Patlabor Blu-rays from Section 23

[vincentric]

How's the quality? Any issues with video, audio, subtitles, etc. or are they all good?

Apologies if this has been answered before but I searched (though, only quickly if I had to admit) and could not find one. Am sure I could find an answer or two in one of the mega threads but just don't have the time to dig through them.

Appreciate in advance.

[UseY0ur1llusi0n]

Originally Posted by vincentric

Any issues with video,

See here for the video.

The OVA + TV series US BDs are superior to the JP BDs as Sentai (MJ) received unmolested raw masters without the filtering that BV sprinkled on top of the JP BDs.

Originally Posted by vincentric

audio, subtitles, etc.

As for the subtitles, there's been a few reported glitches. See here, here, and here. The original Japanese stereo materials are A-okay. The English audio is a different story, I'm not sure if you care, but set 1 of the TV series features an "edited" version of the dub for the first couple of episodes. If you want to read more about it in depth, see here. For a shorter version, chronoclast does a really good job of summing it up here.

It's really not a big deal though. I sampled the CPM dub, and it sounds horribad. Typical rush job recorded on a shoestring budget with cringeworthy acting all around. I highly advise you to NOT watch it in English.

Originally Posted by vincentric

How's the quality?

The HD quality is very strong as it was filmed on 35mm. Glaringly yellow subtitles and few errors aside, the sets are worth every penny. Shame there's not more love for Patlabor.

Saluti

[vincentric]

A million thanks, or two!



Being a longtime fan, it's a shame that it has taken me so long to get the Blu-rays but will do it now ASAP.

I still own the DVDs of the limited silver and gold foil boxes for movie 1 and 2, it's difficult for me to part with the shininess.

[vincentric]

Just have another quick question (or two) before buying. For the TV series in particular.

Noticed that the first volume uses 3 discs and has four episodes spread across each one. The following three volumes has two discs using the 9-3/9-2 layout.

Am guessing the first volume is using all BD25s, and the following three sets are using a BD50 for the first disc and a 25 for the second? Is there a noticeable difference in quality, if any, between the first volume and the ensuing three after that?

[JohnCarberry]

I'm not sure of the disc sizes, but in the first set some episodes have two video streams. There's a note attached about how they found the video was edited differently for the English dub for some episodes so they couldn't just use the same video for both dubs for those, so there's extra video on them.

[Girls With Guns]

Ah OK, this is regarding the TV series on Blu-ray, and not the movie Blus... I was wondering how the US Patlabor movie PQ compares to the Japanese Blu-rays, but I just now realized that one isn't even released yet - May 5th for the first movie. Gotta wait a little longer.

[Nostalgic Twilight]

Originally Posted by Girls With Guns

I was wondering how the US Patlabor movie PQ compares to the Japanese Blu-rays, but I just now realized that one isn't even released yet - May 5th for the first movie. Gotta wait a little longer.

People have already started to receive their copies, though, so it's entirely possible for someone to answer your question now. I wish I could help you out, but I don't own the JP BD to compare.

[Cvalda]

My copy should be arriving next week, and I'll do screenshots if none have surfaced by then.

[Girls With Guns]

Thanks! I will usually end up buying both the JP and US releases anyway, when it's all said and done - but it's always good info to know and have handy here...

[Cvalda]

The Japanese releases don't have any extras either, so there's probably no need to own both, especially considering how expensive they are (not that these absurdly priced bare-bones US releases are cheap).

[Girls With Guns]

Well, I generally buy duplicate titles strictly from a collector's point of view - JP releases I get for myself, especially if they have better PQ and HD Japanese audio tracks to go with subs; but I'll also get the US releases for "everyday" use or perhaps to have a dub available if a friend would every want to see it.

And I never buy Blu-rays for extras, as I don't watch them, ever... Just like English dubs, extras simply don't exist in my world...

[Cvalda]

The transfers and audio will be identical between the JP and US releases, if not slightly better on the US due to a possibly newer encode (the Japanese releases are over eight years old at this point). Maiden Japan isn't striking new transfers for these releases, they're licensing the already extant Japanese ones.

[UseY0ur1llusi0n]

Originally Posted by Cvalda

The transfers and audio will be identical between the JP and US releases,

Not entirely. The US BDs won't include the original theatrical stereo tracks found on the JP BDs, only the 5.1 Sound Renewal audio. For those unaware, the stereo mix has the original performances from the Japanese cast before Oshii went back and re-recorded all the dialogue for the Dolby Digital 5.1 channel remix. Additional background music and sound effects were added by Kenji Kawaii, which changes the tone of the film drastically. "Into the Morning Sunshine" doesn't sound nearly as good as it does on the PCM stereo track.

The second movie especially, suffers the most with numerous instances of added background voices, like soldiers screaming into the radio, and different soundtrack music that completely changes the tone of the film, IMHO. The PCM stereo track is definitely my favorite, as it lacks the frivolous surround details added, and is much more intense.

