Old movies & blu ray - Blu-ray Forum

allroysez · 01-29-2008, 11:11 AM

I got a blu-ray player (ps3) today, and started looking for movies. I've noticed there are a lot of old movies being re-released on blu-ray.

I'm curious as to whether it's worth getting an old movie on BD, b/c I figure it was originally filmed on FILM anyway, as opposed to today's technology.

e.g. Bruce Lee in Enter The Dragon (out now) or Arnie in Predator (coming soon) - given they were shot 15-30 years ago, is the BD version that much better that I should spend the money, or should I only get new releases?

(Also, what about cartoons such as The Simpsons - what's the difference b/w SD & BD?)

Any contributions appreciated..

Dave

nhaase · 01-29-2008, 11:24 AM

This is a oft-asked question, and it depends on the title. Some old titles are restored very well, and some are not. Most Warner Bros. titles have excellent restoration. Dog Day Afternoon looks like it was shot yesterday in a classic style.

Film has higher definition than HD cameras, so yes, it is worth it. Before you buy an old movie, read some reviews to make sure the video quality is worth it. The Stanley Kubrick movies on blu-ray look amazing.

WriteSimply · 01-29-2008, 11:24 AM

Today's technology is what? Video cameras with 1080p24 resolution?

Film has a higher resolution than 1080p. While essentially 1080p is close to 2K, film can be scanned at 4K or higher. Film doesn't have an effective scanning resolution. Most new movies are shot on film then transfered to 2K (some 4K) for VFX work and for digital editing and color grading.

Most HD video cameras (except for the Red) are at 1080p/i. That's a resolute scanning resolution, meaning you cannot upconvert a 1080p video to 4K TO INCREASE FIDELITY.

Basically you can get the catalog films that have been released on BD with no worry. It'll look as good if not better than when you or your parent/s saw it in theaters.

There are many threads on this here so use the search function to find your answers.

fuad

allroysez · 01-29-2008, 11:43 AM

Nhaase,

thank you very much for your response. Now I can go and get the movies I want without hesitation.

allroysez · 01-29-2008, 11:48 AM

Mr Write,

I used to work in audio and (some) film, and while I'm no expert, I know that materials degrade, and other materials improve. Even a movie recorded on film today, is going to look better than a movie recorded on film in 1980.

I just don't don't want to waste my limited budget buying a version of a movie on BD if the difference b/w SD & BD isn't tremendous. Like I said, I only got the player today, and I want to learn.

Thanks for helping me out.

Cheers

D

GregBlu5 · 01-29-2008, 12:03 PM

The Simpsons Movie looked awesome in Blu-ray. Some older titles look quite good; others don't really look that spectacular. As someone else pointed out, read reviews on this site, and elsewhere such as amazon, to see whether a film is done well or not. I watched the first THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT from Warner's trilogy set and was not impressed--lots of grainy B&W segments, especially in the older film clips.

Beta Man · 01-29-2008, 12:16 PM

The Shining, 2001, and A Clockwork Orange are AMAZING..... of course, being fantastic movies alone was enough reason for me to upgrade to the Blu for them, even if there was only marginal improvement, but from what I've seen, the audio is enough reason to replace every disk I have!!!! (not gonna happen, got too many)

I'm a little bummed I have to wait for my 5 free to come in the mail.... Since so many people got the same titles for 5-free, they're popping up on Half.com for CHEAP!!!!! I saw Stir of Echoes for $8, Full Metal Jacket for $8-9, The Last Waltz for $10, Prestige for $8.... man... I didn't get Stir of Echoes because I can't tell you the last time I watched it on reg. DVD, but I'll probably get it, and now that I ordered, I can't remember if I got American Psycho, or Devil's Rejects....... I'll have to buy whatever one I didn't get for free!

WriteSimply · 01-29-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allroysez

I used to work in audio and (some) film, and while I'm no expert, I know that materials degrade, and other materials improve. Even a movie recorded on film today, is going to look better than a movie recorded on film in 1980.

I was generalizing and so are you here.

