Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Theatrical Versions) - April 6, 2010

[Q?]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

He gave the following out in star ratings -

Films = 5 stars
Video = 3 stars
Audio = 5 stars
Extras = 3.5 stars
Overall = 4 stars.

It was the overall score that I was referring to.

*sigh*
I don't know if you've noticed but we've been discussing the transfer of the movies PQ wise, the overall rating has nothing to do with the PQ.

He is devastated regarding the issue of the picture quality.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

He gave the following out in star ratings -

Films = 5 stars
Video = 3 stars
Audio = 5 stars
Extras = 3.5 stars
Overall = 4 stars.

It was the overall score that I was referring to.

So if the extras would have garnered a 5/5 the video could be 2 or 2.5 to still achieve a 4 star overall rating from this particular reviewer, and that would be still be a "Good" Blu-ray?

The rating for the Film itself isn't really pertinent when discussing a movie you've already seen and formulated an opinion on.....

[mrpink134]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

He gave the video of Fellowship (the thing we've been talking about) 3 stars, which is not good. The star rating you're giving is an average that takes into account the quality of the movie itself (not the technical quality,) the extras, etc.


Warner has yet again failed to perform due diligence when it comes to an important Blu-Ray release. While the films do get progressively better as far as PQ is concerned as you progress through the trilogy, they are simply good and rarely great. The Fellowship of the Ring has always looked a little “soft” – even in theaters as some of you may recall, but it never lacked in terms of fine detail. Unfortunately, the Blu-Ray release has been subjected to Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) to the extent that some HDTV recordings actually show better fine detail. It appears to me that rather than starting from a rescan of the source film Warner took their existing HD master and threw it through the DNR cycle on medium before making a few color timing fixes, boosting contrast ever so slightly and throwing it onto a disc in average bitrate VC-1.

I know that many of you are going to be disappointed reading this – and let me assure you that I am even more disappointed writing this. These films deserve better, they deserve to be treated with respect and demand that more time and money be invested to ensure they look their best. Warner has done a great job moving to Blu-Ray as a high def format – but they consistently let us down with their Blu-Ray transfers. Films like this should come to us free of DNR and digital tampering beyond what is absolutely necessary to ensure they are true to Peter Jackson’s vision. So little care was in fact taken that there is actually digital noise present in certain dark scenes (00:24:02 in the Two Towers for example).

If the spiel I wrote in my introduction demonstrates anything, it should be just how important these films are to many of us. If I was to make a list of films that deserve to be fully remastered – these films would be right at the top. When I refer to remastering I do not mean taking the current master, applying a smattering of Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) and slapping it into a moderate bitrate VC-1 encode. I refer to a complete rescan of the original film stock at 4k or better resolution and a re-render for any effects that are dated or low res.

Summary: If you’re a picture quality fanatic this release is not for you. The needless and inconsistent use of DNR has absolutely tarnished what could have been a groundbreaking release.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

You are such a hypocrite! You bash digital bits about their review and say that you don't trust reviewers but you jump on this guys bandwagon! Either you trust reviewers or you don't. You can't have it both ways. You really are making yourself look stupid.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by mrpink134

You can't have it both ways.

Wrong again Mr. Pink! I can and will have it every which way!


PS: I bashed Digital Bits? That's news to me. I haven't mentioned them once.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Q!

*sigh*
I don't know if you've noticed but we've been discussing the transfer of the movies PQ wise, the overall rating has nothing to do with the PQ.

He is devastated regarding the issue of the picture quality.

*sigh*

What is it about this situation that you don't get?

*sigh*

[dborgill]

Regardless of the last few pages, we can pretty much guarantee this isn't a knockout release. What should have been FIVE STAR video transfer, it's inconsistent at best which has been confirmed by every impression and reviewer out there so far.

Can we all at least agree upon that point? For me, on Blu-Ray it's about: Movie quality, then video quality, then audio quality. So for me personally, sounds like I'll be disappointed by the Blu-Ray release.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by dborgill

Regardless of the last few pages, we can pretty much guarantee this isn't a knockout release. What should have been FIVE STAR video transfer, it's inconsistent at best which has been confirmed by every impression and reviewer out there so far.

