Which blu in your collection represents biggest visual upgrade over same film on dvd?

[intbal]

My dad only has a dvd player and didn't understand that there's a different format with much better quality. So I wanted to make a presentation for him to show how much better blu-rays can be over DVDs. Unfortunately, in going through my library, I couldn't find many examples where the difference was dramatic (and noticeable for an Octogenarian's eyes). The biggest visual upgrade from dvd to blu-ray in my collection was X-Men:The Last Stand. However, I think that's only because the dvd of that was so terrible (the blu-ray is really pretty mediocre by itself).

So I'd like to hear from others. Which movies do you have where a "decent" dvd is put to shame by a great blu-ray?

[jabba359]

I believe Spirited Away was a picture-boxed DVD, with the Blu-ray coming in way sharper and clearer. Animation may not be the best way of showing off the difference, however. I just know the difference blew me away.

While not a direct DVD to Blu-ray comparison, I do enjoy watching Star Trek: The Next Generation on Blu-ray, as the "next time on Star Trek the Next Generation" TV spots are from the SD tapes, so comparable to what you'd see on the DVD. But after that plays, it then goes straight into the actual episode, which is a new HD scan, and the difference between the two is incredible. That's an easy way to show the difference between the colors and resolution of SD and HD without even having to change a disc.

[Rich65]

I was thinking the same thing but with Star Trek: The Original Series. The remastering is awesome and it looks fantastic.

[traths]

The first two Godfather movies, there's quite an improvement from DVD to blu-ray.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Rich65

I was thinking the same thing but with Star Trek: The Original Series. The remastering is awesome and it looks fantastic.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is a total revelation compared to the DVDs. Same for The X-Files. Great television releases any fan should own IMO.

As for movies there are a lot of 4k remasters that come to mind. Honestly Arrow's UK release of The Fury is a big one, considering what a crappy DVD (and even US BD) we had before. It's a night and day difference.

Also shout out to Predator and the 90's The Mummy on UHD, both of which are massive improvements over the BDs, let alone the DVDs.

[Rich65]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Star Trek: The Next Generation is a total revelation compared to the DVDs. Same for The X-Files. Great television releases any fan should own IMO.

As for movies there are a lot of 4k remasters that come to mind. Honestly Arrow's UK release of The Fury is a big one, considering what a crappy DVD (and even US BD) we had before. It's a night and day difference.

Also shout out to Predator and the 90's The Mummy on UHD, both of which are massive improvements over the BDs, let alone the DVDs.

Both shows look fantastic on Blu-ray. Another classic sci-fi show that is a huge leap from it's dvd counterpart is Space:1999.

[lilboyblu]

Being in his 80’s notwithstanding, all of them are a visual upgrade. Your player is connected to your TV via HDMI and not RCA cables, right??

[Jexes23]

Blu Rays that don’t look miles ahead of their DVD counterparts are few and are usually universally berated.

At least 99% of the time Blu Rays look extremely better. If you can’t already see that then I’m not sure there is much of a point.

[Panson]

Spartacus (1960) to BD; Lawrence of Arabia (1962) to BD; The Godfather: Part I (1972) to BD; Jaws (1975) to BD; Apocalypse Now (1979) to BD; Popeye (1980) to BD; Blade Runner: The Final Cut (1982) to BD; Scarface (1983) to 4K UHD; Fargo (1996) to BD; Black Hawk Down (2001) to BD; Hannibal (2001) to 4K UHD; Godzilla (2014) to BD.

[Jay H.]

Yes.

[koover]

Originally Posted by lilboyblu

Being in his 80’s notwithstanding, all of them are a visual upgrade. Your player is connected to your TV via HDMI and not RCA cables, right??

I couldn’t have said it better. There’s not a single DVD that compares in quality to a Blu-ray that just has a mediocre transfer. Even crappy transfers are so much better then any DVD.

[meremortal]

Chopping Mall's a good candidate. The old dvd was from a vhs master. Not sure how long ago the blu was scanned and from what source but it's a massive upgrade.

[Nick Michalak]

Thief - Criterion Collection

The old DVD was a port over from a non-anamorphic Laserdisc master, and it always looked awful on DVD. I was so glad to get it on Blu-Ray, albeit I didn't learn about it until two months after it was released. Ever since then I don't miss a Criterion announcement.

[GeoffOliver]

Prom Night. My old DVD was sourced from an ancient analog tape master that was open matte with visible boom mics, nonexistent detail, dark contrast (which made the nighttime scenes completely incomprehensible), and very muffled audio. Synapse’s 2014 Blu-ray (sourced from a 2K scan of the original camera negative) was like watching the movie for the first time.

[CinemaScope]

Originally Posted by Jexes23

Blu Rays that don’t look miles ahead of their DVD counterparts are few and are usually universally berated.

At least 99% of the time Blu Rays look extremely better. If you can’t already see that then I’m not sure there is much of a point.

Happily very true. One title I'm thinking of is the WAC release of She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, the DVD was released by Universal in the UK, & it didn't look great (no where near as good as the US DVD), so what an upgrade! The UK DVD looks almost b/w (& soft & flat) next to the magnificent looking Blu-ray.

[drush9999]

There's loads of films with only non-anamorphic DVDs, VHS/LD era masters or PD releases, that are a revelation on BD.
One from memory is the restored Beat the Devil.

[Alister_M]

The Abyss








sorry just wishfully thinking aloud. It's probably Backdraft if anything. The original DVD of that was a right showshow.

[Gmamalis6]

Don't Look Now - Criterion Collection (new 4K restoration), compared with the older 2001 DVD by Paramount which picture and sound quality were mediocre
Thief - Criterion Collection (new 4K restoration), compared with the 1998 DVD by MGM which included also the Director's Cut and which had decent video and audio quality
Lifeforce - Shout Factory (new 4K scans on both Theatrical and Director's Cut), compared with the 1998 DVD by MGM which had only the Director's Cut and the picture and sound quality were mediocre
Piranha - Shout Factory (new 4K scans), compared with the 2010 Blu-ray by Shout Factory which had decent video and audio quality
The Thing - Shout Factory (both 4K and 2K scans), compared with the 2008 Blu-ray by Universal with decent video and audio
An American Werewolf in London - Arrow (new 4K restoration), compared with the 2008 and the 2016 Restored Edition releases by Universal which had decent video and audio quality
The Fury (1978) - Arrow (2K restoration), compared with the Twilight Time Blu-ray release which had decent video and amazing audio

[Roonan]

Excluding the classics, probably The Insider.

[Mojo Blue]

The Thing (1982). I literally said "wow" out loud.