Gladiator (2000)

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by SellmeyourDVD

I just sold my copy of Gladiator for $24 on ebay

Hopefully my $10 refund goes through, which would mean I profited around $18 on Gladiator.

I'll buy the new release once it goes to around $10, just like this one.

I'm currently selling mine on eBay as well, it's useless to me now that the film is getting rectified. My auction ends in about an hour, and it's over $15. I didn't expect to make a profit by selling the release on eBay, but I'm sure not going to complain about it.

[Rhygar]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I'm currently selling mine on eBay as well, it's useless to me now that the film is getting rectified. My auction ends in about an hour, and it's over $15. I didn't expect to make a profit by selling the release on eBay, but I'm sure not going to complain about it.

It's currently just a rumour. I wouldn't sell your current copy until the rumour is confirmed as fact.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by Rhygar

It's currently just a rumour. I wouldn't sell your current copy until the rumour is confirmed as fact.

It's not a rumor. The studio has a new master that is ready to go, it's only a matter of time before it gets a Blu-ray release.

[Arsenio]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

It's not a rumor. The studio has a new master that is ready to go

Really? Where's the proof?

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Bill Hunt's sources are reliable, but until there's some sort of official confirmation then it's technically still a rumor.

[aramis109]

...It's still a rumor:

Along these same lines, consider this Rumor Mill-worthy, but our industry sources are telling is that Paramount will be re-issuing their Gladiator Blu-ray later this Summer or Fall, complete with a brand-new 1080p transfer that was just completed a couple of months ago. (It was done after Paramount and Universal realized how bad the first one was, naturally.) Paramount is re-issuing a number of their BDs this month in new Academy Award-themed packaging. The Gladiator DVD is included in this, but not the Blu-ray, and sources tell us this is because they studio will re-issue the Blu-ray timed to the theatrical or home video release of Ridley Scott's Robin Hood later this year. It MAY also be re-branded as a new 10th Anniversary Edition. We'll post official details as they become available. (And no, we don't know if there will be an exchange program there either.)

Source: http://www.thedigitalbits.com/mytwocentsa176.html

[Si1entElegy]

I really hope an exchange program is in the works...I find it strange that they're re-branding the reissue because they could've waited for the anniversary in the first place.

[Darkhawk9587]

With all the hubbub surrounding this release, I finally decided to set aside the time and watch the blu today (I have been busy and watching a three hour long film just never fit into my schedule). I just finished watching it, and although I can see where people are complaining about the PQ, I think it's just fine. If there is a new remastered version out there, I hope all of those who did not like this version will get their wish and get a better transferred blu-ray.

[Freekman]

By itself, it is a lackluster transfer. But when you consider they released it along with Braveheart (which received a marvelous transfer), even I get a little frustrated at how poor the quality is compared to what it could be. A re-master is demanded because it is deserved.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by Darkhawk9587

With all the hubbub surrounding this release, I finally decided to set aside the time and watch the blu today (I have been busy and watching a three hour long film just never fit into my schedule). I just finished watching it, and although I can see where people are complaining about the PQ, I think it's just fine. If there is a new remastered version out there, I hope all of those who did not like this version will get their wish and get a better transferred blu-ray.

I am curious- did you watch the extended version?

At first when I watched it (aside from the title sequence at the start, that was just horrid with macroblocking and artifacts everywhere) it looked drab, but not incredibly terrible. That gave me a chance to get used to it. Once the extended scenes came up, the difference was so astounding that I said to myself "that's the way the entire movie could have looked?"

I'm glad you (somewhat) enjoy the original release's PQ. I really hope they have an exchange program though, as this movie definitely deserved better treatment.

[Darkhawk9587]

Originally Posted by singhcr

I am curious- did you watch the extended version?

At first when I watched it (aside from the title sequence at the start, that was just horrid with macroblocking and artifacts everywhere) it looked drab, but not incredibly terrible. That gave me a chance to get used to it. Once the extended scenes came up, the difference was so astounding that I said to myself "that's the way the entire movie could have looked?"

I'm glad you (somewhat) enjoy the original release's PQ. I really hope they have an exchange program though, as this movie definitely deserved better treatment.

Yes, I watched the extended version. And let me clarify: I know not what macroblocking or artifacts are, but from what I could tell, at times when it was dark, the textures were a little out of focus and details weren't very clear. However, I also want to point out that though I did enjoy the film's transfer, I mean that I was going in expecting a terrible transfer, ala Gangs of New York or something. By no means do I think it's the best looking blu-ray out there, far from it actually (I also own Braveheart and hear that is quite outstanding, though like Gladiator and so many other movies, I've had little time to watch them). But, from all the negative feedback stating how putrid the PQ is, I was expecting far worse. I respect others opinions, and clearly a lot of people are hoping for a better transferred release. And to you, I hope it comes true. However, I think what I have is good enough for me, and like I say, too each one's own.

