelbook is indeed the Original Aspect Ratio of 1:85:1 and not 1:78:1.

By keeping your TV in 16X9 mode all the time, you are missing part of the screen of the movie. Also the black bars will not show up if your TV is set to 16X9. Ask anyone about this or try it for yourself.

i don't have "just scan"... i think it's this tv... i have another samsung lcd downstairs let me go check that one and see what happens

edit: ok i got it, i feel like a complete dumbass now lol... it's screen fit on the ln55 i guess that's why i never chose it... my older samsung shows just scan... now let me go get fdtd and i'll verify

i edited the pics above and added new ones with the correct aspect ratio from the steelbook... it does indeed have small black bars at the top and bottom of the screen but it is hard to see in the pics... thanks atari for bringing this up or i might have never noticed it lol