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

[HD Goofnut]

Added The Big Risk.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

I thought their Archives releases were BD-R like Sony's new Choice Selection series.

Nope, among the major distributors, Sony stands alone on that, as far as I know. (*And* they price them higher than the others.)

[Early Memphis]

HD (or any helpful soul), which JP box set has the best PQ version of Resident Evil: Apocalypse? I believe it was called "Biohazard" but, despite several Biohazard's listed, BRDC doesn't show the cover I remember (OOP?). Perhaps, with the last (?) movie of the series coming out, perhaps they'll be an all-new, all-upgraded set released sometime up the road.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

Nope, among the major distributors, Sony stands alone on that, as far as I know. (*And* they price them higher than the others.)

Of course they do. Gotta love Sony! NOT!

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

HD (or any helpful soul), which JP box set has the best PQ version of Resident Evil: Apocalypse? I believe it was called "Biohazard" but, despite several Biohazard's listed, BRDC doesn't show the cover I remember (OOP?). Perhaps, with the last (?) movie of the series coming out, perhaps they'll be an all-new, all-upgraded set released sometime up the road.

Yeah, it was the Biohazard set, but it is indeed OOP. Just do what I did and get the DE disc.

[thecalm_7]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

HD (or any helpful soul), which JP box set has the best PQ version of Resident Evil: Apocalypse? I believe it was called "Biohazard" but, despite several Biohazard's listed, BRDC doesn't show the cover I remember (OOP?). Perhaps, with the last (?) movie of the series coming out, perhaps they'll be an all-new, all-upgraded set released sometime up the road.

Biohazard Pentalogy. It contains the extended Apocalypse film. OOP. PM me if interested in a copy, I'm fair.

[thecalm_7]

Originally Posted by Patsfan123

Anyone have any thoughts on the Hardware UK 25th Edition or Austrian book as compared to the listed editions?

I dont have any comparisons between versions, but the 25th is what I own and its Bare bones with lossy audio if I remember correctly. I ordered it and was not happy.

[OlGil]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

HD (or any helpful soul), which JP box set has the best PQ version of Resident Evil: Apocalypse? I believe it was called "Biohazard" but, despite several Biohazard's listed, BRDC doesn't show the cover I remember (OOP?). Perhaps, with the last (?) movie of the series coming out, perhaps they'll be an all-new, all-upgraded set released sometime up the road.

The extended/AVC edition of Apocalypse is also available separately:

https://www.amazon.co.jp/Resident-Ev...=AN1VRQENFRJN5

Same disc as in the Pentalogy (aside from the disc artwork).

[Early Memphis]

Not sure which one you mean, HD. The site list’s the German single disc of Resident Evil: Apocalypse as MPEG-2 and the box set, which appears to have the same version, is over $200 before shipping (only from the marketplace and not listed on Amz.de). Wasn’t the JP version AVC?

Update : Well, according to the site, the BD OlGil linked to is AVC and costs about $25 shipped to the US. Wish I had known before my last Amz.jp order. Well, it looks like I’m gonna have to search for more JP upgrades to lower the shipping hit.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Not sure which one you mean, HD. The site list’s the German single disc of Resident Evil: Apocalypse as MPEG-2 and the box set, which appears to have the same version, is over $200 before shipping (only from the marketplace and not listed on Amz.de). Wasn’t the JP version AVC?

Update : Well, according to the site, the BD OlGil linked to is AVC and costs about $25 shipped to the US. Wish I had known before my last Amz.jp order. Well, it looks like I’m gonna have to search for more JP upgrades to lower the shipping hit.

That's the one I have. It looks fine even for MPEG-2.

[DvdClon]

HD - Your entry for Payback either has the UK version timings of the Director's and Theatrical cuts reversed, or the US entry timing is off.

Payback
US - MPEG-2 23.12 Mbps, DD 5.1 640 kbps, 90 min director's cut, extras, English subs (Region free)
UK - VC-1 17.84 Mbps, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 16-bit, 101 min director's & 90 min theatrical cuts, extras, English subs (Region free) Best PQ

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by DvdClon

HD - Your entry for Payback either has the UK version timings of the Director's and Theatrical cuts reversed, or the US entry timing is off.

