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

[cyborgLIS]

I just noticed the Japanese release of The Thing (2011) is on the list. Any info/opinion on PQ/AQ comparison. I see Japan has AVC over VC-1 but lower bitrate, and audio is 16-bit rather than 24-bit. More interesting is that it has more extras. Anyone know what these are? Also, there are two editions in Japan. Which one is the list referring to, or would they be equivalent?

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-T...lu-ray/146321/ (2016)
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-T...lu-ray/103853/ (2012)

Sorry if this has been discussed already, but a title like "The Thing" doesn't lend itself to forum searches.

[wesslan]

Been a while since I saw it. Bought it when I was in Japan because I liked the premium box and that it had an extra BD with bonus material. Audio is 16-bit because of dolbys 96hz upsampling that Japan used quite a lot. It's pretty loud
PQ I would say is probably the same without having done exact comparison. No english subs which is a shame.

Can't say exact what the bonus are but if you dig at amazon.co.jp there probably are a listing somewhere. It says:
DISC 2 【Video benefits】
Undisclosed scene / Drawing the past with the latest technology / Flame and ice / Shooting landscape / Interview collection / Previs image / Announcement editing
So a few more behind the scenes videos as all other versions seem to have only deleted scenes on same disc.

The one listed here is the original premium disc. The new edition is the same but just miss the extra BD I think.

This late I would say wait for a 4K UHD for maybe both movies instead Hopefully it will come. Arrow did a 4K scan of the original just now. Waiting for that BD.

[wesslan]

A Question Goofnut, is the striked out disc AU/AT/FR because it is OOP? Can't see it here but on the list. Then many other would need to be. Since it's still the best version out there for PQ I don't see why it shouldn't count?

Universal Soldier
US/UK - VC-1 19010 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 4379 kbps 24-bit, English subs (Region free)
AU/AT/FR (forced FR subs)/DE (forced DE subs) - AVC 34997 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 2234 kbps 16-bit (Region B) Best PQ
DE/SE/FR (Studio Canal) - AVC 23998 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 4384 kbps 24-bit (Region B)

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by wesslan

A Question Goofnut, is the striked out disc AU/AT/FR because it is OOP? Can't see it here but on the list. Then many other would need to be. Since it's still the best version out there for PQ I don't see why it shouldn't count?

Universal Soldier
US/UK - VC-1 19010 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 4379 kbps 24-bit, English subs (Region free)
AU/AT/FR (forced FR subs)/DE (forced DE subs) - AVC 34997 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 2234 kbps 16-bit (Region B) Best PQ
DE/SE/FR (Studio Canal) - AVC 23998 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 4384 kbps 24-bit (Region B)

Correct. It is indeed OOP.

[HD Goofnut]

Added Slaughterhouse-Five.

[HD Goofnut]

Added Xtro.

[NLScavenger]

Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The (2003)
NL - VC-1 1.85:1 20005 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 2312 kbps 16-bit, no English subs (Region free)

Appears to be the same encode as on the AU release.

DISC INFO:

Disc Title:     TEXAS_CHAINSAW_MASSACRE
Disc Size:      17.854.253.152 bytes
Protection:     AACS
BD-Java:        No
Extras:         50Hz Content
BDInfo:         0.5.8

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:                   00005.MPLS
Length:                 1:38:24.899 (h:m:s.ms)
Size:                   17.434.054.656 bytes
Total Bitrate:          23,62 Mbps

VIDEO:

Codec                   Bitrate             Description     
-----                   -------             -----------     
VC-1 Video              20005 kbps          1080p / 23,976 fps / 16:9 / Advanced Profile 3

AUDIO:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
DTS-HD Master Audio             English         2312 kbps       5.1 / 48 kHz / 2312 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

SUBTITLES:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
Presentation Graphics           Dutch           14,368 kbps

Coonskin
US - N/A
DE - AVC 17935 kbps, DTS-HD MA 2.0 1579 kbps 16-bit, no English subs (Region free)

BDInfo:

DISC INFO:

Disc Title:     Coonskin
Disc Size:      15.824.269.238 bytes
Protection:     AACS
BD-Java:        Yes
BDInfo:         0.5.8

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:                   01000.MPLS
Length:                 1:22:31.488 (h:m:s.ms)
Size:                   13.992.164.352 bytes
Total Bitrate:          22,61 Mbps

VIDEO:

Codec                   Bitrate             Description     
-----                   -------             -----------     
MPEG-4 AVC Video        17935 kbps          1080p / 23,976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

AUDIO:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
DTS-HD Master Audio             English         1579 kbps       2.0 / 48 kHz / 1579 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio             German          1583 kbps       2.0 / 48 kHz / 1583 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

SUBTITLES:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
Presentation Graphics           German          34,695 kbps

[cyborgLIS]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Been a while since I saw it. Bought it when I was in Japan because I liked the premium box and that it had an extra BD with bonus material. Audio is 16-bit because of dolbys 96hz upsampling that Japan used quite a lot. It's pretty loud
PQ I would say is probably the same without having done exact comparison. No english subs which is a shame.