I generalized that catalog films released on BD would look better based on the fact that the catalog films released so far (with a few exceptions like Lethal Weapon) were RESTORED first before receiving a new telecine work. The studios realized this when they started looking at their HD masters and found that they needed to re-telecine what they thought had looked great but apparently is not for LCD TVs and high def media.

You generalized that films today would look better than those shot on film in 1980. That depends. If it was shot in Super8 today, well...

Quote:

I just don't don't want to waste my limited budget buying a version of a movie on BD if the difference b/w SD & BD isn't tremendous. Like I said, I only got the player today, and I want to learn.

Well if you don't want to waste your budget, get a Netflix account or a local rental place that rents BD and rent them first. You can then judge 'em with your eyes and decide. Reading reviews can only get you so far anyway.

fuad

nhaase · 01-29-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

Well if you don't want to waste your budget, get a Netflix account or a local rental place that rents BD and rent them first. You can then judge 'em with your eyes and decide. Reading reviews can only get you so far anyway.

fuad

I second that. That is how I go about getting most catalog titles or any movie which I have not seen. I rarely blind buy. One of the few cases in which I bought a catalog title on BD w/out renting first was Close Encounters, because every review raved about it. Normally, though, I rent to make sure I think the upgrade is worth it.

glenn-bob · 01-29-2008, 05:01 PM

technology has made the image worse over the years if nothing else. Film is better than any of it. I've olny watched a couple old titles and they blu me away (pun definitely intended). The 2 i've seen are The Omega Man and The Road Warrior. TOM was better if I recall correctly but given these movies are quite old they look smashing.

HDPerfection · 01-29-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allroysez

Mr Write,

I used to work in audio and (some) film, and while I'm no expert, I know that materials degrade, and other materials improve. Even a movie recorded on film today, is going to look better than a movie recorded on film in 1980.

I just don't don't want to waste my limited budget buying a version of a movie on BD if the difference b/w SD & BD isn't tremendous. Like I said, I only got the player today, and I want to learn.

Thanks for helping me out.

Cheers

D

yes this is true but you would be surprised at the quality of some of those films from the 80's......there should be a standard for Blu Ray transfers and maybe the grainy transfers should be sold $5 off or something....however I doubt it as why would you if people are buying them at BRD prices already.....

MazinBlu · 01-29-2008, 05:36 PM

Hi there.....gotta say this! I've never seen 2001: Space Odyssey before on S DVD. I recently bought it on Blu....and man this movie blew me away! I can't believe it was done in 1968!

Same goes for Blade Runner and Close Encounters!

Sushisake · 01-29-2008, 05:45 PM

I need to respectfully disagree with GREGBLU5 --- I think that the THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT series is incredible. Considering that each individual film depicted was not "re-worked" - but only the master of the original THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT releases - these look fantastic! I cannot wait for more MGM musicals to be released in their entirety. This box set has shown us what CAN be done with very old films transferred to Blu-Ray.

01-29-2008, 11:11 AM	#1
allroysez New Member Member since:Jan 2008	Old movies & blu ray I got a blu-ray player (ps3) today, and started looking for movies. I've noticed there are a lot of old movies being re-released on blu-ray. I'm curious as to whether it's worth getting an old movie on BD, b/c I figure it was originally filmed on FILM anyway, as opposed to today's technology. e.g. Bruce Lee in Enter The Dragon (out now) or Arnie in Predator (coming soon) - given they were shot 15-30 years ago, is the BD version that much better that I should spend the money, or should I only get new releases? (Also, what about cartoons such as The Simpsons - what's the difference b/w SD & BD?) Any contributions appreciated.. Dave

01-29-2008, 11:43 AM	#4
allroysez New Member Member since:Jan 2008	Nhaase, thank you very much for your response. Now I can go and get the movies I want without hesitation. Last edited by allroysez; 01-29-2008 at 11:49 AM.

01-29-2008, 05:36 PM	#12
MazinBlu Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Bronx, NY	Hi there.....gotta say this! I've never seen 2001: Space Odyssey before on S DVD. I recently bought it on Blu....and man this movie blew me away! I can't believe it was done in 1968! Same goes for Blade Runner and Close Encounters! Last edited by MazinBlu; 01-29-2008 at 05:38 PM.