Can we all at least agree upon that point? For me, on Blu-Ray it's about: Movie quality, then video quality, then audio quality. So for me personally, sounds like I'll be disappointed by the Blu-Ray release.

Well thats a real shame. Personally I'm still rather excited about checking out the actual thing that none of us have seen yet.

[mrpink134]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

Wrong again Mr. Pink! I can and will have it every which way!


PS: I bashed Digital Bits? That's news to me. I haven't mentioned them once.

Maybe you should have your baby bottle. You're acting that way

You never brought up digital bits review about LOTR saying they are wrong? Wow maybe it was someone else using your computer.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by mrpink134

You never brought up digital bits review about LOTR saying they are wrong? Wow maybe it was someone else using your computer.

Nope, never did.

I'll gladly take the bottle though.

[Todd Smith]

This is an EASY rent and wait for the next release IMO What a bummer No way I am supporting a release with this kind of half assed PQ with a buy.

[dcowboy7]

Originally Posted by mrpink134

You never brought up digital bits review about LOTR saying they are wrong? Wow maybe it was someone else using your computer.

Link to his post then.

[bearscubsfan87]

I will be buying these regardless. I don't own these movies. I used to until they burned in a house fire. I held off buying the dvds until the blu-ray came out, and now that it is almost here I am buying it. From what I can tell of the screencaps, the blu is better than the dvd. That's all I need to go ahead and buy these since I don't own again.

[dborgill]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

Well thats a real shame. Personally I'm still rather excited about checking out the actual thing that none of us have seen yet.

Oh, like I said, this sounds like a solid rental but a $60+ purchase? No way. For the most part, I have been impressed with the PQ and AQ of almost every single Blu-Ray I have watched in the past 6 months or so. There are a few films that just are knockout releases.

I will hold final judgment for myself when I actually watch it on MY home theatre but from the sounds of it, things aren't looking good... or inconsistent at best.

[Todd Smith]

Originally Posted by dborgill

Oh, like I said, this sounds like a solid rental but a $60+ purchase? No way. For the most part, I have been impressed with the PQ and AQ of almost every single Blu-Ray I have watched in the past 6 months or so. There are a few films that just are knockout releases.

I will hold final judgment for myself when I actually watch it on MY home theatre but from the sounds of it, things aren't looking good... or inconsistent at best.

Agreed. This is a complete and total rental IMO

[coolmilo]

I am planning to wait for all the reviews and then I might buy it when the price drops to $40 or less. I really hate that Sony or Disney is not handling this release.

It’s really clear that Warner and especially New Line for the most part do not think about quality when encoding movies for Blu-ray. Otherwise we would not be having this discussion.

[42041]

Originally Posted by coolmilo

I am planning to wait for all the review and then I might buy it when the price drops to $40 or less. I really hate that Sony or Disney is not handling this release.

It’s really clear that Warner and especially New Line for the most part do not think about quality when encoding movies for Blu-ray. Otherwise we would not be having this discussion.

New Line was completely absorbed by WB, i do believe

[slumcat]

I hope they release the extended trilogy in separate packs.

I didn't like the extended editions much at all. Only the 2nd one was good. So I'll only get that one from the extended trilogy IF they release them separately.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by threefiftyrocket

I swear this thread is more entertaining than the movies themselves

You got that right! Remind's me of January and the b1tching in the Avatar thread I love this site.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

You got that right! Remind's me of January and the b1tching in the Avatar thread I love this site.

LOL I doubt the mods love all the bickering, makes more work and stress for them. That said I will keep my own complaining to a minimum and try to wait for Brown's review before I make a decision.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

LOL I doubt the mods love all the bickering, makes more work and stress for them. That said I will keep my own complaining to a minimum and try to wait for Brown's review before I make a decision.

I can't wait to actualy have a look at the review. I am very curious at this point to see the results.