"Club Penton" - Ask questions to Hollywood insider "Penton-Man"

[Bobby Henderson]

While 2010 is not 2001 it was still a reasonably entertaining movie in its own right. The 65mm based visual effects were really good. However, those effects plates and how they're treated on the Blu-ray version will be the sort of make or break on the decision whether I buy the disc or not.

Basically, I don't want to buy a version of 2010 and still see those crude, polygonal matte lines around spaceship models and such -just like what I was seeing when 2010 was broadcast on HD Net Movies a few months ago. That kind of garbage is just unacceptable. Lucasfilm and Fox fixed all those same kind of errors with the first three Star Wars movies in the 1997 editions. A big budget movie like 2010 made during the same period should be able to get fixed the same way.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

While 2010 is not 2001 it was still a reasonably entertaining movie in its own right. The 65mm based visual effects were really good. However, those effects plates and how they're treated on the Blu-ray version will be the sort of make or break on the decision whether I buy the disc or not.

Basically, I don't want to buy a version of 2010 and still see those crude, polygonal matte lines around spaceship models and such -just like what I was seeing when 2010 was broadcast on HD Net Movies a few months ago. That kind of garbage is just unacceptable. Lucasfilm and Fox fixed all those same kind of errors with the first three Star Wars movies in the 1997 editions. A big budget movie like 2010 made during the same period should be able to get fixed the same way.

No offense, but this statement is unbelievable to someone who appreciates films from all generations as well as wanting the preservation of the original theatrical version (including so-called "errors"). So, based on this logic, would you dismiss hundreds or thousands of older classic movies on Blu-ray just because they don't have effect "clean-ups" or look modern?! Maybe I'm misinterpreting you.

P.S. If anyone is interested, I see Amazon dropped the price of 2010 to $13.99.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

While 2010 is not 2001 it was still a reasonably entertaining movie in its own right. The 65mm based visual effects were really good. However, those effects plates and how they're treated on the Blu-ray version will be the sort of make or break on the decision whether I buy the disc or not.

Basically, I don't want to buy a version of 2010 and still see those crude, polygonal matte lines around spaceship models and such -just like what I was seeing when 2010 was broadcast on HD Net Movies a few months ago. That kind of garbage is just unacceptable. Lucasfilm and Fox fixed all those same kind of errors with the first three Star Wars movies in the 1997 editions. A big budget movie like 2010 made during the same period should be able to get fixed the same way.

They're actually called garbage mattes.

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

No offense, but this statement is unbelievable to someone who appreciates films from all generations as well as wanting the preservation of the original theatrical version (including so-called "errors"). So, based on this logic, would you dismiss hundreds or thousands of older classic movies on Blu-ray just because they don't have effect "clean-ups" or look modern?! Maybe I'm misinterpreting you.

P.S. If anyone is interested, I see Amazon dropped the price of 2010 to $13.99.

Bobby isn't suggesting some kind of digital cleanup. The main reason you see garbage mattes on material like this is that the contrast of the transfer during these scenes is too high. The black level is off and they show up.

I'd say a more apt comparison comes from the LaserDisc days. The original Star Wars trilogy was released on letterboxed LD and there were garbage mattes everywhere, very distracting. When they remastered it in 1993 for the THX editions, the colorist (Lou Levinson) screened the films...he actually watched them projected and noted the color and contrast values for each scene. The mattes were significantly reduced on the new LDs.

For the '97 SEs, they digitally recomposited the majority of the shots.

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Good to hear.
Does that make 10 people yet?
For the record, Grover Crisp, Don Eklund and other folks who directly contributed to the making of this fine appearing Blu-ray title do read this thread and forum. For that matter, so do George Feltenstein and Fox people…….read this thread.

So, here’s your guys' chance to push the *I want more ‘classics’ button* by seeing how many people are actually interested in this freebie title via contest. I mean cripes, if a Blu-ray forum this size can't get a measley 10 contestants to sign up for the race..........

Well I'm not putting my name forward for a couple of reasons:
1. I'm not in the US
2. I already own it, and have done since day one (well as close to day one as Amazon were able to get it to me )

And Grover, Done et al; thanks for your work on this and other titles
(and it meant I replaced my French release DVD that had some weird audio format)

And George and the other Foxes; I'm looking forward to seeing The Robe & South Pacific

[Jeff Kleist]

Basically, I don't want to buy a version of 2010 and still see those crude, polygonal matte lines around spaceship models and such -just like what I was seeing when 2010 was broadcast on HD Net Movies a few months ago. That kind of garbage is just unacceptable. Lucasfilm and Fox fixed all those same kind of errors with the first three Star Wars movies in the 1997 editions. A big budget movie like 2010 made during the same period should be able to get fixed the same way.

