Kiss of the Spider Woman - What a disappointment....

[Sushisake]

First off - I love this film. What a shame that it was not given any special treatment whatsoever in it's transfer to Blu-Ray.

Don't get me wrong - I am happy to have it on digital media (aside from the laser disc I had years ago) - but to be honest with you - the laser disc had a better looking picture. I tis almost as if they took a 20 year old print, that had been played in theatres over and over again - and put it on blu-ray media -

Pardon me - while I go and cry...

[CheapChildren]

There's not one second in this transfer that dirt or scratches weren't present.

[Sushisake]

If I were City Lights - I would be SO embarrassed by this release. I consider this to be a major, classic motion picture with an unbelievable performance by both William Hurt and Raul Julia - what a SIN to have a transfer like this.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Sushisake

If I were City Lights - I would be SO embarrassed by this release. I consider this to be a major, classic motion picture with an unbelievable performance by both William Hurt and Raul Julia - what a SIN to have a transfer like this.

What is the problem with the transfer? Not trying to be sarcastic, at all, just want more specific info.

[Sushisake]

Scratches and artifacts everywhere - every second of the film. I am on the telephone with City Lights right now.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Sushisake

Scratches and artifacts everywhere - every second of the film. I am on the telephone with City Lights right now.

Wow..I was looking foward to buying it They probably just transferred to Blu-ray without any consideration for the master in use.

[johnnymech]

Originally Posted by CheapChildren

There's not one second in this transfer that dirt or scratches weren't present.

Are you serious? And this is a move that's never been released on DVD or HD before, and this is what we get.

[Sushisake]

A major disappointment - that is all I can say. Better off with a VHS copy.

[Sushisake]

I am on with City Lights right now - told them how horrible --- their response --- "ARE YOU SERIOUS??" - They are transferring me to someone else. They are very upset by my call.

[Sushisake]

OK - off the phone with City Lights. The person I spoke to agreed that they had also been a bit disappointed when they viewed it. This person also told me that City Lights had received alot of good feedback and that the people who did the transfer believed the artifacts that we see to be good for the film (I don't agree).

So, I suppose, bottom line - if you love the film - it is worth having on digital media (maybe the SD DVD will be cheaper - and upconverted will do) - otherwise just rent it to see what all the uproar is about (and WILL BE as people start receiving their copies)

[#Darren]

Originally Posted by Sushisake

the laser disc had a better looking picture.

In what way was the laser disk better, and the Blu ray worse?

[Sushisake]

The only way I could find to state displeasure with the release is a phone number:212-679-4400

As for why the laser disc was better - let me retract that and say it was simply on par with what they have release on Blu Ray. AND back in the days of laser discs - it was quite a welcome upgrade - but now, with all that can be done with bluray - THAT is the disappointment

[KamiAmaya]

Everyone is saying how disappointing this film is on Blu-ray. Am I the only one that enjoyed it?

So it didn't look as good as some of your other Blus, and yes there were scratches and I noticed some white dots once in a while, guess you call them "artifacts" huh? But the film is over 20 years old.

Well, I enjoyed it very much, and I feel like I'm going to get flamed so I'll run away now...

[Sushisake]

Not at all Kami - you are entitled to your opinion - no flames from me.

However, let me say - that in viewing the THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT blurays - featuring clips from films as far back as 80 some odd years ago - those clips were PRISTINE by comparison.

So - I do not go for the age of a film being an excuse for a shoddy transfer.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by KamiAmaya

So it didn't look as good as some of your other Blus, and yes there were scratches and I noticed some white dots once in a while, guess you call them "artifacts" huh? But the film is over 20 years old.

When there are specks and dirt and blotches it is a sign of one of two things:

1. very few of the original prints are in tact and they are not of good quality
2. laziness from the people handling the transfer b/c they did not find the best elements and ensure that they were ready for an hd transfer.

I don't know which this would fall under but it seems unlikely that a film of this age would fall under the first heading.

[Sushisake]

I have to say something here - yet again -

While I agree that it was probably due to laziness - we all need to keep in mind that City Lights is a VERY small company and this is their first bluray release. Apparently they have limited resources to do a major restoration (similar to that we are receiving for The Godfather) - however, they really should have sold the rights to a company that would give this wonderful film the transfer it deserves. Perhaps CRITERION?

[KamiAmaya]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

When there are specks and dirt and blotches it is a sign of one of two things:

1. very few of the original prints are in tact and they are not of good quality
2. laziness from the people handling the transfer b/c they did not find the best elements and ensure that they were ready for an hd transfer.

I don't know which this would fall under but it seems unlikely that a film of this age would fall under the first heading.

Ah ok, didn't know that.

And Sushisake thanks for no flaming

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by KamiAmaya

Ah ok, didn't know that.

It's like scanning a picture onto your computer but it's covered in dust and you didn't wipe it clean.

[Clark Kent]

While I haven't seen the Blu-ray in question, it sounds very likely that City Lights used an older HD master for the transfer. I think many companies think they can get away with releasing a BD from sub-par masters (heck even Disney has been guilty of this).

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

It's like scanning a picture onto your computer but it's covered in dust and you didn't wipe it clean.

Well if the element is in that state, cleaning up takes a lot of work, as it's 172,800 frames to clean up. Scratches have to be minimized by wet gate proccess or digital retouching sometimes on a frame by frame basis.