List of International BDs with Better PQ, AQ, and/or More Extras

[wesslan]

We want reviews and bitrates!

[Pieter V]

Originally Posted by Cevolution

I purchased it from CDJapan, but yes that's what the cover and disc look like.

Can you make Blu-ray screenshots etc?

[Cevolution]

Originally Posted by wesslan

We want reviews and bitrates!

I don't have the software to provide bitrates. I may do soon though, I'm thinking about purchasing AnyDVD HD.

I will report back once I've watch it (I've got quite a few to catch up on that I have received from Japan over the last few weeks), I just put it on briefly to jot down the specs so I could enter it into the database.

Tech UK,

I watched the Japanese disc of Dredd the other day, what was your question about the audio again, were you just wanting to know my opinion?

[Tech-UK]

Originally Posted by Cevolution

I don't have the software to provide bitrates. I may do soon though, I'm thinking about purchasing AnyDVD HD.

I will report back once I've watch it (I've got quite a few to catch up on that I have received from Japan over the last few weeks), I just put it on briefly to jot down the specs so I could enter it into the database.

Tech UK,

I watched the Japanese disc of Dredd the other day, what was your question about the audio again, were you just wanting to know my opinion?

Yep.

[HD Goofnut]

Added The Cannibal Man and Highlander III: The Sorcerer.

[sidetracked1]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

Fair enough, the PC version only gives overall bitrate information, rather than individual track's bitrates, perhaps Incursor is different.

As a general rule, if it's the film file you want, then look for the largest file (by filesize) and open that. You'd probably need to rip it to your PC first, but I don't think we're allowed to discuss ways of doing that.

If that doesn't work, or the film use seamless branching (where the film has been split into multiple individual files and then reassembled using a playlist, it's handy for multiple cuts of a film on one disc) you may have to look at the MPLS files and work out which playlist belongs to the film. You can generally do so based on length. I have a piece of software called tsMuxer which can reencode the smaller files into one big ts file from an MPLS file, it's free and is available on Mac. The trouble is you need the right MPLS file, and that could just be a case of trial and error, as I know of no software on a Mac that can inspect them. I'm sure it exists, I just don't know what it is, so somebody else would probably be better placed to help.

Yikes. More complex and time consuming than I realized. Don't think I have what I need to rip BR discs. Weird that there's no way to simply read factual data off a disc...

[wesslan]

John Wick
US - AVC 33233 kbps, Dolby TrueHD 7.1 5205 kbps 24-bit/Dolby Atmos Best AQ
NOR - AVC 36234 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3883 kbps 24-bit, no English subs Best PQ

Found this info:

This NORDIC BD has the highest bitrate so far (+ encoded with x264), and doesn't have the hardcoded english subs, like on the USA BD. Also, the image quality is improved, slightly more fine pixels, and no banding/blocking artefacts but it's missing Atmos.

NO http://someimage.com/97tjHu8
US
http://someimage.com/tWdWibG

NO
http://someimage.com/WdSWrXJ
US
http://someimage.com/Lk2Gkao


By the same company as Automata and the other high bitrate nordic discs

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by wesslan

John Wick
US - AVC 33233 kbps, Dolby TrueHD 7.1 5205 kbps 24-bit/Dolby Atmos Best AQ
NOR - AVC 36234 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3883 kbps 24-bit, no English subs Best PQ

Found this info:

This NORDIC BD has the highest bitrate so far (+ encoded with x264), and doesn't have the hardcoded english subs, like on the USA BD. Also, the image quality is improved, slightly more fine pixels, and no banding/blocking artefacts but it's missing Atmos.

NO http://someimage.com/97tjHu8
US
http://someimage.com/tWdWibG

NO
http://someimage.com/WdSWrXJ
US
http://someimage.com/Lk2Gkao

Done.

[Tech-UK]

Originally Posted by sidetracked1

Yikes. More complex and time consuming than I realized. Don't think I have what I need to rip BR discs. Weird that there's no way to simply read factual data off a disc...

If you have a PC you can use BDinfo to read the disc, but you need to decrypt the disc.

Cevolution mentions such in his post above.

But you need a PC.

[wesslan]

Update

Mr. and Mrs. Smith
US - AVC 24214 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 4104 kbps 24-bit, theatrical cut, DNR, extras (Region A locked)
DE - VC-1 19933 kbps, DTS-HD HR 7.1 2046 kbps 24-bit, theatrical cut, all DVD extras (Region B locked)
FR - AVC 28247 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 2273 kbps 16-bit, director's cut, Non-English dialogue sections of the film do not have English subs, all extras (Region free)
HK - AVC 34988 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 4104 kbps 24-bit, theatrical cut (Region free)

Removed no english subs and dir cut from DE disc since caps-o-holic indicates otherwise. Correct later if I am mistaken.

FR is the only dir cut but probably have incorrect levels leaving too bright picture compared to all other discs. See here:
http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...ss=1#vergleich

And here
http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...ss=1#vergleich

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by wesslan

John Wick
US - AVC 33233 kbps, Dolby TrueHD 7.1 5205 kbps 24-bit/Dolby Atmos Best AQ
NOR - AVC 36234 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3883 kbps 24-bit, no English subs Best PQ

Found this info:

This NORDIC BD has the highest bitrate so far (+ encoded with x264), and doesn't have the hardcoded english subs, like on the USA BD. Also, the image quality is improved, slightly more fine pixels, and no banding/blocking artefacts but it's missing Atmos.

