Berserk: The Golden Age Arc releases

[Xenonas]

Upon doing a little research I'm starting to get worried over the western releases that we got, especially the UK ones... Let me provide you with some facts about disc and main feature sizes:

I

Japan: 31.17 GB (if you strip the audio tracks and extras it should still be about 20 GB left for the video)
US: 14.51 GB (the main feature with two DTS-HDMA audio tracks is 13.55 GB)
UK: 10.4 GB (the main feature with two DTS-HDMA audio tracks is 10.1 GB)

II

Japan: 30.31 GB (the main feature is 28.77, stripping the audio tracks should leave around 25 GB for the video)
US: 24.68 GB (the main feature with two DTS-HDMA audio tracks is 15.29 GB)
UK: ??? (maybe someone can provide the info?)

III (uncensored)

Japan: 30.95 GB (the main feature is 30.88 GB with only a single LPCM track on it)
US: 25.06 GB (the main feature with two DTS-HDMA audio tracks is 13.98 GB)
UK: Not released yet.

I checked some scenes of UK copy in the first one, and while I couldn't see compression artifacts in motion (they might be there so don't this for a fact), the bitrate was still abysmally low (9-17 mbps). So what in the hell are the western distributors doing? I'm kinda scared to pick up the UK BD of the second one now...

[krazeyeyez]

Did you think the movie looked good before you did your research

[Xenonas]

Originally Posted by krazeyeyez

Did you think the movie looked good before you did your research

Let's say me or someone else (this counts as a SUBJECTIVE opinion) finds the UK disc looking perfect (I actually don't as I only have watched the JP dics and haven't seen the UK one in it's entirety), would that change the FACT that the bitrates are abysmally low for no apparent reason?

[Shingster]

I reviewed the UK Blu-ray for another site back when it first came out, but I don't think I can post a link to another review site on here so I'll just quote the relevant part (in short the transfer is decent but full of banding):

When I first put this BD-25 disc into my PC I had to do a double take when I saw the filesize listed as 10.4GB, and sure enough a BDInfo scan revealed this release has a total bitrate of 18.5Mbps with an average video bitrate of 9.51Mbps. This is startlingly small - suspiciously so even - and the only explanation I can think of is that there isn't really a lot of high-frequency detail in the animation to begin with, but either way you do have to question whether this release has been hit with a compression sledgehammer given there are significant banding issues throughout the entire film. Pretty much any scene with darker shades exhibits horrible gradients, a good example being the scene where Guts wakes up in the tent next to Casca after suffering his first defeat at the hands of Griffith.

Otherwise the transfer seems pretty faithful to the source material; or rather it accurately exhibits all the flaws that stem from the way Berserk I was animated - chiefly the supremely excessive diffusion filter applied pretty much throughout the entire film that sucks all the detail from the image (this is where the lack of high-frequency detail comes in). It's not so bad that it looks like standard-def, but I doubt you're gaining much extra detail in the leap between 720p to 1080p. Contrast & brightness levels are naturalistic, grain is imperceptible and there are no sharpening filters in play. There is a little aliasing in the lines of animation at times, but nothing distracting.

[Xenonas]

You wouldn't have any info about UK release of the second movie? If I'm not lazy I'll maybe do a comparison between the JP and UK discs.

[Shingster]

No I completely forgot about the release I'm afraid! Didn't even know it was out until I saw your thread tbh!

[rogueleader17]

Just finished the 3rd movie I got last week, for anyone who enjoyed the end of the series previously released, you will not be disappointed, still awsome. I still kinda prefer the 2d look of the older series, I am still finding myself enjoying this one despite that. Looks like they are going to finish the series through these movies which I look forward to finally seeing what happens after where the old series left off.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by rogueleader17

Just finished the 3rd movie I got last week, for anyone who enjoyed the end of the series previously released, you will not be disappointed, still awsome. I still kinda prefer the 2d look of the older series, I am still finding myself enjoying this one despite that. Looks like they are going to finish the series through these movies which I look forward to finally seeing what happens after where the old series left off.

My wife and I just watched it. What a movie. I want to find out what happens next.

But what a brutal series. It reminds me of Shigirui in terms of pent up violence and rage. God I wish they'd continue Shigirui too...

[rogueleader17]

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

My wife and I just watched it. What a movie. I want to find out what happens next.

But what a brutal series. It reminds me of Shigirui in terms of pent up violence and rage. God I wish they'd continue Shigirui too...

Shigiru was awesome, I would love to see them finish claymore as well.

[Talyn]

Originally Posted by rogueleader17

Shigiru was awesome, I would love to see them finish claymore as well.

The anime for Claymore would need serious ret-conning to fix the bullsh*t that was the last 3-4 episodes..... Yeah, I've read the manga and seen the anime. I totally loved the anime, and won't let those episode ruin it for me. I just never watch them when I rewatch the series from time to time....but there was a better stopping point, actually several, without backing themselves into a corner like they did.

[Oniros]

Question about this release:



Any difference between that collection and the singles? Or is it just a repackage?

[KillaCam]

It's the same discs.

[Mobe1969]

Anyone see the series is getting a UK release in November?

[KillaCam]

Yup, it's also getting a Limited Edition release in Australia in October. I am waiting to see which one has better PQ and packaging before I order either.

https://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/...imited-edition

[Sylontack]

Originally Posted by KillaCam

I am waiting to see which one has better PQ and packaging before I order either.

I can tell you now that the discs/PQ are going to be identical.

[KillaCam]

well I'll go with whichever one has nicer packaging then.

[Mobe1969]

I'll get whichever is cheaper :P

Any recommendations on the series itself, for someone like me who thought the movies were just fantastic?

[xage_00]

I love this release. Looking forward for the Berserk New Series

[Gouki]

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

I'll get whichever is cheaper :P

Any recommendations on the series itself, for someone like me who thought the movies were just fantastic?

Which one, the original or the cross-hatch cg one that is currently airing?

The original series is a classic to me, but bear in mind that it's from the late 90's, is hand drawn, has awesome music, and ends right in the middle of the eclipse.

If you've never seen it, I recommend starting at episode 2, then coming back and watching episode 1 after.

As for the new series, I usually won't watch anything that has been censored for tv and wait for the blu ray. I have seen a few episodes, and they try this weird cross-hatch shading technique that looks very weird, almost as weird as when they use cgi for anything moving. I know they used cgi on quite a few scenes in the movie, but those blended far better together than this new series.

As far as story, they skip a whole bunch of plot points, and have weird flashbacks that will only make sense if you read the manga. Basically it picks up with Farnese and the Holy Cross Knights Arc.

[professorwho]

If James Gunn is doing what I'm thinking, then wow...
Please. Don't. Disappoint.