Fifth Element Remastered

[jscoggins]

There is no way that the Japanese and French BDs are superior to the US Remastered version. The loss of detail is atrocious.

[Tech-UK]

Granted, this is too sharp:

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergl...=151#vergleich

[Bassaholic]

^^^

Wow that horrible.

[Geoff D]

Exactly what I mean, the Sony remaster has got some obvious sharpening and I didn't really understand why people went gaga over it when it was released. The newer Gaumont version (albeit not the DNR'd French BD) has much more naturalistic detail and I love the colour versus the drab, drab, drab Sony edition. The boosted contrast will be a deal-breaker for some folks and I understand why, but the transfer's benefits outweigh the drawbacks for me.

[Drewbee87]

I hope we get a "Mastered in 4K" blu-ray one day. That's the only way to assure we'll get a great transfer.

[Tech-UK]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Exactly what I mean, the Sony remaster has got some obvious sharpening and I didn't really understand why people went gaga over it when it was released. The newer Gaumont version (albeit not the DNR'd French BD) has much more naturalistic detail and I love the colour versus the drab, drab, drab Sony edition. The boosted contrast will be a deal-breaker for some folks and I understand why, but the transfer's benefits outweigh the drawbacks for me.

Its a tough one Geoff, as I really like the look of the Sony release, but I just wish they hadn't applied the sharpening.

In motion it isn't massively distracting (seen worse), but it is there.

I am going to hang on to it for now, as the Gaumont transfer doesn't do it for me, but I am certainly not saying it looks bad, because it doesn't.

[GenPion]

In-motion, from what I have sampled, the Gaumont one looks a whole lot better to me. Though I haven't watched it all the way through yet.

[Drewbee87]

battlefront1990 posted these to compare on the AVS forum:

http://imgbox.com/g/VnRT0rHlVQ

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Drewbee87

I hope we get a "Mastered in 4K" blu-ray one day. That's the only way to assure we'll get a great transfer.

Gaumont control the master in this case

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

Its a tough one Geoff, as I really like the look of the Sony release, but I just wish they hadn't applied the sharpening.

In motion it isn't massively distracting (seen worse), but it is there.

I am going to hang on to it for now, as the Gaumont transfer doesn't do it for me, but I am certainly not saying it looks bad, because it doesn't.

That's fair enough fella. But I've got a low tolerance for EE which is why I sold off the Sony remaster years ago.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I still think the colors are all wrong with the Gaumont transfer. Everything is just too warm.

It's the way I remember the film looking in 1997 and it totally fits the vivid and colorful nature of the film itself. I vividly remember the way it looked in 1997 and the Gaumont transfer looks right to me. Honestly, in motion, I didn't notice any contrast boosting or anything. It looked very natural and accurate to the intentions of Besson. The Sony release looks like shit - basically a very good upconverted DVD transfer.

[javi92]

So the only way (currently) to get the Gaumont transfer is to buy the Japanese BD?

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by javi92

So the only way (currently) to get the Gaumont transfer is to buy the Japanese BD?

It's Region A so it plays on North American players without problem and has the highest bitrate of any transfer. The French release is region free, but only has DTS-HD High Res audio and a lower bitrate transfer. The UK disc is region B locked, but has a great transfer and DTS-HD MA audio.

[Blu-21]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I don't remember anything like that. I just remember how soft the original looked. But I do agree that the timing is a bit on the drab side for such a colourful riot of a film, which is why I prefer the Gaumont remaster in spite of the insane contrast boost on that one. The Sony remaster still has some sharpening applied to it too.

Wait I'm confused. According to caps-a-holic, I thought the contrast boosted, DNR'ed Gaumont transfer used on the Japanese BD, the french BD and the UK BD was the first up orignal release so to speak because they all look virtually identical, and the U.S BD and DE BD used the later remastered, sharpened transfer. The U.S release itself is even titled: 'Remastered'.

[amoergosum]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

It's the way I remember the film looking in 1997 and it totally fits the vivid and colorful nature of the film itself. I vividly remember the way it looked in 1997 and the Gaumont transfer looks right to me.

>>>

Dr. Evil - Riiiight [HD] - YouTube

...

[Kryptonic]

Some movies make a very distinct impression on me and I'm a very visual person. I always thought the U.S. Blu-ray never reached the level of brightness and vivid color of the theatrical presentation. It's far too digital and cold.

[Tech-UK]

Originally Posted by Blu-21

Wait I'm confused. According to caps-a-holic, I thought the contrast boosted, DNR'ed Gaumont transfer used on the Japanese BD, the french BD and the UK BD was the first up orignal release so to speak because they all look virtually identical, and the U.S BD and DE BD used the later remastered, sharpened transfer. The U.S release itself is even titled: 'Remastered'.

The FR/UK/JP Gaumont transfer came after both US releases.

The original US release was the first time the film had been released on Blu-ray, then followed by the US remastered (hence the name) of which seems to be from the same master that Sony have/had access to.

The Gaumont transfer is new.

[JimDiGriz]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

The FR/UK/JP Gaumont transfer came after both US releases.

The original US release was the first time the film had been released on Blu-ray, then followed by the US remastered (hence the name) of which seems to be from the same master that Sony have/had access to.

The Gaumont transfer is new.

+1. So you can have the US remastered "realistic" dull palette (because this film is very realistic of course ) or...

The crazy over the top in your face colour/contrast explosion of the Gaumont - which suits the film perfectly in my view!

[Blu-21]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

The FR/UK/JP Gaumont transfer came after both US releases.

The original US release was the first time the film had been released on Blu-ray, then followed by the US remastered (hence the name) of which seems to be from the same master that Sony have/had access to.

The Gaumont transfer is new.

Thanks for clearing that up, Tech-UK..

What did the orignal US release actually look like out of curiosity? Was it just a softer, flatter version of the later Remastered US release?

[Tech-UK]

Originally Posted by Blu-21

Thanks for clearing that up, Tech-UK..

What did the orignal US release actually look like out of curiosity? Was it just a softer, flatter version of the later Remastered US release?

I don't know. I haven't owned the original. I thought it was up on caps-a-holic, but they don't have it either.

I would also be interested to see what it looks like.