Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

[Early Memphis]

Resident Evil : Apocalypse Blu-ray

Resident Evil : Apocalypse Blu-ray Review

Why should this be the only Resident Evil BD not to have its own thread? Strangely, despite having the lowest AQ/PQ ratings in the series, it remains fairly expensive - probably why it's the only one I don't own yet. Do other Resident Evil fans agree that the US BD is the nadir, BD tech-wise, of the series? According to HD's List of International BDs with Better PQ, AQ, and/or More Extras thread - Japan, Brazil, Russia, the Czech Republic and Poland all have superior editions of this film on BD - and, currently, this is the only Resident Evil BD on that list. WTF?

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

[Show spoiler]

Resident Evil : Apocalypse Blu-ray

Resident Evil : Apocalypse Blu-ray Review

Why should this be the only Resident Evil BD not to have its own thread? Strangely, despite having the lowest AQ/PQ ratings in the series, it remains fairly expensive - probably why it's the only one I don't own yet. Do other Resident Evil fans agree that the US BD is the nadir, BD tech-wise, of the series? According to HD's List of International BDs with Better PQ, AQ, and/or More Extras thread - Japan, Brazil, Russia, the Czech Republic and Poland all have superior editions of this film on BD - and, currently, this is the only Resident Evil BD on that list. WTF?

The Japanese disc is the one to get, but it's expensive. I think it actually may be OOP at this point.

[Blu Myers]

It's under $12 on Amazon and can be had for even less through a third party. Not really that expensive.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by leem6453

It's under $12 on Amazon and can be had for even less through a third party. Not really that expensive.

Wait a second though. Are you referring to the theatrical cut disc or the extended cut disc?

[Blu Myers]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Wait a second though. Are you referring to the theatrical cut disc or the extended cut disc?

I was referring to the US theatrical cut. Is there an extended US cut?

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by leem6453

I was referring to the US theatrical cut. Is there an extended US cut?

There is. That's the one from Japan that's OOP.

[Blu Myers]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

There is. That's the one from Japan that's OOP.

Oh ok gotcha.

[PRO-630HD]

Wow is this disc bad. The original at least they put some effort into it. The review sums it up perfectly. This is a direct DVD transfer using the same HD master from 2004 and it is clearly obvious going to caps-a-holic.com

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go...=67385&i=2&l=0

The black levels are embarrassingly bad and way too high for bluray. I think the best fix is going to chap. 13 where the helicopter crashes. There are multiple fades to black (okay not really, fades to grey) where you can properly adjust the black level. 1:18:06 is one where you can match the black level on the screen to the letterbox bars. I have a 65C6P oled and had to lower my brightness level from 53 to 43 lol! Once this adjustment is done the disc actually even by modern standards looks pretty good and this was the major complaint from the review back in 2007.

[javi92]

Holy thread bump, Batman!

[PRO-630HD]

Another great spot is 5:58 in chap. 2 another fade where is states 13 Hours Later on the screen you can clearly see the black levels are all jacked up. Again match the black background into the letterbox bars to fix Sony's screwup and for greatly improved PQ.

[SethRex]

Has anyone ever just stopped to ask why Germany and Japan got extended cuts but nobody else?

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by SethRex

Has anyone ever just stopped to ask why Germany and Japan got extended cuts but nobody else?

I own both the US and (extended) German Blu-ray and I actually prefer the shorter theatrical version, you're not missing out on anything special regarding the extra footage.

Also the German version has DTS HR while the US has PCM audio.

[wesslan]

well what about earlier claims DE has a better(not crushed) scan that US/UK/JP, I really don't see that on caps. DE is even darker than UK....

[Sky_Captain]

If you don't care about the extended cut and can play Region B locked discs, the French disc is the way to go. VC-1 transfer, proper black levels and none of the onscreen titles changed to another language, (unlike the German). I kept that disc, even though I also have the AVC encoded Japanese extended cut.

[DJR662]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

If you don't care about the extended cut and can play Region B locked discs, the French disc is the way to go. VC-1 transfer, proper black levels and none of the onscreen titles changed to another language, (unlike the German). I kept that disc, even though I also have the AVC encoded Japanese extended cut.

Didn't know there was also a French release.

But I'm done double dipping with this movie. Until a 4K release comes along that is.

[HD Goofnut]

I have the DE disc for the extended cut I think it looks good for being an older master in MPEG-2. I only paid about $10 for it. I keep it with the theatrical cut disc in the U.S. steelbook.

[AllOuttaBubbleGum]

Picked up the US release along with the rest of the REs in the 5 Film Set at the Mother of All Bargain prices: $14.99.

Plenty serviceable picture, I thought, given the age of the master. At the very least, significantly improved over the DVD; no contest. The black levels on my LCD were already problematic, but I had no problem optimizing 'Apocalypse.'

I also have the open matte version of this 'Resident' recorded from a Premium cable airing, which I took a quick look at before spinning the blu-ray...and I was reminded how much extra head--and foot--room there is in it. Previously, the "full screen" transfer on the dvd alluded to this, but without the full width of the frame. I hesitate to enjoy the cable version too much, lest I decide I prefer that framing; it will probably never get a decent looking, uncompressed release on blu-ray. There's also an open matte 'Extinction' floating out there too, by the way...

[Patsfan123]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

If you don't care about the extended cut and can play Region B locked discs, the French disc is the way to go. VC-1 transfer, proper black levels and none of the onscreen titles changed to another language, (unlike the German). I kept that disc, even though I also have the AVC encoded Japanese extended cut.

Looks like the FR disc is out of print sadly.

[Early Memphis]

My impression is that only a Japanese set contains the improved version of "Apocalypse", is that still true? It's the only one not in my collection as the US disc sucks.

I believe the set was called "Biohazard" but, despite several Biohazard's listed, the site doesn't show the cover I remember (OOP?). Well, with the last (?) movie of the series coming out, perhaps they'll be an all-new, all-upgraded set released sometime up the road.

[Luke B.]

What's on the extended version? The deleted scenes or other material?