Gladiator (2000)

[usps03]

I bet it didn't have haloing or smudges in the theaters it was released in. Why should the blu-ray? Did they expect us all to think those obvious blemishes would be what puts this copy over the top? More like over the cliff. How does a rational thinking person try to turn something negative and hurtful to a product into something that's the product's strenght? Then, after deducing that the product has known blemishes, why would a rational thinking person pay full price it.? Answer: curiosity. Curiosity is the only thing selling this blemished product. Curiosity..."I wanna see what this crap looks like on "MY" tv. Dang curiosity

[usps03]

PAR will notice if this release doesn't sell anywhere near it's perspective street value on this format. They will be forced to press another transfer if people just could wait a few more months to buy it. They'd have it out in time for Christmass fo shizzle.

[Batman1980]

I thought you were just going to leave this alone. Don't try to rationalize why those of us who bought it did. I bought it because I sold my DVD and wanted to have the movie again. Disappointed with the transfer but keeping it for now since I have no better alternatives.

[QuasidodoJr]

Originally Posted by usps03

PAR will notice if this release doesn't sell anywhere near it's perspective street value on this format. They will be forced to press another transfer if people just could wait a few more months to buy it. They'd have it out in time for Christmass fo shizzle.

They'd have to do an entire remaster from the original source. Not just press a new transfer.

[usps03]

Good point about keeping a copy and everything. But you came up with that after suffering through a minor case of curiosity followed buy Gladiator blu-ray detatchment syndrome. Sorry but I had to

[usps03]

Originally Posted by QuasidodoJr

They'd have to do an entire remaster from the original source. Not just press a new transfer.

Point taken but pressing a new transfer is still a part of the entire process. Am I supposed to feel bad that some geeks are going to have to work at a level that they consider "hard" ...(AGIAN?? oh no!!, can't make the geeks work too hard) so I can get a copy of this film on blu-ray which is backed by the meaning of the word "Sapphire"? Get workin' on it geeks!

[Yoeddy1]

I watched it tonight, and my wife and I both thought it was great! The DTS-HDMA soundtrack was incredible!

[Gentso]

Originally Posted by usps03

I bet it didn't have haloing or smudges in the theaters it was released in.

Well, there are very specific and technical reasons for that, which I'm not going to get into. ... but I'm not a video engineer anyway.

Are you not going to buy prescription medications because of potential side effects? Are you not going to drive your car because someone could hit you head-on unexpectedly? And in the same way you're often stuck with a limited market in terms of utilities options where one must often choose between the lesser of two evils, movie studios have a hold on the home video market. There's a reason for the statement 'caveat emptor,' but most of the time I let my own judgment be the ... judge ... along with third-party information. That is how you make informed decisions.

However, I admit this: If Paramount is touting this Sapphire Collection as the best of the best on BR, then you're exactly right. It should have no problems whatsoever. And we, as consumers, have the right to do what we can to ensure that Paramount does provide the product it claims, if only to keep them honest.

Still, though it's not the end of the world. I feel old saying this (is early 30s old?), but the culture of instant gratification exhibited by some is perverse. No it's not acceptable to settle for the second best, but NOTHING is perfect. And, speaking from experience, the sooner you learn that lesson in life, the easier it is. The key is knowing when to push and when to backoff. ... but I digress.

Until the Sapphire label is removed or a (reasonably) flawless trasfer is made above and beyond the current release, now is the time to push. And in this I will help -- what's the contact information for Paramount?

[SleeperAgent]

Likewise on the contact info.

I don't have major issues with this release, but since it can be better, it should be better.

[PoorSignal]

I must say I have many other hobbies and I have never seen people get so emotional over a 20 purchase! Analyze the screen caps and if you don't like it, don't buy the disc, it's that simple.

[SonOfArathorn]

Having got home from work and with this debate raging still I decided to check it out on my 73" in the basement, I had watched it upstairs on the 42 earlier. Tonight the room was dark where earlier it was sunny and bright.

