The Time Bandits (Terry Gilliam) - Blu-ray Forum

Alex DeLarge · 06-10-2009, 03:42 PM

Has anyone purchased this or read a review of the image/sound quality? I'm curious and would import but for $45 US I want to be sure it's a quality release!

The Duke · 06-10-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex DeLarge

Has anyone purchased this or read a review of the image/sound quality? I'm curious and would import but for $45 US I want to be sure it's a quality release!

I ordered a copy from Amazon.de, and hopefully it will come in this week; I'll post my impressions when it does. It was a bit delayed, the release date was May 29, but Amazon.de didn't ship until around June 4. I took a chance on the blind buy as I like the movie so much. It's only €17.99, around $25, but of course the killer on Amazon.de is the flat rate €14 shipping to North America. I ordered The Walker, In My Father's Den (Als das Meer verschwand), the standard DVD 'Soldier Blue' and a copy of Running Scared BD for a friend in addition to Time Bandits to spread out the shipping cost.

Alex DeLarge · 06-10-2009, 06:32 PM

Cool! Please let me know what you think of the quality, and if it has "burned in" German subtitles. Not a deal breaker if the film looks excellent!

The Duke · 06-19-2009, 07:08 PM

I finally got my copy of Time Bandits in and watched it last night.

PQ is excellent in my opinion, very rich and detailed and natural looking. Audio is very decent, and it does have an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Very pleased with this purchase. It is however, Region B locked. It played fine on my LG BH200 set to Region B, but when I double checked it on my Samsung BD2500, it wouldn't play, giving the "region mismatch" error.

Alex DeLarge · 06-20-2009, 04:22 AM

Thanks DUKE! This looks like a purchase for me

DMRI2006 · 06-20-2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Duke

I finally got my copy of Time Bandits in and watched it last night.

PQ is excellent in my opinion, very rich and detailed and natural looking. Audio is very decent, and it does have an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Very pleased with this purchase. It is however, Region B locked. It played fine on my LG BH200 set to Region B, but when I double checked it on my Samsung BD2500, it wouldn't play, giving the "region mismatch" error.

Great news! Looking forward to my copy coming in. Are the subtitles permanently turned on?

The Duke · 06-20-2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Great news! Looking forward to my copy coming in. Are the subtitles permanently turned on?

No, all subtitles are optional.

Alex DeLarge · 06-30-2009, 12:57 PM

I just watched last night and the image quality is better than any DVD version but still shows damage and 'speckling". What is most strange is the fact that the English audio suffers from PAL speedup: I suppose they mastered the lossless audio from a PAl source?

neo_reloaded · 07-02-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex DeLarge

I just watched last night and the image quality is better than any DVD version but still shows damage and 'speckling". What is most strange is the fact that the English audio suffers from PAL speedup: I suppose they mastered the lossless audio from a PAl source?

Are you sure the audio suffers from PAL speedup? No one else has reported this.

The Duke · 07-02-2009, 09:39 PM

I didn't detect any PAL speedup, but other folks seem more sensitive to it than I. I also have the French release of Open Range that some report PAL speedup, and it sounds fine to me.

HD 335 · 07-02-2009, 09:48 PM

I also didn't detect any PAL speed up but there is lots of instances of specks. Also, at about the 13:12 mark, there appears to be significant print damage causing green streaks to appear on the right side for a few seconds.

Alex DeLarge · 07-03-2009, 09:25 PM

I noticed it especially in Michael Palin's voice, but it seemed noticeable to me throughout the film. I'm rarely sensitive to the issue! I sold my Criterion DVD so I can't compare

Half of my collection is import PAL discs (both DVD & BD) and in this movie it just really bothered me. Now, many of the voices are high pitched due to the fact of the main actors being little people, but it was more pronounced with some of the other actors too. Now, I definitely could be wrong because it would be very strange indeed to have a BD suffer from PAL speedup when that shouldn't be an issue.
BTW: I watched through my LGBH200 code-free player that passes all audio as MPCM to my Onkyo...just so you know the tech stuff. Please let me reiterate, though the print has some damage it still has many moments where it blows away any DVD comparison! I watched it on a big screen and finally background detail and depth was prevalent. But I would probably "double-dip" if a US version were remastered without the print damage.

