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

[robertc88]

I don't have the BDs to make a conclusion about any of the movies and the quality. I choose not to go by screenshots nor do the majority of folks have access to HDTV broadcasts. I understand how the latter for those that do and have the BDs raises a flag however but most that don't are here reading intently for what is being brought to our attention.

I'm unsure me raising cane at this juncture will force this studio's hand. It hasn't with some others where flags were raised. If it eventually happens, all well and good, especially before release.

Put me on this list for voicing my concern afterwards and fighting the good fight and I can do that WITHOUT buying it. I don't have a leg to stand on beforehand and wouldn't understand why the studio would concern itself with me before watching it. Me and others not buying it would speak volumes afterwards.

[dborgill]

I think the problem is expectations. I also do not have these BD's in hand but I will be testing them like mad when I do rent them. We all expect these to be the cream of the crop when it comes to Blu releases but we might be settings ourselves up for dissapointment.

If these were released in the early or mid 90s, my expectations would be much lower but the budget and "newness" of these films leaves no excuse for poor audio OR video tranfers. The EE DVDs were some of the best releases ever IMHO.

[threefiftyrocket]

How bout this... is it too much to speculate that because of the overwhelming backlash of the internet people saying that "I won't buy this, I will wait for the EE, and STICK IT TO THE MAN BY NOT BUYING THIS DOUBLE DIPPING WB GREED!" That Warner decided that they weren't going to spend buttloads of money on this getting a new master so they will look their absolute best, since people weren't going to buy it anyway? I know I wouldn't have, sounds kinda pointless. Regardless tho, of whether these are the best they could be, I got $200 in best buy gift cards burning a hole in my pocket so I'm getting them anyway, cuz they ARE better than the DVD's. Oh well, that's just my thoughts.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I'm curious how anyone can look at those screen shots (side-by-side with the HD Broadcast or not) and NOT notice anything wrong with them

Absolutely no idea man.

It's so obvious it's practically textbook.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by neo78956

I don't think anyone's saying that there's nothing wrong with it. Some may just be happy with what we got, which, while not perfect, is better than nothing. Isn't it possible that some of us are just happy to have LOTR in HD? I am.

The problem is, there is a group of people (I'm certainly not in this group) who are going to want to own the Theatricals, with fantastic transfers..... and also plan on buying the Extended Editions upon release, also with the best possible transfer.....

Releasing one or more of these titles riddled with DNR may cause a re-release of the Theatricals, causing many people to:

A) Buy the Theatrical "DNR Special Edition"

2) Buy the re-release with new transfer

• Buy the Extended Editions (hopefully only once)

[Mike2060]

Originally Posted by radagast

Here's where someone compares the BD to the DVDs:

http://www.cornbread.org/FOTRCompare/index.html

It all boils down to this:

1) If the BDs are noticeably better than the DVDs, and no one had ever seen the HD boradcasts, then we would be happy with the improvements in PQ over the DVDs (well most of us would)

2) If anyone prefers the HD broadcasts, then watch them on your PC through a HD monitor, or burn them to BD-R or whatever the format is called.

3) The rest can buy the BDs in a few weeks and enjoy watching LOTR without any artifacts from compressed HD broadcasts.

Since it has already been established that FOTR was shot differently than TTT and ROTK, it may be that FOTR will NEVER be able to look better.

This website has been around for like 8 years and has never been updated for the Blurays

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by hurm

Sorry to change the subject... again, but doesn anubody know where I can buy the Extended Editions on DVD? Amazon doesn't sell them anymore...

Buy them off Amazon Marketplace...they're all in the $5-10 range.

[Mike2060]

Originally Posted by HAVOKK

Well I have to say, the second in the series is looking more like a BD. Certainly has its moments when the crispness and clarity shines through, although these moments are still rare. Regardless, rarity is more than nothing, so I definitely give The Two Towers a higher VQ rating than the first in the series.


Some Screens:

[Show spoiler]

Ughh these shots look awful

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Mike2060

Ughh these shots look awful

Is that the second movie???? I thought it was supposed to be "Much Better" I have to agree with Mike here..... "awful" sums it up quite well.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Is that the second movie???? I thought it was supposed to be "Much Better" I have to agree with Mike here..... "awful" sums it up quite well.

Dang...I may just let my pre-order go to waste then and hope for a re-master or for seamless branching of both cuts on the EE release.

[Mike2060]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Is that the second movie???? I thought it was supposed to be "Much Better" I have to agree with Mike here..... "awful" sums it up quite well.

Yeah, I was just randomly looking at screen shots on this site from movie reviews and a lot of the newer releases look pretty nice but then looking at these TTT pics I can easily notice mushy smeared faces.

Also in the last pic, look at the left side of the picture, there is not a hint of grain which is obviously unnatural considering we are looking at film.

[dborgill]

Yeah, those screenshots are ugly.. but I must say, I've never been blown away by any Blu-Ray screenshot I've seen online. Anyone got one?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Mike2060

Also in the last pic, look at the left side of the picture, there is not a hint of grain which is obviously unnatural considering we are looking at film.

Well.... I think it's supposed to be "hair" but instead it looks like that guy in the last picture has been doing some booger-sugar.

EDIT:

and the little guy in the first picture looks out-of-focus from all the DNR.

[Bunker]

I'm definitely going to hold out until the EE after seeing all of these god awful screenshots. It's a shame because these are pretty much my favorite movies ever. Maybe they'll remaster the movies by the time the EE come out. But probably not.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by dborgill

Yeah, those screenshots are ugly.. but I must say, I've never been blown away by any Blu-Ray screenshot I've seen online. Anyone got one?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1173246

I can't do the Photobucket thing at work, but I remember some stuff in this thread blowing me away.

[42041]

Originally Posted by dborgill

Yeah, those screenshots are ugly.. but I must say, I've never been blown away by any Blu-Ray screenshot I've seen online. Anyone got one?

http://media.cinemasquid.com/blu-ray...hot-lrg-27.png

[Beta Man]

although it appears we're back on track...... just a reminder to attack the post, and not the poster



(What I just wrote totally sucked..... I know)

[dborgill]

ARGH!!! Those Braveheart (1995) Blu-Ray shots already look 10x better than the LOTR (2001-2003) shots. This sucks.

[gaeljet]

happy me, i should get it in a few days, here in france a site called fnac, is already sending them

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by gaeljet

happy me, i should get it in a few days, here in france a site called fnac, is already sending them

I'll be really interested in your impressions, if I go ahead and buy this release I plan to purchase the French Steelbook release as I think they're the best looking of all. There's been some discussion as to if Metropolitan is using the Warner discs, or made their own transfer. Most seem to think Metropolitan is simply distributing the Warner release in France with their own packaging, but the back covers indicate that it is Region B coded, and if the discs are indeed Region B coded, then they can't be the Warner discs.