"Club Penton" - Ask questions to Hollywood insider "Penton-Man"

[androvsky]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Hey, long time no see/hear.

Well, I was applying the term ‘Blu-ray reviewers’ in a generic sense, i.e. both to serious collectors who just like to offer an opinion as to the PQ of their Blu-ray movie purchases in the common threads on any forum, as well as to any ‘official’ websites’ Blu-ray reviewer/critics who give formal reviews….and just that 4k Blu-ray would indeed be more transparent to the source….and thusly easier to evaluate from whence it came.

As to mistakes, believe me, everyone and I mean everyone makes mistakes in some of their assertions, no matter who be the Blu-ray reviewer…’official’ or not, having an old professional photochemical background in their glory days or not, but some give you the impression that they are flawless in all their assessments and that what they pronounce, automatically should determine whether you should like a particular 1080p Blu-ray movie or not like it , purchase it….or not purchase it – which I think is just a bit pompous and presumptuous as to how it relates to each individuals’ personal enjoyment factor with this form of entertainment and especially how and when to spend their own money.

I didn't think my absence would be noticed, I'll try to post a little more regularly. I guess it helps knowing that I'm not the only one that can't keep up with Blu-rays at the moment.

I wasn't sure if you were teasing someone with your comments. 4k is certainly worth getting excited over, and I know it'll give people a new window on viewing movies, but I suspect it'll also bring forth a new class of arguments on how transfers and encodes were handled.

[Penton-Man]

I got my butt kicked today by other riders. I’ve really got to get out more. At least I’ll enjoy dinner tonight. Hey Rick, my wife cooks …..as long as I do compensatory house chores on my day-off.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

I guess I'm "insider-ier" than I knew- I thought this was old news.

I was saying essentially the same thing to sharkshark , but in a nicer fashion , as I think he was just trying to make conversation and didn’t receive any email correspondence about the sad matter.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by coolmilo

I received my copy on Tuesday. What, no slip cover? I plan on removing the shrink wrap and giving Drive a spin this weekend. I have heard it described as Blade Runner meets Transporter. The sound track is supposed to be amazing.

Anyway, I am looking forward to watching Drive!!!

I’ve heard the critics refer to it as a *modern day* Shane http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046303/

I liked Shane too. Obviously I hope the home media incarnation develops a strong cult following over time.

Again, for any locals who are reading and may be wondering about the locations…http://www.movieline.com/2011/08/31/...-winding-refn/

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

While I enjoyed the film immensely, I certainly wouldn't describe it that way. Very methodical and slow burning.

On that note though, standing ovation to Sony for a sublime Blu-ray transfer. One of the best I've seen recently. I was REALLY impressed with how the Alexa looked in the darker scenes of this film. Razor sharp and gorgeous black levels. Some reference contrast eye candy in this one!

Contrary to my musings about egocentric ‘Blu-ray reviewers’ on the last page, you sir, on the other hand, I find to be one of the most unassuming reviewers out there. Certainly not one to imply that Blu-ray movies are, or were ever meant to be, some sort of archival quality protection element (master) of a motion picture. As of yet, I’ve not heard of any Blu-ray National Film Registry in Washington, D.C. or Hollywood for that matter. Laser discs, DVDs, Blu-rays and even 4k Blu-rays are, and will forever be, home *incarnations* of what’s in dee vaults…or salt/limestone mines as the case may be but, at the same time, it’s good to see fine work acknowledged.

Hey, speaking of other camera manufacturers and their users, if you have the opportunity, please tell Stacey to grab his Red with that long lens, stop with the lighthouses and get some unique Snowy stuff for us animal lovers…
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#46228719

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

...speaking of other camera manufacturers

Reminds me…..even though this is “old news” as Doc likes to put it and as I think D.P.s anyway will come to embrace the new Sony F65 camera as a fine choice for capturing their professional footage for whatever project they may be involved with, I would just like to make it perfectly clear to anyone reading of a litigious nature, that I have always considered every incarnation of the Red camera to be a fine acquisition device for its time….as well as the Arri Alexa, for that matter.

Best tool for the particular job and all that < in my best British accent.

Background…
“RED also accuses Bravin of posting on an online public forum "related to all things RED," using both a real and an assumed name…..

"During December 2009 and July 2010, Bravin used the forum to make disparaging remarks regarding RED and encouraging viewers to instead look for and purchase the ARRI Alexa camera. Among other things, Bravin falsely asserted that the ARRI Alexa camera was a superior camera to the RED Epic camera, and otherwise attempted to encourage Red users to use the ARRI camera and divert sales from RED," according to the complaint.”
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/12/23/42509.htm

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

My take on DRIVE from TIFF11
http://filmfest.ca/2011/09/10/drive/

I’ll get to it later. I know you are an eloquent fellow.
I hope you liked it.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by RiseDarthVader

Interesting podcast with Kimball Thurston from Reliance MediaWorks (previously Lowry Digital) about the Lowry Process and some interesting facts pop up like Avatar having some 3D shots restored because one of the eyes were out of focus without converting the in-focus eye to 3D. Penton-Man what do you think about Mr Thurston saying DNR usually isn't removing details in the image but rather losing sharpness in edges which tricks the brain into perceiving detail loss?

