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

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Added Groundhog Day. The only drawback is that the JP disc is slightly cropped: http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...less=1#auswahl

Mastered in 4k? Looks like it may be, plus no black crush!

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

Mastered in 4k? Looks like it may be, plus no black crush!

Yep, it blows the original release away except for the cropping.

[Pieter V]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

Mastered in 4k? Looks like it may be, plus no black crush!

Yep, 4K. Released in December 2014 in Japan on Blu-ray. But already remastered back in 2013. Don't know if that 2013 date, saved the black crush?

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Yep, it blows the original release away except for the cropping.

May be the original framing

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

May be the original framing

Not so sure. It's hard to tell since the DVD was windowboxed slightly.

[GLipeBlu]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

I disagree totally the macroblocking on the Criterion shows how below par the encode is

This makes it totally clear to my eyes:

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleiche/multi_comp

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by GLipeBlu

This makes it totally clear to my eyes:

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleiche/multi_comp

Lego Koyaanisqatsi

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Added Groundhog Day. The only drawback is that the JP disc is slightly cropped: http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...less=1#auswahl

It's not really cropped.


The framing is different, for everything "missing" on the right or top it's added to the bottom or left on the new version.

[Nocturnaloner]

Originally Posted by GLipeBlu

This makes it totally clear to my eyes:

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleiche/multi_comp

This is textbook. It needs to be saved so that people understand what excessive or improperly applied compression can do to an image.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Nocturnaloner

This is textbook. It needs to be saved so that people understand what excessive or improperly applied compression can do to an image.

No it isn't. The artifacts are still in the Arrow image, just coated in grain/noise. The same compression artifact lines.


Zoom in on other areas of the image if you don't agree.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

No it isn't. The artifacts are still in the Arrow image, just coated in grain/noise. The same compression artifact lines.


Zoom in on other areas of the image if you don't agree.

So you don't think the U.K. release looks better?

[Tech-UK]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

No it isn't. The artifacts are still in the Arrow image, just coated in grain/noise. The same compression artifact lines.


Zoom in on other areas of the image if you don't agree.

The issue is, is that the Criterion release doesn't resolve the grain very well and thus the artifacting i.e. blank space/macroblocking within the grain structure.

The Arrow release resolves the grain properly, which is why the grain structure is more consistent. Resulting from a superior encode.

[Nocturnaloner]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

No it isn't. The artifacts are still in the Arrow image, just coated in grain/noise. The same compression artifact lines.


Zoom in on other areas of the image if you don't agree.

And my point is, when we refer to "macroblocking" in an image, this is a great illustration of what it looks like.

We can't ever eliminate all compression artifacts from a blu-ray, because a blu-ray is compressed, it is not film.

What we can do is make the compression artifacts more pleasing to the eye, and educate people about what is meant by certain terms.

[Sky_Captain]

Oooh, that Groundhog Day disc is mine, all mine!

It's buttons to pick up.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

Oooh, that Groundhog Day disc is mine, all mine!

It's buttons to pick up.

I didn't think of it as a movie I MUST own, but seeing the quality I thought I should buy it too.
But I would wait for a US release with English subtitles because I really need them.

[GLipeBlu]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

No it isn't. The artifacts are still in the Arrow image, just coated in grain/noise. The same compression artifact lines.


Zoom in on other areas of the image if you don't agree.

Yes, the Arrow has compression artifacts, but it does a much better job of resolving the original film source than the Criterion. You may think the difference negligible, and perhaps in motion and at normal viewing distance (depending on the size of your display) it is, but the Arrow is a better encode, period. It's not even arguable.

Here's another example:

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleiche/multi_comp

Notice how the Criterion blurs and obscures the grain structure, thereby removing detail inherent to the image. Again, in normal viewing conditions these difference are likely subtle, but if you want the absolute best quality release picture wise, the Arrow is the way to go.

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

Oooh, that Groundhog Day disc is mine, all mine!

It's buttons to pick up.

Buttons?

[Sky_Captain]

Aye. Pennies, peanuts, cheap as chips, lol

[Bad Sandwich]

Originally Posted by Nocturnaloner

This is textbook. It needs to be saved so that people understand what excessive or improperly applied compression can do to an image.

Careful - "whining" about any Criterion release(s) will NOT be tolerated (ditto for Shout Factory)

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by GLipeBlu

Notice how the Criterion blurs and obscures the grain structure, thereby removing detail inherent to the image. Again, in normal viewing conditions these difference are likely subtle, but if you want the absolute best quality release picture wise, the Arrow is the way to go.

Seriously, that looks exactly like if a sharpening filter was applied.


Try it in Photoshop (or Gimp) with the same image.

Originally Posted by Bad Sandwich

Careful - "whining" about any Criterion release(s) will NOT be tolerated (ditto for Shout Factory)

Hardly. I'm not some Criterion evangelical. I import discs for better encodes and lossless audio all the time. I just believe in not wasting money.