Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[Elvis Is Alive]

Penton,

The "science" bias is still in effect to this day. Alot of sour grapes still exist there. They won't allow links to any posts or threads here. Really petty stuff. I had a post of mine removed just yesterday in a thread where some new members had some questions regarding the old insider's thread there.

It is really a shame too because many of the owners thread for various AV equipment offer a wealth of info. That is about all they have to offer anymore, IMO though. That is one area where bluray.com is growing slowly but surely.

I would like to give MAJOR kudos to whomever created the partnership with Amazon for the price tracking of titles as well as the wishlists and collection listings.

[garyrc]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

well the overall point is that Universal has come under attack for a number of extremely poor blu-ray catalog releases, whether Elizabeth is even included or not, and I want to know what they are thinking about this development if anything.
these are some very high profile catalog releases.
Do they agree?
do they care?
do they have any opinion whatsoever about what people are saying about their current competence level in releasing quality catalog bd releases?

That's a great point! I would really like to know who in the company --or any other company who practices this obliteration of detail -- knows, and if they care. More specifically, who can we forward our complaints to who isn't just a PR smoother-outer? And does AFI have a stand on this?

As a photography hobbyist who has long cherished how light would play over the irregularities of the skin, particularly facial skin, and who has sought out better and better lenses, and better and better technique to reveal the beauty of natural skin, and who has appreciated the efforts to artistically embrace this beauty in films, I think it is tragic when the hard work of both D.Ps and directors is sabotaged by digital doctoring.

Once much of the facial detail is removed, and the edges are sharpened up, we have fine and subtle actors looking like they're using Noh masks. Too bad the actors in classic old movies of high resolution (e.g., 70 mm) did not know that they would be given digital masks 25 - 50 years later!

Even people with small screens might notice the problem, but many of these films should be seen on a fairly big screen, where the desecration is obvious.

Thank goodness not all Blu-rays are thus adulterated -- just the wrong ones! In the current issue of Home Theater magazine it is noted that Minority Report -- a so-so film, IMO -- is sharp and detailed, and given the maximum number of PQ stars, but The Fellowship of the Ring, a classic, is disappointingly softer than desired by the reviewers.

[Jeff Kleist]

Thank goodness not all Blu-rays are thus adulterated -- just the wrong ones! In the current issue of Home Theater magazine it is noted that Minority Report -- a so-so film, IMO -- is sharp and detailed, and given the maximum number of PQ stars, but The Fellowship of the Ring, a classic, is disappointingly softer than desired by the reviewers.

These are drastically different films, and major apples and oranges. From stylistic process (MR is intentionally cold, hard edged) to photographic process (Super35 vs Anamorphic) etc etc, they're incomperable.

[FlipperWasIrish]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

All I’ll say is that the fine thing that everyone (especially new membership) should know about Blu-ray.com is that they never received anything from true Blu studios, the BDA or Blu-ray insiders.

I thought there was a video floating around the net showing a SONY truck unloading over 25 cases of beer at Jeff's house.

[Mr. Cinema]

Question about Universal's hit and miss track record lately on catalogs. Aren't they worried about the possibility that many people that start noticing bad transfers on some films, will just start to assume anything else from them will be treated the same way? Couldn't that translate to a large number of lost sales? If someone buys Spartacus, Elizabeth, and something else that's had a shoddy transfer, and notices the poor quality, I'm not sure they'll be so eager to keep buying Universal titles.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by FlipperWasIrish

I thought there was a video floating around the net showing a SONY truck unloading over 25 cases of beer at Jeff's house.

Party at Jeff's house with free beer! That said, what does Jeff think of the Karate Kid blu-rays?

[Jeff Kleist]

Feel free to head over to the Budweiser plant in LA, when it's not busy being a cheap and obvious stand in for an engine room and have them ship some Kirin Ichiban my way Penton I had Asahi "clear" beer in Japan, unfortunately it wasn't actually clear as advertised and tasted as crappy as Asahi usually does Just keep anything else that comes out of there away from me

That said, what does Jeff think of the Karate Kid blu-rays?

I just finished writing it up, I think people will enjoy the anectdote I put at the end

[MerrickG]

Raven software could be making the next Call of Duty. Its a shame that ever since Elite Force and Soldier of Fortune 2 Raven's games have been decent at best.