Can't say exact what the bonus are but if you dig at amazon.co.jp there probably are a listing somewhere. It says:
DISC 2 【Video benefits】
Undisclosed scene / Drawing the past with the latest technology / Flame and ice / Shooting landscape / Interview collection / Previs image / Announcement editing
So a few more behind the scenes videos as all other versions seem to have only deleted scenes on same disc.

The one listed here is the original premium disc. The new edition is the same but just miss the extra BD I think.

This late I would say wait for a 4K UHD for maybe both movies instead Hopefully it will come. Arrow did a 4K scan of the original just now. Waiting for that BD.

That is cool, I've wanted to visit Japan since I was very into gaming when I was younger. After I visit the arcades I would like to walk through one of their video stores.

Translating the Amazon JP listing I see Disc 1 also has an additional commentary. I'm assuming "undisclosed scene" is the 7 deleted scenes from the Universal edition? Japan seems to be missing Universal's Picture in Picture feature, so maybe the exclusive featurettes from the JP release are transformed into the less ideal PiP feature for Universal's release (similar to the US vs UK Universal BDs of 1982's The Thing).

Sounds like the audio is technically better on the Universal release since it is 24-bit, unless it's 16-bit padded to 24? Is there any advantage to Japan's 96kHz since it is an upsampling?

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by cyborgLIS

That is cool, I've wanted to visit Japan since I was very into gaming when I was younger. After I visit the arcades I would like to walk through one of their video stores.

Translating the Amazon JP listing I see Disc 1 also has an additional commentary. I'm assuming "undisclosed scene" is the 7 deleted scenes from the Universal edition? Japan seems to be missing Universal's Picture in Picture feature, so maybe the exclusive featurettes from the JP release are transformed into the less ideal PiP feature for Universal's release (similar to the US vs UK Universal BDs of 1982's The Thing).

Sounds like the audio is technically better on the Universal release since it is 24-bit, unless it's 16-bit padded to 24? Is there any advantage to Japan's 96kHz since it is an upsampling?

Yes undisclosed is usually deleted scenes. I haven't compared the extras in detail or even watched them myself so can't say for sure what it has. I like having extras but usually never watch em and always prefer better PQ/AQ if that's a choice.

The audio is a mixed bag. Some prefer the 96hz upsampling sauce because it's "louder" and more punch (keep that bassdial in check!) but I would say it's a bit too far from a natural sounding soundtrack where bass and dialogue have a balance. So I prefer original 24-bit 48hz if avaliable besides maybe anime Akira with 192hz Also probably why 96hz never got a real grip outside asia. And now with Atmos and DTS:X there probably aren't any meaning marketing/doing 96hz upsampling. But if you did a native 96hz track like some big blu-ray concerts that would be something different.

Offtopic: japan was amazing

[Jompa]

You wrote och. You revealed you are Swedish.

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by Jompa

You wrote och. You revealed you are Swedish.

Ops, fixed but nothing to hide there

[Jompa]

Yes. It was only a joke. I knew you were Swedish from before.

[HD Goofnut]

Updates made.

[HD Goofnut]

Added Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

[JimDiGriz]

Someone on AV Forums reckons there's a superior PQ version of 12 Monkeys out there - anyone know anything about this?

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by JimDiGriz

Someone on AV Forums reckons there's a superior PQ version of 12 Monkeys out there - anyone know anything about this?

I thought Universal had the rights to this worldwide.

[knifethrower]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I thought Universal had the rights to this worldwide.

The French, German and Japanese discs are from other local companies but I think its sourced all the same licensed Universal master.

[wesslan]

Hmm this is very interesting. A second IT disc of Rambo: First Blood that have better compression over rest of the world version from Studio Canal that's also remastred??

Anyone own it? BD Eagle Indimenticabili - sound like the Italian Blu-ray company Eagle maybe?

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comp...7247/picture:2

[JimDiGriz]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I thought Universal had the rights to this worldwide.

Yeah I have asked him about this on AVF and he isnt answering... I suspect either he is talking nonsense or has been fed a load of nonsense!

[grim_tales]

Is the UK disc of '7th Voyage of Sinbad' available on its own or just in the big boxset? (It looks very big for a few blu rays)
I might upgrade 'The Prestige' to the US disc if the PQ is much better (I have the UK one).