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01-29-2008, 11:24 AM	#2
nhaase Special Member Member since:Mar 2007 Trading Score:2	This is a oft-asked question, and it depends on the title. Some old titles are restored very well, and some are not. Most Warner Bros. titles have excellent restoration. Dog Day Afternoon looks like it was shot yesterday in a classic style. Film has higher definition than HD cameras, so yes, it is worth it. Before you buy an old movie, read some reviews to make sure the video quality is worth it. The Stanley Kubrick movies on blu-ray look amazing.

01-29-2008, 11:24 AM	#3
WriteSimply Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Today's technology is what? Video cameras with 1080p24 resolution? Film has a higher resolution than 1080p. While essentially 1080p is close to 2K, film can be scanned at 4K or higher. Film doesn't have an effective scanning resolution. Most new movies are shot on film then transfered to 2K (some 4K) for VFX work and for digital editing and color grading. Most HD video cameras (except for the Red) are at 1080p/i. That's a resolute scanning resolution, meaning you cannot upconvert a 1080p video to 4K TO INCREASE FIDELITY. Basically you can get the catalog films that have been released on BD with no worry. It'll look as good if not better than when you or your parent/s saw it in theaters. There are many threads on this here so use the search function to find your answers. fuad

01-29-2008, 11:48 AM	#5
allroysez New Member Member since:Jan 2008	Mr Write, I used to work in audio and (some) film, and while I'm no expert, I know that materials degrade, and other materials improve. Even a movie recorded on film today, is going to look better than a movie recorded on film in 1980. I just don't don't want to waste my limited budget buying a version of a movie on BD if the difference b/w SD & BD isn't tremendous. Like I said, I only got the player today, and I want to learn. Thanks for helping me out. Cheers D

01-29-2008, 12:03 PM	#6
GregBlu5 Power Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Indio, CA 4K collection:794 Blu-ray collection:3954 iTunes collection:2 Blu-ray reviews:1	The Simpsons Movie looked awesome in Blu-ray. Some older titles look quite good; others don't really look that spectacular. As someone else pointed out, read reviews on this site, and elsewhere such as amazon, to see whether a film is done well or not. I watched the first THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT from Warner's trilogy set and was not impressed--lots of grainy B&W segments, especially in the older film clips.

01-29-2008, 12:16 PM	#7
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	The Shining, 2001, and A Clockwork Orange are AMAZING..... of course, being fantastic movies alone was enough reason for me to upgrade to the Blu for them, even if there was only marginal improvement, but from what I've seen, the audio is enough reason to replace every disk I have!!!! (not gonna happen, got too many) I'm a little bummed I have to wait for my 5 free to come in the mail.... Since so many people got the same titles for 5-free, they're popping up on Half.com for CHEAP!!!!! I saw Stir of Echoes for $8, Full Metal Jacket for $8-9, The Last Waltz for $10, Prestige for $8.... man... I didn't get Stir of Echoes because I can't tell you the last time I watched it on reg. DVD, but I'll probably get it, and now that I ordered, I can't remember if I got American Psycho, or Devil's Rejects....... I'll have to buy whatever one I didn't get for free!

01-29-2008, 05:01 PM	#10
glenn-bob Power Member Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Dartmouth, NS, Canada Blu-ray collection:165	technology has made the image worse over the years if nothing else. Film is better than any of it. I've olny watched a couple old titles and they blu me away (pun definitely intended). The 2 i've seen are The Omega Man and The Road Warrior. TOM was better if I recall correctly but given these movies are quite old they look smashing.

01-29-2008, 05:45 PM	#13
Sushisake Active Member Member since:Aug 2007 Blu-ray collection:1806 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:3	I need to respectfully disagree with GREGBLU5 --- I think that the THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT series is incredible. Considering that each individual film depicted was not "re-worked" - but only the master of the original THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT releases - these look fantastic! I cannot wait for more MGM musicals to be released in their entirety. This box set has shown us what CAN be done with very old films transferred to Blu-Ray.

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