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

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by casspir

Hey, Goofnut,

Dou you have a comparison on the 2013 vs. the new 2024 Arrow edition of the "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1978)? Which one has the better picture quality?
Arrow (2013):
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Invas...Blu-ray/80402/

Arrow (2024 Limited Edition):
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Invas...lu-ray/349937/

Thanks if you have info on this.
Cheers:
casspir

I don't, but my understanding is that the Kino UHD is the way to go.

[casspir]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I don't, but my understanding is that the Kino UHD is the way to go.

Thank you, Goofnut, for the quick reply.

Thanks!

[DawnShadow]

Originally Posted by casspir

Thank you, Goofnut, for the quick reply.

Thanks!

The Arrow UHD is far better than the Kino.

Your post implies you're after advice on the Blu-ray discs anyway no? I'd assume the same still applies for those.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by DawnShadow

The Arrow UHD is far better than the Kino.

Your post implies you're after advice on the Blu-ray discs anyway no? I'd assume the same still applies for those.

It is? Are there any comparisons?

[casspir]

Originally Posted by DawnShadow

The Arrow UHD is far better than the Kino.

Your post implies you're after advice on the Blu-ray discs anyway no? I'd assume the same still applies for those.

Yes, you are right, I do not want to upgrade to 4K UHD, I am interested in the normal 1080p blu-ray editions. I would like to know which 1080p blu-ray release is the definitive version of the movie. I have the 2013 Arrow release, but I would happily buy any of the US releases or the new Arrow Limited Edition release if one of those has better picture quality (I am interested only in picture quality, audio and extras are not important to me).

[casspir]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

It is? Are there any comparisons?

Maybe I will bite the bullet and buy both the US Kino and the new Arrow Limited Edition releases and then I can make screenshots and you can give us an expert opinion based on those screenshots.

[Jompa]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

It is? Are there any comparisons?

Yes, in the International 4K Blu-ray and 4K Movies section. It has much better compression and more visible film grain. It just saw it last week. Looked very good to me. The Arrow version, i mean.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Hedrox

Screenshot comparison on Gone with the Wind VC-1 encode vs. the newer AVC one.

As you can see, the AVC encode squeezes out a bit more detail from that master (most noticeable on clothes), but it's undermined by the inexplicable gamma shift. The compression isn't amazing either (see comparison 7). One step forward and one step back, which makes you wonder why Warner bothered with a new encode if they couldn't even get it right.

On the overseas release...that AVC encoding looks really nice, but some of the color warmth is missing from the gamma shift. Hm. Indeed, makes it a hard call. I've been wanting to watch this and don't own it, but may just default to the U.S. disc given the lower price vs importing. I'm pessimistic this reaches UHD BD...I think it would have happened by Warner's 100th ann.

[Hedrox]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

On the overseas release...that AVC encoding looks really nice, but some of the color warmth is missing from the gamma shift. Hm. Indeed, makes it a hard call. I've been wanting to watch this and don't own it, but may just default to the U.S. disc given the lower price vs importing. I'm pessimistic this reaches UHD BD...I think it would have happened by Warner's 100th ann.

I don't think you can even get it anymore, since it was only released in like 3 territories, and that was 10 years ago.

I have the AVC disc, but at the time when I bought it I had no idea it was a new encode. It is quite lovely in motion once you adjust the gamma on the TV to compensate, the added detail and fine grain compared to the VC-1 disc are definitely noticeable.

Edit: The Taiwan release is still available on YESASIA but it's very expensive.

[casspir]

Hey, Goofnut,

There is a recent new UK blu-ray release of "Miami Vice" (2006) by 88 Films. The release includes both the theatrical cut and the longer director's cut:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Miami...lu-ray/323060/
There is an official review of this release by dr. Svet Atanasov of blu-ray.com on the above page of the release.

It is a 2-disc set (2 BD50s) with extras, the packaging comes with slipcase, reversible cover, booklet, memorabilia. The audio commentary and the other extras are on Disc 1 together with the theatrical version. The director's cut is on Disc 2, there are no extras on Disc 2.
More advanced video codec (MPEG-4 AVC), higher video bitrate.

