What's Worse with Warner Releases...(aka WWwWR Thread)

[matthewrounds]

I have stayed out of posting new threads for a while, but I believe this merits a new thread...

I am sick and tired of Warner going VC-1 and DD with some of their new releases. I finally upgraded my home theater to include blu-ray player and a receiver which bit stream and decode respectively the HD audio codecs. I am now truly getting lossless audio and it is fantastic. I have re-watched several of my previous purchases just to hear the difference. HD sound makes a huge difference in the quality of the in home movie experience, and DD just doesn't cut it. There are a few new releases which have been mentioned in other threads, Speed Racer, Fred Claus titles a year ago I would have gladly picked up just to support the format and help end the format war with my wallet. Now I just can't spend even Amazon prices on titles that if I like I am going to double dip on.

So after some thought I figured lets make a new thread and a poll to determine which is the worse combination, a lot bit rate VC-1 transfer with a TrueHD track or a high bit rate VC-1 transfer (high for Warner's standards) and a DD track. Take for example a title like Twister which is VC-1 and TrueHD track. The sound is great but the picture quality (thumbs down). A title like the upcoming speed racer is going to be great eye candy, but the sound well, I might was well have it coming from my TV speakers.

Please vote. I hope more constructive threads can be brought to the attention of Warner's Blu-ray department which in the words of a forum member's signature needs to be remastered and fast!

Edit: Maybe someone should start a thread on, Guess the audio on <insert movie title> upcoming release!

[Canada]

I don't know but i have a hard time telling a good transfer from a bad one usually except for example The Terminator, The Italian Job or 28 Days later. The reason I voted for sound True HD option is I find sound puts me in the middle of the action even if the transfer is not all that great.

Regarding the transfer I have a hard time telling the great transfers from mearly ones because I have a relitivly small HDTV at 34".

[nbxfan]

This really could come down to which is worse, your eyes or your ears. A bad transfer is visible and I think would effect your experience more than the sound. I have both a good quality expensive TV and an expensive Receiver...basically all the latest greatest toys and I find it more frustrating to see a bad picture. That said, I think people need to let up on Warner. If you don't like what they are doing don't buy from them. As I am not looking to replace my massive DVD collection, but will be purchasing things in the future...if they are out on both Blu or DVD, I will go Blu. I don't see the point in being overly picky about everything. Blu may be more expensive but, if you can't afford it immediately or don't think it's worth what they want for it, wait for a sale. Blu-Ray is still going to offer you more than a regular DVD unless they have completely dropped the ball. Complaining about something that has yet to happen is also not very constructive and pretty much a waste of time. Complaining about Speed Racer for example because of it being BD-25 and not the newest greatest sound available does not mean that the Blu will still not be great. Until it is released you can't know.

[ThePhantomOak]

I hate Warner...

I wish they would not make such good movies and then punch me in the nuts.

[matthewrounds]

Originally Posted by nbxfan

This really could come down to which is worse, your eyes or your ears. A bad transfer is visible and I think would effect your experience more than the sound. I have both a good quality expensive TV and an expensive Receiver...basically all the latest greatest toys and I find it more frustrating to see a bad picture. That said, I think people need to let up on Warner. If you don't like what they are doing don't buy from them. As I am not looking to replace my massive DVD collection, but will be purchasing things in the future...if they are out on both Blu or DVD, I will go Blu. I don't see the point in being overly picky about everything. Blu may be more expensive but, if you can't afford it immediately or don't think it's worth what they want for it, wait for a sale. Blu-Ray is still going to offer you more than a regular DVD unless they have completely dropped the ball. Complaining about something that has yet to happen is also not very constructive and pretty much a waste of time. Complaining about Speed Racer for example because of it being BD-25 and not the newest greatest sound available does not mean that the Blu will still not be great. Until it is released you can't know.

I'm not trying to pick on you, but I do want to make a point, its not really about the money to me. I am buying an average of 1-2 releases a week on Amazon. I may still end up picking up some of these titles with DD, I just get really frustrated that there is no indication of when or if it is going to end.