Arkadin · 11-20-2009, 11:53 PM

this release is fantastic, but I didn't notice any audio anomalies either.

There is a UK release now, which I've still not heard anything about as far as how it compares to this German version.

HumanMedia · 11-21-2009, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arkadin

this release is fantastic, but I didn't notice any audio anomalies either.

There is a UK release now, which I've still not heard anything about as far as how it compares to this German version.

Sounds like the same transfer as the UK but this German release has additional extras. Can nyone list what they are?

And can someone check if it is 1080p24 or 1080i50 (the latter would explain pitched up soundtrack).

blu_sharpy · 11-21-2009, 07:33 AM

The UK Release is 1080p24 w/ LPCM 2.0. Courtesy of Optimum Home Entertainment.

Waiterguy · 11-21-2009, 07:49 AM

I thought the PQ and AQ were amazing. I bought two copies.

A definite underrated classic IMO.

honeybunker · 05-02-2010, 09:34 PM

So I'm deciding whether to get this German BD of Time Bandits or wait for the US release. Could someone with the German version post what special features it contains? It looks like the US one will have just a trailer? Thanks!

Rhylliam · 05-02-2010, 09:41 PM

FYI, there is a Canadian disc on the way..

Arkadin · 05-02-2010, 10:24 PM

I'll look at my German copy, and see if I can list the features.
try to get to that soon.

toddly6666 · 02-18-2011, 05:50 PM

So, is the German blu-ray better than the UK version, regarding video and audio? Or is it about the same?

06-10-2009, 03:42 PM	#1
Alex DeLarge Active Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:Central, PA 4K collection:317 Blu-ray collection:3151 DVD collection:638	The Time Bandits (Terry Gilliam) Has anyone purchased this or read a review of the image/sound quality? I'm curious and would import but for $45 US I want to be sure it's a quality release!

07-02-2009, 09:39 PM	#10
The Duke Blu-ray Guru Member since:May 2009 Location:Wild Wild West Home Theater Gallery:2 Blu-ray collection:246 Trading Score:15	I didn't detect any PAL speedup, but other folks seem more sensitive to it than I. I also have the French release of Open Range that some report PAL speedup, and it sounds fine to me. Last edited by The Duke; 07-03-2009 at 04:19 PM. Reason: correct typo

Similar Threads
thread	Forum	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
Terry Gilliam flicks	Movie Polls	Teabaggins	69	12-17-2015 09:10 PM
Billy Bob Thornton to Topline Terry Gilliam’s "Zero Theorem"	Movies	J_UNTITLED	17	03-05-2014 06:14 PM
Time Bandits Blu-ray	United Kingdom and Ireland	uk-guy	16	03-30-2010 04:26 AM
The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus (Terry Gilliam)	France	pro-bassoonist	0	12-02-2009 04:35 AM
Time Bandits	France	DCSholtis	1	03-11-2009 06:46 PM

06-10-2009, 06:32 PM	#3
Alex DeLarge Active Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:Central, PA 4K collection:317 Blu-ray collection:3151 DVD collection:638	Cool! Please let me know what you think of the quality, and if it has "burned in" German subtitles. Not a deal breaker if the film looks excellent!

06-19-2009, 07:08 PM	#4
The Duke Blu-ray Guru Member since:May 2009 Location:Wild Wild West Home Theater Gallery:2 Blu-ray collection:246 Trading Score:15	I finally got my copy of Time Bandits in and watched it last night. PQ is excellent in my opinion, very rich and detailed and natural looking. Audio is very decent, and it does have an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Very pleased with this purchase. It is however, Region B locked. It played fine on my LG BH200 set to Region B, but when I double checked it on my Samsung BD2500, it wouldn't play, giving the "region mismatch" error.

