Reds: Initial thoughts - Blu-ray Forum

spf781 · 11-04-2006, 12:03 PM

I got hold of a Blu-Ray copy of the Warren Beatty film "Reds" this past week and took a quick glance at it on Thursday (I plan on watching it the film today). I have to say that along with "M:I-III", Paramount is really starting to deliver some VERY nice Blu-Ray transfers. Granted, it's not the video and audio experience that "M:I-III" is, but for a 25-year old film, it looks pretty damn gorgeous.

There are a few very grainy scenes I noticed here and there, but that isn't a defect of the disc. The colors are rich, blacks solid and deep and I was hell-bent to see any macroblocking or compression artifacts in the background.

The 5.1 remixed sound is good. It's a mostly front-channel, dialogue-driven track, but it sounds fine. And, the original Mono track has also been included as well (haven't listened to that yet, just the 5.1).

The extras are on disc two and comprise of 70 minutes of interviews with Beatty, Nicholson and a few other cast and crew members and studio execs who were at Paramount back when the film was made. Also included is a pretty lousy, made-for-DVD trailer that is best left skipped.

So, if you are a fan of the film, as I am, you should be quite pleased with the disc. It's a great transfer and the extras are actually worthwhile.

phloyd · 11-04-2006, 04:53 PM

Is it a single or two discs?

spf781 · 11-04-2006, 05:35 PM

Two discs. Disc one has the first half of the film (about 103 minutes) that concludes at the intermission. Disc two is the second half of the film (about 72 minutes) and all of the extras.

EDIT: the second half of the film runs 92 minutes, not 72. My mistake.

Ascended_Saiyan · 11-05-2006, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spf781

Two discs. Disc one has the first half of the film (about 103 minutes) that concludes at the intermission. Disc two is the second half of the film (about 72 minutes) and all of the extras.

EDIT: the second half of the film runs 92 minutes, not 72. My mistake.

Why didn't they just put this on a 50GB disc? They are trying to play it too fair for HD-DVD.

spf781 · 11-05-2006, 02:54 PM

The HD DVD is on two discs as well. It has a forced intermission and Beatty wanted all DVD versions put on two discs. No one got a single disc release. And, after 103 information-crammed minutes, you are going to need a quick break.

GoldenRedux · 11-05-2006, 03:59 PM

This release is part of an order/pre-order I have in at Amazon. As I have the option set to ship all at once, the entire order isn't scheduled to despatch until mid-December or so.

If my Panny finally decides to show up from Abt, however, I may change the option to ship as available, and swallow the higher shipping costs.

I am glad to hear that Reds is a decent release, but I don't understand why with BD-50 available, they would make this a two disc set with intermission - it defeats the purpose. The only acceptable reason, I suppose, is the one given that Beatty wanted it that way across the board, but I still don't have to like it. Too bad he couldn't be convinced otherwise. I don't need an intermission to tell me when I need a break.

LMFAObros · 11-06-2020, 06:34 AM

Watching this now with the aussie disc. The disc is ok but is a dated master that has some ringing and a somewhat filtered look. The audio is passable but could be better. Am hoping this gets a Paramount Presents release but I am doubtful.

yellowcakeuf6 · 03-07-2021, 05:05 PM

Does anyone have the region free MPEG-4 AVC/Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Germany release?
I wondering how much improvement there is compared to the U.S. MPEG-2/Dolby Digital 5.1 release.

Edit: The Germany release sounds like the Australia release with not much improvement from the MPEG-2 American release. The Germany release's Dolby True HD "5.1" is actually 2 channel mono.

LMFAObros · 04-05-2021, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowcakeuf6

Does anyone have the region free MPEG-4 AVC/Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Germany release?
I wondering how much improvement there is compared to the U.S. MPEG-2/Dolby Digital 5.1 release.

Edit: The Germany release sounds like the Australia release with not much improvement from the MPEG-2 American release. The Germany release's Dolby True HD "5.1" is actually 2 channel mono.

The truehd sounds like a mono mix in a 5.1 container.

disco1979 · 04-03-2021, 11:38 PM

I just bought the 25th anniversary edition...

which can only mean that Paramount Presents will be issuing it as a 4K scan!

You're welcome.

