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

[knifethrower]

Hotel Artemis UHD Comparison:
German Release

[Show spoiler]Disc Size: 50,842,843,136 bytes
Protection: AACS2
BD-Java: No
Playlist: 00002.MPLS
Size: 45,252,820,992 bytes
Length: 1:34:30.665
Total Bitrate: 63.84 Mbps
Video: MPEG-H HEVC Video / 56469 kbps / 2160p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / Main 10 Profile 5.1 High / 4:2:0 / 10 bits / HDR / BT.2020 /
Audio: German / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps
Audio: German / DTS-HD Master Audio / 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1852 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Audio: English / DTS-HD Master Audio / 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1830 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Audio: English / Dolby Digital Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps
Subtitle: German / 38.722 kbps
Subtitle: German / 0.754 kbps
Subtitle: English / 0.163 kbps

US Release

[Show spoiler]Disc Size: 56,356,205,341 bytes
Protection: AACS2
Playlist: 00803.MPLS
Size: 55,925,508,096 bytes
Length: 1:33:45.828
Total Bitrate: 79.53 Mbps
Video: MPEG-H HEVC Video / 68340 kbps / 2160p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / Main 10 @ Level 5.1 @ High / 4:2:0 / 10 bits / Limited Range / BT.709 / BT.709 / BT.709 / Mastering display color primaries: R: x=0.015360 y=0.000060, G: x=0.000000 y=0.015360, B: x=0.000060 y=0.000000, White point: x=0.000000 y=0.015360 / Mastering display luminance: min: 5033.1651 cd/m2, max: 20 cd/m2
Audio: English / DTS-HD Master Audio / 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3588 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio: Spanish / DTS-HD Master Audio / 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3659 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitle: English / 52.435 kbps
Subtitle: Spanish / 39.515 kbps

US disc has higher bitrates but the German disc has HDR. Per the dedicated thread the HDR might be "fake" but the German disc has better encoding regardless. A big point of discussion from the thread almost to a toxic point is that one brief on screen title at the opening and another during the credits have both been translated into German. If you pick the English audio and leave the German subtitles off it automatically has player generated English versions of both of these titles that appear beside them. This subtitle track also pops up with English for the brief moments of foreign language dialogue.

The only extra from the US release is a commentary track and from what I can tell from the BD Info scans it's only on the BD and not the UHD. I was hoping there might be a firmer answer to this in the dedicated thread but people were too busy freaking out about two brief bits of text being in German on the other release. The German release has some standard EPK style interviews, German/English trailers and the commentary track is present on the UHD disc.

[waxHead]

While checking a bunch of movies on caps-a-holic, I noticed this issue in the swimming pool scene of Almost Famous:

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=1&x...2&l=0&i=4&go=1

Looks like DNR removed some splash details on the UK release. Almost Famous should probably be removed from this thread unless another region's release is better.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by waxHead

While checking a bunch of movies on caps-a-holic, I noticed this issue in the swimming pool scene of Almost Famous:

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=1&x...2&l=0&i=4&go=1

Looks like DNR removed some splash details on the UK release. Almost Famous should probably be removed from this thread unless another region's release is better.

I see what you're talking about, but overall I still believe the UK release is superior.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Not sure if there is a thread for this but is there a way to know what region B releases were converted to PAL and have sped up audio vs other releases?

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I see what you're talking about, but overall I still believe the UK release is superior.

Based on what lunatic criteria, my friend?!

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=3&x...6&l=0&i=5&go=1

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

Based on what lunatic criteria, my friend?!

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=3&x...6&l=0&i=5&go=1

Yikes, that's some ugly scanner noise on the Sony. Paramount really needs to do a new master.

[waxHead]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I see what you're talking about, but overall I still believe the UK release is superior.

It’s your call, just wanted to point it out. It really does need a new scan.

