La Belle et la Bête (BFI)

[peerpee]

We'll all see different things because our computer screens, displays, and projectors are all differently calibrated or uncalibrated. My point is, and this is an objective observation: the macroblocking is pervasive and baked in to the encode. Screenshots from three independent sources reveal the same problem. It appears only in dark areas of the screen and it affects the whole film. Drop the screenshots in Photoshop and boost the levels (IMAGE > ADJUSTMENTS > LEVELS) – all will be revealed, and it's not pretty.

During these particularly macroblocked sequences, the bitrate drops down to between 3 and 6. Way below where it should be.

99.9% of the Blu-rays I watch do not exhibit anything like this level of macroblocking – and on my display (Sony A1 OLED), this disc was unwatchable because of it.

If you're not seeing the macroblocking much during normal play, the disc will be watchable – but that doesn't mean the problems aren't there, or that they're acceptable, or that it should receive 4.5/5 for picture quality.

If problems like this aren't recognised and understood, they will continue happening.