Karthik Calling Karthik BD Review - Eros UK - Blu-ray Forum

anibap · 12-03-2010, 04:54 PM

Karthik Calling Karthik BD Review – Eros UK Version
When I noticed this on Lovefilm site available for rent just 4 days back I thought it will be a good idea to try it out first by renting since I lost my faith and trust on Eros after they massacred their last few releases. So, how is the KCK BD from Eros? Read on…

The Movie
I actually quite enjoyed the movie when it came out. I think Bollywood needs this kind of movies to diversify from the typical formula films that I have lost all interest to see. The movie also deals with the subject of schizophrenia which is perhaps the first time in Bollywood (although this is kind of done to death in Hollywood). I was quite impressed with the style, the script and making of the movie. The director has done a commendable job in making a movie that kept audience guessing without deviating from the main mood of the film. It has a good script (although some flaws are there) and from the start the movie goes into it straight away…

The casting of Farhan is perfect for the film and he has done a great job. He made his character believable. Farhan didn’t have to try a lot to get into the character and the mannerisms as in real life he is very close to the dynamic Karthik in the movie. I always consider Farhan as a better director than actor but with this movie it was like the role was made for him and he delivered. Deepika has done ok but not so great. She looks good but she needs to act a lot better than this. One noticeable flaw to me was Deepika’s handling of Farhan’s situation when she came to know about the problem. I think the script could have been better and engaging on that part.

The movie has some great background score and couple of good songs. There is a very distinct visual style to the movie. The movie has a very fresh appeal supported by excellent acting from the lead role, great art direction and cinematography and to top it up well directed and attempted. Going by the subject and treatment of the film it is quite clear that the movie was not meant for the ‘Mango People (aam aadmi)’ and was more targeted towards the urban population and it has succeeded in that respect. The movie also has some finer touches which many missed while watching the movie and I must give the director credit for that. Watch the BD and hopefully you will notice some interesting elements.

Overall, a good movie. Could have been better but I am happy see this kind of movies attempted in India and that is enough for a good pat on the back and my rating.

Blu-Ray Review
Coming to the PQ and AQ review, I am happy to say that this BD is one of the best or perhaps the best Eros BD I have seen so far. I was quite skeptical about the PQ more than the AQ but Eros has come out in spades in both departments…

Picture Quality

Indoor scenes are very filmic looking and it perfectly creates the mood of the movie.
Presence of healthy grain in the image. DNR is not an issue here and some of the scenes kind of jump at you with detail.
There is a 3D kind of feel to the movie in certain scenes and it really works well
Color – After a long time I saw a BD that has excellent color integrity and no bleeding or banding. The film uses a very unique color tone and it is rendered very well. I must say skin tones and gradation of color is excellent (please don’t look for natural skin tones on this movie)
Sharpness is excellent and close-ups look great. Farhan Akhtar has got one of the most textured faces and hair in the industry so you might notice that part of the screen where he is present appearing sharper than the rest. In the same shot Deepika might appear softer (skin and hair) while Farhan looks razor sharp. Overall sharpness is great.
A solid image that one can enjoy on HD. The overall effect is that of some quality Hollywood releases.
Good black level with nice and inky blacks.
Shadow detail is very good overall.

Overall, excellent and I wish Love Aaj Kal and some other Eros BDs had this kind of image. Very impressed.

The plus points outweighs some minor niggles of the PQ I noticed. Most of you may not notice them.

Contrast is slightly boosted (not bad though) making some daylight objects loose detail or mild burn (Shirts/ clothes etc)
There is a slight hint of Edge enhancement, again not bad but you might notice them from time to time on peoples outlines and some objects. But the effect is well within the tolerance level. If you have picky eye, you will notice it.
The black level in some scenes is bit elevated which makes the background slightly washed out like but it is not throughout the movie. If the source was untouched while authoring this can be attributed to the source or the way it was filmed and not corrected in post production.

