Gladiator (2000)

[SS-3]

Originally Posted by HDPlasma

1. What was your viewing distance, screen size and methods used to determine there were no excessive DNR or EE on the remaster?

2. Which scenes/timeframe did you pause to analyze the PQ for DNR and EE?

3. Were you able to determine if the new color timing change looks natural/realistic or altered to stand out so AV enthusiasts can see a dramatic difference between the old and new remaster?

1. Viewing distance was about 8 feet from a 60 inch screen. I looked for fine detail in facial close-up shots (i.e. pores, facial hair, facial blemishes and hair on the back of the neck). I also randomly paused the movie to look for any halo effects in different light conditions (i.e. daylight, candlelight, torch light, etc.). IMHO close-up facial shots are always the easiest way to spot excessive DNR because in my eyes, facial detail is lost.

2. I did not note exact chapters and scenes. However, many folks on this forum have posted go examples. The best I found was when Maximus was riding home on horseback. The original transfer screenshot had a much darker, blue hue, to the sky. The re-mastered one had a much brighter and natural tone to it. I can attempt to find the URL on the forum if you cannot find it.

3. Absolutely, based on the screenshots I reviewed on this forum and what I saw last night while watching the movie. At a high-level I would say the original release had a much darker and colder/blue hue to it. The re-mastered version has a brighter, warmer hue to it. This does not hold true for every scene, I am just stating overall.

I did not perform a thorough analysis of the movie but to my eyes the movie looked awesome. Is it Avatar quality? No, but it's equal to or slightly better than Braveheart.

I hope this helps.

[ozzsoad]

Thanks for the best post in days SS-3, finally someone is talking about the movie and not the packaging or colors and numbers on the disc.

[SS-3]

Originally Posted by ozzsoad

Thanks for the best post in days SS-3, finally someone is talking about the movie and not the packaging or colors and numbers on the disc.

I should have noted that my blu-ray player is an Oppo BDP-83. Hopefully this will help others as well.

I plan on watching the extended cut this evening. I am very curious to see how well the extended scenes blend in with the rest of the movie. It is my understand that the extended scenes were re-mastered from the get go. So on the original release they supposedly looked vastly better than the rest of the movie because of the issues everyone has noted with the original release (i.e. excessive DNR and EE).

I will post a review of the extended version in regards to how it blends in with the rest of the movie later this evening or tomorrow morning.

[walmat]

I just came from the post office where I dropped off the disc. I followed all the instructions given to me by customer service. It cost me $3.15 for a small bubble envelope and regular mail postage (Canadian).

I'll let you know when the replacement arrives. I was told by customer service to call back in two weeks if I haven't received it.

I hope this works:

I wish us all good luck

[thebluemax]

Originally Posted by SS-3

Does your one say '2-Disc Set' and the other does not?

FYI... Watched the theatrical version last not, I have the dark grey disk without the '2-Disc Set' above Paramount and no NAXXXXRX number. It looked real good to me, I did not notice any excessive DNR or EE. However, I do not have the original to compare it to but my frame of reference for excessive DNR is the Longest Day, Patton, and the new Predator.

Yes, the Remastered does NOT have "2 Disc Set" on the back, and the Remaster has NO EE which is the most obvious improvement.

[Londawg]

Has anyone puchased and received the re-release from Amazon?
I have gift certificates from Amazon, but I'm not sure they're sending out the new or old version. It says on their website release date Sept 2009.

Thanks

[tvine2000]

Originally Posted by mike1981

why would i call them when i have the corrected version?

because you seem to doubt you have the remastered disc by your other posts. Your eyes will tell you if you have it

[tvine2000]

Originally Posted by SS-3

I've called them several times. Their stance is that if you do not have the NAXXXXR2 number, then it is not re-mastered. As Mike stated in a previous post, they're reading from a script. I firmly believe there are other re-mastered discs that are dark grey as have been posted on this forum.

It appears the only true indicator is the '2-Disc Set' missing from above the Paramount logo which has also been mentioned in several posts.

I'm going to Best Buy today to pickup the Wolfman, it's on sale this week. I'm going to check their stock again and see what they have in the store. I'm curious if they have any of the yellow UPC sticker ones. If they do, I will exchange mine re-mastered one just to see what type of disc the yellow UPC sticker item contains. My hunch is that it will be the light grey one with the NAXXXXR2 number. I'm basing this on what the Paramount exchange folks are asking over the phone.

I think once they get this exchange program out of the way, will start seeing yellow upcs. i thought i said many times its th r2 at the end. As far as that number people are not seeing it. Its not easy to see , but its there.

[tvine2000]

Originally Posted by rpneuss

I got mine at Wal Mart last night and let me tell you that this transfer is mouthwatering! The screenshots don't do it justice IMO. All I did was look for a copy that did not have "2 Disc Set" by the Paramount Logo. It's kind of jacked up that they had both versions on the shelf and Paramount is lying if they say there is nothing wrong with the old transfer!! I have both and to me this one is about 5 times better. When you guys get your copies i'm pretty sure you will agree that its preposterous for Paramount to claim nothing wrong with the old one.

