Giant Blu-ray

[thebluemax]

The recent release of "Giant" on Blu Ray was a huge disappointment, both the picture and sound were below average. The picture quality is maybe a tad better than the DVD. The video lacked clarity, color fade, edge enhancement otherwise looked nothing like a good BD. I suppose the movie needs a complete restoration.

[JoeBuck]

Funny thing about that. This CAME from a new restoration.

[BrianS]

I haven't received my blu-ray yet, however, here's what Robert Harris says about Giant, which may explain certain disappointments with the picture:

"As the most problematic of the three, Giant was negative cut and assembled for single strand, direct positive step-printing, and rather than short-cut what would have been printer functions, all fades and dissolves were cut long -- meaning entire shots were dupes. So rather than the audience seeing a jump-cut in quality, the quality of the dupes is merely continually poor.

.... Take a good look at the beautiful grain structure of original photography, and you'll know you're seeing something very special. Unfortunately, some of the most iconic shots in the film, for example the entrance to Reata, are dupes, and naturally extremely soft.

For the record, there is nothing to be done about it."

Also... " ..... photographed on early to mid-emulsion 5248 stock, and processed by one of the most problematic labs in the business, in WarnerColor."

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by thebluemax

The picture quality is maybe a tad better than the DVD.

Just because a blu ray release is disappointing, people don't need to write extreme comments such as this. "A tad"? Come on now, look at how much more the stars are defined on the blu ray:

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergl...=384#vergleich

On the DVD, you couldn't even tell what geometric shape that is.

[eChopper]

GIANT looks perfect in every way

the blurry bits will always look like excrement because they were dissolves (several generations away from the OCN)

the rest of the film (>90%) looks beautiful and accurate to what is available. Warner MPI pulled out all stops on these Dean films and at 4k image harvesting , once we get the 4k version it can't possibly look better

If you compare it with the DVD on caps-a-holic you can clearly see its a very nice upgrade

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergl...ss=1#vergleich

[OneWayFilms]

I thought it looked pretty good, but I DID notice alot of halos around edges. Some scenes looked like every character had that halo, a special glow around them, similar to Olivia Newton-John from Xanadu when the paintings come to life, LOL.

[BrianS]

Originally Posted by OneWayFilms

I thought it looked pretty good, but I DID notice alot of halos around edges. Some scenes looked like every character had that halo, a special glow around them, similar to Olivia Newton-John from Xanadu when the paintings come to life, LOL.

Again, I haven't seen it, but supposedly, that's related to WarnerColor opticals. Also from HTF: "[the halos] are Mackie Lines and are present in all WarnerColor opticals. It's a flaw in the early intermediate stock".

[Arkadin]

lots of great info here.
yes, Giant is just very problematic, and this is probably the best it will ever look.
it is a great shame, but to even speak of the absolutely wretched non-anamorphic dvd should be forbidden.
the bd is miles beyond the dvd, and at least the film can now be properly enjoyed.
Since Giant has been my most wanted bd for over 3 years, I am beyond thrilled that it is finally out.
It is clear to those who are informed that the bd is in no way a poor effort on Warner's part.

[abudgell]

I never thought I'd see Giant looking so good. I'm thrilled with the Blu-ray.

[yhzmr]

Originally Posted by thebluemax

The recent release of "Giant" on Blu Ray was a huge disappointment, both the picture and sound were below average. The picture quality is maybe a tad better than the DVD. The video lacked clarity, color fade, edge enhancement otherwise looked nothing like a good BD. I suppose the movie needs a complete restoration.

Have you even seen the DVD? It was non-anamorphic. If the bluray corrects that problem it will be head and shoulders better than the DVD.

[RiFiFi1955]

I just read Robert Mitchum was once cast in Giant but dropped out to do the film "Man with the Gun"...I wonder which character he was expected to play. I'm guessing Rock Hudson's character.

EDIT*** Quick IMDB search revealed nope it would have been for Dean's part.

[Brad1963]

I have no issue with it. Anything is better than the crappy non-anamorphic DVD.

[yellowcakeuf6]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

I just read Robert Mitchum was once cast in Giant but dropped out to do the film "Man with the Gun"...I wonder which character he was expected to play. I'm guessing Rock Hudson's character.

EDIT*** Quick IMDB search revealed nope it would have been for Dean's part.

Mitchum also would have been great as Jett Rink.

[Rizor]

The film has always been problematic for reasons already detailed above. Anyone disappointed by the BD should rest assured that WHV restored this to the best it can possibly look. It may not always be pretty, but like Dial M for Murder, it's true to the way the film looks.

[docc]

Originally Posted by Rizor

The film has always been problematic for reasons already detailed above. Anyone disappointed by the BD should rest assured that WHV restored this to the best it can possibly look. It may not always be pretty, but like Dial M for Murder, it's true to the way the film looks.

I love how they've restored this classic. Colors are rich and natural, there's lots of detail, the level of grain is just right, not overbearing at all...the so called dupe sequences, even though softer, are still acceptable quality and an accurate presentation of the way the director cut the film... I agree that this blu-ray edition is probably very close to the way it looked in theaters back in the day and the three lead actors, all at their peak here, are breathtaking in blu.

[Maggot]

Originally Posted by Rizor

The film has always been problematic for reasons already detailed above. Anyone disappointed by the BD should rest assured that WHV restored this to the best it can possibly look. It may not always be pretty, but like Dial M for Murder, it's true to the way the film looks.

I am just starting to watch movie, which I've never seen before, and I have no doubt they did the best they could, but wow.....this movie is in serious running for the worst PQ I've seen in my collection. I've only watched about 10 minutes worth and I'm saying to myself "this is DVD". Granted I never saw the DVD, but time or whatever, has not been kind to this movie from a technical standpoint.

[movieben1138]

I'm guessing it's an error that the back of the single-disc release lists all of the same bonus features as the digipack that contains two extra DVDs for those additional features. They didn't actually start squeezing them onto the bluray, did they?

[captveg]

Originally Posted by movieben1138

I'm guessing it's an error that the back of the single-disc release lists all of the same bonus features as the digipack that contains two extra DVDs for those additional features. They didn't actually start squeezing them onto the bluray, did they?

No. It's the same blu-ray disc, If any of the DVD only releases are listed it's just a packaging error.

[jeffarent]

It’s a safe bet that this will be released on 4K UHD later this year. In April at the TCM Film Festival, a brand new restoration will be screened.