Gamera Heisei (1990s) Box Set Problem

[LatemDeeps]

...has anybody else obtained this yet? There's a strange and annoying problem with the second disc, on the second-last frame before a scene change, the entire image shifts/jumps diagonally. This is definitely just a problem with the BD, as the DVD from the R2 box does NOT have the same problem. I want to get a replacement, but first I'd like to see if anybody else has noticed the problem; if the first batch of discs are all like this, there's no point...

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by LatemDeeps

...has anybody else obtained this yet? There's a strange and annoying problem with the second disc, on the second-last frame before a scene change, the entire image shifts/jumps diagonally. This is definitely just a problem with the BD, as the DVD from the R2 box does NOT have the same problem. I want to get a replacement, but first I'd like to see if anybody else has noticed the problem; if the first batch of discs are all like this, there's no point...

At what time does this happen during the movie?

[kingghidrah309]

I have this boxset and have watched G2 several times and have not noticed any of these issues. I'm using a PS3 to view it. Maybe you're player?
Josh
PS- Gamera 3 has the best kaiju scenes ever!

[LatemDeeps]

It pretty much starts off right off the bat, at 0:00:25/6, 0:00:27/8, but an obvious example is at 0:01:15/6, where the teacher is listening to the incoming radio message; within the next 2 seconds, there are a couple of close-ups of her face, and then they show the faceplate of the car-stereo. On the Panasonic BD-35, if I pause the image at 0:01:15/6 (15 frames into 00:01:15 to start, a shift occurs 13 frames into 00:01:16, zoom in occurs at 15 frames, next shift is 13 frames into 00:01:17, POV change is at 15 frames, the next shift is at the 13th frame of 00:01:18, POV change at 15, next shift is at 00:01:21 frame 11 POV at 13), and then use the frame-by-frame mode (with this disc, there appears to be 24 fps), it's ALWAYS the second-last frame before the POV change that the image shifts. I didn't notice it on fade-in/out shots, but on abrupt camera/scene changes, the same thing always occurs. I just skipped ahead to about 1:22:00, and the same thing is happening...

Frankly, my wife just noticed that something wasn't right, a friend of mine didn't even notice at all. But for me, it makes the thing pretty much unwatchable. I watched the first disc in its entirety, and that was fine, as was a quick check of the third disc. But the second disc... not good. And again, a comparison to the R2 Japanese DVD does not show the same problem with it. If anybody else is able (and more importantly, willing) to do a frame-by-frame check of the 0:01:15/6 scene, it would be GREATLY appreciated.

PS. Gamera 3 IS the BEST Kaiju ever!

[kingghidrah309]

Just checked out my copy and found no problems at the 01:15/16 mark and checked the first scene switches on each chapter and found nothing wrong. On my PS3 I was able to a get 24 fps check for these. It's probably the disc. That sucks as you'll probably have to send the whole set back to exchange it. On a side note, I think Hollywood should quit blowing millions and millions on empty cgi crapfests and give director Shusuke Kaneko and spfx director Shinji Higuchi the oportunity to reboot Godzilla and make the dream film everyone hoped we would get in 1998.
Josh

[LatemDeeps]

Well, thanks for checking kingghidrah309! It turns out the problem might be with my player (and my brain) after all, though; I went back and checked the other discs, and the same thing happens (although Iwith the first disc, if I wasn't actually looking for it, I wouldn't have noticed it -- correction, I wasn't looking for it, and I didn't notice it on my initial watching). I can't for the life of me believe that all THREE discs would be defective (although with MY luck... ). I think I'll cry, sulk, and then maybe breakdown and go out of my way to either lend (*shudder*) or visit a friend who has a PS3 (or another non-Panasonic) BD Player. I can usually get by without having friends...

As for your sidenote, I wasn't overwhelmed (disappointed, actually) with the Godzilla movie that Shusuke already directed... Although it's funny, I remember reading somewhere that he originally DID want to do a Godzilla movie first, but Toho turned him down. Gamera 3 is still the (under-appreciated) pinnacle of Kaiju; nothing else has captured the size and power (and collateral damage) of the sheer force-of-nature that creatures of that size would possess.

[tcmchan]

Originally Posted by LatemDeeps

It pretty much starts off right off the bat, at 0:00:25/6, 0:00:27/8, but an obvious example is at 0:01:15/6, where the teacher is listening to the incoming radio message; within the next 2 seconds, there are a couple of close-ups of her face, and then they show the faceplate of the car-stereo. On the Panasonic BD-35, if I pause the image at 0:01:15/6 (15 frames into 00:01:15 to start, a shift occurs 13 frames into 00:01:16, zoom in occurs at 15 frames, next shift is 13 frames into 00:01:17, POV change is at 15 frames, the next shift is at the 13th frame of 00:01:18, POV change at 15, next shift is at 00:01:21 frame 11 POV at 13), and then use the frame-by-frame mode (with this disc, there appears to be 24 fps), it's ALWAYS the second-last frame before the POV change that the image shifts. I didn't notice it on fade-in/out shots, but on abrupt camera/scene changes, the same thing always occurs. I just skipped ahead to about 1:22:00, and the same thing is happening...

Frankly, my wife just noticed that something wasn't right, a friend of mine didn't even notice at all. But for me, it makes the thing pretty much unwatchable. I watched the first disc in its entirety, and that was fine, as was a quick check of the third disc. But the second disc... not good. And again, a comparison to the R2 Japanese DVD does not show the same problem with it. If anybody else is able (and more importantly, willing) to do a frame-by-frame check of the 0:01:15/6 scene, it would be GREATLY appreciated.

PS. Gamera 3 IS the BEST Kaiju ever!

Yes, I saw the same problem. I don't notice this issue during my first view, but after I read your message, I paid attention on your time marks and understood what you mean. I asked my wife to view the scenes as a testing, she don't find any problem but after I quoted her your message, she noticed the same problem too.

I am using the Sony S550 BD player + Sony KLV-40X300A LCD TV in 1080/24p mode. But since my BD player does not have the stop motion function, so I can't check the disc frame by frame to see if it is an encoding issue or film editing issue. But I think not so many people notice it. Even people noticed it, they may just think that it is the film editing issue as it only happens during the camera changing.

[LatemDeeps]

Thanks for the response (in both threads) tcmchan. I guess my only recourse is to try and get in touch with the manufacturer/distributor and see if 1) they consider this a problem and 2) if ALL of the discs are like that. I consider it a problem because I have NEVER noticed this problem with any digital-disc format (LD, VCD, DVD, BD) before. Obviously, I missed it the first time around with the first one, but the second disc was unwatchable for me...

SIGH... ESPECIALLY at the ripe-old-age of 43 and my eyesight not being what it used to be, I'm a little shocked and surprised (not to mention inconvenienced) by the fact that I can even NOTICE *1* frame out of 24 in a second.