Audio Quality

A good surprise – there is only one audio track – The DTS HD MA. It is good that Eros has not offered any extra redundant tracks. The track is excellent and and for the first time this Eros BD is not loud like their earlier ones. It seems they are listening.
The track is very refined and offers an excellent soundstage with clear voice and effects. The LFE channel is excellent and not very boomy (although one or two instances it was slightly overpowering). The occasional balanced LFE rumbles will put a smile on your face. Mid range is excellent as well although a slight refinement would have helped. Great stuff.
Rear effects are equally good and works very well to support the movie and creates the necessary listening environment. Songs were nice to listen and have good separation.
Background score is great and well separated.

Again few minor niggles – not serious

A couple of instances where the bass was bit boomy but not objectionable.
Few effects like rains were good but could have been better with more rear involvement. I guess a filter was used which cut off some low frequency sounds.
The biggest issue fortunately has nothing to do with the main feature – The main menu. The track used in the main menu is terribly loud and distorted and might make you mad but once you select the main feature, the sound captivates you with definition and finesse.

This is going to be one of the few reference BD for audio quality.

Note:
I don’t review extras or additional items on BD. Just to let you know this BD has no extras at all. Not sure if the extras would come in a separate DVD as I only rented the main feaure. The menu is nice with the Telephone operation.

There is a Play all songs menu and it works great and does not end up in sequence after a song ends.
There is no Audio setup on the BD as there is only one track (so don’t look for it)

I do not have a PC based player hence I can't do screenshots. Hope some one will be able to add some screeenshots later.

Conclusion:
Well, when I popped the BD, I was not hoping to be blown away and thought it would be another crap Eros release but after watching the movie I must say I am impressed and to me this is perhaps the best BD from Eros in terms of PQ and AQ and one of the best BD from bollywood so far. I found some minor issues but they are not bad enough to score it down. Good picture integrity supported by good audio qualities make this worthy of collection. I am going to buy this for sure.

If anyone from Eros is reading this, please accept my thanks and hopefully this is the birth of a new Eros and not an exception.

We, as consumers will definitely praise and thank for good work and we just expect you to deliver quality for our money. Thanks Eros for producing a great BD.

Highly recommended from me.

You guys wil enjoy this BD especially people who liked the movie.

My Rating
Movie: 4.00
Video: 4.35
Audio: 4.35
Overall Quality Score: 4.25

skywirepteltd · 12-03-2010, 05:51 PM

Excellent review. I haven't got my copy yet. Hope to see it soon

mrbrat_Boy · 12-03-2010, 10:52 PM

Thanks Anibap

You review is great, i was hoping for some light at the end of the tunnel, and you have certainly put on your flashlight, lol. I waited quite a while and finally this blu ray has released. After watching this in the theater, i was temteped to get the DVD when it released, but i decided to 'hold my horses'. I am glad my patience has paid off.

I am upset that no extras were included, even on a separate disc, the DVD had a 2-Disc release withs loads of extra's.

While i am happy that the PQ and AQ are excellent, i am however miffed at the fact that the blu ray costs nearly three times the DVD and has NO EXTRAS

divyansh · 12-04-2010, 04:01 PM

awsome review ani.....fully detailed as always....but as far as i know this bd is not available in india yet??

Bollywood Blu-ray · 12-04-2010, 04:26 PM

itwill be next week from eros india

divyansh · 12-05-2010, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bollywood Blu-ray

itwill be next from eros india

thx for the info guyz....

desire345 · 12-30-2010, 09:10 PM

Thank you! Based on the reviews it seems like EROS has done a great job this time around and I'm looking forward to this title on Blu. I just called my supplier (which supplies original media to all of North America) and they said due to the snow blizzard here in NY, the shipment has been delayed...and hopefully by next Monday they will have it in stock!

Can't wait to get this title and will keep you all posted!

kailashu · 01-03-2011, 02:03 AM

@ani - I disagree with your review with respect to PQ. Just my opinion again. It doesn't deserve a 4.3, a 3.5 at it's best. The picture is definitely film like, no doubt, but the raised black levels and contrast boosting makes the picture look washed out. Disappointed with zEROS again. Hope they get their act together!

EDIT: The second half is definitely spectacular, a rating of 4.3 it is.

anibap · 01-04-2011, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kailashu

@ani - I disagree with your review with respect to PQ. Just my opinion again. It doesn't deserve a 4.3, a 3.5 at it's best. The picture is definitely film like, no doubt, but the raised black levels and contrast boosting makes the picture look washed out. Disappointed with zEROS again. Hope they get their act together!