Big difference.

Put in Gladiator, watched literally the first 7 or 9 minutes and had to turn it off. I feel like I contributed to some grand duping of the populace by buying it. The case looks nice though.
I paused on a close up of Russel Crowe and finally understood the wax face vampire analogy. I noticed it more on this than I did on gangs of new york to be honest, maybe because I was really looking this time.

EDIT - I would also like to know how to contact Paramount, I'm too lazy to look it up myself
at least I admitted it.

[Geezer00003]

Originally Posted by emilio1316

I think a big problem may be that Paramount is slapping this "sapphire" label on Gladiator, implying its the best of the best.

Well perhaps they got the title partially right(sapphire), there's an s, h, and i in the spelling?

Having watched only a few scenes, it doesn't look to have the PQ deserving of this movie.

[persuazion]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

I don't over-react to anything and I don't do that while watching a movie. HOWEVER, this is one of the few times I agree with the overwhelming majority, this transfer is absolutely horrible PQ-wise, otherwise so many of us wouldn't have complained to Paramount about it. The worst thing is this is one of the movies they launched their premier blu-ray series with and it just doesn't even come close to measuring up.

The overwhelming majority seems to be swaying to the positive side now that people have actually watched it. I think I may have to write a letter to paramount regarding my pure enjoyment and satisfaction with the disc.

[Philnerd]

Originally Posted by persuazion

The overwhelming majority seems to be swaying to the positive side now that people have actually watched it. I think I may have to write a letter to paramount regarding my pure enjoyment and satisfaction with the disc.

Really? You don't want the entire film to have the same quality as the Extended Edition sequences? Okie dokie then.

[Living Near Shamu]

OK peeps. Please tell me where I can find the screenshots of this movie as there are over 45 pages now to look through this thread lol

[jc480]

I watched the extended version last night. I saw no halos or other blatant DNR effects...the beginning arrow/fireball scenes seemed normal...perhaps if I analyzed them frame by frame I would see the anomalies.

The sound was incredible.

A worthy purchase. The extras were very awesome on this disc as well.

This flick looked great on a 60" Kuro.

[Anaconda]

I'm not the expert when it comes to DNR and all that jazzmatazz but I do know quality when I see it on screen. After all the posts from day to day have been read up until my purchase I went into Best Buy somewhat skeptical. I just thought I'd give it a chance plus I got the deal with Braveheart + the 10 dollar for owning the DVD. AND it was virtually free anyway since I had reward bucks. Sat down and viewed it and it was okay. Now keep in mind it isn't as TERRIBLE imo as what people said it was BUT could it be better? I definitely think so. Am I satisfied? For now.

In comarison to Braveheart, Braveheart I thought blew it out of the water with majority of its clear picture and clarity (in most scenes that weren't soft). The extended scenes in Gladiator I did take notice as they were different than that of the original theatrical release scenes quality. If they put out a remaster and an exchange program I'd do it. Why not step up to what is better if its free? Not saying they'll do that yet but if they do I'm going for it.

[Adam_ME]

I sampled a few scenes last night. The opening battle has a lot of problems. Lots of halos(which BTW I usually don't notice) and it looks smeared. The actors' faces do look a little too waxy at times, and DNR is another thing I usually don't pick up on. The "firing squad" scene looked pretty good though which confirms that the EE footage wasn't messed with.

Overall it's a mediocre transfer that should've and could've been a lot better. It didn't help that I'd watched some of Braveheart right before which looked fantastic.

The good news is the culprit here appears to be Universal, not Paramount. So I'm still optimistic we'll get a quality transfer for Forrest Gump in a couple months.

[Jimbo976]

Originally Posted by Living Near Shamu

OK peeps. Please tell me where I can find the screenshots of this movie as there are over 45 pages now to look through this thread lol

AVS is the screenshot capital of the internet. You'll find them there.

[Freekman]

Gonna pick it up later at BB. Won't be able to watch it until Thursday, though.