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

[BLURAYSONYES]

Originally Posted by oyboe

Yep $23 on Amazon Mkt Place delivered.

uh...no. There isnt any for that price unless Im looking at the wrong link.

[Master Charles]

I just picked this up for 55 new on High Def Digest Forums.

I wanted to wait but I can't help myself. I love these movies too much.

I wanna see the Helms Deep fight!!!!!

[drichter33]

Originally Posted by billzfan

ok, just got finished watching the entire trilogy. First of all, just having watched the extended editions a month ago, the theatrical cuts are universally better in every way. The pacing is just right and there's never a slow spot. I wouldn't have changed a thing.

As far as audio quality, I would give a 5 out of 5 for every film. The balance between the surround speakers is perfect and powerful without overwhelming.

Video is a little different. I think Two Towers and Return of the King cannot possibly look better. They're reference quality discs that look remarkable but Fellowship definitely has a lot of inconsistency(which I remember from the theatrical print). At times, it looks as good as the other 2 films but at others it looks slightly out of focus or soft. Now, I have no clue if it's the transfer or the source. If I was a betting man I would say the source since the other 2 films look so good. Overall, I'd say if you have any reservations on buying the trilogy, don't. It's an excellent boxed set that any rings fan would be proud to add to their collection.


Next up....Star Wars

I originally thought that about TTT, then I watched it with my contacts in and there have been a couple of scenes where I got alot of grain/ fuzz and inconsistencies in fading. When Suaruman is giving his speech in the beginning the orcs they are pulling out of the ground are so lifelike. And the night scenes with blue tinting, like when merry and pippin escape and gollums first attack are beautifyl. Also the stuff in Fangorn and gandolf fighting the blarog- alot of red green blue centered shots.

However, when Eomer is threating wormtongue up close, there is some grain even though Grima is sweaty and detailed. When they show theodred up close he is very detailed, when they pan away to eowyn and eomer, faded and fuzzy shot.

So far all the stuff in rohan on horse looks good. warg fight, marshes. But there are still some inconsistencies, all be it minor compared to FOTR. Wish WB would just nut up and do a mailing or re-issue. Instead they are gonna piss us off and that will do just enough to make the EE more desireable. We are going to assume they are putting all their efforts into making those flawless.

[Blu-Benny]

i'm watching the two towers right now and the scene in the beginning w/gollum climbing down the rock face towards frodo and sam looks amazing!!!

[drichter33]

Originally Posted by thecroshow

I find it a little disturbing the general consenus="good enough." Imagine if The Matrix was released with a 3.0 PQ (a generous score for FOTR). Yes The Matrix cost upwards of $100-$125...LOTR=$50-$65.

i haven't seen ROTK yet, I hear it's a significant upgrade from the previous two, but FOTR is a 3.0 only because some scenes are well done, while others (Rivendell) are horrid! TT is an improvement, but again only a 4.0 at best IMO because it's still relatively soft.

The AQ is outstanding I will say! I bought the Trilogy because I lost my previous versions on DVD through various moves throughout my life. I will say i'm satisfied with the trilogy, but certainly not demo material, and that is a disappointment.

Yes. What I was saying above. And definitely a settling by the consumer which is a disgrace by WB.

"Little Orcs, Bara-rum."

[drichter33]

Originally Posted by mredman

In no scene FOTR looks like an upconverted DVD. This blu ray is the best the TE of FOTR has ever looked

I say you need to do something to your screen because it sounds like something is serious wrong with it

I disagree- there are some scenes where FOTR is actually worse looking then the DVD. And overall, the HD Broadcast on TNT impressed me more. I have watched them several times over the years.

[42041]

Originally Posted by Aragorn84

A few people don't seem to understand that in order to go back to the original source on these films -the Super 35 film - that would mean redoing the effects and color grading as well. Basically reconstructing the film anew.

I'm not even sure they'll do something like that for the Extended Cuts. You essentially have to bring back the entire creative team to work on something like that.

I do understand that, and it's not necessarily what I'm asking for, but at the very least they should've re-did the 20% of the movie that wasn't digital. At any rate, I very much doubt this represents the resolution of the DI, I don't think this would meet the quality requirements for the type of effects work in the film. Portions of it were even scanned at 4K apparently, so it's not like they were using some garbage piece of outdated hardware to do it.

[pchin]

Originally Posted by drichter33

I disagree- there are some scenes where FOTR is actually worse looking then the DVD. And overall, the HD Broadcast on TNT impressed me more. I have watched them several times over the years.

Kindly identify those scenes (time frame) in the BD. Tnx. I'll try to borrow a copy & see for myself before jumping into conclusion. Most of the comments/feedbacks from non-videophiles (but much more experience than myself) that I know say while watching the movie when you're so engrossed into it, you won't even notice those small details i.e. those "little flaws" will be in no way ruin your enjoyment on the film.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by drichter33

I disagree- there are some scenes where FOTR is actually worse looking then the DVD. And overall, the HD Broadcast on TNT impressed me more. I have watched them several times over the years.