EDIT: The second half is definitely spectacular, a rating of 4.3 it is.

@Kailashu,

Thanks for your comment and observation. You are correct about the 2nd half and one reason could be limited number of outdoor scenes (and hence less contrast boost issues) in 2nd half.

I did mention in my review about the contrast boost and raised black level but I did not find them too serious since

1. Raised black level - was not consistent throughout and only appeared in certain scenes and sequences - which could be the way it was filmed and post processed. Someone with DVD can confirm.
2. Contrast boost - again was limited to few scenes - I picked it up everytime but the frequency was low due to the film being mostly indoor type.

I had a dilemma while rating the PQ but I went with the 4.3 (slightly odd) rating since I enjoyed the overall presentation very much.

Point to Discuss
In my recent review of KHNH I have mentioned that the evil of Contrast boost must be controlled for Bollywood BDs. What used to be an exception earlier is now becoming a standard.

It seems that authoring done by DEI and Shemaroo are good with Contrast levels or are they just lucky with the source they get?? (They don't do any post-processing as well). I think this question can be answered this way

Do we know any two BD for which the source DPX was processed by the same Studio / agency but was authored by two authroing houses and one has balanced contrast and the other has boosted contrast? If the process followed while generating the source is same, then the source should be more or less identical in technical parameters. To avoid confusion better to consider any two new films.

Will be eager to hear from Chandna (DEI), Shemaroo, Utech and other authoring houses or even the studios. It will be great if you guys can share your thoughts.

From next time onwards, I will do a rating on 10 since the range from 'Bad' to 'Excellent' is more wide ranging now from what we have seen so far from Bollywood. This will be good to differentiate between a rating of 3.5 (now7) and 3.75 (now 7.5) on a scale of 10 instaed of 5.

arjun1591 · 01-04-2011, 03:00 PM

This bluray came out more than a month ago and still no screenshots?

Paap28 · 06-11-2011, 10:22 AM

Hi there, I am looking to buy Karthik Calling Karthik on blu-ray and wanted to double check how the case look likes.

is the normal amaray case like this...

...or is it one of those cardboard cases that Eros normally release their DVDs in?

Andrew-Kenneth · 06-11-2011, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paap28

Hi there, I am looking to buy Karthik Calling Karthik on blu-ray and wanted to double check how the case look likes.

is the normal amaray case like this...

...or is it one of those cardboard cases that Eros normally release their DVDs in?

I own this blu-ray, and i can assure you it's in a normal Amaray case.

Some Eros blu-rays however use the slightly thicker UK-Amaray case. (e.g. Om Shanti Om, Love Aaj Kal)

Bollywood Blu-ray · 06-12-2011, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arjun1591

This bluray came out more than a month ago and still no screenshots?