I wish they would make a Soldier of Fortune 3 though!

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by FlipperWasIrish

I thought there was a video floating around the net showing a SONY truck unloading over 25 cases of beer at Jeff's house.

Doesn't Jeff live in the house that's made out of Bud Light cans? I thought I saw that on TV.

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I would not count on a recall, sadly

My biggest hope is that Universal will instead allow Criterion to issue a proper disc, and re-license them Brazil at the same time for HD

When you say "hope", is that just wishful hope, or is it a distinct possibility??

Brazil on Blu-ray......

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Paul H

Agreed.

My visits over at HTF have become dependent on subscribed threads I've made in the past. So much so that I was surprised to see that there is now a third "owner". Maybe that's why the software change?

Paul

I think I recall reading a post by Ron that they are sort of making HTF their full-time job and the new software makes it easier for them from a profit standpoint - but, it's just damned awful to view and use as a member. So I just quit going to the site! lol

[Jeff Kleist]

When you say "hope", is that just wishful hope, or is it a distinct possibility??

Hope=Hope

[Constitution 101]

Originally Posted by Elvis Is Alive

Penton,

The "science" bias is still in effect to this day. Alot of sour grapes still exist there. They won't allow links to any posts or threads here. Really petty stuff. I had a post of mine removed just yesterday in a thread where some new members had some questions regarding the old insider's thread there.

It is really a shame too because many of the owners thread for various AV equipment offer a wealth of info. That is about all they have to offer anymore, IMO though. That is one area where bluray.com is growing slowly but surely.

I would like to give MAJOR kudos to whomever created the partnership with Amazon for the price tracking of titles as well as the wishlists and collection listings.

It's a fantastic site for learning about home theater, it's components, and how to structure those things. The blu-ray format/picture quality bashing(and not posting links to this site) at this point is ridiculous/childish. They've no real credibility left. Like it or not, Blu won. They should get over it and do everything they can to promote a format that home theater enthusiasts everywhere now love.

[Constitution 101]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Raven software could be making the next Call of Duty. Its a shame that ever since Elite Force and Soldier of Fortune 2 Raven's games have been decent at best.

I wish they would make a Soldier of Fortune 3 though!

I thought Treyarch was doing the next one...

[Maxwell Everett]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

These are drastically different films, and major apples and oranges. From stylistic process (MR is intentionally cold, hard edged) to photographic process (Super35 vs Anamorphic) etc etc, they're incomperable.

Jeff, I think you mis-wrote. In regard to photographic processes, both FOTR and MR were filmed in the Super 35 format. Neither used anamorphic lenses. In addition, both films even partially used the same film stocks: Eastman EXR 200T/5293 and Kodak Vision 500T/5279. (Some of the grainier sequences of MR were shot with Kodak Vision 800T/5289.) MR used the Technicolor ENR process on the theatrical release prints back in '02, while the new Blu-ray was re-mastered at 4K resolution using the original camera negative. The bleach bypass look was simulated electronically to try and match the film prints. If I'm not mistaken, FOTR used a somewhat older (2008) 2k HD master for its Blu-ray release.

But you are absolutely right that the films are stylistically different with completely different cinematographers. But MR was given a better, more unmolested path to Blu-ray. In my opinion.

[Jeff Kleist]

You're right on the Supe35 issue

However it's still apples and oranges. MR was shot on stages and on controlled locations, LOTR shot in the middle of nowhere etc etc etc. Give us both a ream of paper, I write a novel, you make paper airplanes and origami

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

That said, what does Jeff think of the Karate Kid blu-rays?

I can't speak for Jeff, but personally, I'm praying there's no excessive DNR issue with these discs or the "wax on, wax off" jokes will never end.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I just finished writing it up, I think people will enjoy the anectdote I put at the end

Dude, it’s hasn’t even opened yet and I didn’t see you at the early screening .
http://www.karatekid-themovie.com/

[Jeff Kleist]

I am unaware of any new film called "The Karate Kid", though I may import the similarly themed "Kung Fu Kid" from Hong Kong when the Blu-ray comes out to check it out

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

I can't speak for Jeff, but personally, I'm praying there's no excessive DNR issue with these discs or the "wax on, wax off" jokes will never end.

None whatsoever. They are full of grain and have a very nice oldschool look to them.

Fantastic on bluray.