Payback
US - MPEG-2 23.12 Mbps, DD 5.1 640 kbps, 90 min director's cut, extras, English subs (Region free)
UK - VC-1 17.84 Mbps, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 16-bit, 101 min director's & 90 min theatrical cuts, extras, English subs (Region free) Best PQ

Fixed.

[Early Memphis]

Kiss of the Dragon
US - MPEG-2 17600 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 24-bit, theatrical cut, English subs (Region A locked)
DE - AVC 16991 kbps, DTS-HD MA 6.1 2630 kbps 16-bit, theatrical cut, English subs (Region free)

HD, the list still has the US Kiss of the Dragon listed as MPEG 2, but the newer (2015) release is AVC:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Kiss-...lu-ray/127022/

I haven’t upgraded because I never saw any reviews/reports as to whether it was a noticeable improvement or if the DE release was still “best” … (would love to hear any knowledgeable opinions).

EDIT : Same story all around on xXx: new release is AVC, but no word as to whether it's better or how it compares ato the JP release (neither appears to be the "unrated director's cut" (DVD only?) ...

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/XXX-Blu-ray/167716/

xXx
US - MPEG-2 17223 kbps, LPCM 5.1 4608 kbps 16-bit, no extras, English subs (Region free)
SE/NO/FI/DK - AVC, DTS-HD-MA 7.1, no English subs for Russian dialogue (Region B locked)
JP - AVC 35005 kbps, TrueHD 5.1 1766 kbps 16-bit, extras, English subs (Region free) Best PQ

[Sky_Captain]

With regards to Kiss of The Dragon, pick your poison. There's not much that can be done with that tired old master.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Kiss of the Dragon
US - MPEG-2 17600 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 24-bit, theatrical cut, English subs (Region A locked)
DE - AVC 16991 kbps, DTS-HD MA 6.1 2630 kbps 16-bit, theatrical cut, English subs (Region free)

HD, the list still has the US Kiss of the Dragon listed as MPEG 2, but the newer (2015) release is AVC:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Kiss-...lu-ray/127022/

I haven’t upgraded because I never saw any reviews/reports as to whether it was a noticeable improvement or if the DE release was still “best” … (would love to hear any knowledgeable opinions).

EDIT : Same story all around on xXx: new release is AVC, but no word as to whether it's better or how it compares ato the JP release (neither appears to be the "unrated director's cut" (DVD only?) ...

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/XXX-Blu-ray/167716/

xXx
US - MPEG-2 17223 kbps, LPCM 5.1 4608 kbps 16-bit, no extras, English subs (Region free)
SE/NO/FI/DK - AVC, DTS-HD-MA 7.1, no English subs for Russian dialogue (Region B locked)
JP - AVC 35005 kbps, TrueHD 5.1 1766 kbps 16-bit, extras, English subs (Region free) Best PQ

I removed Kiss of the Dragon as they are all about the same for PQ. I need to see some caps for xXx before I remove it.

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I removed Kiss of the Dragon as they are all about the same for PQ. I need to see some caps for xXx before I remove it.

I wasn't so much suggesting it's removal, just to updating the US info to AVC. As you well know, I have no skills when it comes to judging PQ from caps.

[Patsfan123]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I removed Kiss of the Dragon as they are all about the same for PQ. I need to see some caps for xXx before I remove it.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/XXX-B...6/#Screenshots

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Patsfan123

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/XXX-B...6/#Screenshots

Looks like I can remove xXx as well.

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Looks like I can remove xXx as well.

you have matching JP screens to compare with then? The review compare to the old MPEG2 US transfer and not the high bitrate JP with AVC. But I would like to see how the new transfer does.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by wesslan

you have matching JP screens to compare with then? The review compare to the old MPEG2 US transfer and not the high bitrate JP with AVC. But I would like to see how the new transfer does.

I would think the new US disc is about the same as the JP disc. If someone posts otherwise I'll put it back up.