about 6 months ago

12-03-2010, 04:54 PM	#1
anibap Special Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:London, UK Home Theater Gallery:30 Blu-ray collection:128 Blu-ray reviews:1	Karthik Calling Karthik BD Review - Eros UK Karthik Calling Karthik BD Review – Eros UK Version When I noticed this on Lovefilm site available for rent just 4 days back I thought it will be a good idea to try it out first by renting since I lost my faith and trust on Eros after they massacred their last few releases. So, how is the KCK BD from Eros? Read on… The Movie I actually quite enjoyed the movie when it came out. I think Bollywood needs this kind of movies to diversify from the typical formula films that I have lost all interest to see. The movie also deals with the subject of schizophrenia which is perhaps the first time in Bollywood (although this is kind of done to death in Hollywood). I was quite impressed with the style, the script and making of the movie. The director has done a commendable job in making a movie that kept audience guessing without deviating from the main mood of the film. It has a good script (although some flaws are there) and from the start the movie goes into it straight away… The casting of Farhan is perfect for the film and he has done a great job. He made his character believable. Farhan didn’t have to try a lot to get into the character and the mannerisms as in real life he is very close to the dynamic Karthik in the movie. I always consider Farhan as a better director than actor but with this movie it was like the role was made for him and he delivered. Deepika has done ok but not so great. She looks good but she needs to act a lot better than this. One noticeable flaw to me was Deepika’s handling of Farhan’s situation when she came to know about the problem. I think the script could have been better and engaging on that part. The movie has some great background score and couple of good songs. There is a very distinct visual style to the movie. The movie has a very fresh appeal supported by excellent acting from the lead role, great art direction and cinematography and to top it up well directed and attempted. Going by the subject and treatment of the film it is quite clear that the movie was not meant for the ‘Mango People (aam aadmi)’ and was more targeted towards the urban population and it has succeeded in that respect. The movie also has some finer touches which many missed while watching the movie and I must give the director credit for that. Watch the BD and hopefully you will notice some interesting elements. Overall, a good movie. Could have been better but I am happy see this kind of movies attempted in India and that is enough for a good pat on the back and my rating. Blu-Ray Review Coming to the PQ and AQ review, I am happy to say that this BD is one of the best or perhaps the best Eros BD I have seen so far. I was quite skeptical about the PQ more than the AQ but Eros has come out in spades in both departments… Picture Quality Indoor scenes are very filmic looking and it perfectly creates the mood of the movie. Presence of healthy grain in the image. DNR is not an issue here and some of the scenes kind of jump at you with detail. There is a 3D kind of feel to the movie in certain scenes and it really works well Color – After a long time I saw a BD that has excellent color integrity and no bleeding or banding. The film uses a very unique color tone and it is rendered very well. I must say skin tones and gradation of color is excellent (please don’t look for natural skin tones on this movie) Sharpness is excellent and close-ups look great. Farhan Akhtar has got one of the most textured faces and hair in the industry so you might notice that part of the screen where he is present appearing sharper than the rest. In the same shot Deepika might appear softer (skin and hair) while Farhan looks razor sharp. Overall sharpness is great. A solid image that one can enjoy on HD. The overall effect is that of some quality Hollywood releases. Good black level with nice and inky blacks. Shadow detail is very good overall. Overall, excellent and I wish Love Aaj Kal and some other Eros BDs had this kind of image. Very impressed. The plus points outweighs some minor niggles of the PQ I noticed. Most of you may not notice them. Contrast is slightly boosted (not bad though) making some daylight objects loose detail or mild burn (Shirts/ clothes etc) There is a slight hint of Edge enhancement, again not bad but you might notice them from time to time on peoples outlines and some objects. But the effect is well within the tolerance level. If you have picky eye, you will notice it. The black level in some scenes is bit elevated which makes the background slightly washed out like but it is not throughout the movie. If the source was untouched while authoring this can be attributed to the source or the way it was filmed and not corrected in post production. Audio Quality A good surprise – there is only one audio track – The DTS HD MA. It is good that Eros has not offered any extra redundant tracks. The track is excellent and and for the first time this Eros BD is not loud like their earlier ones. It seems they are listening. The track is very refined and offers an excellent soundstage with clear voice and effects. The LFE channel is excellent and not very boomy (although one or two instances it was slightly overpowering). The occasional balanced LFE rumbles will put a smile on your face. Mid range is excellent as well although a slight refinement would have helped. Great stuff. Rear effects are equally good and works very well to support the movie and creates the necessary listening environment. Songs were nice to listen and have good separation. Background score is great and well separated. Again few minor niggles – not serious A couple of instances where the bass was bit boomy but not objectionable. Few effects like rains were good but could have been better with more rear involvement. I guess a filter was used which cut off some low frequency sounds. The biggest issue fortunately has nothing to do with the main feature – The main menu. The track used in the main menu is terribly loud and distorted and might make you mad but once you select the main feature, the sound captivates you with definition and finesse. This is going to be one of the few reference BD for audio quality. Note: I don’t review extras or additional items on BD. Just to let you know this BD has no extras at all. Not sure if the extras would come in a separate DVD as I only rented the main feaure. The menu is nice with the Telephone operation. There is a Play all songs menu and it works great and does not end up in sequence after a song ends. There is no Audio setup on the BD as there is only one track (so don’t look for it) I do not have a PC based player hence I can't do screenshots. Hope some one will be able to add some screeenshots later. Conclusion: Well, when I popped the BD, I was not hoping to be blown away and thought it would be another crap Eros release but after watching the movie I must say I am impressed and to me this is perhaps the best BD from Eros in terms of PQ and AQ and one of the best BD from bollywood so far. I found some minor issues but they are not bad enough to score it down. Good picture integrity supported by good audio qualities make this worthy of collection. I am going to buy this for sure. If anyone from Eros is reading this, please accept my thanks and hopefully this is the birth of a new Eros and not an exception. We, as consumers will definitely praise and thank for good work and we just expect you to deliver quality for our money. Thanks Eros for producing a great BD. Highly recommended from me. You guys wil enjoy this BD especially people who liked the movie. My Rating Movie: 4.00 Video: 4.35 Audio: 4.35 Overall Quality Score: 4.25 Last edited by anibap; 12-03-2010 at 04:56 PM.

