Gladiator (2000)

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

I would suspect that the majority of people own a 40" and smaller and thus will probably be happy enough with this.

It is diminishing returns at that point though on a subpar Blu-Ray release. If you sit 8-10ft away from a subpar BD transfer on a 40" set, there is not going to be a huge difference vs the upscaled DVD version of Gladiator (depending on how good your upscaler is). Especially if you had the superbit version.

The AQ and extras would be the biggest incentive to upgrade in this case. Probably not the PQ.

[thecardman23]

Originally Posted by HDPlasma

Not trying to debunk your review but there's a big difference when viewing titles like this with average PQ on a 45" screen or larger where a good transfer matters.
I agree that those with 45" or less and a viewing distance of 6 feet will think the PQ is adequate and probably think these guys on the forums are being over critical.

Another thing to consider is those who enable the feature of 120hz or faster framing on their sets probably won't even notice anything wrong as they are using "soap opera" mode to mask the true film presentation.

your right i agree... some of the experience i'm sure is dependent on the size of the display each person has at their homes and their experiences will differ as such. i would imagine that majority of the public that own hdtv's have sizes that range between 40-55 (based on most popular selling sizes on hdtvs in the past few years) as they fall into most ppls budgets and thus id imagine other than those which projectors and huge tvs/ viewing screens most ppl will see this film and be satisfied with the results. not saying that its okay for paramount to do a sub-par release of the movie. far from it. i think every studio should provide the public with the best possible release of every films (simply from a good business practice standpoint to give the public value for their money) however, given their efforts with this movie, despite the fact it may not be the best version available, its far from the massive failure ppl have been painting it out to be on the net for the past few weeks.

[Zoraster]

Originally Posted by robertc88

What about the cost though for a new transfer? How good could this look versus Braveheart without it?

I do understand what you mean about marketing nonsense since this is sapphire release.

Greed makes a poor shield. This is a long-awaited flagship title with an unusually vehement following, as evidenced by this forum hysteria. To release this film as a special "Sapphire" edition that is supposedly the "best picture possible" demands something at least approaching that. They could have released it as a regular, bare-bones edition.

[Russell_L]

Originally Posted by robertc88

I really cannot see one just buying Braveheart though considering the Best Buy deal. You get Gladiiator for not much more and there is supplements and AQ to consider as well. And I don't think Gladiator is going to look downright awful, at least not on my 40" inch display. Much better AQ is the bang for the buck on most every catalog title IMHO.

I'm just saying. I'm not here to argue with anyone and I respect the discussion and viewpoints by folks on both sides.

You can look at it this way: Buy 'Braveheart' at BB for $23 (not really a bad price, considering), and get 'Gladiator' for $13.

[Ispoke]

Originally Posted by Zoraster

In response to aforesaid comments of PQ snobbery, "true" cinephilia, etc.......

Sorry if you took my comments wrong, was not trying to suggest snobbery is involved. I was questioning how anybody can advise people not to buy or call a film rubbish based on screencaps alone and before any reviews.

Now reviews are starting to appear one can make a more appropiate judgement on the overall quality of the transfer and decide whether to buy, rent or leave well alone.

Still undecided here

[Buddy Christ]

Originally Posted by Russell_L

You can look at it this way: Buy 'Braveheart' at BB for $23 (not really a bad price, considering), and get 'Gladiator' for $13.

Another "Great Justifier" Like myself! It is an art form.

[robertc88]

Originally Posted by Russell_L

You can look at it this way: Buy 'Braveheart' at BB for $23 (not really a bad price, considering), and get 'Gladiator' for $13.

Exactly. And I think most people especially J6P that like both movies will do so and pick them up.

There isn't anything wrong with what folks are saying either way with these movies. One needs just to decide what they want to do given what the opinions and reviews for Gladiator have been so far.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

^
All I need to know is if now, do we move up one slot on Esox’s list in his sig?

Hard to say, since Braveheart appears to be fabulous.

