'Underworld' UK

[Damage Inc.]

I tried to figure this out before, but it's still not clear to me:

There is a UK-version of 'Underworld' which seems to come in a sleeved box.
I'm not sure, if anyone has it, please comment on that too.
And as far as I can see, details are about the same, so I would think it's exactly the same.

But, I sometimes read it's different from the US-version.
Which also comes in a standard BD-box, only with the same image.
For example, here is a comment from the Amazon-website:

"The picture was average for a Blu Ray disc. Don't be fooled by the description which says Dolby Digital soundtrack, it is actually DTS (it even states it is Dolby in the setup menu) - How this occured I do not know.

Seems just like a re-hash of the DVD. I hear the US version is much better and has PCM uncompressed sound and everything."


While actually the US-one reviewed on here is considered really good.
Including great lossless PCM-audio and such things, as noted by the poster of that comment.

So, what's the story on this?
Because I like to buy from the UK since I live in The Netherlands.
And I also actually like the box better, IF it's just like they show.
You can see it here: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=4203
But unfortunately, as usual there isn't much information to it.*
Just checking before I end up with some "DVD-rehash".


*That's another issue; there should be information to those releases too.
This is a great website, but other releases than the US don't seem to be covered.
Now, it's not like every single country's release should be analyzed to the bottom.
But for example the UK-versions might be handy to know more about too.
They're mostly similar and occasionally quite different, sometimes in other countries too.
So if there's something significantly different, I think it should be covered here.

[Sky_Captain]

Do not under any circumstances buy the UK release. It is horrible and in all honesty, looks no better than the DVD upscaled. Now I know that might seem like hyperbole and I hate people using the term 'upscale', but it's very much true in this case. There is no real detail in the picture at all. Going from the German HD DVD to the UK BD was quite a shock, as the HD DVD was gorgeous. Stick to the US or Australian releases for these movies.

[stargazeruk]

Like sky captian said do not get the UK release. EIV did a very poor job with that release.

Here is a rundown very short rundown of the picture and sound codecs used.

I do not know what disk size EIV used or extras so I am skipping that information.

US Sony Release Specs:
Picture encoded in AVC
LPCM 5.1 4.6Mbps Sound
BD-50

UK EIV Release Specs:
Picture encoded in MPEG2
DTS 5.1 1.5Mbps Sound

I would take the sony release over EIV release anyday. I will do the same thing for underworld 3 if sony don't region lock the film.

[Damage Inc.]

Really weird they didn't just use the same disc around here.
I júst checked what kind of release they have here in The Netherlands.
And actually it's surprisingly different:
The cover shows the image of Selene where she holds two guns down.
But it comes in a plain BD-box and I wouldn't know what it's like technically...
Plus the price is surprisingly low compared to the standard of €30,- (£26,- / $40,-).
Instead it's €15,- (£13,- / $20,-), which makes me wonder how good it actually is...

Man, I really wish they had released it as the 'Supremacy Edition' they made for DVD.
That would just be awesome, especially using the same or a similar box.


Now, I really wonder what will be in the "Trilogy Packs".
As there are at least two or three, including a British one, sooo...
Yeah, I guess I'll have to wait until someone else knows?