06-20-2009, 04:22 AM	#5
Alex DeLarge Active Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:Central, PA 4K collection:317 Blu-ray collection:3151 DVD collection:638	Thanks DUKE! This looks like a purchase for me

06-30-2009, 12:57 PM	#8
Alex DeLarge Active Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:Central, PA 4K collection:317 Blu-ray collection:3151 DVD collection:638	I just watched last night and the image quality is better than any DVD version but still shows damage and 'speckling". What is most strange is the fact that the English audio suffers from PAL speedup: I suppose they mastered the lossless audio from a PAl source?

07-02-2009, 09:48 PM	#11
HD 335 Power Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Texas Home Theater Gallery:33 4K collection:408 Blu-ray collection:1269 DVD collection:16 iTunes collection:3 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:121	I also didn't detect any PAL speed up but there is lots of instances of specks. Also, at about the 13:12 mark, there appears to be significant print damage causing green streaks to appear on the right side for a few seconds.

07-03-2009, 09:25 PM	#12
Alex DeLarge Active Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:Central, PA 4K collection:317 Blu-ray collection:3151 DVD collection:638	I noticed it especially in Michael Palin's voice, but it seemed noticeable to me throughout the film. I'm rarely sensitive to the issue! I sold my Criterion DVD so I can't compare Half of my collection is import PAL discs (both DVD & BD) and in this movie it just really bothered me. Now, many of the voices are high pitched due to the fact of the main actors being little people, but it was more pronounced with some of the other actors too. Now, I definitely could be wrong because it would be very strange indeed to have a BD suffer from PAL speedup when that shouldn't be an issue. BTW: I watched through my LGBH200 code-free player that passes all audio as MPCM to my Onkyo...just so you know the tech stuff. Please let me reiterate, though the print has some damage it still has many moments where it blows away any DVD comparison! I watched it on a big screen and finally background detail and depth was prevalent. But I would probably "double-dip" if a US version were remastered without the print damage.

11-20-2009, 11:53 PM	#13
Arkadin Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Mar 2007 Location:...somewhere in Sweden Blu-ray collection:- Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:9	this release is fantastic, but I didn't notice any audio anomalies either. There is a UK release now, which I've still not heard anything about as far as how it compares to this German version.

11-21-2009, 07:33 AM	#15
blu_sharpy Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Nov 2009 Location:United Kingdom Blu-ray collection:743 DVD collection:11 Blu-ray reviews: 4 Trading Score:1	The UK Release is 1080p24 w/ LPCM 2.0. Courtesy of Optimum Home Entertainment.

11-21-2009, 07:49 AM	#16
Waiterguy Banned Member since:Mar 2007 Trading Score:78	I thought the PQ and AQ were amazing. I bought two copies. A definite underrated classic IMO.

05-02-2010, 09:34 PM	#17
honeybunker Member Member since:Aug 2008 Location:Colorado 4K collection:23 Blu-ray collection:917	So I'm deciding whether to get this German BD of Time Bandits or wait for the US release. Could someone with the German version post what special features it contains? It looks like the US one will have just a trailer? Thanks!

05-02-2010, 09:41 PM	#18
Rhylliam Contributor Top contributor Member since:Oct 2008 Location:Calgary, Alberta Home Theater Gallery:16 4K collection:1499 Blu-ray collection:9004 DVD collection:9438 Blu-ray reviews: 49 Trading Score:109	FYI, there is a Canadian disc on the way..

05-02-2010, 10:24 PM	#19
Arkadin Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Mar 2007 Location:...somewhere in Sweden Blu-ray collection:- Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:9	I'll look at my German copy, and see if I can list the features. try to get to that soon.

02-18-2011, 05:50 PM	#20
toddly6666 Blu-ray Baron Top contributor Member since:Nov 2009 Location:Hong Kong Home Theater Gallery:20 4K collection:1 Blu-ray collection:1441 DVD collection:31 Blu-ray reviews: 290 Trading Score:61	So, is the German blu-ray better than the UK version, regarding video and audio? Or is it about the same?

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals