List of International BDs with Better PQ, AQ, and/or More Extras - ARCHIVED

[Torrente]

I agree on that, then the french disc would probably be the same as the UK disc. But it's just a thought, we will have to find numbers to be sure of course

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Pandorum
UK - AVC 28,9 Mbps, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 24-bit, BD50
FR - AVC 27,8 Mbps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 16-bit, BD50 Best PQ
US - AVC 29,82 Mbps, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 3771 kbps 24-bit, BD50, exclusive extras (Region A)
DE - AVC 24fps, DTS-HD HR 6.1 2046 kbps 24-bit, BD50, most extras, no eng subs
SE - AVC 24fps, DTS-HD MA 7.1, less extras, no eng subs

Comparison. It's close but still a little better PQ and should make a difference for those with big screens
UK/US http://www.imagebam.com/image/154dfb246091804
FR http://www.imagebam.com/image/ef4e60246091002
UK/US http://www.imagebam.com/image/fec2f5246091968
FR http://www.imagebam.com/image/736f23246091276

The difference is barely perceptible in a screen capture so I am betting it wouldn't even be noticeable in motion.

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

The difference is barely perceptible in a screen capture so I am betting it wouldn't even be noticeable in motion.

Well you see more refined grain structure on a 24 inch monitor so I'm pretty sure you will see it even more on 60+ inches. And yes it might be small but still "better" and german release have more extras so it should definitely be on the list.

[secretsquirrel]

Originally Posted by hedliniv

Walk the Line definately should be on this list as the UK version is a 2 Disk edition and has the extended cut - the second disk has a song jukebox (with HD audio) with all the full musical numbers!!
The US version is a 1 disk with theatrical cut.

I thought the French release of this was supposed to be very good. Is this one better?

[cheecheung]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Yeah, the UK definitely takes the cake for PQ.

Originally Posted by wesslan

Pan's Labyrinth (update)
UK - VC-1 29,45 Mbps 1.78:1 open matte, Spanish DD 5.1 640 kbps
UK new - VC-1 29,47 Mbps 1.78:1 open matte, Spanish DTS-HD MA 5.1 1812 kbps 16-bit Best PQ
US/TW - VC-1 15,77 Mbps 1.85:1, Heavy DNR, Spanish DTS-HD MA 7.1 5256 kbps 24-bit Best AQ
SE/NO - AVC 31,93 Mbps 1.85:1, Spanish DTS-HD MA 5.1 4237 kbps 24-bit, no eng subs, Audio pitch problems
DE - AVC 29,55 Mbps 1.85:1, Spanish LPCM 4608 kbps 16-bit, no eng subs, BD50
ES - AVC 1.85:1, DTS-HD MA 7.1 24-bit, BD50 Best AQ

Comparison
UK http://www.imagebam.com/image/8fe015245792405
Nordic http://www.imagebam.com/image/d42e4c245792179

How come the UK new release has a better picture quality when the SE/NO has a higher video bitrate? Is VC-1 encode better than AVC?

[Tech-UK]

Originally Posted by cheecheung

How come the UK new release has a better picture quality when the SE/NO has a higher video bitrate? Is VC-1 encode better than AVC?

Its not always down to bitrate and encode. Which is why screengrabs provide a better comparison when it comes to evaluating the superior transfer.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

Its not always down to bitrate and encode. Which is why screengrabs provide a better comparison when it comes to evaluating the superior transfer.

+1. The condition of the master used is usually the key factor in PQ.

[Tech-UK]

Is the UK release of Basic Instinct still the best in terms of PQ, German, French, Australian releases withstanding?

Thanks.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

Is the UK release of Basic Instinct still the best in terms of PQ, German, French, Australian releases withstanding?

Thanks.

In terms of PQ, but the US disc has more extras than the UK disc.

[HD Goofnut]

Removed The Terminator.

[Early Memphis]

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
US - MPEG-2; DTS 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 5.1 (English, French, Spanish) (Region A)
DE - VC-1, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English/German) (Region Free) Best AQ/PQ

Random Notes: Both apparently are on BD-25 discs. BRDC lists the 2-film pak as Region Free, while listing the individual German Tomb Raider as Region B; however, my understanding is that they're the same discs and both played fine on my Region A Oppo. If you agree with that, then perhaps you don't have to list the fact that the 2-pak includes Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (which would instead have to be listed separately, right?).

The German version's PQ is sharper & clearer (one look at Angelina's shower scene will confirm this. However, just to be certain that I didn't mislead you, I watched it several times to confirm - no sacrifice is too great for science). The German DTS-HD MA audio is louder and has more "presence". On the German version, all menus/package text are in German and only German subtitles are available -all extras default to German subs "On" and must be turned off individually (the U.S. version has English, English SDH, French & Spanish subs). The lack of English subtitles is not only a problem for those of us who like to know what is said when voices are obscured by low volume and/or English accents, all the subs for native, non-English spoken lines are only translated into German as well.

Extras: German version has "Interview With Jon Voight & Angelina Jolie" (2:05) which was on the DVD but is not on the U.S. Blu. German version combines first 3 U.S. shorts into one "Making Of" (41:40) - same material, same order.

Trailers: U.S. in HD, German SD - German version has the German trailer (same as U.S. but in German) and it also has U.S. TV spots (not on U.S. version)

Deleted Scenes: Both WS (U.S. may be slightly better quality). German version does NOT have the extra scene where Wilson is beheaded. This was on the DVD but is not on the U.S. Blu..

Previews: German version has previews for 5 movies (including Lara Croft : Cradle Of Life, Babylon A.D., Knowing, The Hurt Locker (Tödliches Kommando) and Shutter Island). U.S. has no previews, only a "Paramount High Definition" promo.

