Dinosaur review - "brilliant transfer"

[zombie]

http://www.dvdreview.com/reviews/pages/2428.shtml

I'm so glad this will be my first BD that's a keeper.

[marzetta7]

Nice!

[PeterTHX]

Anyone figure out what codec is being used?

I remember an article saying Disney put the heat on and got tools to author them in different codecs than MPEG2. Either AVC or VC-1, the article didn't say.

Wondering how Paramount's releases next week are going to look and what they used as well.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by nyg

Someone at AVS seemed to have confirmation that it's MPEG2. Pretty impressive for the old school codec based on the glowing review it got then.

But I thought MPEG2 was the spawn of Satan himself and the bane of all evil?

[Psiweaver]

there is nothing wrong with MPEG2 just how its been implamented up until the last few releases. My guess is that they got the transferring and encoding down and are finally going to be releasing the picture quality that we've been expecting since day 1.

[Rob Tomlin]

Hell, the SD DVD version was incredible, so you would really have to work hard to screw this up! Should look amazing in HD.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Rob Tomlin

Hell, the SD DVD version was incredible, so you would really have to work hard to screw this up! Should look amazing in HD.

Exactly right.

Welcome!

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by JTK

Exactly right.

Welcome!

Thanks!

[BTBuck1]

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/dinosaur.html

The Video: Sizing Up the Picture

Along with Warner's 'The Corpse Bride,' 'Dinosaur' is one of the most eagerly-awaited of recent Blu-ray releases, as both are full-length animated motion pictures, and in the case of 'Dinosaur,' it also benefits from a direct digital-to-digital transfer. Needless to say, we early adopters were expecting great things from 'Dinosaur,' so it is with regret that I say I was left more than a bit disappointed with my first Disney Blu-ray experience.
First, the positives. Presented in 1.85:1 and 1080p/MPEG-2 video, I was a little dubious going into 'Dinosaur.' How would MPEG-2 compression handle an all-CGI animated feature? And given the fluctuating quality of some of the early Blu-ray releases (at least viewing them on the first-gen Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray player), consistency was foremost on my mind. Which left me all the more impressed with the cleanliness of this transfer. Time and again, in moments featuring large, solid image areas, I expected to see noise or posterization, yet saw none. This really is a very firm and stable picture, with even fast, complex motion handedly adroitly by the MPEG-2 codec.
Unfortunately, the other aspects of this transfer left me not so jazzed. Colors just are not as vibrant as I expected -- certainly, they can't compete with visually spectacular, all-CGI wonders like 'Toy Story' or 'Shrek.' Hues just never pop off the screen, though at least there is no chroma noise or other defects to distract. Sharpness is also wanting. The image is soft throughout, and never appears truly three-dimensional. I know it is not fair, but quickly popping in my standard-def DVD of 'The Incredibles' to compare, it easily trumped the high-def 'Dinosaur' in clarity and detail. Lastly, I was disappointed as well with blacks and contrast. Though black levels are accurate, the image looks too dim overall, as if the bulb in the projector was burning out. In fact, there were some moments during the film (for example a late-night cave scene about midway through) where I had trouble making out what was going on.

This guy hates blu-ray.

[john_1958]

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/dinosaur.html
Technical Specs
Blu-ray
BD-25 Single-Layer Disc
Video Resolution/Codec
1080p/MPEG-2
1080p/i/MPEG-2 (Supplements Only)
Aspect Ratio(s)
1.85:1

[ndirtdigler69]

i hope more movies look like this
i have a samsung 71 inch dlp <new to this year> 1080p full hd tv
and i can't belive how cool this looks

[BTBuck1]

Based on an old thread when "Dinosaur" the blu ray disc version that I had previewed upon release. I had mentioned in the review of the disc that at the time I just wasn't quite sure why the disc looked so "soft" and that the DVD version had looked almost better upconverted on my HD-A1 than the BD. I didn't own my own blu-ray player at the time so I wanted to reserve judgment before giving final word on it. the original thread can be found here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...light=dinosaur

After re-watching it, with my samsung player, firmware NR updated, in my own home with my preffered settings I can now say that Dinosaur is a disc I reccomend. While I think it still is a Mediocre experience for an animated HD release, it is definately sharper than before. yes there are a few sections with posterization, but they don't last long and are only in a few spots for a few seconds through the film. This disc now looks "High Def" it's about on par with MONSTERHOUSE for me maybe a little less. not as sharp and squeeky clean as say Corps Bride BD or The Polar Express HDDVD I own, but still I think an accurate transfer from it's master. I'm really happy that the Sammy player is comming around and improving titles such as this. BTW, HOFD also looks better now...strange, but a welcomed change.