[42041]

Originally Posted by Darkhawk9587

Yes, I watched the extended version. And let me clarify: I know not what macroblocking or artifacts are, but from what I could tell, at times when it was dark, the textures were a little out of focus and details weren't very clear. However, I also want to point out that though I did enjoy the film's transfer, I mean that I was going in expecting a terrible transfer, ala Gangs of New York or something. By no means do I think it's the best looking blu-ray out there, far from it actually (I also own Braveheart and hear that is quite outstanding, though like Gladiator and so many other movies, I've had little time to watch them). But, from all the negative feedback stating how putrid the PQ is, I was expecting far worse. I respect others opinions, and clearly a lot of people are hoping for a better transferred release. And to you, I hope it comes true. However, I think what I have is good enough for me, and like I say, too each one's own.

People watch on different setups, from different distance vs their screen size, different TV settings, so no one person's opinion can apply to everyone. You know why they apply so much edge enhancement to many older transfers? Cause it makes it look nicer when you're looking at it from far away on a smaller screen, which is what just about everyone did until recently. When you sit close to your TV like I do or you have a big projection screen, it's the visual equivalent of a stereo with the treble EQ knobs cranked all the way up.

[Rhygar]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

It's not a rumor. The studio has a new master that is ready to go, it's only a matter of time before it gets a Blu-ray release.

As other people have said it hasn't been confirmed yet so still just a rumour. Even Bill said that in his article. Did you read it?

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by Rhygar

As other people have said it hasn't been confirmed yet so still just a rumour. Even Bill said that in his article. Did you read it?

If there is a new master sitting around that is an improved transfer of the film, then it is only a matter of time before we will see Gladiator get re-released on Blu-ray. I'm suspecting we'll see this on shelves before the year is up. If not, then first quarter 2011.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by Si1entElegy

I really hope an exchange program is in the works...I find it strange that they're re-branding the reissue because they could've waited for the anniversary in the first place.

I hope so too but I doubt it...

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by Darkhawk9587

Yes, I watched the extended version. And let me clarify: I know not what macroblocking or artifacts are, but from what I could tell, at times when it was dark, the textures were a little out of focus and details weren't very clear. However, I also want to point out that though I did enjoy the film's transfer, I mean that I was going in expecting a terrible transfer, ala Gangs of New York or something. By no means do I think it's the best looking blu-ray out there, far from it actually (I also own Braveheart and hear that is quite outstanding, though like Gladiator and so many other movies, I've had little time to watch them). But, from all the negative feedback stating how putrid the PQ is, I was expecting far worse. I respect others opinions, and clearly a lot of people are hoping for a better transferred release. And to you, I hope it comes true. However, I think what I have is good enough for me, and like I say, too each one's own.

Macroblocking and artifacts are basically little dancing squares you'll see in an image when the image is compressed too much. Think of the difference betweeen a DVD and a YouTube video. It was very apparent at the beginning when the Gladiator title was appearing through the smoke, as smoke is very hard to render properly because it isn't a solid color. The smoke trails had a lot of edges around them, it looked like the smoke was a bunch of Lego blocks!

[Damage Inc.]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

If there is a new master sitting around that is an improved transfer of the film, then it is only a matter of time before we will see Gladiator get re-released on Blu-ray. I'm suspecting we'll see this on shelves before the year is up. If not, then first quarter 2011.

Then it will probably be some kind of Special Edition too.

We have to keep in mind that many of these first BD-releases are still like the first barebone DVDs.
Sure a whole bunch have amazing transfers and loads of extras, but (too) many not so great and terrible ones.
But so did the DVD-format have a bunch of great ones to start people off with, but also many bad ones.
On top of that, a lot of the extras on the best BDs have also just been taken from the DVDs.

So, we can definitely expect more special re-releases for many films that are already out on BD.
Even though this one was a highly anticipated one and even called a "Sapphire Edition" in the US,
this might just have been a quick release and the better "remastered" (sell sell) version has yet to come.
Who knows they already planned to do it this way, to release a more special edition later.

[Agent Bond]

I think these studios do a bad transfer intentionally to get you to double dip. It should be illegal.

[wharf]

Originally Posted by Agent Bond

I think these studios do a bad transfer intentionally to get you to double dip. It should be illegal.

I'm pretty cynical about this whole situation, but even I'm not that paranoid. If you think about what you've said for more than two seconds, you'll realize that it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

Paramount screwed up. They realized they screwed up. Now they're fixing it. It's as simple as that.

[Blu Jedi Master]

I will definately double dip since this is one of my favorite movies.

[AintNoSin]

Originally Posted by Agent Bond

I think these studios do a bad transfer intentionally to get you to double dip. It should be illegal.

I think that the people doing the transfers, even for the big studios, are still learning their craft. They have all these tools (digital noise reduction, dialog normalization, etc) and some of them seem to think they have to use them all.

The situation at the beginning of the DVD era was no better. There were plenty of bad transfers then, too (edge enhancement, non-anamorphic, full-screen only releases), but the problem lessened as time went on.

I'm old enough to remember when CDs were new and many of the first CDs were terrible, especially for popular music. No one (or not many) had figured out how to digitally master recordings made for vinyl.

It's all about the technicians learning what works and what doesn't. Us early format adopters have always had to deal with that.