Also I scored some tickets to "The Amazing Spider-man" preview in Sydney at the cinema I used to work at. Woot!

Good for you.

I don’t have time to listen to the Podcast but all I can say is that I’ve yet to see any degrain/denoise solution that didn’t have a downside and that includes all of the major as well as some minor manufacturers/facilities. Heck, that’s one reason why Arri Relativity (Schawn B. of Fox likes it) has a regrain function.

As far as removing grain and not removing detail, reps from different manufacturers have been claiming that in postings on professional forums on the internet as far back as something like ’05 or so….even by John (R.I.P.) himself. My eyes tell me otherwise or maybe it's that my brain is not easily tricked.

My philosophy is to scan the best available film element(s) at as high a resolution as PQ possible (and for the record, even thee old Northlight scanners are actually over-scanning 35mm film at 6K to create the 4K files, and the Northlight 2 has an even higher array) and then, only if necessary, which is rarely, use some grain reduction tool sparingly.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I got my butt kicked today by other riders. I’ve really got to get out more. At least I’ll enjoy dinner tonight. Hey Rick, my wife cooks …..as long as I do compensatory house chores on my day-off.

Hah, too funny! You know shortly after my posting I did get treated to a fantastic meal...granted it was at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse...but delicious nonetheless!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by androvsky

I didn't think my absence would be noticed, I'll try to post a little more regularly. I guess it helps knowing that I'm not the only one that can't keep up with Blu-rays at the moment.

I wasn't sure if you were teasing someone with your comments. 4k is certainly worth getting excited over, and I know it'll give people a new window on viewing movies, but I suspect it'll also bring forth a new class of arguments on how transfers and encodes were handled.

lol, guaranteed.

Something which is also inevitable (other than 4k Blu-ray), will be 4k broadband. But like with 3DBD, the physical media variety will offer the best quality.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Among other things, Bravin falsely asserted that the ARRI Alexa camera was a superior camera to the RED Epic camera, and otherwise attempted to encourage Red users to use the ARRI camera and divert sales from RED," according to the complaint.”

What?! How dare this brazen individual assert his subjective personal opinion?!

Meanwhile, speaking of DNR...

If Fox has held Q4 2011's expected Patton re-release for Memorial Day/Father's Day this year, as I'm beginning to suspect, it shouldn't be too long now before we get an announcement.

Fox, consider it a suggestion.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

What?! How dare this brazen individual assert his subjective personal opinion?!

Meanwhile, speaking of DNR...

If Fox has held Q4 2011's expected Patton re-release for Memorial Day/Father's Day this year, as I'm beginning to suspect, it should't be too long before we get an announcement.

Fox- consider it a suggestion.

Doc, I had totally forgotten about that rumor!! Thanks so much for mentioning, I will be adding that to list of "on-the-radar" titles!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

lol, guaranteed.

Something which is also inevitable (other than 4k Blu-ray), will be 4k broadband. But like with 3DBD, the physical media variety will offer the best quality.

4K broadband? They cannot even get 720p right at the moment.

[abintra]

I hope nobody minds a random post.

Anyone remember the PlayStation video game MediEvil?

I was reminded of this the other day, brought back fond memories, and it just seemed like it could make a good movie (great atmosphere, main character, tone.. fits a 3D blockbuster mold). Owned by Sony.

Medievil (PS1) Opening Cutscene (1) - YouTube

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

4K broadband? They cannot even get 720p right at the moment.

And 30 years ago, I used a 50baud modem. What's your point?

[Steedeel]

My point is there is no incentive to give us higher quality. If the masses accepts crap, where is the need to give us decent quality? 4k will be niche, and i will be part of that niche. but the IPTV side of things will cater for the masses (clueless lemmings, in my opinion) 4k broadband is probably beyond most of our lifetimes. Bearing in mind current 720p is basically dvd quality!

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

My point is there is no incentive to give us higher quality.

Over time, technological advancements create their own incentive. For the same reason that we are even talking about movies delivered over the internet right now, in the future we will be talking about movies delivered over the internet at a much higher quality level. When the popular limits of bandwidth, storage and display far exceed the present standard, the quality level will rise to meet them because this upgrade will be, essentially, "free". Why serve 400 people 720p in real time if you can serve the same 400 people 2160p in real time, using the same resources?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Over time, technological advancements create their own incentive. For the same reason that we are even talking about movies delivered over the internet right now, in the future we will be talking about movies delivered over the internet at a much higher quality level. When the popular limits of bandwidth, storage and display far exceed the present standard, the quality level will rise to meet them because this upgrade will be, essentially, "free". Why serve 400 people 720p in real time if you can serve the same 400 people 2160p in real time, using the same resources?

Like music? Ten years on from mp3 and still no change in quality except a slight increase in bitrate.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Like music? Ten years on from mp3 and still no change in quality except a slight increase in bitrate.

The iTunes bitrate went up quite a bit and there's lots of talk that it shortly may do so again.

[Steedeel]

So 10 years for barely noticeable improvement? Doctorossi, there is always talk. They have been talking about a HD Apple tv for four or five years now. Technology is going backwards in technical terms. convenience, yes, quality, no.