2010 is not Star Wars, it is not a multibillion dollar franchise

You know how they got rid of them in SW? Lucas still had all the individual elements, and they recomposited them in the computer instead of the optical printer. All they had to do was go into the archive, pull the stuff out, scan and put it back together

Even if those elements still exist, I seriously doubt anyone feels it's worth a couple of million dollars to dig it out that film, restore it and put it back together.

I do hope in Paramount's "godfather style" restoration of Star Trek 2 that they at least had someone paint them out, then again, 2010 is ALSO not Star Trek

And to those in the peanut gallery, I watched Gandhi tonight (which I purchased at retail I might add), gorgeous

I hope you guys have been able to work some magic on Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, normally I would just ask my spies at Henson, but they're all performers and have absolutely no clue about home video

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

While we seem to have the attention of a number of Luc Besson aficionados, can anyone tell me if Le Dernier Combat is worth making an effort to check out?

Why not, if only to enjoy Jean Reno as a relentless and rather primordial villain.

I got it as a free pack-in with a DVD magazine years ago. I think it's my only DVD with only multichannel MPEG audio.

[Slec]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

<snip>Though I don't have my copy yet, 2010 MAY repeat MAY be DNR free according to people I know who do.

If it's true, please buy it in droves

+

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

<snip>
P.S. If anyone is interested, I see Amazon dropped the price of 2010 to $13.99.

= ordered. Thanks!

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

P.S. I just read your quote more carefully, what does Rob T. have to do with this?

Wha?! I couldn't tell you. I don't recall mentioning Rob and I don't know how you read him into my post. Mind clarifying?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

I wasn't around when Patton was released, given that it's the usual Fox whipping boy/General, are you as agrivated about this title as you RAH was? Or does your billious nature only come out for self-styled internet screencap experts?

I believe that there is a place for constructive criticism. I pay attention to legitimate concerns and I utilize methods to help alleviate further missteps.

I view any interim whining, hyperbole, disproportionate pilling-on postings concerning any issue just to be a waste of time and often a detriment to a potentially successful outcome for positive change or new ideas. Much of the hoopla over Patton was done by people that had yet to even view the Blu-ray movie and just enjoyed contributing to the *lynch mob mentality*.

As for RAH, I believe that he and I see film very similarly so, the answer is yes, eventually when I finally did get around to actually viewing the Blu-ray edition (which was rather late in the game), I was most likely just as “aggravated” as he was, it’s just that initally he was more expressive with his thoughts publically online and then later upon reflection, made extensive revisions/edits to his online comments, I’m assuming because he felt that he was being used by the *screenshot* crowd and his review with additional comments was turning counterproductive to remedy a situtation that wasn’t internal or pre-meditated by Fox personnel to begin with.

Funny thing is, *they* quote RAH when it fits their agenda but, ignore him when it doesn’t, example being Baraka and other titles. Same thing applies with Torsten K., another professional film person we have onboard here. They were all so quick to repeatedly use Torsten as a reference to chastise the look of Salo but, at the same time, completely ignored his evaluation of Baraka…..”was dnr applied ? Sorry, Xylon, and all others who are so convinced. Rick is correct, the inherent softness of the picture image is in my view and experience due to the digital reduction of the files from 8K…….”

Hell, they purposely dismiss their own in-house experts when it doesn’t serve their needs. For example, Michel Hafner probably knows more about digital grain reduction than all the *grain gurus* over there combined, given the fact that he has written his own dnr filters including motion estimation, interpolation filters. This is what Michel said about Baraka, which was ignored…..” I saw no clear evidence of dnr processing or related artifacts.”

Sheesh, Michel never under-calls digital grain reduction, if anything he is too sensitive to its appearance or possible appearance and has this purist attitude regarding unfiltered capture from the acquisition device all the way to final exhibition which in many instances is either not realistically possible due to the limitations of the shoot or is not creatively desired by the filmmaker in the first place, when one considers the possible trade-offs involved.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Wha?! I couldn't tell you. I don't recall mentioning Rob and I don't know how you read him into my post. Mind clarifying?

Well, if you don’t know anything about it, then I presume we have been infested with a computer hacker type (the type of individual displaying the same sort of character traits for manipulating screenshots) or else, I would say that you should lay off the booze on a Friday night as it could be causing you lapses in short term memory.
Go back and reread one on your posts on the last page (middle to lower part, I think) to see what I mean.

