Rambo film questions

[matts4it]

Hi, today I have ordered the first 3 rambo films. I have decided to go for the US imports rather then the uk ones.

Can any one tell me which versions are best? It would be great if you have the films.

So far I have come to the conclusion the US covers are much better then the UK. The first rambo film seems to have a better bit rate and codec.. ie MPEG4 and its at a relative steady/hgh bit rate.. I think the US version has 21gbps and the uk has around 17gbs. I used this link as my guide:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1059368

As well as the reviews on here.

Is the US sound better then the UK one, I cant quite tell! I heard it has 7.1 sound. But im wondering which is better DTS-HD Hi-Res 5.1 3018Kbps (48kHz/24-bit) or DTS-HD Master 5.1 1834Kbps (48kHz/16-bit).

I presume the US version as its 24bit and has a 3018kbs sound.

Can any one clear that up?

Also the US versions of rambo 2 and 3 are VC1 is that the same as the UK?
And what about the sound?

Well from my research on here and other sites i think the US versions wins, am i right? or is there not much difference?

[richieb1971]

Rambo 4 is the only one I have and its region free, has better sound than the UK version (which is B locked).

[demoni]

You should also check if the UK version of Rambo 3 is the uncut one. The VHS and DVD are cut due to animal cruelty. When Rambo gets in the horseback game (dead goat) with the Afghans there's a scene where a horse falls pretty nasty that has been cut by the BBFC...

So the US disc's would be my choice... just to be sure.

[matts4it]

Well it does seem the US versions are better.

I have ordered the US versions from http://www.axelmusic.com/

Im looking foward to recieving them now. Im always watching the rambo films when they come on tv, I never bothered with the dvd releases. But they do look much better on bluray.

It's a shame the rocky films are a bit dire. Mpeg2!?!?

I hope they re-release the rocky films in a high codec.

Any way off topic now.. has any one purchased the US versions of rambo 1,2 and 3?

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by matts4it

So far I have come to the conclusion the US covers are much better then the UK.

Are you kidding? The UK versions use original art, not the photoshopped junk on the US releases.

[matts4it]

I guess it comes down to every individual's personal prefrence.

I just prefer the US covers to the UK ones. To me the Uk ones look a bit cheesy and poorly put together.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by matts4it

I guess it comes down to every individual's personal prefrence.

I just prefer the US covers to the UK ones. To me the Uk ones look a bit cheesy and poorly put together.

To each his own. Most people prefer the original art.

[matts4it]

Well im more concerned about the video and audio codecs, but the covers are a nice little bonus for me

Are all US bluray films in the slim line cases? Im refering to the spine of the case. I think they are 11mm. As I have only one US bluray film. The uk ones are 14mm.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by matts4it

Well im more concerned about the video and audio codecs, but the covers are a nice little bonus for me

Are all US bluray films in the slim line cases? Im refering to the spine of the case. I think they are 11mm. As I have only one US bluray film. The uk ones are 14mm.

All US and Canadian blu's are in the slim cases. The only exceptions I own are box sets and Bolt (thicker case, three discs).

I own the first three Rambo's. I assume the information in the reviews on this site is correct as far as codecs go. All say DTS Master Audio on the case but I couldn't see the video codec mentioned.

Picture quality is pretty good for older movies. I would say 4/5. Sound is fine.

[matts4it]

well after a little wait for the films to be imported, I have now watched all 3. In terms of video quality im very pleased with the first film, that looks brilliant! The second one was kind of average. And the third one was better then the second.

Can any one tell me why the second film isn't as good as the first and third installments? has this any thing to do with how the film was shot? or is it just not as good in terms of a transfer? I noticed the first and third films have a maple logo on them, are they the guys who did the transfer?

[octanejunkie]

The Rambo movies are indeed better if you have the US versions.
The overall quality is better (viewing back to back), plus the US versions get better special features. All the UK versions have are the same short documentry on each disc.
Whilst the cover art itself is down to personal choice, the US versions are again better quality. The layout is more professional and seems to have had a bit more time spent on the design.
I'm not sure if Rambo 3 has been passed fully uncut, but the version i saw had extra bits in that i hadn't seen on the old tape or DVD versions.
Rest easy, you bought the right set

[GGX]

Originally Posted by matts4it

But im wondering which is better DTS-HD Hi-Res 5.1 3018Kbps (48kHz/24-bit) or DTS-HD Master 5.1 1834Kbps (48kHz/16-bit).

DTS-HD High-Resolution tracks are lossy. DTS-HD Master Audio is lossless.

You can't go simply on which has the higher number. It's not that simple and doesn't work in the real world.

[DMRI2006]

FIRST BLOOD is slightly better in its Studio Canal (European) encode IMO. In addition to the DTS-MA sound (the US disc has DTS-HD as has been pointed out), there's also a bit less DNR and edge-enhancement in that transfer than the old Lionsgate BD, which was one of those early format releases. I could see a slight difference personally, the US disc has just a bit more "ghosting" evident. On the other hand the LG BD does have a lot more extras on it, so I actually own both of those.

Someone on AVS Forum did a comparison as well and came up with these:
USA BD = master + DNR + digital scratch removal + minor EE + AVC compression
UK BD = master + tiny black bar + VC-1 compression

The sequels are all superior in the US releases, so it's up to you if you want the slightly improved European BD of the first movie, which is sourced from the same print but doesn't have the "DNR/digital scratch removal/minor EE". I think FIRST BLOOD is the best of all the movies so for me, as a hard-core fan, it was worth it, and these days it doesn't cost a whole lot either.

There's more info here...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...ight=blood+dnr