11-04-2006, 12:03 PM	#1
spf781 Power Member Member since:Oct 2006 Location:742 Evergreen Terrace Springield, USA 4K collection:527 Blu-ray collection:800 MA collection:200 Digital collection:5 iTunes collection:315 Trading Score:4	Reds: Initial thoughts I got hold of a Blu-Ray copy of the Warren Beatty film "Reds" this past week and took a quick glance at it on Thursday (I plan on watching it the film today). I have to say that along with "M:I-III", Paramount is really starting to deliver some VERY nice Blu-Ray transfers. Granted, it's not the video and audio experience that "M:I-III" is, but for a 25-year old film, it looks pretty damn gorgeous. There are a few very grainy scenes I noticed here and there, but that isn't a defect of the disc. The colors are rich, blacks solid and deep and I was hell-bent to see any macroblocking or compression artifacts in the background. The 5.1 remixed sound is good. It's a mostly front-channel, dialogue-driven track, but it sounds fine. And, the original Mono track has also been included as well (haven't listened to that yet, just the 5.1). The extras are on disc two and comprise of 70 minutes of interviews with Beatty, Nicholson and a few other cast and crew members and studio execs who were at Paramount back when the film was made. Also included is a pretty lousy, made-for-DVD trailer that is best left skipped. So, if you are a fan of the film, as I am, you should be quite pleased with the disc. It's a great transfer and the extras are actually worthwhile. Last edited by spf781; 11-04-2006 at 12:05 PM. Reason: Missed some info from the back of the DVD jacket. D'oh!

11-04-2006, 05:35 PM	#3
spf781 Power Member Member since:Oct 2006 Location:742 Evergreen Terrace Springield, USA 4K collection:527 Blu-ray collection:800 MA collection:200 Digital collection:5 iTunes collection:315 Trading Score:4	Two discs. Disc one has the first half of the film (about 103 minutes) that concludes at the intermission. Disc two is the second half of the film (about 72 minutes) and all of the extras. EDIT: the second half of the film runs 92 minutes, not 72. My mistake. Last edited by spf781; 11-05-2006 at 01:21 AM.

03-07-2021, 05:05 PM	#8
yellowcakeuf6 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Nov 2008 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Blu-ray reviews: 16	Does anyone have the region free MPEG-4 AVC/Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Germany release? I wondering how much improvement there is compared to the U.S. MPEG-2/Dolby Digital 5.1 release. Edit: The Germany release sounds like the Australia release with not much improvement from the MPEG-2 American release. The Germany release's Dolby True HD "5.1" is actually 2 channel mono. Last edited by yellowcakeuf6; 03-27-2021 at 09:46 PM.

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11-04-2006, 04:53 PM	#2
phloyd Blu-ray Guru Member since:Dec 2003 Location:California Trading Score:5	Is it a single or two discs?

11-05-2006, 02:54 PM	#5
spf781 Power Member Member since:Oct 2006 Location:742 Evergreen Terrace Springield, USA 4K collection:527 Blu-ray collection:800 MA collection:200 Digital collection:5 iTunes collection:315 Trading Score:4	The HD DVD is on two discs as well. It has a forced intermission and Beatty wanted all DVD versions put on two discs. No one got a single disc release. And, after 103 information-crammed minutes, you are going to need a quick break.

11-05-2006, 03:59 PM	#6
GoldenRedux Power Member Member since:Sep 2006 Blu-ray reviews:1	This release is part of an order/pre-order I have in at Amazon. As I have the option set to ship all at once, the entire order isn't scheduled to despatch until mid-December or so. If my Panny finally decides to show up from Abt, however, I may change the option to ship as available, and swallow the higher shipping costs. I am glad to hear that Reds is a decent release, but I don't understand why with BD-50 available, they would make this a two disc set with intermission - it defeats the purpose. The only acceptable reason, I suppose, is the one given that Beatty wanted it that way across the board, but I still don't have to like it. Too bad he couldn't be convinced otherwise. I don't need an intermission to tell me when I need a break.

11-06-2020, 06:34 AM	#7
LMFAObros Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Jan 2016 Location:Melbourne, Australia 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Blu-ray reviews:73 Trading Score:10	Watching this now with the aussie disc. The disc is ok but is a dated master that has some ringing and a somewhat filtered look. The audio is passable but could be better. Am hoping this gets a Paramount Presents release but I am doubtful.

04-03-2021, 11:38 PM	#10
disco1979 Special Member Member since:Jun 2017 Location:Toronto, Ontario 4K collection:266 Blu-ray collection:2185	I just bought the 25th anniversary edition... which can only mean that Paramount Presents will be issuing it as a 4K scan! You're welcome.

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