The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended Edition) (2001-2003)

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

It just goes to show that they were learning their way with DIs back then. Still, the visual appearance of the films (TTT included) continues to have the same appeal to me that it always has (excluding the Theatrical Blu-rays). I've never sat that close the screen either, so that probably contributes to my lack of noticing these types of things.

[Geoff D]

Sure they were, I'm not knocking them for learning on the job. But that smeariness has bugged me ever since I first saw it at the theater. YMMV, natch.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It's got a slight tickle down the sides, yeah. Most folks won't even notice though because they've got the overscan on.

Speaking of TTT, look at this screen grab which illustrates how shitty the noise reduction was in the DI. Check out Samwise, he's horribly smeary, and just how many fingers does he have on his right hand??

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergl...ss=0#vergleich

A lot of the movie looks like that, over-processed mush. Andrew Lesnie said that they had a lot of trouble with the DI until PJ managed to get the right combo of sharpening and noise reduction. They fixed it in time for ROTK, and the completed DI for Fellowship looks incredible in terms of fine filmic detail, but TTT is a bit of dog at times.

Yeah the DI doesn't look as good as the other two films.

ROTK's DI was definitely a big step up and FOTR looks gorgeous.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Sure they were, I'm not knocking them for learning on the job. But that smeariness has bugged me ever since I first saw it at the theater. YMMV, natch.

My apologies Geoff - rereading my reply, it comes off more like a reproach than I meant. Just sharing my thoughts, as you are.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

ROTK's DI was definitely a big step up and FOTR looks gorgeous.

In all fairness, FotR's DI is actually a new one (done for the Extended BD).

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Aragorn the Elfstone

My apologies Geoff - rereading my reply, it comes off more like a reproach than I meant. Just sharing my thoughts, as you are.

No worries man, I've just added a passive-aggressive snarky comment to my last post which I'll now edit out.

I know you don't dig the theatrical BDs, but apart from Fellowship using that telecine the other two are derived from the DI just as the EE's are (hence the baked-in noise reduction on both versions of TTT), so the PQ is very similar.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

No worries man, I've just added a passive-aggressive snarky comment to my last post which I'll now edit out.

I know you don't dig the theatrical BDs, but apart from Fellowship using that telecine the other two are derived from the DI just as the EE's are (hence the baked-in noise reduction on both versions of TTT), so the PQ is very similar.

I've amended my post as well. Sometimes I just forget that things like tone, etc. get lost in forum posts. Apologies again.

Yes, the transfers for TTT and RotK are similar, but the EEs do have less DNR. To my eyes, they're much less smeary. But, on the whole, I will concede that the TEs weren't as much of an eyesore for those films as FotR was.

Back to my original post, I've now taken a peek at a variety of other Blu-ray screencaps - particularly for some older releases on the format. Surprisingly, I've noticed that you can see thin black bars on the sides of many of them. I'm guessing I didn't notice years back since I used to leave overscan on.

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

... Check out Samwise, he's horribly smeary, and just how many fingers does he have on his right hand??

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergl...ss=0#vergleich ...

Wow, you're right, that finger thing is really weird. I assume it's just a blur in motion?

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Aragorn the Elfstone

I've amended my post as well. Sometimes I just forget that things like tone, etc. get lost in forum posts. Apologies again.

Yes, the transfers for TTT and RotK are similar, but the EEs do have less DNR. To my eyes, they're much less smeary. But, on the whole, I will concede that the TEs weren't as much of an eyesore for those films as FotR was.

Back to my original post, I've now taken a peek at a variety of other Blu-ray screencaps - particularly for some older releases on the format. Surprisingly, I've noticed that you can see thin black bars on the sides of many of them. I'm guessing I didn't notice years back since I used to leave overscan on.

Yeah I've noticed as well that the EE transfers of TTT & ROTK are less smeary and slightly more detailed than the TE transfers.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

BTW, even just checking out a few scenes from the BDs for the purpose of looking at the framing, quality, etc. gets me ridiculously nostalgic. Damn, these movies are so good.

How the hell did the films get 11-13 years old? I'm only 30, but I feel like such an old geezer.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Aragorn the Elfstone

BTW, even just checking out a few scenes from the BDs for the purpose of looking at the framing, quality, etc. gets me ridiculously nostalgic. Damn, these movies are so good.

How the hell did the films get 11-13 years old? I'm only 30, but I feel like such an old geezer.

I know right.

I can't believe FOTR is 13 years old this year.

I'm only in my early 20's but even I feel old now thinking about that.

They're brilliant movies based on a brilliant novel.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

Yeah I've noticed as well that the EE transfers of TTT & ROTK are less smeary and slightly more detailed than the TE transfers.

Of course. See here: http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleich...he+rings&old=1

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

I know right.

I can't believe FOTR is 13 years old this year.

I'm only in my early 20's but even I feel old now thinking about that.

They're brilliant movies based on a brilliant novel.

Oh god, what did that make you when FotR came out? 10 or younger?

I really am old.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Wow, you're right, that finger thing is really weird. I assume it's just a blur in motion?

It's poor temporal noise reduction in action. It's supposed to compare the frames and remove the schmutz that's unique to each one, trouble is if the processing is bad then you literally get an imprint of the previous frame(s) intruding on the present one, giving it a very 'laggy' kinda look and creating odd details like Sam's 6-fingered hand, and the lines on his waiscoat which now cover his entire torso. Like I said, it's something that's always caught my eye when watching TTT and it's a damned shame that it's baked in to the master. But y'all are right, the EE's do have less of their own filtering to contend with.

Dawn of the Dead '78 has the same problem, look out the multiple outlines around Gaylen Ross here (and it's actually worse in the Arrow version because it's got *less* filtering on top than the Anchor Bay BD, so it makes the baked-in lagging *more* obvious!): http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergl...ess=#vergleich

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

How big of a display do you watch on Geoff? I just watched the scene and couldn't really see the effect. Firstly, because Sam's hand is too small in my view of the picture (I have a 50" that I watch from, say, 11-12 feet away. Also, even when looking close up, I could only see what I think is that effect for a frame or two.

I definitely do see what you're talking about in the still image, though.

[Geoff D]

I got me a 55" which I'm about 9 feet from. It's not even about the 6 fingers themselves because I can't pick it in motion either - but the cumulative effect of 24 poorly noise-reduced frames-per-second (of which the still image is a good representation) is that those details become blurred and create the smeary, laggy look which I keep banging on about. The grain, such as it is, doesn't react well to people walking through it either. It's like the characters have got a forcefield around them when they move, which you can also see in the outline around Sam in the shot I linked to before.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Ah, gotcha. That's understandable. I don't think it bothers me that much (for which, I'm incredibly grateful ), but I can definitely why it would bug others.

Edit: Ugh, I just watched the part where Shadowfax comes running up to Gandalf & Co. I freaking luv this movie...

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by Aragorn the Elfstone

BTW, even just checking out a few scenes from the BDs for the purpose of looking at the framing, quality, etc. gets me ridiculously nostalgic. Damn, these movies are so good.
How the hell did the films get 11-13 years old? I'm only 30, but I feel like such an old geezer.

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

I know right.
I can't believe FOTR is 13 years old this year.
I'm only in my early 20's but even I feel old now thinking about that.
They're brilliant movies based on a brilliant novel.

You guys're so-o out-of-it. If there's a Satan, and he's listening, I'd cut just about any deal to be as young as either of you. Believe me, you have no-o idea about what old is yet. Enjoy it while ya got it, pards.

[Falaskan]

Well maybe they're at an unacomplished 30. Let's face it, by 30 if you're still single and haven't really accomplished anything you've wanted to, you're prime years are almost behind you. Who wants those years wasted?

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by Falaskan

Well maybe they're at an unacomplished 30. Let's face it, by 30 if you're still single and haven't really accomplished anything you've wanted to, you're prime years are almost behind you. Who wants those years wasted?

Wow... random anonymous internet forum words have never brought me closer to tears than this. I'm 34. I still have a ways to go towards accomplishing my goals.