Here are the specs:
UK (88 Films) - AVC 33894 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3722 kbps 24-bit, 132 min theatrical cut, English subs (Region B locked)
UK (88 Films) - AVC 37298 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3681 kbps 24-bit, 139 min director's cut, English subs (Region B locked)

I made screencaps (10 pcs for each cut) for comparison, both TC and DC:
TC:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBgwDk
DC:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBgzP9

The screencaps are original aspect ratio, 1920x1080, PNG, PowerDVD, from the original retail disc (I own this release).

If you need more screencaps, just tell me, I can make more if needed.
You decide if it is eligible/worth to put this on your list.

Cheers,
casspir

[Ben_R]

I want to know how the 88 PQ stacks up against the Koch/Plaion release.

[casspir]

Originally Posted by Ben_R

I want to know how the 88 PQ stacks up against the Koch/Plaion release.

If you mean how the Miami Vice UK 88 Films compares to the German Koch PQ-wise, that I also want to know. Hopefully Goofnut can give us an expert's opinion.

[Ben_R]

Originally Posted by casspir

If you mean how the Miami Vice UK 88 Films compares to the German Koch PQ-wise, that I also want to know. Hopefully Goofnut can give us an expert's opinion.

Nothing on caps unfortunately.

[Roonan]

Originally Posted by casspir

If you mean how the Miami Vice UK 88 Films compares to the German Koch PQ-wise, that I also want to know. Hopefully Goofnut can give us an expert's opinion.

If you could match the frames from caps-a-holic, it might help give us an idea.

[Ben_R]

Originally Posted by Roonan

If you could match the frames from caps-a-holic, it might help give us an idea.

There shouldn’t be any need. The 88 is MPEG-4 AVC and should be better over the VC-1 available on caps. We need caps from the Koch/Plaion release to pitch against the 88 release.

[Roonan]

Originally Posted by Ben_R

There shouldn’t be any need. The 88 is MPEG-4 AVC and should be better over the VC-1 available on caps.

AVC is a better codec but that doesn't necessarily mean it has better picture quality. The question remains in the air until frame comparisons are provided.

[Ben_R]

Originally Posted by Roonan

AVC is a better codec but that doesn't necessarily mean it has better picture quality. The question remains in the air until frame comparisons are provided.

That is why I said *should be better*

[toratora]

Originally Posted by casspir

Hey, toratora, I have just seen your post, I see that it is now more than one month old. If you read this, I have both editions of "Hard Boiled", the HK and the US one. I am not an expert, so I can not give you an expert opinion on which one is better, but if you would like, I can make screenshots and you can compare them. The US edition certainly has much higher video bitrate, but you already know this, I guess.

yes please that would be great. i owned the US version. Not sure should I get the HK version too

[casspir]

Originally Posted by toratora

yes please that would be great. i owned the US version. Not sure should I get the HK version too

OK, no problem, just please give me two days, I am travelling now, I am not at home at the moment, but as soon as I got home, I will make the screencaps.

[casspir]

Originally Posted by toratora

yes please that would be great. i owned the US version. Not sure should I get the HK version too

I made 15 screencaps for each version, US and HK:
Hard Boiled BD US:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBh46M

Hard Boiled BD HK:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBh4tZ

All screencaps are the original aspect ratio of the movie on the disk, 1920x1080, PNG, PowerDVD.

As I said earlier, I am not an expert, so I can not give you an expert's opinion, but you can compare the screencaps and the technical specs. Also, maybe HD Goofnut, the owner of this thread, can give you an expert opinion, if he is around (I did not see him in the last few days here):

Here are the technical specs:
Hard Boiled BD50 US:
Video: MPEG-4 AVC 31004 kbps
Audio:
Chinese DTS-HD MA 5.1 3659 kbps 48 kHz 24-bit
English Dolby Digital 5.1 448 kbps 48 kHz
Chinese Dolby Digital 2.0 192 kbps 48 kHz

Hard Boiled BD25 HK:
Video: MPEG-4 AVC 17751 kbps
Audio:
Chinese Dolby TrueHD 5.1 3315 kbps 96 kHz 16-bit
Chinese Dolby Digital EX 5.1-EX 640 kbps 48 kHz

I hope this helps.