Maybe paramount is being a horses ass about this ,but in the end they made it right. But thanks also go to all the forums that *****ed about the old version. hopely paramount will make things right if and when they do the directors cuts with statrek 1,and 6. and get rid of all the dnr on startrek 3&4

[tvine2000]

I'd just like to point out something no ones brought up. When i called paramount they made it known that this is a limited exchange program. MEANing theres a time limit on it. If your in doubt what version you have ,call. Btw they didn't say how long this time limit is.

[rpneuss]

Originally Posted by tvine2000

Maybe paramount is being a horses ass about this ,but in the end they made it right. But thanks also go to all the forums that *****ed about the old version. hopely paramount will make things right if and when they do the directors cuts with statrek 1,and 6. and get rid of all the dnr on startrek 3&4

I, for one, am happy as a clam that they re-did the transfer on this disc. They did make it right but i still have a slight problem with them not pulling the other disc. Sure, it worked, but the new one is what Blu Ray is all about!! A top 5 movie of mine that they got right in the end though, so kudos to Paramount on that front. I feel for the average consumer that will get shafted with the old crappy master because they don't know that the gay "2 disc set" on the paramount logo = crap!

[centauro74]

Have anyone received a response from paramount, I sent them a email the same week of the exchange news and I haven't heard anything from them.
thanks.

[blujacket]

Originally Posted by centauro74

Have anyone received a response from paramount, I sent them a email the same week of the exchange news and I haven't heard anything from them.
thanks.

Just mail your disc as posted pages ago.I never got a call back and just mailed my disc.

[Mike1981]

Originally Posted by tvine2000

because you seem to doubt you have the remastered disc by your other posts. Your eyes will tell you if you have it

Read those posts again. I have BOTH versions on hand. The difference is night/day. I was trying to help others who didn't have the luxery of being able to compare the 2 discs side by side which one was the remastered version.

[Mike1981]

Originally Posted by tvine2000

I think once they get this exchange program out of the way, will start seeing yellow upcs. i thought i said many times its th r2 at the end. As far as that number people are not seeing it. Its not easy to see , but its there.

This is untrue. I cleary see the number, it just isn't the one you keep posting.

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by tvine2000

I'd just like to point out something no ones brought up. When i called paramount they made it known that this is a limited exchange program. MEANing theres a time limit on it. If your in doubt what version you have ,call. Btw they didn't say how long this time limit is.

Actually, the reason why it is called a limited exchange program is because Paramount did not recall the release and exchanges are limited to those that are unhappy with the DNR/EE release.

Retailers are free to sell through thier existing stock and uneducated consumers or those who do not care will be happy since it is techically a much better release than the DVD.

There is no actual time limit on this replacement program unless Paramount/Dreamworks were to lose the distribution rights to Gladiator.

[tvine2000]

Originally Posted by Mike1981

This is untrue. I cleary see the number, it just isn't the one you keep posting.

Mike you were implying the dark gray disc was the remaster and the light gray was the old master. that is turning out to false. you can't go by the color. i and others have light gray and its still the remastered. It may mean as someone said these remastered disc have been in stores for quite some time. somewhere along the line they changed colors. I have seen the old version ,the version in my hand is the remastered. from others who have the light gray disc the number i posted is on all of them. what they put on the dark gray disc ,i don't know, but i'm sure you have the remastered disc too. The best thing to do is ether call paramount, or wait till we see the discs in stores with a yellow upc...if we ever do

[tvine2000]

Originally Posted by rpneuss

I, for one, am happy as a clam that they re-did the transfer on this disc. They did make it right but i still have a slight problem with them not pulling the other disc. Sure, it worked, but the new one is what Blu Ray is all about!! A top 5 movie of mine that they got right in the end though, so kudos to Paramount on that front. I feel for the average consumer that will get shafted with the old crappy master because they don't know that the gay "2 disc set" on the paramount logo = crap!

Don't be too hard on paramount other studios have done the same thing with new remastered discs. The 5th element for one .if it wasn't for forums like this one i never would have known there was a new version at the time . That happened with ''full medal jacket'' from wb and now with croathing tiger, hidden dragon, bestbuy is selling the old version for 9.99, the new remastered version with dd truehd and remastered pq is 21.99. so stay clear of the 9.99 version. Again theres no where in the store that says this is a new remastered version. My point all studios do this, is it right ...no!, but they don't do recalls.

[wormraper]

slightly nervous about sending my copy into paramount being how badly they botched the SPR recall and reports of people in the SPR thread not getting their disc because it was lost in the mail etc... sigh

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by wormraper

slightly nervous about sending my copy into paramount being how badly they botched the SPR recall and reports of people in the SPR thread not getting their disc because it was lost in the mail etc... sigh

Use delivery confirmation. It's a PO Box but you will still confirmation of it being dropped off.