12-04-2010, 04:26 PM	#5
Bollywood Blu-ray Power Member Top contributor Member since:Feb 2009 Location:USA/Uk/Mumbai Blu-ray collection:249	itwill be next week from eros india Last edited by Bollywood Blu-ray; 12-05-2010 at 09:10 AM.

12-30-2010, 09:10 PM	#7
desire345 New Member Member since:Dec 2010	Thank you! Thank you! Based on the reviews it seems like EROS has done a great job this time around and I'm looking forward to this title on Blu. I just called my supplier (which supplies original media to all of North America) and they said due to the snow blizzard here in NY, the shipment has been delayed...and hopefully by next Monday they will have it in stock! Can't wait to get this title and will keep you all posted!

01-03-2011, 02:03 AM	#8
kailashu Expert Member Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Planet Vega Home Theater Gallery:26 Blu-ray collection:1179 Digital collection:59 Blu-ray reviews:45	@ani - I disagree with your review with respect to PQ. Just my opinion again. It doesn't deserve a 4.3, a 3.5 at it's best. The picture is definitely film like, no doubt, but the raised black levels and contrast boosting makes the picture look washed out. Disappointed with zEROS again. Hope they get their act together! EDIT: The second half is definitely spectacular, a rating of 4.3 it is. Last edited by kailashu; 01-03-2011 at 03:31 AM.

12-03-2010, 05:51 PM	#2
skywirepteltd Senior Member Top contributor Member since:Feb 2010 Location:Kuala Lumpur Home Theater Gallery:29 Blu-ray collection:573 Blu-ray reviews: 44 Trading Score:3	Excellent review. I haven't got my copy yet. Hope to see it soon

12-03-2010, 10:52 PM	#3
mrbrat_Boy Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Johannesburg - South Africa Home Theater Gallery:210 4K collection:69 Blu-ray collection:1798 DVD collection:162 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 37	Thanks Anibap You review is great, i was hoping for some light at the end of the tunnel, and you have certainly put on your flashlight, lol. I waited quite a while and finally this blu ray has released. After watching this in the theater, i was temteped to get the DVD when it released, but i decided to 'hold my horses'. I am glad my patience has paid off. I am upset that no extras were included, even on a separate disc, the DVD had a 2-Disc release withs loads of extra's. While i am happy that the PQ and AQ are excellent, i am however miffed at the fact that the blu ray costs nearly three times the DVD and has NO EXTRAS

12-04-2010, 04:01 PM	#4
divyansh Power Member Top contributor Member since:Jan 2010 Location:India Blu-ray collection:59 Blu-ray reviews:1	awsome review ani.....fully detailed as always....but as far as i know this bd is not available in india yet??

01-04-2011, 03:00 PM	#10
arjun1591 Active Member Top contributor Member since:Oct 2008 Home Theater Gallery:7 Blu-ray collection:54 Blu-ray reviews:28	This bluray came out more than a month ago and still no screenshots?

06-11-2011, 10:22 AM	#11
Paap28 Member Member since:Jun 2009 Home Theater Gallery:1	Hi there, I am looking to buy Karthik Calling Karthik on blu-ray and wanted to double check how the case look likes. is the normal amaray case like this... ...or is it one of those cardboard cases that Eros normally release their DVDs in?

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