I really want Warner to let us know when they plan to release all titles with a high bit rate VC-1 transfer and a lossless track. If they would just let me know, "hey we already had 15 storage warehouses with all these printed titles. Once we get rid of them we will get back to producing high quality titles." But this cannot be the case because new releases are getting the same treatment as catalog titles though to be printed but not released during the format war.

[hoser]

For me, neither is acceptable.

A bit of algebra:
No lossless + high bitrate = no buy
Low bitrate + lossless = no buy

Warner is the lamest studio releasing BDs...

[ECWaenigma]

Originally Posted by hoser

For me, neither is acceptable.

A bit of algebra:
No lossless + high bitrate = no buy
Low bitrate + lossless = no buy

Warner is the lamest studio releasing BDs...

100%. But I'll still buy Warner releases because their library is so deep and vast.

[MacDaddyOJack]

Originally Posted by ECWaenigma

100%. But I'll still buy Warner releases because their library is so deep and vast.

So it's not 100% for you then

Warner consistently pisses me off as well. Buying BD's costs something extra over the dvd and consequently, we should get more. An average VC-1 encode and Dolby Digital on a BD is not worth the premium price tag. I absolutely love some of Warner's releases (Matrix, Dark Knight) but if they don't get the FULL Bluray treatment, I won't give them another penny.

[TheForce8686]

I think what's worse is that I dont really understand the difference in the choices and what they mean.

[jkwest]

Originally Posted by TheForce8686

I think what's worse is that I dont really understand the difference in the choices and what they mean.

whats worse than that is that you have been here since '06 and have 296 blus!!! And, you still don't know what it means!!

[Riff Magnum]

Neither.
I've held off buying Natural Born Killers and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest for these very reasons. They'll probably do the same thing to JFK and i'll hold off till they re-release with higher bit rates and lossless sound. With all the other releases coming out from other studios it will be easy to ignore WB for a least another year, by which time they'll probably try to get everyone to double dip.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by hoser

...

Warner is the lamest studio releasing BDs...

which is very unfortunate since they have one of the best film libraries of all the studios.

[OokieSpookie]

Originally Posted by jkwest

whats worse than that is that you have been here since '06 and have 296 blus!!! And, you still don't know what it means!!

Odds are that they are have been happy with their releases and do not spend all of their time on a message board jerking off and whining about numbers and instead enjoying their movies.

[SS316SRV]

Warner hate threads aren't becoming rampant at all.

[OokieSpookie]

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

Warner hate threads aren't becoming rampant at all.

OMG have you seen Teh Dark Knights? Such a great movie, do you think it will come to blu??

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by OokieSpookie

OMG have you seen Teh Dark Knights? Such a great movie, do you think it will come to blu??

yeah.... with lots of Grain, black bars, and a "Digibook"

[Dubstar]

it's sad when a studio like Fox releases both their new and catalog titles with great transfers (sans Patton and Master & Commander), drops the ball on the porting of extras for the bluray editions, and then compare them to Warner's which does the complete opposite.

[TheForce8686]

Originally Posted by jkwest

whats worse than that is that you have been here since '06 and have 296 blus!!! And, you still don't know what it means!!

I dont care or understand how it works but Im glad it does. I dont understand the different sounds and videos, I just know I put the disc in and looks and sounds really good. So good, I hate watching SDs anymore.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by TheForce8686

I dont care or understand how it works but Im glad it does. I dont understand the different sounds and videos, I just know I put the disc in and looks and sounds really good. So good, I hate watching SDs anymore.

This is in no-way meant to be offensive...... but sometimes ignorance is truely bliss I'm completely ignorant on the video side of things..... and I'm glad that I can't differentiate the audio codecs to the extent of many others (I find VERY good 5.1 DTS tracks out there still ) I can appreciate the better audio, as it was my main reason for getting blu-ray to begin with.... but this "I won't buy it if" crap is getting old in my opinion

[owa]

I voted for the first one but I don't think it's that clear-cut. That is, it really depends on the movie. For some movies the audio is more important to me, for others it's the picture and some need both. Of course, ideally, the best possible for both is preferred.

Edit: On 2nd thought, I probably should have voted for the 2nd option. Four of the five favorites that I list in my sig, the audio is more important to me than the picture.