As for the transfers being identical, I'm not really sure how the encodes hold up. Bandai Visual released the BDs nearly a decade ago, and they were surprisingly done right, with no windowboxing or random dabs of DNR on the screen. I didn't notice a single compression artifact. I imagine the yellow subtitles on these beauties will look a bit ghastly though.

[Naiera]

I would wager that the Bandai Visual encode is better than any encode done by a current US anime company, save for Aniplex.

As far as the movies go, I only have the BD25 Hong Kong releases

[Girls With Guns]

Originally Posted by UseY0ur1llusi0n

Not entirely. The US BDs won't include the original theatrical stereo tracks found on the JP BDs, only the 5.1 Sound Renewal audio. For those unaware, the stereo mix has the original performances from the Japanese cast before Oshii went back and re-recorded all the dialogue for the Dolby Digital 5.1 channel remix. Additional background music and sound effects were added by Kenji Kawaii, which changes the tone of the film drastically. "Into the Morning Sunshine" doesn't sound nearly as good as it does on the PCM stereo track.

The second movie especially, suffers the most with numerous instances of added background voices, like soldiers screaming into the radio, and different soundtrack music that completely changes the tone of the film, IMHO. The PCM stereo track is definitely my favorite, as it lacks the frivolous surround details added, and is much more intense.

As for the transfers being identical, I'm not really sure how the encodes hold up. Bandai Visual released the BDs nearly a decade ago, and they were surprisingly done right, with no windowboxing or random dabs of DNR on the screen. I didn't notice a single compression artifact. I imagine the yellow subtitles on these beauties will look a bit ghastly though.

Aack, I forgot these are going to be Sentai releases with their gloriously obnoxious yellow subtitles... That alone may be reason enough for me to cancel my pre-orders for the US releases. I much prefer white subs. The first Patlabor movie hasn't shipped for me yet, still "Reserved for your Order" because I have it on pre-order with a couple of later-releasing titles... decisions, decisions...

[UseY0ur1llusi0n]

Originally Posted by Naiera

I only have the BD25 Hong Kong releases

The bitrate on the first one shouldn't be too bad with a 25GB since the disc is barebones and the movie is only about 100min long. They were dirt cheap anyway.

Originally Posted by Girls With Guns

Aack, I forgot these are going to be Sentai releases with their gloriously obnoxious yellow subtitles... That alone may be reason enough for me to cancel my pre-orders for the US releases. I much prefer white subs. The first Patlabor movie hasn't shipped for me yet, still "Reserved for your Order" because I have it on pre-order with a couple of later-releasing titles... decisions, decisions...

If you have the money, go for the JP versions. They'll look great next to your GitS and Jin-Roh Boxes.

[Girls With Guns]

Originally Posted by UseY0ur1llusi0n

If you have the money, go for the JP versions. They'll look great next to your GitS and Jin-Roh Boxes.

Yeah, cost isn't an issue, as I was planning to get the JP releases anyway - I only pre-ordered the US ones as well because they were cheap - err, inexpensive... I'm just debating whether to cancel the US ones or not.

[Cvalda]

Originally Posted by UseY0ur1llusi0n

Not entirely. The US BDs won't include the original theatrical stereo tracks found on the JP BDs, only the 5.1 Sound Renewal audio. For those unaware, the stereo mix has the original performances from the Japanese cast before Oshii went back and re-recorded all the dialogue for the Dolby Digital 5.1 channel remix. Additional background music and sound effects were added by Kenji Kawaii, which changes the tone of the film drastically. "Into the Morning Sunshine" doesn't sound nearly as good as it does on the PCM stereo track.

The second movie especially, suffers the most with numerous instances of added background voices, like soldiers screaming into the radio, and different soundtrack music that completely changes the tone of the film, IMHO. The PCM stereo track is definitely my favorite, as it lacks the frivolous surround details added, and is much more intense.

As for the transfers being identical, I'm not really sure how the encodes hold up. Bandai Visual released the BDs nearly a decade ago, and they were surprisingly done right, with no windowboxing or random dabs of DNR on the screen. I didn't notice a single compression artifact. I imagine the yellow subtitles on these beauties will look a bit ghastly though.

I'd say the major change in tone with the Sound Renewal is that Kenji's scores sound a lot less dated--he rerecorded them with a larger orchestra (and actual brass), and they sound much fuller and more polished. I prefer the Sound Renewal scores. The hawk noise is kind of annoying and pointless, but it's a small trade off.

[Girls With Guns]

Welp, the first Patlabor movie Blu-ray arrived unexpectedly in my mailbox yesterday from Rightstuf - I didn't even know RS was shipping it out, but it got sent out in their normal two-week partial shipment rotation... So, didn't get a chance to cancel it. I guess I will be getting both the US and JP releases after all, as I was expecting to do anyway...

[Phantom7]

That happens with Sentai releases I noticed and with Funimation I was told as I got Noir a week early and Freezing Vibration just came in the mail today.