Somehow his name came up out of nowhere in regards to yesterday’s conversation.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

Secondly, I didn't realize the Stig comment was one of your tests, I thought your were just name dropping another anglophilia bon mot given your proclivities for footie teams like the gunners. You saw, this, right? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/4286...he-answer.html

Yes, I was alerted to that article shortly after it ‘aired’ but, as the Top Gear spokesman said: "We never comment on speculation as to who or what The Stig is."

If any Stig is unofficially ‘outed’, I’m rather confident that Top Gear will employ the services of a new one(s) so as to keep the legend alive.

Which reminds me, over the past several months since this mishap occurred involving Aris……….http://www.javno.com/en-bestseller/q...r-crash_143607, I’ve received a bunch of PM’s from caring people inquiring as to his current condition.

I am happy to report that I just spoke with someone at EON across the pond yesterday, and Aris continues to be recovering well from the accident.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well, if you don’t know anything about it, then I presume we have been infested with a computer hacker type (the type of individual displaying the same sort of character traits for manipulating screenshots) or else, I would say that you should lay off the booze on a Friday night as it could be causing you lapses in short term memory.
Go back and reread one on your posts on the last page (middle to lower part, I think) to see what I mean.

Somehow his name came up out of nowhere in regards to yesterday’s conversation.

Ok, I re-read everything I posted on the previous page and I still have no idea what you're talking about. Are you sure I'm the one who needs to lay off the booze?

Maybe the vagaries of discussing scientists are contributing to the confusion here, so I'll try to make some things a little more concrete:

When I read your comments, I thought you were talking about Xylon (because you mentioned him by name and because he created the post to which you linked).

When I responded to your comments, I was talking about Xylon, as well.

So, unless Xylon and Rob T. are the same guy (), I was under the impression we were both only talking about Xylon.

And, even if Xylon and Rob T. are the same guy, you're the one who brought him up, so I still don't know what you're talking about when you ask me why I brought him up.

Whew. Make any sense to you?

[mark antony]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I would say neither.
La Femme Nikita has pretty much met sales expectations to date.

Thanks

I would enter the competition, but like the Stig i'm an Englishman too!

M

[Secret_Smile]

On a lighter note:

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Received and enjoy brushing all the pollen off your front windshield in the upcoming weeks.

That lovely "yellowish dust" is starting to blanket my back porch and car.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Ok, I re-read everything I posted on the previous page and I still have no idea what you're talking about. Are you sure I'm the one who needs to lay off the booze?

Maybe the vagaries of discussing scientists are contributing to the confusion here, so I'll try to make some things a little more concrete:

When I read your comments, I thought you were talking about Xylon (because you mentioned him by name and because he created the post to which you linked).

When I responded to your comments, I was talking about Xylon, as well.

So, unless Xylon and Rob T. are the same guy (), I was under the impression we were both only talking about Xylon.

And, even if Xylon and Rob T. are the same guy, you're the one who brought him up, so I still don't know what you're talking about when you ask me why I brought him up.

Whew. Make any sense to you?

Look at your post #8353. You quote Pentons words, with Robs name in the header. I saw it earlier and was confused as well.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Look at your post #8353. You quote Pentons words, with Robs name in the header. I saw it earlier and was confused as well.

Woah! Thanks, Squid! Now, I understand!

Okay, Penton, I can answer your question now:

What Rob T. has to do with it is that a quote tag with his name in it was on my clipboard because I had quoted him in a reply over in scienceland. When I separated your quotes in my reply to you, I pasted it in and didn't look closely enough to see that, while it looked like a quote tag, it did not look like a Penton-Man quote tag.

Or, in a word: nothing.

Sorry about the confusion!

[Penton-Man]

No, the *screenshot scientist* is not Rob T.
I know Rob………back in the day, I got him one of the first PS3’s off the assembly line, which was really no small feat, as it was originally key holed for another executive in the company.

Rob still owes me a ride in the 'babe magnet'.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by mark antony

Thanks

I would enter the competition, but like the Stig i'm an Englishman too!

M

Dang, how many Brits do we actually have here in our membership.
You guys certainly seem a plentiful lot.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Secret_Smile

On a lighter note:

That lovely "yellowish dust" is starting to blanket my back porch and car.

That calls for a YouTube clip …………..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CygUpvo61WU

^
Been there, done that. If fact, there’s a great bike shop just around the corner from there….or at least there was.
I’m hoping that the Olympic mountain bike course is still open for riders out in Conyers to play on.

P.S.
What feature film comes to mind when one hears the above melody?

[Penton-Man]

Sweeter sound..........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlUHIiTwBzQ

Gotta run.