NO http://someimage.com/97tjHu8
US
http://someimage.com/tWdWibG

NO
http://someimage.com/WdSWrXJ
US
http://someimage.com/Lk2Gkao


By the same company as Automata and the other high bitrate nordic discs

Does not feel like an atmos film to me

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by wesslan

[Show spoiler]Update

Mr. and Mrs. Smith
US - AVC 24214 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 4104 kbps 24-bit, theatrical cut, DNR, extras (Region A locked)
DE - VC-1 19933 kbps, DTS-HD HR 7.1 2046 kbps 24-bit, theatrical cut, all DVD extras (Region B locked)
FR - AVC 28247 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 2273 kbps 16-bit, director's cut, Non-English dialogue sections of the film do not have English subs, all extras (Region free)
HK - AVC 34988 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 4104 kbps 24-bit, theatrical cut (Region free)

Removed no english subs and dir cut from DE disc since caps-o-holic indicates otherwise. Correct later if I am mistaken.

FR is the only dir cut but probably have incorrect levels leaving too bright picture compared to all other discs. See here:
http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...ss=1#vergleich

And here
http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...ss=1#vergleich

Please, don't crap on the French disc. I finally got up the nerve (and $$$) to order the French DigiBook - and I'm still waiting for it to get here!

[Fatalveli]

Nothing wrong with the French Blu-ray, Its the only Directors Cut available and I much prefer that version of the film.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Update

Mr. and Mrs. Smith
US - AVC 24214 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 4104 kbps 24-bit, theatrical cut, DNR, extras (Region A locked)
DE - VC-1 19933 kbps, DTS-HD HR 7.1 2046 kbps 24-bit, theatrical cut, all DVD extras (Region B locked)
FR - AVC 28247 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 2273 kbps 16-bit, director's cut, Non-English dialogue sections of the film do not have English subs, all extras (Region free)
HK - AVC 34988 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 4104 kbps 24-bit, theatrical cut (Region free)

Removed no english subs and dir cut from DE disc since caps-o-holic indicates otherwise. Correct later if I am mistaken.

FR is the only dir cut but probably have incorrect levels leaving too bright picture compared to all other discs. See here:
http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...ss=1#vergleich

And here
http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...ss=1#vergleich

Done.

[sidetracked1]

[QUOTE=Tech-UK;10399812]If you have a PC you can use BDinfo to read the disc, but you need to decrypt the disc.

Cevolution mentions such in his post above.

But you need a PC.[/QUOTE

Very frustrating that it sounds like maybe there's no easy way to do this on a Mac. I have a host of non US blu-rays not on the list I'd love to share, but not sure I want to buy a PC just for that...

I can watch blu-rays fine with my burner and MacGo's 'blurayplayer', and it sounded like 'mediainfo' would work, but now I'm not sure based on these last few emails. In terms of decrypting, AnyDVD is PC only. I'm old enough that my computer savvy probably trails most people's on this thread.

I will keep researching outside this thread, and if anyone has the time and inclination to give me any more guidance please feel encouraged to respond or PM me if that's better.

Thanks!

[Jompa]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

Does not feel like an atmos film to me

It's released by Lionsgate which made many 7.1 remixes of films mixed in 5.1. They seem to continue doing it now with Dolby Atmos. Their disc is said to be a Dolby Atmos remix.

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Jompa

It's released by Lionsgate which made many 7.1 remixes of films mixed in 5.1. They seem to continue doing it now with Dolby Atmos. Their disc is said to be a Dolby Atmos remix.

Ugh upmixes

[BozQ]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

Ugh upmixes

Dolby Atmos is quite different. There is potential for the sound mix to sound better than its theatrical counterpart.

[sidetracked1]

Originally Posted by Ben_R

You want to download this - https://mediaarea.net/nn/MediaInfo/Download/Mac_OS

It isn't free like most Mac apps but I'm sure you are used to that by now as a Mac owner Unfortunately I can't give you more info than that as I'm waiting for my external blu-ray drive to turn up before I can test it out.

If you look at the screenshots the app appears to give the correct information required for this thread

Sadly, this does not give the same information that BDInfo does. I figured out how to put a BD on my hard drive for testing, but this is all mediainfo gives you for video and the main soundtrack (and I checked the site, their screenshots are the same). It's useful info, but not enough to post a film to the list here, unless I'm missing something.

General
ID : 0 (0x0)
Complete name : /Volumes/WHAT RICHARD DID/BDMV/STREAM/00000.m2ts
Format : BDAV
Format/Info : Blu-ray Video
File size : 20.7 GiB
Duration : 1h 27mn
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 33.8 Mbps
Maximum Overall bit rate : 48.0 Mbps

Video
ID : 4113 (0x1011)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Format settings, GOP : M=3, N=24
Codec ID : 27
Duration : 1h 27mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Maximum bit rate : 35.0 Mbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 24.000 fps
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Color primaries : BT.709
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.709

Audio #1
ID : 4352 (0x1100)
Menu ID : 1 (0x1)
Format : DTS
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Format profile : MA / Core
Mode : 16
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Muxing mode : Stream extension
Codec ID : 134
Duration : 1h 27mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : Unknown / 1 509 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossless / Lossy

[HD Goofnut]

Added Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and A Walk in the Clouds.

The JP disc for Eternal Sunshine looks much better than the U.S. disc and the same goes for the DE disc of A Walk in the Clouds.