[casspir]

I think there is some incorrect information regarding the "They Live" entry in the list.
Currently the UK Studio Canal entry is listed like this:
UK (Studio Canal) - AVC 29952 kbps, LPCM 2.0 2304 kbps 24-bit / DTS-HD MA 5.1 4277 kbps 24-bit, English subs (Region B locked) Best PQ

However, the video bitrate (AVC 29952 kbps) is from this earlier edition:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/They-Live-Blu-ray/9140/

while the audio info (LPCM 2.0 2304 kbps 24-bit / DTS-HD MA 5.1 4277 kbps 24-bit) is from this other Studio Canal edition:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/They-...lu-ray/214719/

So, the current UK They Live entry is a mix of the above mentioned two Studio Canal editions. I think this needs to be corrected.

I presume that the Best PQ award goes to this edition?:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/They-...lu-ray/214719/

[casspir]

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/71-Blu-ray/114874/

'71
US - N/A
UK - AVC 36478 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3550 kbps 24-bit / LPCM 2.0 2304 kbps 24-bit

Source of info: BDInfo scan (I own the UK disc)

[HD Goofnut]

Updates made.

[casspir]

When Eight Bells Toll
US - AVC 24930 kbps, DTS-HD MA 2.0 1608 kbps 16-bit, no English subs
FR - AVC 25022 kbps, LPCM 2.0 1536 kbps 16-bit, no English subs

Source of info:
US:
https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=8146&d2=8147&c=3305
FR:
BDInfo scan (I own the FR disc)

The video bitrate of the French release is marginally higher, I do not know if it is worth to include it in the list, HD Goofnut will decide.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by casspir

When Eight Bells Toll
US - AVC 24930 kbps, DTS-HD MA 2.0 1608 kbps 16-bit, no English subs
FR - AVC 25022 kbps, LPCM 2.0 1536 kbps 16-bit, no English subs

Source of info:
US:
https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=8146&d2=8147&c=3305
FR:
BDInfo scan (I own the FR disc)

The video bitrate of the French release is marginally higher, I do not know if it is worth to include it in the list, HD Goofnut will decide.

I'd have to see caps of the FR disc in comparison to the US disc before I made a decision.

[casspir]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I'd have to see caps of the FR disc in comparison to the US disc before I made a decision.

Hi, Goofnut,

I made 8 screencaps with PowerDVD in PNG format. I tried to match them as closely as possible to the ones at caps-a-holic. I uploaded them to flickr, here is the link:
https://www.flickr.com/short_urls.gn...set=aHsmQDhEKW

You can download each cap in its original size (1920 x 1080).

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by casspir

Hi, Goofnut,

I made 8 screencaps with PowerDVD in PNG format. I tried to match them as closely as possible to the ones at caps-a-holic. I uploaded them to flickr, here is the link:
https://www.flickr.com/short_urls.gn...set=aHsmQDhEKW

You can download each cap in its original size (1920 x 1080).

From what I can tell the US disc looks to have marginally better compression.

[casspir]

Iron Sky (Theatrical Cut)
US - AVC 22000 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 16-bit / DD 5.1 640 kbps, English subs
DE - AVC 29900 kbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3950 kbps 24-bit, no English subs

Source of info:
US:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Iron-Sky-Blu-ray/41696/

DE:
BDInfo scan (I own the DE theatrical disc)

[HD Goofnut]

Added Bonjour Tristesse and A Letter to Three Wives.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Added Bonjour Tristesse and A Letter to Three Wives.

There is no real noticeable difference between the US and UK Blus of “A Letter to Three Wives”.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

There is no real noticeable difference between the US and UK Blus of “A Letter to Three Wives”.

Disagree. Compression is marginally better on the UK release.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Disagree. Compression is marginally better on the UK release.

Marginally better means little in-motion. I own both releases.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Marginally better means little in-motion. I own both releases.

Understood, but marginally better is still better. It doesn't mean someone needs to spend the money to import it, but the list does represent the facts.