Brian

[Ascended_Saiyan]

Originally Posted by Brian@BBY

Based on an old thread when "Dinosaur" the blu ray disc version that I had previewed upon release. I had mentioned in the review of the disc that at the time I just wasn't quite sure why the disc looked so "soft" and that the DVD version had looked almost better upconverted on my HD-A1 than the BD. I didn't own my own blu-ray player at the time so I wanted to reserve judgment before giving final word on it. the original thread can be found here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...light=dinosaur

After re-watching it, with my samsung player, firmware NR updated, in my own home with my preffered settings I can now say that Dinosaur is a disc I reccomend. While I think it still is a Mediocre experience for an animated HD release, it is definately sharper than before. yes there are a few sections with posterization, but they don't last long and are only in a few spots for a few seconds through the film. This disc now looks "High Def" it's about on par with MONSTERHOUSE for me maybe a little less. not as sharp and squeeky clean as say Corps Bride BD or The Polar Express HDDVD I own, but still I think an accurate transfer from it's master. I'm really happy that the Sammy player is comming around and improving titles such as this. BTW, HOFD also looks better now...strange, but a welcomed change.

Brian

When I tried Eight Below on a head to head comparison with the Pioneer Elite , Panasonic, and an updated Samsung Blu-ray players, I found the Panasonic and the Pioneer Elite to be sharper (at Tweeter/Hifi Buys) and didn't notice any posterization. Try it on the Panasonic player in your store. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

[The Big Blue]

Read the whole thread. Interesting read. The DVD Talk guy absolutely killed this disc.

Has everyone re-evaluated yet?

I saw it on Sat. for the first time ever (PS3/1.8) and it looked quite good. I thought the dark scenes especially looked very nice. My guess was that a lot of the inconsistency re: sharpness/softness is inherent in the way the film was made, mixing live action w/animation and the fact that this is Disney/2000 after all, and not Pixar.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by The Big Blue

Read the whole thread. Interesting read. The DVD Talk guy absolutely killed this disc.

Has everyone re-evaluated yet?

I saw it on Sat. for the first time ever (PS3/1.8) and it looked quite good. I thought the dark scenes especially looked very nice. My guess was that a lot of the inconsistency re: sharpness/softness is inherent in the way the film was made, mixing live action w/animation and the fact that this is Disney/2000 after all, and not Pixar.

Exactly.

I never understood some of the Hate-orade that was getting around as far as this disc goes. It's a beautiful job all the way around.

I guess people are used to the uber slick Pixar deals, but this is damned good in its own right.

I like the digital stuff, too, but I for one really miss "real/done by a human being" animation and I'm sorry that it seems to have been needlessly abandoned. They still haven't found a way to put the kind of warmth into the digital stuff that the old ways can do.

Both forms have their place.

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by JTK

Exactly.

I never understood some of the Hate-orade that was getting around as far as this disc goes. It's a beautiful job all the way around.

I guess people are used to the uber slick Pixar deals, but this is damned good in its own right.

I like the digital stuff, too, but I for one really miss "real/done by a human being" animation and I'm sorry that it seems to have been needlessly abandoned. They still haven't found a way to put the kind of warmth into the digital stuff that the old ways can do.

Both forms have their place.

I agree. I love The Iron Giant. That may be the last good example of the more classic animation that we see for quite a while.

[PeterTHX]

Never forget a client of mine when he saw "Dinosaur" from a Samsung BDP-1000 on a Panasonic 58" 720p plasma "That is the best high definition I've ever seen!"

The only hate comes from HD DVDers.

[PurpleAardvark]

Wow talk about fair wiether fans. I thought every one hated the MPEG 2 and it was what was making blu-ray so bad, at least that was up until a couple weeks ago. I find it funny how it go from being the worst codec ever to getting great reviews and every one is happy. So I feel I have the right to save this now, How do those shoes taste after sticking your foot in your mouth? Just kidding. You guys crack me up.

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by nyg

http://www.hometheaterspot.com/htsth...?sequence=1553

Ouch.