Perfect picture from Sony but no contrast

[KenThompson]

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/talladeganights.html

Courtesy of Sony, 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby' comes to Blu-ray as a BD-50 dual-layer disc, which means it has plenty of room for a great transfer and soundtrack, plus tons of extras. And indeed, it delivers on those last two. Unfortunately, the video here just left me really disappointed. It is certainly no fault of the technology, but rather an aesthetic decision made somewhere along the line that makes 'Talladega Nights' just about the flattest transfer I've yet seen on either next-gen format.

Let it be said that there is nothing wrong with the source material, which looks as clean as a whistle. Grain is almost absent from the transfer, with solid blacks and consistent color saturation. I also noticed no chroma noise, compression artifacts or posterization. The film's color palette is quite bright and lively, with sun-drenched exteriors and a fine use of primary colors, in particular blues, reds and yellows. Fleshtones appear accurate, if a bit waxy.

Unfortunately, 'Talladega Nights' suffers from really awful contrast. I have no idea why it looks this way (and I didn't see it theatrically), but it is as if the entire image has been completely flattened out and darkened. There is zero "pop" to the presentation -- it's like watching the video through a pair of polarized sunglasses. As a result, depth and detail appear surreal and washed out, and colors are nowhere near as vibrant as they could have been. There is certainly none of the three-dimensionality I'm accustomed to with great high-def

[Spankey]

You might want to credit High-def digest with that quote.

[ProvenFlipper]

I've made up my mind awhile ago that I look at his reviews purely for entertainment purposes... He gives the film a 2 star rating becuase there is no contrast, yet didn't see it in the theaters to determine if that was an issue with the fims intent. I'm sure most people that pick up this disc are going to perfectly satisfied with the quality, and it will add to the growing number of great looking BDs.

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by ProvenFlipper

I've made up my mind awhile ago that I look at his reviews purely for entertainment purposes... He gives the film a 2 star rating becuase there is no contrast, yet didn't see it in the theaters to determine if that was an issue with the fims intent. I'm sure most people that pick up this disc are going to perfectly satisfied with the quality, and it will add to the growing number of great looking BDs.

everyone panned Waist Deep on HDDVD I thought it was "reference" perfect. Then they praise V for Vendetta and Batman Begins and I think they look overly Soft. So I take a See it, and Believe it for my self approach now. I have faith these movie guys are giving us products transparent to the master.

[ay221]

Trying to find theather reviews of this movie that talk about picture quality. Anyone have any good links.

[GTP]

Originally Posted by Brian@BBY

everyone panned Waist Deep on HDDVD I thought it was "reference" perfect. Then they praise V for Vendetta and Batman Begins and I think they look overly Soft. So I take a See it, and Believe it for my self approach now. I have faith these movie guys are giving us products transparent to the master.

I also thought Batman looked softer than it should...and wondered were all the hype was stemming from...

It is a good transfer...not reference though IMO.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by GTP

I also thought Batman looked softer than it should...and wondered were all the hype was stemming from...

It is a good transfer...not reference though IMO.

Don't you remember?

That "HD-DVD" logo automatically means it's "perfect."

[PurpleAardvark]

Originally Posted by JTK

Don't you remember?

That "HD-DVD" logo automatically means it's "perfect."

How did you type that with out falling over laughing? That would mean Toshiba= perfect. Holy cow I have been wrong all along I am going to go trade my sammy in for an A1 right away.

[Longshot]

Originally Posted by GTP

I also thought Batman looked softer than it should...and wondered were all the hype was stemming from...

It is a good transfer...not reference though IMO.

Batman Begins is reference in audio only. If you read the fools at AVS BB is a new bencmark for pq. Bullshit! I also just watched King Kong and was not impressed. It is overly soft. Looks like I've found my boat anchor

Back to the original topic. I stopped reading Bracke's reviews. It absolutely kills him to say anything good about BD.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by PurpleAardvark

How did you type that with out falling over laughing? That would mean Toshiba= perfect. Holy cow I have been wrong all along I am going to go trade my sammy in for an A1 right away.

Because that salesman from Scarsdale constantly tells us on AVS that HD-DVD is "perfect." (He and some others)

Isn't it?