Esox?......Make the call there friend. What's it gunna be?

[DMC86X]

Never thought the movie that cames out 5 years before gladiator would look so much better....ironic isnt it??

[Jimbo976]

Originally Posted by DMC86X

Never thought the movie that cames out 5 years before gladiator would look so much better....ironic isnt it??

It's all about the quality of the transfer.

[DMC86X]

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

It's all about the quality of the transfer.

Why so different if they are both from Paramount??

[Spartan21]

Originally Posted by Russell_L

Actually, BB is selling them for $23 each but with $10 off if you buy both, so I think he meant to say they're $18 each. Not including tax of course.......

Do you have to have both movies on DVD in order to get that offer? I have Gladiator extended edition on DVD, but I don't have Braveheart on any format. Do I qualify?

[Jeff Kleist]

According to Jeff Kleist, he cannot even recall rating a Blu-Ray that low before (15.5). It is bad. Better than DVD, but not by much.

That's not what I said, nor the implication

I said it typically doesn't go much below14 or 15. The BD is far superior to the DVDs, but nowhere close to the best BDs, hence 15.5

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by DMC86X

Why so different if they are both from Paramount??

Universal handled the transfer on Gladiator, not Paramount. But the main differences stem from the fact that Braveheart appears to have used a newer master with little to no DNR and Edge Enhancement, and digital scratch removal. Gladiator used an older master that is in poor shape, and on top of that they applied additional digital filtering to the point where they have actually removed objects from the movie.

Clearly the studio dropped the ball. Gladiator deserved the same treatment that Braveheart got. But don't worry, they will probably remaster it down the road and try to get our money again

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

That's not what I said, nor the implication

I said it typically doesn't go much below14 or 15. The BD is far superior to the DVDs, but nowhere close to the best BDs, hence 15.5

I stand corrected on the DVD part. But it appears that Gladiator is one of the lowest rated Blu-Ray's that you guys have reviewed for the format, no?

[Jimbo976]

Originally Posted by DMC86X

Why so different if they are both from Paramount??

It sounds like Gladiator is actually Universal but it all goes to the quality of the master when it was made. Gladiator seems to be from an old master that is nowhere as good of quality as Braveheart. If they would have made a new master then it likely would look much better.

[robertc88]

Originally Posted by Spartan21

Do you have to have both movies on DVD in order to get that offer? I have Gladiator extended edition on DVD, but I don't have Braveheart on any format. Do I qualify?

You can get these movies on BD for which each have a price listed of $22.99 if bought together for $10 dollars off the total.

There is however an offer to get an additional $10 off mail in offer if you have the SD DVD of either.

[borninusa]

I seem to remember that when the Trek flicks came out....wasnt the conversation sorta kinda the same as far as the PQ on a couple of them? I have a 46' tv..and thought they looked perty darn good and was happy.

I am going to buy both Braveheart and Gladiator and probably still be as equally happy.

At times I am glad I dont have that professional eye to watch a blu...I would probably be overly disappointed way too much.
So my amatuerish self is going to watch Gladiator next week and have loads of fun doing so.

[robertc88]

Originally Posted by borninusa

I seem to remember that when the Trek flicks came out....wasnt the conversation sorta kinda the same as far as the PQ on a couple of them? I have a 46' tv..and thought they looked perty darn good and was happy.

I am going to buy both Braveheart and Gladiator and probably still be as equally happy.

At times I am glad I dont have that professional eye to watch a blu...I would probably be overly disappointed way too much.
So my amatuerish self is going to watch Gladiator next week and have loads of fun doing so.

That may be but Gladiator doesn't conform to a Sapphire series release with top notch PQ. No such billing for Trek flicks when released.

[borninusa]

Originally Posted by robertc88

That may be but Gladiator doesn't conform to a Sapphire series release with top notch PQ.

That may be true......but I am still going to buy it and probably enjoy every minute of it.

It is a shame that the studio starts out a series of blu's and with the first batch, there is already an issue.

Still...I am going to get it.