Someone turned the hyperbole dial up way too high.

[Batman1980]

So the death of Boromir actually happens in book 2, what other major changes did Jackson make?

[Underworld54]

Originally Posted by drichter33

I disagree- there are some scenes where FOTR is actually worse looking then the DVD. And overall, the HD Broadcast on TNT impressed me more. I have watched them several times over the years.

Impossible dude, that remark is just plain rediculous.

[Underworld54]

Originally Posted by drichter33

Instead they are gonna piss us off and that will do just enough to make the EE more desireable.

Speak for yourself pal, I am far from pissed of and just like me, many are very pleased with the set.

[raygendreau]

Just finished watching ROTK. When I watched FOTR a few days ago, I compared the BD with the DVD. (I have both TE sets). I discovered that when I played either the BD or the DVD, stopping and ejecting one disk and inserting the other caused the disk to start replay at exactly the same point. This made freeze frame comparisons of the two disks convenient.

I didn't find any instance when the PQ of the upscaled (1080P) DVD was better than the BD. That includes the Shire scenes in FOTR. I use a PS3 60 Gig as a player.

[tvine2000]

phin: i'm not trying to be a boo bird here but i doubt they will go back and fix anything.there have been films that were fixed,like the 5th element,gangs of new york,an a sight improvement on t2.other then that studios have done noting to fix bad blu-rays. i haven't seen any news on fixing gladiator or the startrek films

you never here a studio come out and say they mucked up a blu-ray movie.the truth is they don't appear to care,because they say noting. they know people will go out and buy the lotr trilogy no matter what,so why should they fix it? they also know this will all blow over soon.

[42041]

Originally Posted by tvine2000

i haven't seen any news on fixing gladiator

I think you haven't been looking hard enough
The Digital Bits posted a rumor than a brand new transfer was made after the lackluster reception of the first version, and such rumors proved true in the case of Gangs... apparently it's slated for an October US release as the 10th anniversary edition.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by raygendreau

Just finished watching ROTK. When I watched FOTR a few days ago, I compared the BD with the DVD. (I have both TE sets). I discovered that when I played either the BD or the DVD, stopping and ejecting one disk and inserting the other caused the disk to start replay at exactly the same point. This made freeze frame comparisons of the two disks convenient.

I didn't find any instance when the PQ of the upscaled (1080P) DVD was better than the BD. That includes the Shire scenes in FOTR. I use a PS3 60 Gig as a player.

Because it isnt buddy.

[Ken Brown]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

It is still possible to watch ths films on a 35mm projection and when I have somewhat recently (last year) there was no obvious use of DNR in the shire etc, so I can honestly say unless I have lost my mind (which is entirely possible ) the DNR is not inheret to the film itself, rather has been done in producing the blu rays.

I may actually have the opportunity to view one myself in two weeks. Although I still need more stars to align, I'm hoping to put the issue to rest (at least in my own mind, which, believe it or not, is completely open to whatever I might see). I doubt anyone in either camp will change their minds about the transfer -- nor should they based on one person's subjective observations -- but my hope is that it at least takes some of the bite, and perhaps even some of the ambiguity, out of the debate.

Like I've said many times though, I'd love nothing more than to be completely wrong on this one

[bert213]

Is it me, or does this DTS ES Discrete track sound better on the EE DVDs, as compared to the BD?

I have been watching LOTR nonstop since Thursday. First, the BD set...then beginning Saturday, the EE set from Netflix. With my 7.1 Onkyo, w/all Def Tech speakers....EE DTS track sounds better than DTS MA BD track.

What do you all think?

FYI to all: Just crawled from under a rock, and watching EE DVDs for the first time.

[mredman]

Originally Posted by Underworld54

Impossible dude, that remark is just plain rediculous.

yeah a totally insane remark. The bluray worse then the DVD


http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/8158/fotrdvd06.png
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/4505/lotr7bd.png

[drichter33]

I am not trying to be "excessive" or over react. I am just plain saying that beginning to end, consistently, when i first watched FOTR on TNT in HD, I was more impressed comparing it to the DVD then when I first watched the BRD and compared it to the DVD.

I am not doing side by sides, analyzing with technical jargon, or any other methods- just my eyes and impressions. And for what I was expecting I was disappointed with that films BRD. When I watched it on TV, I was impressed at the time.

So the comparison was meant to say that I was more "wowed" on the HD broadcast on first viewing when compared to DVD then when I watched BRD.
Technically it may be impossible cause of all the stuff previously said about what happens to an image in upscaling, etc. But I know what I saw and how I felt.
This BRD doesnt impress.