Package: German version has more pictures, including 2 nice full-page B&W's on reverse of paper cover insert and a 4-page color booklet - but all text is in German.

HD, let me know if I need to clarify or add anything. Sorry, but I wasn't sure how/if you'd want this other info listed.

[Ben_R]

Anyone?

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by Ben_R

Does anyone know which releases are superior in AQ, PQ & OAR? Are there any better releases available that are either Region Free or Region B compatible? I'm happy to mix and match to get the best version of each.

Here are the specs according to the site.

Final Destination

US Release New Line Cinema

25GB Disc
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)

DE Release Studio Canal

50GB Disc
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Final Destination 2

US Release New Line Cinema

50GB Disc
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1

DE Release Warner Bros.

25GB Disc
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Final Destination 3

US Release New Line Cinema

50GB Disc
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1

DE Release Warner Bros.

25GB Disc
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

The Final Destination

US Release New Line Cinema

?GB Disc
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

DE Release Warner Bros.

50GB Disc
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

[surfinhank]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

The German version's PQ is sharper & clearer (one look at Angelina's shower scene will confirm this. However, just to be certain that I didn't mislead you, I watched it several times to confirm - no sacrifice is too great for science). The German DTS-HD MA audio is louder and has more "presence". On the German version, all menus/package text are in German and only German subtitles are available -all extras default to German subs "On" and must be turned off individually (the U.S. version has English, English SDH, French & Spanish subs). The lack of English subtitles is not only a problem for those of us who like to know what is said when voices are obscured by low volume and/or English accents, all the subs for native, non-English spoken lines are only translated into German as well.

How much of this is there in the movie? It's been a while since I've seen it.

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by surfinhank

How much of this is there in the movie? It's been a while since I've seen it.

In Tomb Raider, the foreign language turns up when Lara speaks with the monks in Cambodia and twice, I think, when she's spoken to by the little spirit girl. So, without watching it again (I'm watching Cradle of Life right now and it's on my mind), I'd say 3 to 5-6 times, maybe? Far more frequent are the times when low voices/accents make passages difficult to suss out exactly (there's a lot of low, whispery talking). In Cradle of Life, it's when she's speaking to Chinese people and African tribesmen - about the same (3-6), and again, low voices/accents make the most trouble. In both cases, you can still follow the movie - although it would be even more of a problem if you'd never seen the films before.

I usually watch movies with subs on (my ears are not what they were when I was twenty ). I don't read them or anything, I tune them out - they're just an adjunct to my ears. If they're in the way (big, black boxes) or it's more a visual feast kinda thing, I leave them off. If I really miss something I can go back, turn them via remote and then turn them off again. I only say that to show that subtitles are important to me, however, the increase in PQ & AQ - for me - means that I'll be staying with the German version and selling my Tomb Raider Blu-ray and my Cradle Of Life DVD. I suppose it also means that if they ever release a proper version here or in the UK, I'll be buying these two flicks all over again.

[wesslan]

Hard Boiled
JP - AVC 20973 kbps, Cantonese DTS 5.1 1509 kbps 16-bit, BD25, no eng subs Best PQ
US - AVC 31000 kbps, Cantonese DTS-HD MA 5.1 3659 kbps 24-bit, BD50 (Region free)

Too bad on the subs but people with skill can always remux it Hopefully we will get a HK disc with JP PQ later on.

US http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j336/Christopher_Singh/3659_5_1080p.jpgriginal
JP http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j336/Christopher_Singh/Hard%20Boiled%20JPN%20BD/PDVD_011.pngriginal

[Cevolution]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Random Notes: Both apparently are on BD-25 discs. BRDC lists the 2-film pak as Region Free, while listing the individual German Tomb Raider as Region B; however, my understanding is that they're the same discs and both played fine on my Region A Oppo. If you agree with that, then perhaps you don't have to list the fact that the 2-pak includes Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (which would instead have to be listed separately, right?).

The individual release of the German Cradle of Life is not the same as the disc in the 2 pack. They have different disc art, and the individual release has burnt in subtitles.

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by Cevolution

The individual release of the German Cradle of Life is not the same as the disc in the 2 pack. They have different disc art, and the individual release has burnt in subtitles.

Thanks! That would've driven me crazy!

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Hard Boiled
JP - AVC 20973 kbps, Cantonese DTS 5.1 1509 kbps 16-bit, BD25, no eng subs Best PQ
US - AVC 31000 kbps, Cantonese DTS-HD MA 5.1 3659 kbps 24-bit, BD50 (Region free)

Too bad on the subs but people with skill can always remux it Hopefully we will get a HK disc with JP PQ later on.

US http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j336/Christopher_Singh/3659_5_1080p.jpgriginal
JP http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j336/Christopher_Singh/Hard%20Boiled%20JPN%20BD/PDVD_011.pngriginal

Done.

[Cevolution]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Thanks! That would've driven me crazy!

My bad, I was actually wrong. I own both discs (I bought the double pack 1st, but then wanted a separate case for the 2nd film, especially since I already owned the Australian release of the 1st movie in it's own case) and just put in the disc from the individual release to check. You can turn off the subtitles. I must have been thinking of some other title. Though like I previously mentioned, the disc art of the individual release is different to that of the 2 pack.

[wesslan]

Jagten aka The Hunt
US - No release yet
UK - AVC 29,4 Mbps 1080i/50, DTS-HD MA 5.1 3304 kbps 24-bit, BD50 (Region free) (UK audio is slightly filtered)
FR - AVC 18,9 Mbps 24fps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 16-bit, BD50